This hammock comes in two main pieces: a) a hammock with a sewn-in netting and, b) a tarpaulin that hangs over the hammock.  I shall refer to these two components as ‘hammock’ and ‘tarp’.  The hammock suspends from two cables sewn into the hammock ends (e.g. "cables on").  While a third, thinner cable runs through the inside of the hammock, and over the user’s head, keeping the netting aloft.  This netting is made of a fine black nylon gauze that keeps even the smallest insects outside.  The only way insects can breach the hammock is through going the only entrance of the hammock, a slit edged with Velcro running across over a third of the base of the hammock.  This entry slit is quite ingenious as it snaps shut (just as the manufacturer claims) to keep intruders out and the user in the vast majority of the time.

The tarp is made of silicone/nylon material and clips onto the outer cables lengthways whilst two black cords secure the tarpaulin widthways.  The hammock also has two cords that secure, and expand, it widthways.  These differ slightly from the tarp’s cords as the hammock cords are elasticated.  The reason for using elastic cords for the hammock is to compensate for the side to side rocking of the hammock when it is in use.  The product comes also with two black webbing straps (140cm or 55").  These protect the trunk of the trees so that the cables are attached to the webbing straps, which are wrapped around the tree trunk.  Therefore no cables come in contact with the tree or dig into its bark.

Field Information

I have spent 10 nights inside this hammock this year.  I chose not to use the word ‘sleeping’ with my experience of this hammock, the only hammock I have used, as this would be misleading.

In theory this position sounds easy to achieve, but in practice I found this holding this position impossible.  Instead of “keeping my back straight and level”, as the writing outside the bag suggests, I found myself to gravitate to a permanently bent position.  I considered myself to be within the recommended size of the user 5’11¾” (1.80 m), I have received feedback from helpful hammock buffs that my sleeping experiences with this product is due to myself being over the recommended height size.  I have been recommended that I might like to instead buy the Explorer Ultralight Asym (an extra 5 oz / 142 g heavier).  Alternatively, I am told that I could send an email to Tom Hennessy (the inventor of the product) to see whether I can get my hammock swapped for this longer one.  I'm going to try the latter!

  This aided me to gauge what level to fix the hammock on trees growing on different levels.  This gave me some help.  However, considering that using the level means that I had to adjust the webbing straps many times in order to get a level hammock.  All of this made me feel that the manufacturers claim for the hammock to be set up in 2 minutes as rather idealistic and unbelievable.  A second BackPackGear Tester suggests that I can also solve the problem of ‘slipping’ by setting my hammock “slightly feet high” instead – I shall try out this simple method the next time I use this product.

To compound my frustrations in not being able to set up the hammock effectively or sleep in it satisfactorily I found the diagram and instructions printed onto the outside surface of the products drawstring bag wholly incomprehensible and inadequate.  Looking around at the other tester experiences of this issue, thankfully at least I see that I am not alone here.  In order to fully understand the correct way to secure the cable to the webbing strap I had to first watch, and follow, a video that can be found on the manufacturer’s web site with just a little searching.

In following the video a couple of times, I found that I could secure the cable to the webbing in the way instructed (a series of loops, not knots) quite easily.  After a little practice, I found that I could carry this out within seconds without looking.  This would prove useful as almost half of my walks to the proposed camp went well over the expected time.

Starting my first test and looking for a good place to set my hammock.  I began to remember that although the manufacturers claim that the hammock user does not have to need to find flat, comfortable, level ground.  The advertisements however, conveniently forget to mention that looking for these conditions would be replaced by looking for two strong trees the right distance apart, with a suitable girth to wrap the strap around either once or twice.

When I did manage to find two suitable deciduous candidates to use and begin securing the hammock to them, I soon discovered that I needed to have found trees that were even more suitable.  This is because neither tree had branches that were conveniently positioned to secure either the hammock or tarp cords.  Therefore, I had to improvise using heavy rotten tree limbs to secure them, and a large rock.  The idea of using the rock was a mistake.

At dawn, I naturally enough reached over in my hammock to find my mobile phone.  Upon not being able to find it in a minute or two I decided to turn around, face down, on my hands and knees to search a little more actively.  At this point, with the weight shifting around in the tent, the rock I had chosen to act as an anchor for my hammock cord gave way.  This set off a classic hammock chain reaction.  The manufacturers pride themselves upon the fact that one cannot fall out of their hammock.  Although strictly true, I found myself flipped sideways, landing on the opposite side of the hammock, bringing the hammock rolling under me - thankfully the tarp stayed put.  After a minute or so of laughing at the predicament I found myself in I found myself laying fully on the netting and that the hammock base and entry slit had revolved high above my feet.  Then I looked through the netting at the ground below to come face to face with my mobile phone (I mentioned that the entry slit was not completely foolproof).

It took a considerable amount of time and effort to crawl backwards.  I had to stick each foot 1 m (3 feet) high into the air, break the Velcro seal with my sock, slide my body through the slit and edge myself down to the earth below.  I had decided to get out in this strange manner rather than turning around inside the hammock to spread my weight in order not to put undue pressure on the stitches of the netting.  To have done so would have made my job easier – but potentially cause the netting and seams to give way.

On examination, the hammock and myself came away unscathed.  However, looking at what contortions I had to put myself in, a relatively fit person, I realised that a less fortunate person might have come away from the experience far less happy, if at all.

On my second and subsequent trips, I decided to allow a little more weight and bring along some tent pegs from now on.  On the second and third nights using the hammock I, thankfully, did not have such an experience.  Instead, I experienced being let down by the hammock in another way.  After a friend of mine who did not speak English had broken some bones, I had needed to visit the local hospital, until late.  Because of this, I had no option but to find and secure my cables onto a couple of deciduous trees in very little light.  As I entered the hammock to get some much needed sleep I felt the cable of the hammock drop a little and perhaps gently, gently I felt the hammock drop again as I moved.  Waking in the morning, I soon discovered where my hammock had been situated, next to the local zoo – I had heard lions roaring through the night.  My first view outside of the hammock through the netting was an ornate bird looking at me through the bars.  I also discovered that my hammock was barely 3 inches (76 mm) off of the ground – instead of the 3 feet (1 metre) that I had set it up to be...

  This unfortunately was again experienced the next morning – I had to hang my hammock the same place at the same ungodly hour because of another trip to the hospital with my friend.

On the third night, I was able to pitch my tent in between two trees within a long, deep hedgerow.  However, although I luckily did not open my eyes in the morning to discover that I had dropped to the ground; instead, I was rudely awoken by rain.  In order to see out of the hammock properly, as ever, I decided to set the tarp of the hammock horizontally as the picture below shows.

Unfortunately, both wind and rain set in that night and my hammock was whipped around in the trees like a boat.  I was happy to sit it out listening as the rain turned the tarp into a snare drum - as long as the wind did not drive the rain underneath the tarp.  However, within minutes, the wind began to purchase and play on the wrinkles that in my experience always gather lengthways in the tarp (see photograph above).  I took at least some wonderment in watching the tarp flapping for many minutes.  Then the tarp raised in one magical tsunami-like action and whipped down with an incredible aim, full of rainwater, shooting a mass of fresh liberating water through the netting and onto my shocked face below.

Through reading other Tester’s reports I had concluded that one secret to having a good night’s sleep was to find the right foam pad.  Upon using my old, narrow 10-year-old foam pad to little success (before I had begun to use the line-level), I chose to buy a new, wider pad.  In local stores, I had found that the widest pad I could find was a bright yellow foam pad made by Karrimor.  This seemed to have more adhesion to the hammock’s inner surface, of which I was pleased, and also gave me greater warmth as I found that at no time had my arms rested upon the bare hammock wall or floor.  I used this pad once more until I accidentally went on a short trip without any pad at all.  I decided not to head back but to carry on, happy in the belief that if necessary I could always lay on my empty rucksack inside the hammock.  That night with the whole of my torso resting on my rucksack I discovered that the rucksack had not moved all through the night and had kept me at a far more bearable temperature than either of the foam pads.  To top that I had left my tarpaulin high up in the horizontal position and had seen a roe deer pass within 30 feet (90 m) of my hammock.

A further bout of experimentation with the hammock came about, or rather was forced on me, on the last night of a three-day walk.  This time I found myself high on a ridge walking with a friend, the light was fading and with no sign of a tree.  The only thing I could think of doing was to create a bivouac from my hammock, as I had read in other Tester’s reports - using walking poles.  Fortunately, though I noticed a line of large, disused, weather-beaten fenceposts.  (See image to the right )

I began to suspend the hammock from the fenceposts, but upon discovering that the posts were rotten, I decided to secure it low and rest my body weight again on my covered empty rucksack on the ground but under the hammock.

A further addition to my hammocking experience came in the form of buying two Hennessy Snakeskins.  Retailing at GBP 12.99 (USD 19.95).  They come in the form of two open-ended tubes, are made of the same material as the tarpaulin.  These small and very light additions to my hammock now permanently sit over the support cables, complementing the hammock completely.  The Snakeskins make setting up and taking down the hammock far easier and quicker.  These ‘skins’ are able to make such a difference by allowing the hammock to be converted into a far easier to handle hammock-length sausage when setting up the hammock and taking it down.  See image below

A strong and obvious reason for sticking with the hammock has been due to the compact size and weight of the hammock in comparison to using a tent.  If I find that I cannot find a way to get adequate sleep (i.e. 2+ hours each night) I shall choose to find another product.  However, for the time being I will persevere with this product.

I started backpacking in late teens both as a form of getting around and to see the country.  Regular day backpacking excursions most weekends, any serious trips (i.e. 2-10 days) restricted to time and weather, but on average travel two or three times a year.

I have experience hiking both with incredibly full packs and minimal kit.  I am extremely keen in paring down the weight of my kit to a minimum, getting the best comfort value and obtaining good quality equipment.