Hammocks

[cdnred]

Hey, I just got a new camp kitchen that may rival yours! It fits in my rig perfectly. I will need to make some adjustments to it and have already started but I think it will work out great!

Here it is when I first picked it up and a photoshopped version of my vision after modifications: (hey, it was free so I figured it was worth a try)

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Actually that's a very clever idea for the available space you've got and it's already made. Looks like it was custom made for the van. Just need to tweak it here and there to bring it up to date, like add a sink and micowave. What type of vehicle did you use to put it in, a regular cargo style van..?

 

[cdnred]

I backpack with a hammock. An 11' dutchware that is super comfortable.
I use the klymit insulated V hammock pad because it give me the option to go to ground if I can't find suitable trees.
I go with a hammock gear premium burrow 30 degree down topquilt. This combo has kept me perfectly comfortable down to the upper 20s.

I backpacked the wonderland trail last August in 11 nights and got to spend 10 of them hanging.

For backpacking that makes for a great solution with less to carry. It's got everything you'd need in one small bag without having to lug a tent along. Maybe pack a tarp for a shelter should you encounter some rain. I've thought about giving it a go but just haven't found the opportunity yet..

 

[Freestone]

Actually that's a very clever idea for the available space you've got and it's already made. Looks like it was custom made for the van. Just need to tweak it here and there to bring it up to date, like add a sink and micowave. What type of vehicle did you use to put it in, a regular cargo style van..?

Not a van, just a Honda Element! I love that rig as it is so versatile and has a lot of room for its size.

 

[Freestone]

For backpacking that makes for a great solution with less to carry. It's got everything you'd need in one small bag without having to lug a tent along. Maybe pack a tarp for a shelter should you encounter some rain. I've thought about giving it a go but just haven't found the opportunity yet..

All hammockers who sleep in their hammock (vs lounge) pack a tarp and usually a bug net. Even if it is not going to rain, I set up one or the other as it isn’t fun getting woken up by a falling pine cone, small stick or even a leaf landing on you in the middle of the night. I have a super light hammock, bug net (and some with the bug net built in) and tarp but truthfully, my entire hammock sleep system (hammock, bug net, tarp, quilts, etc. ) isn’t any smaller and lighter than my super ultralight tent sleep system (tent, pad, sleeping bag/quilt). However, it is infinitely more comfortable!!! I have and back and two bad shoulder and all my aches and pains disappear in a hammock.

 

[cdnred]

Not a van, just a Honda Element! I love that rig as it is so versatile and has a lot of room for its size.

A Honda Element..? Wow from the pic shown with the doors open, it looks a lot bigger then that. So when you got everything in there, you've still got room to move around or I assume you'd need to rearrange things as needed..? I can see where a hammock would come in handy for you with that setup. Do you use a car topper for extra storage when traveling or is this used for just a one niter trip so less to pack..?

 

[cdnred]

I'm 71 now (but out of shape) and when I was younger I did a fair bit of tent camping. I bought a hammock at REI a few years back when I was working in Denver on a contract job. I never found the opportunity to use it though. I've since discovered that I need to use a CPAP machine at nite so that's thrown a curve at me. I've since moved from a tent to a trailer but still would love to try hammock camping/hiking to get back into shape..

Question. Has anyone else that uses a CPAP machine tried camping out using a hammock..? Just looking for some feed back as to how viable that would be for sleeping without being hooked up to a CPAP machine. Any recommendations..?

 

[Freestone]

A Honda Element..? Wow from the pic shown with the doors open, it looks a lot bigger then that. So when you got everything in there, you've still got room to move around or I assume you'd need to rearrange things as needed..? I can see where a hammock would come in handy for you with that setup. Do you use a car topper for extra storage when traveling or is this used for just a one niter trip so less to pack..?

In my usual set up, I maintain about a 2’ x 4’ isle space to move around. I set the potty (or bucket) here at night and still have room. I sometimes set up a side table in that space as an extra workspace for the counter or even for tying, and I still have open space. When I am cooking in the rig, I ALWAYS leave a clear path to the side door and leave it ajar so I can get out in a hurry. (I also crack a window, have a CO monitor and a fire extinguisher.)

Here is the extended cooking side table. The new kitchen unit will go where the orange chuck box and table are here. The little green stove will easily fit on the kid’s kitchen counter and store inside the cupboards when not in use.



It was 22 degrees on this morning so after putting the stove and breakfast stuff away, I moved table forward and decided to tie (with a tiny tying kit I brought on the road) while I waited for it to warm up a bit as I hadn’t brought waders! This was after a multi-day whitewater trip so I had my drysuit, but I didn’t feel like fishing in it, LOL.

 

[Jerry Daschofsky]

All hammockers who sleep in their hammock (vs lounge) pack a tarp and usually a bug net. Even if it is not going to rain, I set up one or the other as it isn’t fun getting woken up by a falling pine cone, small stick or even a leaf landing on you in the middle of the night. I have a super light hammock, bug net (and some with the bug net built in) and tarp but truthfully, my entire hammock sleep system (hammock, bug net, tarp, quilts, etc. ) isn’t any smaller and lighter than my super ultralight tent sleep system (tent, pad, sleeping bag/quilt). However, it is infinitely more comfortable!!! I have and back and two bad shoulder and all my aches and pains disappear in a hammock.

I was lucky. Mine came with all the basics, including the rainfly. Built in bug net that can be zipped away. The bug net came in really handy last summer on the Yak. Between hatches and mosquitoes I was left alone inside my hammock.

I'm still dialing mine in. When to add under quilt is the biggest. For now I toss it in when it's windy or drops below 40°F. Then my sleeping bag designed for hammock with an old school woobie to go with it. Have since bought a civilian version to go with my system.



This was taking a nap on the Yak.

 

[cdnred]

In my usual set up, I maintain about a 2’ x 4’ isle space to move around. I set the potty (or bucket) here at night and still have room. I sometimes set up a side table in that space as an extra workspace for the counter or even for tying, and I still have open space. When I am cooking in the rig, I ALWAYS leave a clear path to the side door and leave it ajar so I can get out in a hurry. (I also crack a window, have a CO monitor and a fire extinguisher.)

Here is the extended cooking side table. The new kitchen unit will go where the orange chuck box and table are here. The little green stove will easily fit on the kid’s kitchen counter and store inside the cupboards when not in use.

View attachment 1381

It was 22 degrees on this morning so after putting the stove and breakfast stuff away, I moved table forward and decided to tie (with a tiny tying kit I brought on the road) while I waited for it to warm up a bit as I hadn’t brought waders! This was after a multi-day whitewater trip so I had my drysuit, but I didn’t feel like fishing in it, LOL.

View attachment 1382

Great setup and easily doable, luv it..

 

[cdnred]

I was lucky. Mine came with all the basics, including the rainfly. Built in bug net that can be zipped away. The bug net came in really handy last summer on the Yak. Between hatches and mosquitoes I was left alone inside my hammock.

I'm still dialing mine in. When to add under quilt is the biggest. For now I toss it in when it's windy or drops below 40°F. Then my sleeping bag designed for hammock with an old school woobie to go with it. Have since bought a civilian version to go with my system.

View attachment 1383

This was taking a nap on the Yak.

So you used a regular sleeping bag for sleeping as opposed to a hammock quilt and bedding..?

 

[Jerry Daschofsky]

So you used a regular sleeping bag for sleeping as opposed to a hammock quilt and bedding..?

I use a hammock quilt. I call it a sleeping bag since mine pretty much is without a zipper. Has a couple velcro points to seal up. I do have a self inflating hammock pad and a military woobie. I've found, even in the cold, I usually peal away the woobie and with under quilt and over quilt, with pad, and perfectly warm.

 

[Freestone]

I was lucky. Mine came with all the basics, including the rainfly. Built in bug net that can be zipped away. The bug net came in really handy last summer on the Yak. Between hatches and mosquitoes I was left alone inside my hammock.

I'm still dialing mine in. When to add under quilt is the biggest. For now I toss it in when it's windy or drops below 40°F. Then my sleeping bag designed for hammock with an old school woobie to go with it. Have since bought a civilian version to go with my system.

View attachment 1383

This was taking a nap on the Yak.

I bought my first hammock system system in about 2002 and it came with everything built-in bug net, tarp, straps, insulation down to about 15-20 degrees, etc. It was a Hennessy Hammock and I still have it. However since then, I have bins and bins of all types of hammocks (with and without netting, removable netting, etc), all kinds of tarps (including my favorite car camping one as it has built-in netting on the tarp), all kinds of top and bottom quilts including some DYI ones… I know you understand why I have multiples of the same category of gear, LOL, but most of my other friends don’t.

 

[Jerry Daschofsky]

I bought my first hammock system system in about 2002 and it came with everything built-in bug net, tarp, straps, insulation down to about 15-20 degrees, etc. It was a Hennessy Hammock and I still have it. However since then, I have bins and bins of all types of hammocks (with and without netting, removable netting, etc), all kinds of tarps (including my favorite car camping one as it has built-in netting on the tarp), all kinds of top and bottom quilts including some DYI ones… I know you understand why I have so multiples of the same category of gear, LOL, but most of my other friends don’t.

Gear whores anonymous, right there witcha!

 

[Freestone]

So you used a regular sleeping bag for sleeping as opposed to a hammock quilt and bedding..?

One can use a sleeping bag but they will probably freeze in a hammock without any other insulation under you. The reason is that you will compress all the insulation and it won’t keep you warm. So, you need a quilt under the hammock (called an underquilt) or a pad in the hammock. There are other options but these are the two most common ones. Most people prefer an underquilt but a few people use pads in case they have to “go to ground” if there aren’t appropriate trees available.

 

[Freestone]

Gear whores anonymous, right there witcha!

It’s why I love you!

 

[Jerry Daschofsky]

It’s why I love you!

We're just family from different parents.

 

[Jerry Daschofsky]

One can use a sleeping bag but they will probably freeze in a hammock without any other insulation under you. The reason is that you will compressing all the insulation and it won’t keep you warm. So, you need a quilt under the hammock (called an underquilt) or a pad in the hammock. There are other options but these are the two most common ones. Most people prefer an underquilt but a few people use pads in case they have to “go to ground” if there aren’t appropriate trees available.

Yup, why I have both under quilt and pad. Like clothes layering. I add as temp lowers.

 

[Freestone]

I'm 71 now (but out of shape) and when I was younger I did a fair bit of tent camping. I bought a hammock at REI a few years back when I was working in Denver on a contract job. I never found the opportunity to use it though. I've since discovered that I need to use a CPAP machine at nite so that's thrown a curve at me. I've since moved from a tent to a trailer but still would love to try hammock camping/hiking to get back into shape..

Question. Has anyone else that uses a CPAP machine tried camping out using a hammock..? Just looking for some feed back as to how viable that would be for sleeping without being hooked up to a CPAP machine. Any recommendations..?

Yes, there are lots of hammock campers who use CPAP’s. Some people, however, find that they don’t need them in the hammock but that is between them and their Dr. (I assume it is only people with mild to moderate sleep apnea)

Anyway, for car camping, the most common thing is to bring a portable power station like a Goal Zero or Jackery, for instance. The size depends on the power consumption of your machine and how many days you need to go without recharging it. For backpacking, there are some travel CPAP’s that can be used with an OEM optional battery pack. Some people bring roll up solar panels to recharge the battery pack. So, it is doable but clearly requires extra gear and careful planning so you don’t run out of juice. Also, from what I have read, the humidifier part and cleaning part are other things to consider but again, some people make it work.

 

[Jerry Daschofsky]

Yes, there are lots of hammock campers who use CPAP’s. Some people, however, find that they don’t need them in the hammock but that is between them and their Dr. (I assume it is only people with mild to moderate sleep apnea)

Anyway, for car camping, the most common thing is to bring a portable power station like a Goal Zero or Jackery, for instance. The size depends on the power consumption of your machine and how many days you need to go without recharging it. For backpacking, there are some travel CPAP’s that can be used with an OEM optional battery pack. Some people bring roll up solar panels to recharge the battery pack. So, it is doable but clearly requires extra gear and careful planning so you don’t run out of juice. Also, from what I have read, the humidifier part and cleaning part are other things to consider but again, some people make it work.

@Cdnred use a CPAP religiously. I use mine in my hammock. I don't have pics unfortunately but have a net I clip in near my head that my CPAP rests in. I run a deep cycle battery that sits outside hammock with a 12V plug that hooks into CPAP over the 110 plug. No converter needed, which extends battery life and cheaper than a CPAP battery. Though when I start hiking again I'll be buying an Airsense mini with small battery and solar recharger.

 

[Gary Knowels]

I'm 71 now (but out of shape) and when I was younger I did a fair bit of tent camping. I bought a hammock at REI a few years back when I was working in Denver on a contract job. I never found the opportunity to use it though. I've since discovered that I need to use a CPAP machine at nite so that's thrown a curve at me. I've since moved from a tent to a trailer but still would love to try hammock camping/hiking to get back into shape..

Question. Has anyone else that uses a CPAP machine tried camping out using a hammock..? Just looking for some feed back as to how viable that would be for sleeping without being hooked up to a CPAP machine. Any recommendations..?

I have sleep apnea and require a machine nightly. I bought a travel machine, cigarette plug adapter, and a battery pack with a cigarette outlet. The CPAP setup I have can get me 5 full night's of sleep (~35 hours) plus 5 days of cell phone charging with one battery pack and it comes in at about 5.5 pounds. The battery is the heavy part of that setup. All in, it was ~$700 out of pocket for the setup. Insurance doesn't cover a 2nd machine...

You might also look into the custom fitted mouth guards. They've proven effective for some patients and would be significantly lighter/smaller and of course no worry about power.