Reviews > Shelters > Hammocks > Crazy Creek Crib LEX Lightweight > Jeff Jackson > Initial Report

Crazy Creek - Crib LEX Lightweight

This Initial Report is part one of a three part test series

BIOGRAPHY

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

Website Description:

Crazy Cribs are complete personal shelters that are great for backpacking, car camping, sea kayaking, trekking, beaches, backyards, rafting... wherever you want exceptionally comfortable off-the-ground sleeping

The Ideal Portable Hammocks

• Convenient Top Entry
• Simple To Set-Up
• Resists Unsteady Rolling
• Provides Off-Ground Gear Storage During The Day
• 1" Wide Suspension Webbing For Excellent Weight Distribution
• Double-Stitched Seams And Reinforced Corners For Durability
• Can Be Used As A Ground Bivy
• Fits Into A Small Stuff Sack
• 300 lb. Weight Capacity

First Impressions

I’m a guy, so my first test was to set it up without reading the directions...very easy. Except for the tarp, each component was simple to operate and seems to perform its function well.

• Hammock and Bug Net - 24-3/4 oz (700 g) measured weight - The hammock is simply a rectangle of silnylon, measuring 45.5 x 104.5 in (115.6 x 265.4 cm) with a matching bug net mesh sewn on top. [Listed specs 44 x 98 in (110 x 245 cm)] A zipper runs down the center of the bug net for the length of the hammock. A hem along both short ends provides a channel for the support straps; each corner is reinforced with leather patches. A pad pocket measuring 24 x 82 in (61 x 208 cm) is centered on the hammock body. Showing as blue in the pictures, it is sewn with a straight stitch around three sides with an opening at one end to insert the pad. When laying in the hammock, a mesh pocket measuring 8 x 6 in (20 x 15 cm) is sewn into the bug net-hammock seam at my right shoulder and left knee.

  To set it up, I simply wrapped the strap around the tree, threaded it through the buckle, and pulled tight. Very simple - quicker than other methods I've used, and no knots or lashings to learn.

  After setting it up, I found the Crazy Creek easier to enter than any other camping hammock I have used. I simply unzipped the bug net's two-way zipper, pulled the bug net down, sat down in the middle of the hammock, and laid back. There were no tight sides or bottom entry slit to put pressure on my legs. The poles make the Crazy Creek feel very open inside, with plenty of space between the bug net and my face.

  Support Channel Showing Reinforcements

  Nice and Roomy Inside

  At this point, I found two issues that concern me. First, the directions say to "fully tighten straps," which eliminates any sag in the hammock. However, this makes laying on the diagonal very difficult, and laying on the centerline causes my body to be bowed like a banana. After a short time, this led to knee pain because my knees were locked. Although the directions say that "A few minor adjustments may be necessary to get the desired comfort level," they mention nothing about the important role that sag plays in hanging a hammock.

  Second, the pad pocket is parallel to the centerline of the hammock, so it does not provide insulation if laying diagonally. (Apparently this hammock breaks with convention and was not designed to lay on the diagonal, although this is not addressed in the directions.) Coupled with the sag issue, this did not make the hammock very comfortable. Additionally, when I hung the hammock, the gathered ends caused the ends of the pad pocket to shrink to ~6 in (15 cm), which caused my 1/4 in (.6 cm) thick pad to buckle and allowed the hammock's side to compress my sleeping bag's insulation, causing my shoulders to get cold. Using a 1/2 in (1.3 cm) pad reduced the buckling somewhat, but this will add a lot of bulk to my pack. Using the 2.8 in (7.8 cm) inflatable pad made the hammock very comfortable. Actually, using this pad (Exped Downmat 7) made this the flattest hammock I have ever slept in; I actually slept on my stomach for almost an hour.

  

  Pad Pocket Doesn't Protect My Shoulders

  I also found two minor issues regarding the bug net. To enter the hammock, I needed to unzip the bug net almost completely to avoid putting too much stress on the zipper. After entering, however, I had to do a complete situp and reach about 2 ft (61 cm) past my feet to grab the zipper head. This was a bit tricky and made closing the bug net at that end a minor hassle; I had to grab the edges of the hammock to pull myself to the end so I could reach the zipper. This situation is repeated in reverse for exiting the hammock. Also, when laying in the hammock I sometimes wanted to open the bug net to the breeze, but the bug net does not easily remain open. Putting a small velcro loop near the grommets that could wrap around the pole to hold the bug net open would resolve this issue with little added weight or complexity.

  

  A Loop Would Help to Keep the Bug Net Wide Open

  Lastly, I am concerned about condensation when sleeping with non-breathable material wrapping half of my body, but after three nights in the Crazy Creek this has proven to be a minor issue. I hope to test this under varied field conditions, though. Also, this material seems to be heavier than necessary, which adds to the weight but may also allow it to perform better as a bivy.

• Strap and Buckle - 3-7/8 oz (110 g) each - The hammock supports are simple straps measuring 11 ft 9 in x 1 in (3.6 m x 2.5 cm) with a buckle on one end. The straps pass through the channel at the ends of the hammock, wrap around the tree, and connect to the buckle. This is the easiest hanging system I have used, and at less than 4 oz (113 g) each, the weight compares favorably with most other hammock support systems. I would be concerned about using the buckles in freezing rain or winter conditions (though I will probably not have a chance to test this during the testing period), but overall I really like the straps and buckle setup.

  The straps also include a small circle of silnylon with a 1 in (2.5 cm) slit in the middle. These drip guards are designed to prevent water from traveling down the straps and onto the hammock.

  Support Buckles

  Silnylon Drip Guard

• Poles - 3 oz (84 g) each - The four section, shock-corded poles snap together very easily and feel very sturdy. They slide easily into the jersey mesh pole sleeves, and contoured ends hold them securely in the grommets on the hammock. When assembled, they form a semi-circle to hold the hammock open wide and support the bug net.

  Pole Grommet

  Jersey Mesh Pole Sleeve

  One minor change could improve the performance of the poles, though. A few times when I removed the poles from the grommets, the contoured end piece pulled out of the pole segment. Rather than sliding back in, however, the shockcord knot pulled out with it and I had to stuff the knot back in before the end piece would slide in. Adding a bit more shockcord to the end, so the knot could be moved about 1 in (2.5 cm) further into the pole, would alleviate this problem.

  I also tried to use the hammock without the poles. First, I removed the poles and flipped the hammock upside down, with the bug net on the bottom, and laid down. The hammock was very comfortable in this mode. Without the poles, I could easily lay diagonally and get very flat. Also in this mode, I tried some cold weather insulation (the JacksRBetter No Sniveler and the Speer PeaPod) and both appeared to function correctly. Although I cannot remove the bug net to save weight, this gives me confidence in the cold weather performance of the Crazy Creek. Using the hammock with only installing one pole at the head end was also comfortable and would allow me to save 3 oz (84 g) of pack weight by leaving a pole at home.

• Tarp - 12-5/8 oz (356 g) - The tarp is basically a rectangle with beaks at the ends. If the beaks were removed, the resulting recangle would measure 98 x 39 in (249 x 99 cm). The 16 in (40.6 cm) beak extends the length and contracts the width by varying amounts depending on how the tarp is setup, so the listed measurements of 77 x 104 in (193 x 260 cm) sound reasonable.

  The tarp has one tie-out on each end of the ridgeline, one on each end of the beak, three tie-outs down each long side, and two lifter tie-outs on each broadside. At a minimum, the ridgeline, beaks and corners must be staked for proper performance.

  Crazy UltraLite Tarp	Closeup of Beak
  Tarp Tie-Out	Tarp Lifter

  The directions state that "All Crazy Creek tarps come with accessory cord, tent stakes, cord tensioners and Seamgrip. Tarp seams are factory taped; use Seamgrip for additional protection or field repairs." This tarp does not have taped seams and no Seamgrip was included in the packaging. I used the easy-to-find customer service address on the Crazy Creek website to ask about this, and got a reply a few hours later saying that "The directions for the LEX and LEX Lightweight are the same--the taped seams & seam sealer come with the LEX. The LEX Lightweight has a sil-nylon (30D silicone impregnated Cordura ripstop) Tarp, so no taped seams and no seam sealer needed." I have never heard that no seamsealer is needed for silnylon tarps; in fact, my experience has been the exact opposite. I replied saying that I had already tested the ridgeline seam by pouring water on it and watching it drip into a bowl, so this answer seemed suspicious to me. Later that day, I got another email saying that "I want to talk to our product folks on this. We'll get back with you tomorrow, OK?"

  After not receiving a response for eleven days, I sent a follow-up email on July 2 asking for resolution and explaining that this issue is preventing me from using the setup. As of July 15, I still have not received a reply.

  I will update this situation as it develops, but I will not rely on this tarp until the issue is resolved.

  First impression - I do not like this tarp. After the first setup, I found it much more complicated and time-consuming than a hammock tarp needs to be. First of all, it has 14 tie-out points, 8 of which are necessary for proper coverage. I have used tarps with 4 tie-out points that provide 15% more coverage than this tarp. This would also eliminate some stakes and guylines, further reducing weight. In my opinion, a simple 8 x 10 ft (2.4 x 3.0 m) tarp would be much simpler to construct and provide more versatility in setup options. Perhaps this opinion will change with further testing.

• Guylines - 3-1/2 oz (100 g) total - This hammock includes a single 82 ft (25 m) length of black guyline. No technical specifications are included, but it appears to be standard braided synthetic cord. The directions call for cutting to length and attaching the lines to the tarp prior to use. Interestingly, though, the directions recommend "6'-10' on ridgeline and 4'-6' on all other pullouts" (1.8-3.0 m and 1.2-1.8 m, respectively). If I had started cutting the maximum recommended lengths for all tie-outs, I would have come up 10' (1.8 m) short! Luckily, I didn't plan on using the lifters and I used different lengths so I have 10' (1.8 m) left over.

• Line Tensioners - 1/4 oz (6 g) total - Six common line tensioners are included. I simply slid the tensioner up the line to tighten the tarp. They worked well for the quick setup with no wind.

• Stakes - 5/16 oz (12 g) each - Six 3-sided, 7 x .5 in ( 17.8 x 1.3 cm), "Y" shaped stakes with notches to hold the guylines. These stakes look great so far, but could benefit from a hole in the top with a loop to make removing them easier. I was surprised that Crazy Creek did not include a stakebag to protect the tarp and hammock when packed.

  "Y" Stake

  Stake with Guyline

• Stuff Sack - 1-3/8 oz (38 g) - Simple stuff sack with a drawstring and cordlock at the top, and a Crazy Creek logo on the bottom. Measures about 16 inches tall by 6 inches in diameter (40.6 x 15 cm) when stuffed.

• Extra Bug Net. Square of mesh to be used for repairs to the bug net.

• Instruction Sheet. The instructions are relatively clear and include pictures. Unfortunately (as described above) the instructions do not appear to match the actual product in some cases. They also give no information for using the hammock as a bivy, although this use is listed as a feature.

I was skeptical about this design at first, but now I'm intrigued. This is the first hammock I have used with poles, and I find it very comfortable in some configurations. It is very well made, with no loose stitches or cosmetic blemishes. Although it is heavier than other hammocks I have used, it's a very interesting design that I plan to explore more fully.

Test Plan

I will use the Crazy Crib in rainy, sunny, foggy, windy and possibly snowy conditions. I will test it while lounging in the backyard and on several 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. If all goes well, I would like to take a weeklong trip to the Wonderland Trail in Washington State. 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?
  • Can I use the hammock as a lounger? Is it stable?
  • 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?
  • 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?
• 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?
  • Do any holes or tears appear in the bug net?
  • Do the straps stretch, become disfigured, or lose enough friction to slip through the buckles?
  • Does the tarp remain waterproof throughout the test period?
• Performance.
  • Do the supports damage the trees?
  • 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?
  • How easy is the Crazy Creek to set up as a bivy? How comfortable is it?
  • Can I set up the tarp separately in the rain?
  • Does the tarp actually keep the hammock dry in the rain? Does it function effectively in windblown rain?
  • Does the tarp provide enough coverage to cook under during rainstorms?
  • Are there any areas where water drips down the support ropes onto the hammock?
  • How easy is the hammock to pack up when breaking camp?
  • How easy is the packed hammock to store in my backpack?

  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 easy to set up
• Comfortable (Very comfortable when used with an inflatable pad)
• Mesh pockets are convenient and actually usable

What I Don’t Like (So Far)

• The tarp
• The weight
• I can't sleep on the diagonal

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

Jeff Jackson

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Reviews > Shelters > Hammocks > Crazy Creek Crib LEX Lightweight > Jeff Jackson > Initial Report