I originally posted this to Reddit on 4-8-2023 along with a few more pictures. This is planting the flag for hammock camping on Lemmy and the fediverse.
So this is a real-time report... broadcasting live from inside that setup.
TLDR; this is my second night sleeping In a hammock ever, I'm going to just free-form review the parts that I'm in right now. I'm not an affiliate and I won't include any links, just kind of want to address some things that I was concerned about as a new to hammock camping ex Boy Scout who is living the ultimate scout end game primitive camping on private property in the middle of nowhere.
The review part in short: I'm digging it, you should go for it. Maybe order just the hammock and try it out especially if you, like me, were new to hammock camping.
Gear: all onewind stuff. I love it. I started shopping at Dream hammock a year ago but I had never slept on a real hammock and couldn't justify starting with the customizations I was setting up ($$$). Onewind is making 11 and 12 foot hammocks for large and tall people and a stacked line of extremely reasonably priced accessories. Unless I'm mistaken there is no other brand so fully covering this level of quality and pricing, while also not being 8 and 9 feet.
I also considered making my own, but that was putting a barrier between actually getting out of the tent and into a hammock (or out of the truck bed. Which has its own benefits but I digress.). I'd still like do try if I can get a suitable machine, but I also have to admit that it's going to take a significant amount of work and practice to get to the level of proficiency to duplicate and eventually exceed one wind's level of production and / or design quality. I could do it eventually but because I don't have an HD sewing machine in my toolkit yet, making my FIRST set of everything would almost certainly cost more than my entire set including tools and supplies... but second and third, yes good savings there.
Nevertheless after the first trial setup (but not sleep) of the hammock and bug net alone I was so surprised that I immediately ordered another 12 ft for my wife and started going all in one piece at a time to get a full kit that would immediately and frequently get use.
Value per $ seems very good. Yes it's a little heavy, everyone knows that this particular kit is not for the UL crowd, but I am not walking very far and the entire setup fits shoved into a single canvas parachute style bag.
I may indeed upgrade as experience warrants that. The cottage vendors are going to really have to impress me to steer me away from OneWind's prices. Accessories though... and mods, I'm all about that
Hammock: this is the 12' double wide hammock that comes with the bottom entry bug net. It has a structural ridge line that I like well enough. I really appreciate how it keeps the bug net off me, it seems to create a very comfortably sized space. I also adjusted the length to be just under 10ft tonight (forgot my tape measure but had a 10 ft paracord), so it does have a bit it a looser and more flexible lay.
I prefer this to the first overnight lay 3 weeks ago but I had to shift the straps up quite a bit to compensate. I was like...4 inches off the ground. No bueno. Bug net was dragging on the ground tarp.
The straps were really easy to just loosen and shift up so that I had a much higher hang. It puts me at the right angle to sit up on the edge as I'm getting out and step off.
And I'm laying with a nice diagonal position, feet to the left head to the right. I'm typically a side sleeper, and I found a few weeks ago I was able to turn over enough to be perfectly comfortable. It's really quite a strange sense of support. I suppose that's part of the appeal in general. So with that realization I will put on my yellow belt in hammocking and talk about the bug net
Bugnet: gets its own mention because this hammock came with the completely separate, bottom entry bug net. Like me you might be a little apprehensive about this and feel more secure in one of the hammocks with the built on zipper close nets. You can't take them off, that's a huge no for me.
Since the drought broke the whole area has a lot more life, and the very awesome year of no bothersome insects ended along with it. I feel extremely protected from the mosquitos and larger flying creatures that buzzed through here just after dark. I kept thinking that they were in here with me but I was just hearing them flying up to the net. They were nowhere near me.
You might also think that getting in and out of the bottom entry is a hassle. I was hesitant about that for a while myself. Now I would never trade this for a built in zipper bug net. I absolutely recommend you try this. It is not as big of a hassle as it sounds. I would be concerned about ripping the netting as I'm sitting on the edge of the hammock part getting in and out. This removes that worry completely. If it gets torn and can't be repaired, it can just be replaced.
Then the temp started to drop so I deployed the...
Underquilt: I have what I think is their warmer underquilt. "40F" though I've seen different ranges.
I had some issues with the attachment and adjustments the first night when it actually got down to 32F. I had fudged it to make it work knowing it was going to be chilly and it did a good job.
This was the first time I experienced what an underquilt feels like; what it adds to the aforementioned strange sense of support. It is so indescribably warm and surrounding. It's a big quilt, it goes up pretty darn high on each side, and also up toward both ends of the hammock. For me it seems to shift appropriately around me as I'm optimizing my position.
Tonight I did NOT button on the:
Snap in underquilt blanket: rectangular. I actually ordered the wrong combo on Amazon and wow am I glad I did. I decided I'd keep it and ended up using it. I snapped that in shortly after dark. Definitely didn't hurt but I don't have enough experience yet to really say what temperature range it will comfortably work in for me. I can say that it was a fairly chilly night for me to be outside and I could tell having another quilted air layer between me and freezing air didn't hurt.
Tonight it is only going to get down to mid 50sF. Probably 55F. So the underquilt on its own is absolutely delightful. It would be a cold experience without it. I'm wearing shorts and a t shirt. This feels almost like a warm therapeutic wrap. If this could be reproduced people would pay for it. Hammock spas, book a session at the Vaxhax Therapeutic Cocoon Therapy(TM): "Warm Hugs By The Hour"
I am also using their.
Overquilt : the smaller end wedge folds and snaps into a very functional footbox. It goes up just high enough that it really secures the overquilt position and kept my feet and lower legs warm on the prior 32F trip.
I'm not in that footbox right now, the underwarmth reflecting up from the underquilt is warm enough I don't really need it , but it is cooling down enough that it feels warm enough kind of loosely laying next to me like a warm blanket or body pillow laying next to you.
If I were walking around for any extended period I would wear it like a poncho. It has a hole for your head, and at least for me it was fairly intuitive how to fold and button down little thermal poncho look you may have seen on Amazon. If I ran a hammock cult, that would be part of the uniform..
Finally, a new acquisition this week,
The tarp: this is the 10x12 rectangular that everyone has probably seen given generally very favorable reviews. I watched a couple of YouTube videos at the Chinese restaurant (with captions on and audio off!) And suddenly I felt like neo and my Kung fu was loop aliens.
I am happy enough with the loop alien tie offs i hacked up. I definiteley want a snakeskin so i can only deploy when it is needed. I don't really need the tarp right now, very low chance of rain, and I miss the open view.
Nevertheless I'm glad to see it is of ample size to cover well past the end of my 12ft hammocks hang length (thank you ridgeline) . .
Not sorry for rambling. I'm just trying to get my relevant review thoughts on this specific equipment configuration out. I have already spent far too long tapping this out. It's time to disconnect here at the international center for transformational cocoon therapy world headquarters.
I may or may not come back and edit this anytime soon . Or ever. Take it or leave it. Thank you for coming to my hammock braindump. I hope you are having a fantastic hang wherever you do your thing. Enjoy and Be Prepared. ✌️
