Name: Jeff Jackson
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Height: 5’ 10” (178 cm)
Weight: 185 lb (84 kg)
Website: http://www.tothewoods.net/
Email: jwj32542 at yahoo dot com
Location: Monterey, CA, USA

Backpacking Background:
I have been backpacking for about eleven years. Three years ago I switched to lightweight hiking and I always keep my packweight below 30 lb (14 kg) for seven days or less. I generally hike in mild weather (50-85 F/10-30 C) with some winter (~20 F/-7 C) and warmer (85-100 F/30-38 C) trips. I take a hammock on every trip, with many nights in my Hennessy Hammock and my homemade hammocks based on Ed Speer’s design. I often sleep in my hammock at home, and I have hammocked in temps as low as -10 F (-23 C).

PRODUCT INFO

Manufacturer: Crazy Creek (http://www.crazycreek.com/)
Product: Crib LEX Lightweight w/ UltraLite Tarp (2006)
Color: Forest/Royal (Hammock/Tarp)
Listed Weight: 54 oz (1531 g)
Measured Weight: 58-3/4 oz (1664 g) (8.7% over listed)
MSRP: $199 US

Product Description:

A full-featured camping hammock with zippered bug net, pad pocket for insulation, and shaped tarp for weather protection. See the Initial Report for full description.

Testing Update

Since the Initial Report, I have used the Crazy Creek on three backpacking trips in Los Padres National Forest and one car camping trip in Hot Springs, NC. Temperatures ranged from 40-70 F (5-21 C) and weather included dry, rainy, foggy, windy and non-windy conditions.

Findings:

I noted in the IR that the Crazy Creek is very roomy inside. This also contributes to great views from inside the hammock. I can see out the ends of this hammock better than any other hammock I've used, which is great for viewing scenery or checking out random sounds in the night.

This hammock continues to excel for ease of setup. I can hang this hammock faster than any other I have used.

The ends of the hammock are also roomy enough for a medium-sized stuff sack to hang within easy reach inside the hammock, but still out of the way. Adding a loop or a clip to hold the stuff sack would be a very convenient feature with minimal weight penalty.

When unoccupied, the Crazy Creek hangs nearly horizontally (rather than with sag like some other models). Additionally, the poles raise the profile of the hammock even higher. Coupled with the shape of the tarp (detailed in the IR), I have trouble entering and exiting the hammock without touching the underside of the tarp. At times this is merely an annoyance, but when the underside is covered in condensation I get wet. Increasing the separation between the unoccupied hammock and the tarp creates a very large gap when I sit in the hammock and it sags. Although I haven't tested that setup in windy rain, my experience with other hammocks leads me to believe that windblown rain would be a problem with that level of protection.

A minor annoyance - the unoccupied hammock is top-heavy, so it lists to one side. I can usually roll it back before I sit and it's no problem. When I have a sleeping bag and stuff sacks inside, though, they slide to the lowest side and I have to move everything out of the way before I can get in. Because of the strap design, hanging a pack on the straps (a normal method of storing a pack overnight with a hammock) makes the list even worse and slightly affects how the hammock lays when occupied. This is a rather minor issue, though.

I would like a small hook or loop inside the bug net to hang a light. While reading in the hammock at night, I usually hang my headlamp on the pole and let it hang through the opened zipper. In the relatively bug-free nights that I have used this method I haven't had a problem, but I can see a gap where no-see-ums might be able to enter if I camp in heavily infested areas.

This hammock excels when used as a bug bivy on the ground. I simply attached the support straps around a rock on one end and a small tree on the other end. Tightening the straps caused the poles to raise and hold the bug net up, creating a very roomy bivy. I slept with my 7 year old son in the Crazy Creek on the ground; it was a bit tight with both of us in there but still roomy enough to sleep well. I did not use the tarp in this configuration.

Crazy Creek Listing to the Side

Crazy Creek as a Bivy

As noted in the IR, Crazy Creek's customer service said they would respond "tomorrow" regarding the tarp's seam-seal issue. I still have not received a response. However, I tested the tarp in the rain and confirmed that it leaks without seam-sealer, contrary to instructions given by customer service. Unfortunately, since it is still dry season in Monterey I don't expect to see enough rainy conditions to thoroughly test the tarp after seam-sealing.

As noted in the Initial Report, I still find this hammock very comfortable when used with the Exped Downmat 7. However, without this heavy pad I still cannot get nearly as comfortable as the other hammocks I have used.

I really expected to have condensation problems under my body because of the non-breathable material. This has proven to be a non-issue. The only time I experienced a moisture problem was when I was actually overheated, and venting the sleeping bag resolved the issue. This is a very pleasant surprise.

Test Plan

My test plan remains the same - I will look for sunny, foggy, windy, possibly snowy and hopefully (but unlikely) rainy conditions. I will test it while lounging in the backyard and on 1-3 day hiking trips to Los Padres National Forest and the Big Sur area, and at least one weekend trip to Yosemite National Park. I will test the hammock in temperatures ranging from 30-80 F (-1 to 27 C), and at elevations from sea level to ~10,000 ft (3,000 m).

I will evaluate the Crib on the basis of comfort, durability, and performance.

Comfort.
- How comfortable is the hammock? Can I lay flat? Can I sleep on the diagonal? Can I sleep on my side?
  - Very comfortable with a thick pad. I cannot lay diagonally or flat without a thick pad. Same for sleeping on my side.
- Can I use the hammock as a lounger? Is it stable?
  - Very comfortable and stable as a lounger. Relatively stable when used with a thin pad, but fairly unstable when sitting up inside the hammock (when zipping the foot end, for example) with the thick pad because the pad raises my center of gravity by ~2 in (~5 cm).
- How can I stay warm in the hammock? Does a pad in the Crazy Creek’s pocket cause condensation like the previous pads I have used? Will the JRB underquilts fit the Crazy Creek?
  - The thick pad holds me high enough in the hammock that the sides don't compress my sleeping bag insulation (shoulder wrap). With a thinner pad [.5" (1.75 cm) thick closed cell foam pad], I did experience shoulder wrap that caused cold spots. No additional condensation from the hammock material. My underquilts do not fit well on the Crazy Creek unless I remove the poles.
- Do the Crazy Creek’s comfort and ease of use justify the additional weight over similar shelters? Do the extra luxury features like the poles holding up the bug net actually add to the Crazy Creek’s comfort?
  - Still deciding. At this point, I think the Crazy Creek would make a great car camping hammock, but I'm not convinced it's worth the extra weight over other backpacking hammocks.

Durability.
- Does the hammock body show any wear over time? Does the body show any abrasions over time, especially after using it as a bivy? Do any threads fray?
  - I noticed a missing tooth on the zipper, but no other wear.
- Do any holes or tears appear in the bug net?
  - None so far.
- Do the straps stretch, become disfigured, or lose enough friction to slip through the buckles?
  - Absolutely no slippage of the buckles. Stretch has not been an issue and I have noticed no permanent disfiguring of the straps.
- Does the tarp remain waterproof throughout the test period?
  - Tarp material does not appear to have lost any waterproofness.

Performance.
- Do the supports damage the trees?
  - Not noticeably more than any other straps.
- Will the Crazy Creek function on my hammock stand? Will it connect to “non-traditional” supports like corner fence posts, pavilion supports and rock-climbing cams?
  - It works fine on my hammock stand, and carabiners clip to the straps for a fully-functioning hang.
- How easy is the Crazy Creek to set up as a bivy? How comfortable is it?
  - Easier than any other hammock I've used. Very roomy and comfortable.
- Can I set up the tarp separately in the rain?
  - Yes.
- Does the tarp actually keep the hammock dry in the rain? Does it function effectively in windblown rain?
  - Other than noting that the seams leak, I have not adequately tested this yet.
- Does the tarp provide enough coverage to cook under during rainstorms?
  - Yes.
- Are there any areas where water drips down the support ropes onto the hammock?
  I didn't notice any on the one rainy day and night I spent in the hammock.
- How easy is the hammock to pack up when breaking camp?
  - Just as easy as other hammocks I've used.
- How easy is the packed hammock to store in my backpack?
  - It's somewhat bulky but still smaller than a tent. Very easy to store with other gear in my pack.
In sum, does the Crazy Creek’s extra comfort convince me to replace my current setup as my shelter of choice?

What I Like (So Far)

Very simple and roomy
Very comfortable when used with an inflatable pad

What I Don’t Like (So Far)

The tarp
The weight

Overall Impression

At this point, I am very impressed with the comfort of the hammock when used with a thick inflatable pad, but rather unimpressed with its performance without a heavy pad. I'm still intrigued by the innovative design but I think some minor adjustments would significantly improve its performance.

I would like to thank Crazy Creek and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to hang in this Crib.

Jeff Jackson

Read more reviews of Crazy Creek gear
Read more gear reviews by Jeff Jackson

Field Report

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