Guest - Not logged in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reviews > Shelters > Hammocks > Bliss Sky Bed Bug Free Hammock > Test Report by Brian HartmanSKY BED BUG FREE HAMMOCK
CLICK
HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT TESTER INFORMATION
I have been backpacking for over 20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in Western USA. In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker. I use fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than the bare essentials with me while on the trail. INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Hammock Bliss Year of Manufacture: 2016 Manufacturer's Website: http://www.hammockbliss.com/ MSRP: US $119.95 Listed Weight: 32 oz. (900 g) Measured Weight: 33 oz. (935 g) Unfolded Dimensions: 125 in (318 cm) x 53 in (135 cm) Folded Dimensions: 11 in (28 cm) x 9 in (23 cm) Weight Capacity: 350 lbs. (159 kg) Color: Black Warranty: 2 Years The Sky Bed Bug Free hammock (hereafter called Sky Bed Bug Free or hammock) is a lightweight, single person, gathered end hammock that has built-in bug netting for mosquito-free camping. It was designed by Hammock Bliss in Tucson, Arizona (AZ), a family run company that has been in business for over 25 years. The company's product line includes almost a dozen hammocks and other accessories such as shelters, rain flies, sleep sacks, and tree straps. The owner, Dov Frazer, prides himself on using the highest quality materials and offering excellent customer service. The Sky Bed Bug Free is manufactured in Indonesia and features a two year warranty. The Sky Bed Bug Free is made of ripstop nylon and features a patent pending asymmetric design that allows for a nearly flat sleeping surface when using an inflatable sleeping pad. Of course the sleeping pad adds cushion and insulation as well. A silver colored nylon sleeve, sewn into the inside of the hammock, holds the sleeping pad in place and prevents it from moving around. The sleeve is made out of parachute nylon and is 20 in (50 cm) wide x 72 in (182 cm) long to accommodate a pad of similar size. The bug netting is made of no-see-um mesh which has 2100 holes per square inch to keep out mosquitoes and other insects while still allowing air circulation. The netting is permanently attached to the hammock on one side and has a full length zipper on the other. The zipper makes entering and exiting the hammock very easy and it also allows for sitting in the hammock with the netting folded open. The hammock features two interior mesh pockets for gear storage, measuring 6 in (15 cm) x 11 in (28 cm) each. One of these pockets is located at the head end of the hammock while the other is located towards the foot end of the hammock. Finally there are 6 interior loops that can be used for hanging all kinds of gear. I received a set of 100 in (254 cm) long x 1.5 in (4 cm) wide polypropylene tree straps with the hammock. These straps are normally ordered separately but since they came with the hammock and weigh so little at 5 oz. (143 g) per set, I plan to use them throughout testing and will comment on them as appropriate. The straps have a 350 lbs. (159 kg) load capacity and are designed to extend the distance for hanging the hammock and protect the suspension ropes (and trees) from abrasion.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS My initial impressions of the Sky
Bed Bug Free were very positive. It came in a small, lightweight stuff sack and
when I first unpacked it, it felt sturdy and well made. The body of the hammock
is comprised of rip stop nylon which is reinforced with webbing along the
structural seams for additional strength. The stitching was even and appeared
to be of high quality with no obvious imperfections or flaws. The integrated
bug netting looked like it could keep out the smallest of insects and it also
appeared to be durable and tear resistant. Having owned a hammock with
drape-over netting that required me to crawl in and out from the bottom, I
appreciate the full length zipper that is built into this hammock as it should
allow for much easier entry and exit.
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS Small hang tags were included
with both the hammock and tree straps when they arrived. The tags provided
useful information regarding the hammock and straps including product specs and
set up instructions.
TRYING IT OUT My first time setting up the Sky Bed Bug Free hammock was a breeze. For my initial test I went straight to my backyard where I have two large trees that are the perfect distance apart for hammocking. Tying the hammock to the trees was quite simple and took no more than a few minutes with the included tree straps. It took an additional minute for me to adjust for the proper tension and then I was ready to climb in. Getting into the Sky Bed was very easy and once in I had no problems positioning myself diagonally to take advantage of the hammock's asymmetric design. Once settled in I laid there for 10 minutes or so and watched the clouds roll by before getting out to take photos for this report. The experience was wonderful and I'm very excited about taking this hammock on the trail for testing. SUMMARY The Sky Bed Bug Free appears to
be a great hammock and I look forward to getting it into the Field for some
serious testing. Among other things I look forward to trying it with an
inflatable sleeping pad, seeing how well it protects against mosquitos and
evaluating its long term durability. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS Since posting my Initial Report in June I've spent eight blissful
nights in the Sky Bed Bug Free hammock. The first night was spent sleeping in
my backyard so as to get used to my new sleeping quarters. Once dialed in I
spent the next seven nights in the woods of Southern Indiana (IN). Besides
bringing the Sky Bed hammock and straps I brought along my Hennessey rain fly,
snake skins, and two different sleeping pads for testing purposes. During
testing I experienced both wet and dry conditions as well as temperatures that
ranged from 66 to 88 F (19 to 31 C). PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD Needless to say, I had no problem
finding trees to tie to in the Hoosier National Forest (HNF). In fact there
were so many trees and great hammocking spots that I moved locations each night
to take full advantage of the bounty. With nearly perfect weather on this trip,
my pitches were mainly along ridgelines which gave me views in all directions.
As for the hammock it was quite simple to hang, taking less than five minutes or
so to set up each night. The straps worked really well and provided some
flexibility in how close or far the trees needed to be apart. On all of my
trips during this test period I didn't bother creating a structural ridgeline
for the hammock and instead just eyeballed it for proper hang angle. I
eventually plan to add one if for nothing else than to take the guesswork out of
hanging the hammock and make setup even quicker. Since no rain was in the
forecast and the wind was very minimal I also skipped setting up my tarp on this
trip. SUMMARY The Sky Bed is a very comfy
hammock with lots of neat features. I really like its integrated bug netting
and the use of full length zippers that allow for easy entry and exit from the
hammock. I also really like the silver sleeve and have found that using a
sleeping pad with the hammock makes for a very comfortable and flat laying
position. My big concern is its long term durability and the potential for
injury if something breaks. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS Since posting my Field Report in
September I slept in the Sky Bed Bug Free hammock four additional nights.
Temperatures ranged from 42 to 77 F (6 to 25 C) during my outings and the
weather was generally very nice with only a brief period of rain one afternoon.
Elevations in the areas I hiked ranged from 560 to 710 ft (161 to 241
m). PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD I had been wanting to camp in
this area for a long time and finally got the opportunity. The weather was
perfect and the scenery was fantastic with the autumn leaves and changing trees
colors making for a picturesque landscape. I hiked/wandered across several
miles of gently rolling hillsides, through farmland and mature forests until I
came to a great spot in a small grove of trees where I set up camp around 5 or 6
o'clock. It only took a few minutes to set up the hammock, which I stretched
between two youthful trees and then it was off to gather some firewood for the
evening. Temperatures cooled down considerably that night and so I was glad to
have a fire as well as my sleeping bag for extra warmth. I spent the following
day hiking but kept the same campsite for the following night because the area
was so nice. SUMMARY The Sky Bed Bug Free hammock is a
great piece of gear and there are many things to like about it. It is
comfortable to sleep in and easy to get into and out of with its full length
side zipper. But my two favorite things about this hammock are still its
integrated bug netting and sleeping pad sleeve. As for the stitching around the
structural seam, it still makes me nervous although it hasn't opened up any
further since my last report. Read more reviews of Bliss Hammocks gear Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman Reviews > Shelters > Hammocks > Bliss Sky Bed Bug Free Hammock > Test Report by Brian Hartman |