Hit 100 nights in my hammock last year, never thought I'd ditch the tent for good

After that 40th rainy night in a row where setting up a tent felt like a hassle on the AT in Virginia, the hammock won me over completely, and now I'm curious how many others made the switch after a specific trip or number of uses?

2 comments

2 Comments

evan_stone12d ago

That rainy stretch in Virginia is exactly the kind of thing that makes you question everything about your gear. Did you find the hammock actually made those wet mornings easier, or was it more about the setup being less of a chore? I've heard some people struggle with staying dry under a tarp in high winds, so I'm curious what your tarp strategy ended up being after that trip. Specifically, did you go with a bigger tarp for better coverage, or stick with a smaller one to save weight?

iris_rivera4412d ago

And actually I think you might be mixing up a couple things there. The big tarp vs small tarp debate is more about how you pitch it than just the size, like a smaller tarp with good door flaps in a storm pitch can outperform a huge one that's just thrown up square. I learned that the hard way when my bigger tarp still let in mist because I didn't seal the ends right, so for me it's all about learning the pitch angles and tie-outs no matter what size you bring.