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Jacks 'R' Better Jeff's Gear Hammock and Pack Cover
Long Term Report
February 24, 2006
Tester Bio
Name: Anthony (TJ) Smith
Age: 31 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 5’10” (1.78 m)
Weight: 155 lbs (73 kg)
Email address: tjsmith1946@gmail.com
City, State, Country: Pensacola, Florida USA
Backpacking Background
I have been camping for a little over 5 years now, mostly car camping. I have
recently begun backpacking, and I am constantly adding new gear to my “collection”
in an effort to get my gear list tailored more towards backpacking. Most of
my backpacking trips are short duration, not more than one or two nights. I
am planning some longer trips in the near future.
My current pack weight is around 15-20 lb (7-9 kg) without food and water, depending
on if I'm solo camping or taking my son along, as I have to carry some of his
gear. I am a dedicated hammock camper and have tailored my personal gear to
that aspect of camping.
Product Information
Year of Manufacture – 2005
Manufacturer URL – www.jacksrbetter.com
Tested Size - Large (sized to fit 3000-6000 ci [49-98 L] packs)
Tested Color - Blaze (also available in Gray)
Stated Weight – 3 oz (85 g)
Stated Size – 40 x 53 in (102 x 135 cm)
Weight as Delivered – 3.75 oz (102 g) with included carabineer
Size as Delivered – 37.5 x 54 in (95 x 137 cm)
MSRP – $24.95 US
Initial Information/Observations
For more information, please see my Initial
Report and Field Report. Throughout this report, the Jack's Gear Hammock Pack Cover will
be referred to as JGH/PC.
At the beginning of January, I received a small package from Jacks 'R' Better. Inside the package were two small micro-biners, a small card, and some directions for use. The instructions from JRB stated that the micro-biners were to be used at opposite corners of the JGH/PC, with one attached to the ridgeline of the hammock and the other attached to the side tie-out. This accomplished the same setup I had used previously, but was done with smaller carabineers than I had been using which helped to reduce the weight necessary to carry the JGH/PC. These two micro-biners reduce the overall weight of the setup, with the new micro-biners weighing 2 gm (0.07 oz) each, versus the 8 gm (0.28 oz) the original carabineer included had weighed.
Testing
Date: January 8, 2006
Location: Blackwater River State Forest, Munson, Florida
Weather: Sunny, temperatures ranged from a low of 45 F (7 C) to 71 F (21 C)
This trip was a day hike through our usual terrain, upland pine forest. The trail is mostly grass-covered, with some patches of red clay that offer a unique challenge when either wet or very dry. During this trip, the JGH/PC was used as a pack cover on my 3200 ci (52 L) daypack, to ensure visibility during hunting season. The blaze orange color is very effective for this use, and others in my group were able to see me from quite a distance away. The trail we hiked has a good deal of growth close in, often with spaces less than 30 in (76 cm) wide to walk through. I did not experience any pulls on the material of the JGH/PC, and did not have problems with it pulling off my pack when snagged.
Date: January 29, 2006
Location: Big Lagoon State Park, Pensacola, Florida
Weather: Overcast with brief periods of light rain, temperatures ranged from 62 F (16 C) to 69 F (20 C)
This was a short day hike in a local state park. Most of the hike was on boardwalks, with a few short sections on sand. During this trip, the JGH/PC was used as a pack cover on my 3200 ci (52 L) daypack, due to the anticipated precipitation for the day. We did encounter precipitation, and the JGH/PC did a very good job of keeping my pack dry. I did not experience any water leakage into the pack while using the cover.
Date: February 1, 2006
Location: Blackwater River State Forest, Baker, Florida
Weather: Sunny, temperatures ranged from 55 F (13 C) to 66 F (18 C)
This trip was a dayhike and trail maintenance activity on a local hiking trail in the forest. The purpose of the maintenance was to mow the footpath and lop back brush growing in from the sides of the trail. The JGH/PC was again used primarily for visibility during this trip due to the ongoing hunting season. The other individuals conducting maintenance did not have any problems keeping track of my location, as the blaze orange color acted as a visible beacon to my location even in thicker brush.
Date: February 8, 2006
Location: Blackwater River State Forest, Baker, Florida
Weather: Overcast, temperatures ranged from 50 F (10 C) to 61 F (16 C)
This trip was a dayhike and trail maintenance activity on a local hiking trail in the forest. The purpose of the maintenance was to mow the footpath and lop back brush growing in from the sides of the trail. The JGH/PC was yet again utilized for the blaze orange color, as the end of hunting season has not yet arrived. I also found on this use that I could leave the cover on the pack when I set it down on the ground, and could access everything in the pack without setting the pack itself directly on the ground. When I picked the pack back up off the ground, any dirt and debris was easily brushed off the cover. This provided the added feature of keeping my pack clean.
In addition to the above testing in the field, I have also utilized the JGH/PC in a few testing scenarios at home during conditions I did not experience in the field. I had set my Hennessy Hammock up in the backyard, and placed the JGH/PC on the Hammock. This was accomplished using two replacement micro-biners I had received from Jacks 'R' Better at the beginning of January.
Once I had the JGH/PC set up, I loaded it in a similar fashion as that used in the field with my cook gear, spare clothing, and pack stored inside it. I then left this setup in place during a few days of intermittent rain, including some that was coming in a steep angle due to the effects of the wind. The JGH/PC kept all my gear dry, even with the blowing rain. I attempted these tests both with the hammock empty and with my weight in it, and had no problems with either method. I have still noticed, as mentioned in my previous report, that the JGH/PC does still seem to pull on the side tie-out when holding the typical load I place in it. I am becoming more used to this, and have begun to alter my position to compensate for this.
Overall Impressions
I have found the JGH/PC to be a versatile addition to my gear list. It handles several functions with one piece of equipment, with minimal weight added to my pack. With the addition of the mini-biners, the weight is reduced even further. The blaze orange color is a great benefit in the areas I hike, providing the needed visibility to reduce hunting incidents. In addition, when placed onto my hammock after setting up camp, it helps to locate the camp if I wander away in unfamiliar territory.
When used as a pack cover, the JGH/PC has been very durable even in narrow, overgrown trails. Small brush snags do not leave visible marks, and any dirt and debris cleans off with light brushing by hand. The cover also has provided adequate coverage during rain on both my Granite Gear Vapor Trail pack and my 3200 ci (52 L) daypack. Encountering rain during use with either pack has not presented any problems due to water leakage.
When used to store gear in the gear hammock setup, I find the JGH/PC to be quite useful. It is large enough to hold my equipment not in use, and provides more than adequate coverage during heavy rainfall. The only drawback I have found is the tension placed on the side tie-out, but I have compensated for this with my positioning in the hammock.
Pros
1. Variety of uses
2. Light weight and small size when packed
3. Blaze orange color
Cons
1. Lack of clear directions for use
2. Issues with pulling the side tie out on my hammock
My thanks to Jacks 'R' Better and BackpackGearTest for allowing me to test
this item.
Read more reviews of Jacks R Better gear
Read more gear reviews by Anthony Smith
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