Hammock camping for the first time? There seems to be a trend moving in the way of hammock camping. The first time I brought my hammock out I was amazed at how much I enjoyed camping this way. Not only are they easier to carry but the setup and takedown time of a hammock camp are ridiculously fast compared to a tent. Most hammock's that I have come across have an integrated stuff sack attached. Simply release the 2 carabiners from either end and stuff the hammock into the sack. That's it, no more rolling and wiping off dew and debris, or praying that you rolled it tight enough to fit back in the bag. There are a few lesson's to be learned before taking your hammock out for the first time that just come with experience.
- Most hammocks are meant to be slept in asymmetrically, this means corner to corner. Picture and imaginary rope running right down the middle of your hammock (length wise), if you try to sleep directly on top of this imaginary line you will have a hard time getting comfortable. ENO Hammocks build in foot boxes in the side of the hammock for asymmetrical sleeping. So sleep on an angle and enjoy knowing you will never worry about a rock or a root ruining your night's rest.
- Bring a sleeping bag, even in the dead of summer. Have you ever heard of convection heat loss? Yea, me either but I learned real quick after returning from my first trip out in my hammock in the middle of July. I live in Atlanta, Ga where the summers are hot and humid and couldn't picture needing a sleeping bag, until I ended up tearing into my survival tin at 2 a.m freezing to death and scrambling for a mylar blanket. When you are sleeping in a hammock you have air passing above you and below you. You can literally feel the heat being sucked from you. The nights may be 78 to 80 deg, but to your core temperature that is hypothermia.
- Learn to tie a few helpful knots. The knots that I find to be most useful are the Taut Line Hitch, the Trucker Hitch, and a Slip Line Knot.
- Keep 100' of paracord with you to tie a ridge line above your hammock.
- Practice setting up your gear a few times before going out into the woods. Although it is a quick and easy setup, sometimes getting the spacing and the angle of the hammock just right takes some practice.
- Make sure when you are sleeping your head is higher than your feet. You will wake up with a pounding headache in the morning otherwise.
- Pick trees that are about 17' apart. Its not dire that you do, but I have found this distance between trees to be the best.
- Look above you in the tree tops before setting up. You don't want any dead fallen branches dropping on you in the middle of the night. They call them "Widow Makers".
- Go to those areas that you couldn't set up a tent, the edge of a cliff, the bank of a river, use your imagination and get creative.
- Don't over do it on the gear. Keep away from most of the alluring accessories that will clean out your wallet. You don't need them.