Hennessy Hammocks
Hennessy Hammock has been around for several years, but thanks to a tip from the comments and my absolute lack of desire to do anything online this morning, I spent the better part of an hour browsing the company's website, reading stories from satisfied customers, and daydreaming about taking a backpacking trip out of the city sometime soon. (And in fact, I think I'm going to.)
Like inventor Tom Hennessy, I thought the Army-issue hammock tents where some of the coolest things ever made; unlike Hennessy, I didn't invent an improved version of my own. The Hennessy hammocks feature an open slit at the bottom, making egress simple, while still sealing up when you're fully inside from the way your weight shifts. (Although larger models also shore that seam up with velcro.)
I especially liked reading about some of the little tweaks users of the hammocks have done, like this funnel and bottle contraption that is used to weigh down the rain flaps as well as fill the bottles with rain water.
Prices vary between under $100 to upwards of $500 depending on how well appointed a model may be, from a backpacking model that's just under two pounds to a military-grade model that can support extra stress and weight.
I want one pretty badly, just like I wanted that Army hammock from twenty years ago, but I think I'll resist until I get one more hike in, just to prove that I've got some self-control. Anyone know any good mountains around NYC that have EV-DO?
Company Page [HennessyHammock.com]
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My God. It's like a giant vagina.
I've been using one for a couple of years and it is a great alternative to traditional tents. I especially like not having to worry about the condition of the ground I'm sleeping over, just finding suitable trees in the right range of distance apart. When camping with scouts, this opens up a lot more potential tent sites out of the high traffic areas.
My favorite picture of one in use was in a swamp with the kayak tethered underneath.
There are no mountains around NYC. Where I come from (Colorado), those are called hills.
Bee cool Mr Pork.
The base of Colorado's big ugly pointy rocks are at 5K feet on the high plains, so the actual sizes of them aren't that much bigger than the Appalachians. And at least the Appalachians aren't full of obnoxious yuppies from Denver with their dogs, but rather full of trees that turn nice colors in the fall. I live(d) around both ranges and would take the eastern version any day.
But to comment on the hammocks: I looked around their site a while back, I really like the looks of these. If I were camping somewhere that had ample trees, I would really consider one. I'm going with a cot for the tent for now.
Highest peak in New York: Mt. Marcy, 5,344ft
Large peaks in Colorado range from 13,837ft (Rio Grande Pyramid in the San Juans) to 14,440ft (Mt. Elbert in the Sawatch Range). There are 28 peaks in between. Subtract 5,280ft from the low end, and you get 8,557ft. That's 62% bigger on the low end of the scale, not accounting for however high above sea level New York is on average.
And you are suggesting there are more yuppies in Denver than NYC? Really?
The area around Cave shelter gets great verizon service these days.
Only 45 mins up the palisades parkway :)
Do they have some place to put your gear, though, or does it have to stay outside?
Howdy again pork person.
You have a fleece vest, dog, and Subaru, don't ya.
I was really thinking more of the southern end of the Appalachians, where I lived around NC and GA. Mt Mitchell in NC is 6684 ft, with a base around 800 ft I think. Doing the math on that doesn't come up with a fourteener, but it is still pretty good sized mountain. And without an actual count of yuppies, or whatever they call those people, the Appalachians are way more pleasant to spend time in.
Ever since we got a pair of these great hammocks my girlfriend enjoys outdoor trips, again (Probably because she has not to endure my hiking socks in a tent any more.) I had to import them from the U.S., and even the trip to the local customs office (a bureaucrats dream) was worth the hassle. Writing "snakeskins" - thats how the extra sheaths for easy packing are called - on the customs declaration probably made them officials suspicious.
The Hennesy Hammock is definitely some of the best gear I own. It's really great to be able to set it up almost wherever there are trees, without doing too much damage to the ground, and no hassle with sloping ground, wetness, rocks, twigs, thorns and critters! No more backaches, easy to set up, even for a short break during the day; with the snakeskins putting them down really takes only two minutes. Withstands heavy rain, if set up properly. Getting into the sleeping bag needs some wiggling, but once inside it's so comfortable that I prefer it to my bed at home - but there's only space for ONE person.
You also need a good insulation when weather is as cold as this years "summer" in Germany, where I live. Otherwise, wherever your sleeping bag is (com)pressed against the fabric, it becomes pretty cold. Ordinary foam matresses or even therm-a-rests are not really suitable for a hammock. After some searching I found a large, but thin foam mattress (for picnic), which with the help of a carabiner, some duct tape and some velcro spots I am now able to secure slip-proof into the HH.
Hi Sarah
They have a small pouch inside the hammock for things you might need while laid up but generally one clips one's ruck to the main rope, outside the hammock but beneath the flysheet.
This keeps it off the ground and dry.
I have used these extensively in the Amazon and the Far East. They are outstanding.
Nice to see the Hennessy hammock listed. I did a ten-day backpack using an earlier model, see
http://www.wilsey.net/Northville/
I mostly use tents these days, but I have the hammock around still.
New York has the Adirondacks and the Catskills, both of which are great regions for hiking. The Adirondacks is one of the great wilderness areas of the US, and at six million acres one of the largest. Comparison with Colorado's mountains is "apples and oranges." Both have their unique qualities. Some of the peaks in New York's mountain regions are extremely challenging.
I second the remarks about hammock insulation in cooler temperatures.
I've been bicycling around Europe for the last 5 months. When not visiting friends I'm in my beloved HH. It is easier to find two trees for a hammock than a flat, dry place to pitch a bivy sack, especially since I'm camping wild and not at designated campgrounds. As a girl traveling alone I like that the hammock is well-camouflaged and I can go stealth.
I have a couple of keychain-type mini-carabiners and use them to clip things (my computer, etc) inside with me at night.
I second the outstanding comment. Regarding the insulation, it will be an interesting autumn...
Y'all be civil. I grew up in Arizona and live in Brooklyn, and I promise you that after you've been climbing in some of those Eastern ranges, you'll believe they're mountains. After that, you can try out Mt. Washington.
Yuppies are everywhere. Some are perfectly nice people. The ones from Denver aren't any worse than the ones who live around Boulder or the pricier resort towns.
In the meantime, I want one of those hammocks.
Fifty years ago, as a kid, I spent 3 summers canoe-tripping in Maine. We used Army surplus jungle hammocks. They were great. I also used a surplus mummy bag that had a central zipper instead of a zipper along the side. It could be a real challenge to get in the bag in the hammock. My hips tended to go into a tank-slapper, a motorcycle term. Several mornings, I would wake up face down staring at the ground supported by the mosquito netting. That was a challenge, first thing in the morning, to right myself.
If it looked like it was going to be a peaceful night, I would rig the fly high. If it felt like rain, I would rig it low.
The Maine woods have lots of mosquitos. After zipping up for the night, there was always one or two to get. After that, the night was bug-free.
All and all, I have good memories of that jungle hammock. I'm sure the Hennessey Hammock is an improved modern version of a great idea
Like a giant vagina, yes. But this vagina stays dry. I have had one for a couple of years and it was essential for my multi-day paddle trip down the flooded Pine Island Bayou. I wish I had a photo of my hammock tied up in a clump of trees with my canoe underneath. My main complaint is the lack of space to put your backpack. In my one man tent I would sleep with it under my knees but with the hammock I have to keep it outside. No good. But I have to say that the best feature is the versatility. Half the time I end up pitching it like a tent! Not as comfy but it works. bet yer bottom dollar at yahoo if you want to see some photos.
I still have a WWII jungle hammock in working condition that I'd like to recreate with modern materials. It's heavy. But the view is terrific (I can't tell with the Hennessy), the best feature is that you only need two suitable supports for a great night's sleep, and if you're male and careful, you can pee without getting out of bed. As for bottom insulation, a thin sheet of ensulite plus clothes works well into three seasons.
other good camping hammock options come from Eagle Nest Outfitters.
they are similar in price and options. check out the slapstraps; great straps to help you hang any hammock quickly and easily in all sorts of situations.
I've camped about 50 nights in one of the Hennessey's in the last 2 years and I'm a huge fan. Now that the vagina aspect of it has been brought to mind, I'm sure I'll sleep even better!
It does get cold (last night it was about 40F and I was just barely warm enough in a 20F bag) in the fall, but the Super Shelter under add-on helps quite a bit. Stealthing is so easy and the joy of sleeping in essentially the exact same spot each night regardless of your actual surroundings is both comfy and reassuring.
If you're scared of the ticket price, I can only say that it would be a bargain at twice the cost.
See a picture of mine at a campsite in northern VT from this summer's jaunt here...
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=QzzM&page_id=59754&v=O