HAMMOCK CAMPING NEWS
May 2006
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=============================================================
IN THIS ISSUE FROM SPEER
HAMMOCKS May 2006
=============================================================
1----------------------HAMMOCK
CAMPING NEWS------------------------
A. 2006 is Off to a great start
The fast pace of conversion to hammock
camping continues unabated as the good news spreads. No longer the exclusive domain of long
distance hikers, hammock camping is rapidly spreading throughout the outdoor
community. New hammock models and
accessories continue to be introduced. In
the spirit of promoting the industry, this newsletter includes a detailed list
of known hammock and hammock-accessory manufacturers—the worldwide list now
totals 19! In addition, lists of useful
online hammock information sources are also given near the end of each
newsletter.
The interest in stay-warm systems continues
and is driven by the ever-increasing number of new users as well as the increased
use of hammocks in winter camping. Many
hammock enthusiasts even made their own stay-warm systems and shared their
experiences online.
Internet bulletin boards continued
to spread the good news about hammock camping.
Our own Hammock Camping List now totals over 1,300 members actively
exchanging and sharing ideas. The HC-List
allows hammock enthusiasts and novices to share and learn from each other. It also allows hammock campers to arrange
outings in their area. Membership to the Hammock Camping-L is open to anyone—see
elsewhere in this newsletter for info on how to sign up. Hammock camping also continues to be a hot
topic on numerous other outdoor related discussion boards.
Our informal Southeast Hammock
Hangers Association (SEHHA) sponsored five well-attended
campouts in 2005 and our second one of 2006 gets underway this weekend. Hosted by Speer Hammocks, these campouts are
open to the public and help bring both enthusiasts, novices, and want-to-be’s
together for fun weekends of sharing and learning. These campouts provide an ideal outdoor opportunity
for hammockers to demo their new or home-made gear. And the comradely can’t be beat! Three more campouts are also planned for this
year—hope you can make one or all of them! See elsewhere in this newsletter for the
campout schedules.
2006 promises continued excitement
in the brave new world of hammock camping.
Welcome aboard and hang on for the ride!
Ed “Not To Worry” Speer
B. DID YOU MISS A PAST
ISSUE?
Postings of
each newsletter on Yahoo Groups will be left on the Hammock Camping News home
page for subscribers to view any time; go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hammock_Camping_News/
Subscribers
and non-subscribers can freely view and download the current issue or any of
the back issues at:
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/NEWS.htm
Note: Some
of the many web links in the newsletters do not survive in the email
versions--if this happened to yours, you might want to download the newsletter
from the hammockcamping.com site.
C.
Newsletter Publishing Schedule
The
publishing schedule for Hammock Camping News is:
Publish Date Submission
Date
August 1, 2006 July 15, 2006
January 1, 2007 Dec
15, 2006
May 1, 2007 April 15,
2007
Please note
that the next issue is due August 1 and submissions for publication are due July
15.
D. 900 Fill down PeaPods and Top Blankets Now Available
Speer Hammocks is now offering 900-fill down hammock gear! This is the highest-loft goose down available
anywhere, thus our Peapods and Top Blankets offer the ultimate in uncomplicated
lightweight warmth! The 900-fil down
combined with our new baffle construction provides 40% increase in thickness over
the previous models with no increase in weight!
This means greater warmth for you!
PeaPods are insulated bags that completely surround an occupied
top-entry camping hammock. Top Blankets
are insulated quilts for use over a hammock sleeper or they can be used as
liners inside PeaPods. Together they
make the best system available for cold weather hammock comfort. Now warmth at any temperature is possible. Visit us at TrailDays05 in
http://speerhammocks.com/Products/PRODUCTLINK2.htm or call (828) 724-4444, 9-5 Eastern
Time, workdays.
E.
Segmented Pad Extenders--AFFORDABLE
WARMTH IS HERE!
Speer Hammocks recently announced their new Segmented Pad Extender,
the simple lightweight and affordable way to provide 4-season warmth in any
hammock. The SPE incorporates your own gear
for insulation! A central sleeve accepts
your sleeping pad or pads for bottom warmth while segmented side wings provide
shoulder, hip, and knee protection.
Multiple sleeping pads can be stacked in the central sleeve up to a
total thickness of 3”, allowing the user to mix and match pads for conditions
from 700F to well below zero!
Inflatable pads and closed cell foam pads in full length or
three-quarter length can be stacked as needed for warmth and comfort. The wings can be filled with closed cell foam
pad inserts and/or rolls of extra clothes, again providing adjustable insulation. The SPE also accepts dead leaves, the
ultimate no-carried-weight insulation!
Find out more about these remarkable accessories at: http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
Contact SpeerHammocks.com at 828-724-4444,
or info@speerhammocks.com
F.
HAMMOCK CAMPING BOOK
Hammock Camping: The Complete Guide To Greater Comfort, Convenience and
Freedom by
Ed Speer was published in 2003 and is based on Ed's many years of hammock
camping around the world and his experience making and designing his own
hammocks. In addition to key chapters on
"How To Stay Warm In A Hammock" and "How To Make Your Own
Hammock", the book contains numerous entries from Ed's trail journals that
show just how hammocks can be used in actual wilderness settings. The book is well documented with numerous
photos, drawings and tables of information. For those not inclined to make a hammock, one
chapter presents brief reviews of all the commercially available camping
hammocks. Appendices give valuable
information on Ed's hammocking tips, hammock manufactures, the Leave No Trace
organization, and web links to additional hammock information. This book is sure to become the standard
reference manual on hammock camping.
Autographed copies and free shipping on all orders from Speer Hammocks. Order online at http://www.HammockCamping.com or
call (828) 724-4444, 9-5 Eastern Time workdays--$19.95. Also available at major Internet book sites
or a bookstore or retail outfitter near you.
G.
MAKE-YOUR-OWN HAMMOCK KITS
It's fun and easy to make your own camping hammock with the
simple kits from Speer Hammocks.
Based on our successful hammock design, the kits come
complete with all the fabric, webbing, Velcro, pull tabs, guidelines,
ridgeline, hardware, etc. needed to make a complete hammock with bug net and
rain canopy. Even the thread is
included! Making your own hammock is highly
rewarding and each one should give years of satisfactory use. The only thing needed is a household sewing
machine and minimal sewing skills (only easy edge hems, straight stitches, and
one flat felled seam are required). Check
out the kits at: http://www.SpeerHammocks.com Check
out the free, kit sewing instructions at: http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/SewingTips.htm
H. HAMMOCK
CAMPING WEB SITE
http://www.HammockCamping.com.
This site provides a general exchange of hammock camping news and
information. Excerpts from Ed's new book
and F-R-E-E copies of these newsletters
are featured here, as well as lots of F-R-E-E
hammock camping reports and handy hammocking tips. Anyone wishing to post information on this
site should contact us at: Ed@SpeerHammocks.com.
I.
HAMMOCK CAMPING-L Discussion Group
Join more than 1,300 fellow outdoor enthusiasts in an open
discussion on all aspects of hammock camping. Learn from the experts before you buy or make
your own. Or help others by sharing your
knowledge. The widespread use of camping
hammocks is the latest development in wilderness travel. Be a part of this exciting phenomenon. The Hammock Camping-List is hosted on Yahoo
Groups and works like any other online "list”; however you do not have to
be a member of Yahoo in order to join. All
you need is a valid email address to join the group. NOTE that subscribers to this free Hammock
Camping News e-zine are not automatically signed up for the
bulletin board (you must sign up yourself).
All messages are archived and searchable by members. Whether you are a novice or a veteran hammock
user, there is much to learn and share on The Hammock Camping List!
To join, send email to: hammockcamping-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Or sign up online at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hammockcamping
J. Follow Leave No Trace!
As hammock campers we have the duty to not only act
responsibly in the backcountry, but to also set a proper example for others to
follow. One of the great advantages of
hammock camping is the ability to reduce our adverse impact on the
environment. Everyone is encouraged to
join and support the worthy Leave No Trace organization and to follow
their outdoor ethics. To learn more,
visit:
K. Hammock Fun!
Ground people sleep in tarp and tent
Wondering where all their sleep went.
Fighting the rock,
the root, the cone.
Where is my sleep? Here all alone.
Vis’ted by ants, snakes, skunks and slugs
Down in the mud
with all the bugs.
By all accounts, we came from dust,
It doesn’t mean, sleep there we must.
Tree People hang by strap and rope
Over the ground, above the slope
While in our dreams, we could fly
Hanging there ‘neath
earth and sky
Ralph Oborn
Hammock Camping List
July 2005
2-------------------------Feature
Article------------------------------
Speer Hammocks
900-Fill Down
PeaPods and Top Blankets
are now Baffled for 40% Greater Warmth
In the last issue of Hammock Camping
News, Dave Womble’s excellent article on insulation
provided a meaningful and informative discussion on staying warm in a
hammock. Everyone, especially those
contemplating making their own stay-warm system, is encouraged to read Dave’s
article: http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/2006/Jan2006.htm
We continue that stay-warm theme in
this issue with a discussion of Speer Hammocks’ down-insulated PeaPods and Top
Blankets.
The Speer PeaPod:
An insulated sleeping bag specifically designed to completely enclose
an occupied hammock in such a manner that it provides sufficient warmth for
sleeping comfort
The Speer Top Blanket:
An insulated blanket specifically designed for use as a quilt inside
a hammock or as a liner inside a Speer PeaPod
Speer
Hammocks’ PeaPods and Top Blankets are now made with 900-fill goose down, the
highest-fill-power down available. Most
down sleeping bags and jackets are made with cheaper lower-fill-power
down. However, Speer Hammocks is very
pleased to offer only the finest down available. This gives the PeaPods and Top Blankets the
best warmth-to-weight-and-bulk ratio available anywhere for any hammock
stay-warm system. Baffles are used to
keep the down evenly distributed, thus eliminating cold spots and making the
PeaPods and Top Blankets 40% warmer than the previous versions which had
sewn-thru construction. With no increase
in weight or bulk, our down items are now even warmer than before!
The History of the PeaPod
"What
makes the PeaPod the best warmth-to-weight-and-bulk ratio yet developed for
staying warm in a hammock?" Every
time I'm asked that question, my mind wonders back to the countless pieces of
gear and endless combinations I've tried in the battle to stay warm in my
hammock. And what a battle it has been!
The
most obvious way to stay warm incorporates the sleeping pads already in
widespread use for ground campers. See
the following informative articles and web pages for more information on using
sleeping pads in hammocks: http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/Nov2003.htm
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/2005/Jan2005.htm
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/DWombleFoamPads.htm
http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
However,
the thickness required for cold temperatures may result in expense, bulk,
and/or weight that are unacceptable for most backpackers. While the sleeping pad solution is workable
for many folks, I continued to search for a better solution for lightweight
backpacking.
While
many ideas instantly presented themselves over the years, most were abandoned
on the battlefield when less-than-ideal conditions proved their shortcomings. As the challenge got tougher, I resorted to
trying less-conventional methods--unfortunately, the results were not
encouraging. After trying and rejecting
a lot of commercially available gear, I was forced to make my own. But still the answer was elusive, until one
fateful day when a fellow tree hanger bemoaned the loss of insulation in his
sleeping bag beneath him in the hammock and wondered aloud about the
possibility of using an extra large sleeping bag around the hammock! I instantly knew it would work and set about
making my first prototype!
The
early tests were positive and soon the PeaPod was born. It is extra long to extend the full length of
the hammock (i.e. 9 feet for an 8-foot hammock). It has extra girth to accommodate the side
sleeper with knees drawn up. It was
quickly learned than smaller dimensions result in constrictions that reduce the
loft of the insulation--thus most commercially available sleeping bags are not
up to the job.
Using the PeaPod
The
PeaPod has drawstring end closures and a full-length central Velcro
closure. This allows it to be positioned
around a hammock already strung between trees.
The PeaPod can also be removed without taking the hammock down. These features are useful when the PeaPod is
to be used as a warm robe in camp (more about this later). The PeaPod can also be used in the
more-normal way as a regular sleeping bag or it can be opened flat and used as
a large blanket. Two PeaPods easily
Velcro together to make an extra large sleeping bag for ground sleeping
couples!
Velcro
is used for the full-length central closure instead of zippers for reliability,
weight savings, and ease of opening to exit the hammock. Searching for zipper sliders in the darkness
proved frustrating--Velcro can be opened at any point. Securing the Velcro closed is simply a matter
of grabbing each side, pulling them straight and touching the Velcro strips
together.
With
its' full-length Velcro closure, the PeaPod can be entirely enclosed around an
occupied hammock or left open as much as needed. For warm temperatures, it can be left open on
top, in which case it serves as a bottom blanket providing warmth on the bottom
as well as the sides. For colder
temperatures, it can be closed along the top, leaving an appropriate breather
hole over the face. In really cold
conditions, it can be completely closed above the face without fear of
suffocation (note this does add considerable expelled-breath moisture to the
insulation above one's face--however, there are times when the added warmth may
be worth the tradeoff)!
Note
that the PeaPod is designed to work with a top-entry hammock such as the Speer
Hammock (with ridgeline and bug net removed).
Unfortunately it does not fit around camping hammocks that have a
permanent ridgeline and bug net.
The
PeaPod is attached to the hammock by tying the end drawstrings around the
hammock end knots in such a way that the ends of the PeaPod lie just inside the
hammock end knots. The PeaPod is then
wrapped around the hammock as much as needed.
As mentioned below, the drawstrings can be loosened as needed to avoid
undue stress on the PeaPod that reduces the loft of the insulation.
Lightweight
nylon fabric with a Durable Water Resistant (DWR) finish is used for its'
durability, wind blockage, and quick drying in the field. Breathable fabric was chosen over vapor
barrier to allow evaporation of body moisture, which otherwise is a serious
problem below the body, especially in cold weather. Waterproof-breathable fabrics are troublesome
as they retain too much body moisture.
Vapor barriers can be employed inside the PeaPod for extreme cold
weather if desired-- for more information on vapor barrier use, see Chapter 6, How
To Stay Warm in the Hammock Camping book at http://www.hammockcamping.com/ or the January 2003 issue of Hammock Camping News at
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/Jan2003.htm.
Cold
Weather Use
The real versatility of the PeaPod comes
from the fact that it can easily be enhanced with extra insulation as the
temperature drops! While alone it can
provide all the needed protection for warm to cold temperatures (i.e. 70-20oF),
the PeaPod readily becomes the key part of a component system for colder
temperatures. Adding a blanket inside
the PeaPod-wrapped hammock is useful for most folks. This can vary from using a light sheet or
fleece blanket, A Speer Top Blanket, or a summer-weight sleeping bag as the temps
drop. The blanket fills the space above
one's body where the sides of the hammock hold up the PeaPod.
Note that blankets or quilts over the
top of one's body function better in a hammock than struggling to get into or
out of a sleeping bag. Top blankets or
quilts should have a foot pocket to accept one's feet--the foot pocket and the
sides of the hammock hold them in place.
If using a normal sleeping bag, turn it over so it works similar to a Speer
Top Blanket.
As colder temperatures call for more insulation,
a second Top Blanket can now be used as a bottom blanket or liner inside the
PeaPod! In this manner, warmth at any
temperature is possible! And this allows
a single PeaPod to function over a very wide temperature range. At colder temperatures, you must carry more
insulation anyway, even if you were sleeping on the ground. In a hammock with a PeaPod, you can get
maximum warmth with the least bulk and weight by combining your gear as
components added incrementally to the PeaPod.
In other words, the PeaPod with a Top Blanket used as a liner inside and
a Top Blanket used as a quilt in the hammock, is the weight and warmth
equivalent of a winter sleeping bag and sleeping pad used on the ground!
Even two Top Blankets can be used
doubled or laid out flat as PeaPod liners.
But as ever-thicker bottom blankets are added, the PeaPod should be
loosened to accommodate the new thickness--retying the ends with more slack in
the draw strings is all that’s needed.
The following table suggests some specific
temperature comfort ranges for your consideration. Note
that cold wind will greatly alter the temperature comfort ranges given in the
table--testing your gear in all conditions at home before heading for the
backcountry is highly recommended.
|
Item |
Size (ft) |
Weight (oz) |
900 Down (oz) |
Loft (in) |
Temp Rating (oF) |
|
PeaPod |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.0 regular
fill |
6
x 9 |
31 |
14.32 |
4.2 |
30 |
|
8.0 1
oz overfill |
6
x 9 |
32 |
15.32 |
4.5 |
25 |
|
8.0 2
oz overfill |
6
x 9 |
33 |
16.32 |
5.0 |
20 |
|
8.5 regular
fill |
6
x 9.5 |
33 |
15.68 |
4.2 |
30 |
|
8.5 1
oz overfill |
6
x 9.5 |
34 |
16.68 |
4.5 |
25 |
|
8.5 2
oz overfill |
6
x 9.5 |
35 |
17.68 |
5.0 |
20 |
|
Top
Blanket |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regular fill |
3.5 x 6 |
17 |
9.00 |
2.0 |
30 |
|
1 oz overfill |
3.5 x 6 |
18 |
10.00 |
2.5 |
20 |
Note that
using a PeaPod with a Top Blanket will result in additional loft of 2.0-2.5”
over just the PeaPod by itself; using two Top Blankets will add another
4.0-5.0” loft; etc.
If this
table does not print correctly, a full-page version can be found at
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/May2006.htm
Other items can also be used for
additional bottom insulation. Sleeping
pads placed between the hammock and the PeaPod add great warmth without the
usual loss of comfort or hassles with slipping common to pads used inside the
hammock. Clothes normally left in your
backpack can provide excellent insulation when placed inside the PeaPod as
liners--use your rain suit, wind suit, fleece sweater, insulated jacket, shirt,
pants, long johns, etc, Even folded
ground sheets or tarps can be used in this manner for extra bottom
insulation. Frameless backpacks, pack
rain covers, and stuff sacks can also be used effectively--most anything
already in the backpack can be used! The
amount of additional bottom warmth will surprise you!
But we're still not finished--at certain
times of the year, vast amounts of natures own
insulation is available. Dry leaves or
dry grass make unbeatable insulation!
With no extra carried weight, all the insulation needed is often easily
collected right off the ground. Packing
dry leaves or grass into the PeaPod can give 3-5" of compressed
insulation--enough for 0oF!
All without carrying an ounce of extra weight! I've used this technique numerous times and
highly recommend it--just be sure and return the dry leaves or grass to the
spot where they were collected.
Double
Duty Use
We're still not finished with the
versatility of the PeaPod--it can also be worn as a warm robe in camp, thus
eliminating the need to carry extra camp clothes! Since it is open at each end, the PeaPod can
be worn with one's feet sticking out the bottom and one's head sticking out the
other end! The extra length of the robe
can be used to double the length from the waist to the feet--just grasp the
foot end and fold it back up to your waist and tie the drawstring around your
waist. The PeaPod robe easily stays
centered over the shoulders allowing you to stick your hands and arms out the
Velcro-closed front opening as needed for camp chores.
Even the Speer Top Blanket serves double
duty as insulation for your rain jacket, thus eliminating the need to carry an
insulated jacket! The foot pocket is
held together with Velcro--just open the blanket fully and wrap it around your
shoulders before putting on your rain jacket--viola, an insulated jacket! Of course, the Top Blanket is also a handy
lap-blanket for those cold nights around camp.
The
Best Stay-Warm System Available
900-fill PeaPods and Top Blankets offer
the lightest and warmest system for hammock comfort. They are efficient and versatile and can make
hammock camping comfortable throughout the year. They are available exclusively from Speer
Hammocks: http://www.speerhammocks.com
NOTE: Staying warm in a
hammock is serious business, especially in extreme conditions—your comfort and
even your safety are at stake. Everyone
is encouraged to successfully test their gear first in a safe environment before
heading to the backcountry. Safe
environments include those with easy ‘bail-out’ options, such as your own back
yard or public campgrounds. Know your
equipment before it gets cold!
Take a hammock on your next
wilderness trip
and experience the wonder of
nature all over again
Thanks for your
time and happy hammocking!
Ed
"Not To Worry" Speer
3-------------------------December05
Hammock Campout---------------
The 13th SEHHA Campout
is now History
Our last Southeast Hammock Hangers Association
campout New Year’s Eve on
Previous SEHHA Campouts
1. Foothills Trail,
2. Foothills Trail,
3. Mountain To Sea Trail,
4. Appalachian Trail,
5. Benton MacKaye Trail, Springer
6. Rainbow Springs campground,
7.
8. Rainbow Springs campground,
9. Appalachian Trail, Springer
10.
11.
12.
13. Appalachian Trail, Springer
14.
Ed "Not To Worry" Speer
Safe
Hammocking!
4------------------------Next SEHHA Campouts-------------------------------
14th SEHHA Campout
Everyone Welcome!
TRAILFEST06
Join us for our next unofficial Southeast Hammock Hangers Association campout and help us celebrate Spring
in the mountains! The campout is April
21-23, 2006 in
We will camp in the popular Hot Springs Campground
approximately 45 minutes drive northwest of
This outing offers the perfect opportunity for families who
camp together, so bring the kids as well as the hammocks.