Topic: Hammock v. Tent (Read 4216 times)

Slick · « **on:** 16 Jul 2010, 19:47 »

I am looking at camping kit to buy that is lightweight and simple. A friend of mine has a Hubba Hubba which we have camped in which is a pretty great tent. Of all the tents I've looked at, I think I like it the most because it is affordable, lightweight, and fits two people plus nice vestibules for gear. Four season tents are heavier and more expensive, but I've been out in that hubba hubba in thirty below and we got by.
While that tent is the tent I'd like to have, it is like $330. On the other hand, you can get a one-man camping hammock for $140 which is sturdy and includes mosquito netting and fly. That is half the price and almost half the weight of the tent, which is hells of alluring.
Now I am wondering what to do! I have a slightly tiny tent right now which is not nearly as great as the Hubba Hubba, so I don't need a new tent urgently, but I feel like I'd miss the space to stow my gear in a tent if I went camping with just a hammock.
I've seen people use a bike to rig the hammock like a tent, but I can't imagine that's terribly efficient.
But the ability to have a nice night's sleep without worrying about cumbersome pads, that is tempting as all hell!
Of course, if I had a two-man tent, I could take someone camping with me which makes something of great utility.

WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO?

Inlander · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 19:49 »

Here is the thing, James:

If it's bad weather, you can't cook your dinner in a hammock.

Emaline · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 19:51 »

I think I'd go with a tent. But that is mainly because, to me, a tent feels safer. I do not think I'd feel as safe for all the nonexistent things that go bump in the night in a hammock as I would in a tent.

But I am also a pansy.

Blue Kitty · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 19:53 »

Definitely a tent. To me it doesn't feel right sleeping with that Hammock thing.

Spluff · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 20:06 »

Hammock. Always hammock.

allison · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 20:12 »

I am going to go with tent on this, because you may not always find a sturdy place to hang a hammock, and wind underneath you might cause warmth issues. Tents seem much more reliable and look to me to be far simpler to pitch! Also provides you with a place to stow your gear that is covered all around. I think hammocks seem to be a fun alternative but don't provide the same benefits that tents do.

Also I've had a tent for years that I absolutely love but it's old and has seen better days (seam sealing and pole repair can only do so much) and now I want to buy the tent you linked. It's beautiful! It would fit perfectly in place of my tent, but alas. $330. My heart breaks. Damn you, James!

negative creep · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 20:36 »

Here is the thing: stay in the city, don't even leave the house.

Slick · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 20:53 »

Quote from: allison on 16 Jul 2010, 20:12

I am going to go with tent on this, because you may not always find a sturdy place to hang a hammock

These guys figured out something to make it a passable tent.

Quote from: allison on 16 Jul 2010, 20:12

Wind underneath you might cause warmth issues.

They sell extra padding covers for the winter time, but you are quite right about that.

Quote from: Inlander on 16 Jul 2010, 19:49

If it's bad weather, you can't cook your dinner in a hammock.

Man if you cooked in one of those lightweight tents you would burn it pretty good and failing that, you would make the whole thing smell real good and tasty for bears.

Practically, the tent seems sensible but these hammock fiends, think how comfortable they are every night! No searching for a good spot and unrolling your 'it's OK but I wish I had a mattress' roll. Just slinging up in the trees and being comfy!
Clincher may be that while I can find a Canadian source for the Hubba Hubba, I don't know if I can find a Canadian reseller for the hammocks, meaning there'd be higher shipping and probably duty at the border (what the fuck NAFTA, are you specifically designed to screw things up?).

Blue Kitty · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 20:53 »

Quote from: negative creep on 16 Jul 2010, 20:36

Here is the thing: stay in the city, don't even leave the house.

But how can he call himself a man if he doesn't venture out into the wild and claim his destiny?

Slick · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 20:56 »

I think if someone came up to me right now and said "Hey, here's one of those nice hammocks, it's yours for $150" I think I'd take it, while I don't know for sure if I'd hit the tent.

Slick · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 20:58 »

Says the guy who bought a cake on a whim and processed five pounds of beef on a vague notion and ate jerky for breakfast, lunch, and supper today.

Slick · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 20:58 »

Maybe I need to address my decision making processes is what I am getting at.

JD · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 22:59 »

Flip a coin!

Spluff · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 23:11 »

and then buy a hammock

Zingoleb · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 00:02 »

I'm with Spluff, buy the hemlock.

McTaggart · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 00:20 »

Are swags a thing outside of Australia?
My sister's is very similar to this one and was about $200 Australian.

It's heavy because it's got a decent foam mattress built in. It's comfortable unless you're silly tall and it's dead simple to set up and pack up.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 00:34 »

See yeah, I'm 6'5, those would suck so hard for me.

A Wet Helmet · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 02:44 »

Assuming the weather is anticipated to be okay, I'm 100% in the hammock camp.

Eff a tent. Sleep under the stars! I used to do this regularly, and should perhaps start doing it again. I have spent more nights laying on the ground than I can even count. Hammocks are lovely, and far more comfortable than that rock in your back that is only mildly annoying when you lay down but has grown to the size of a sharp basketball by 3 am. Though I've never spent an entire night in one, for naps hammocks rule.

Inlander · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 02:57 »

Quote from: Slick on 16 Jul 2010, 20:53

Man if you cooked in one of those lightweight tents you would burn it pretty good and failing that, you would make the whole thing smell real good and tasty for bears.

- Australia is the home of scary animals;
- Bears are the scariest of animals;
- There are no bears in Australia;
- Ergo, bears are make-believe;
- But a tent.

Really though if you ever go camping in summer in Tasmania and it doesn't stop raining for days on end then you'll understand why it can be vitally important to have enough space and shelter to cook a meal in the vestibule of a tent.

Coward · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 06:13 »

Tent.

When it comes to the great outdoors, you can't afford to buy cheap.

Van donk III · « **Reply #20 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 07:02 »

Tent, its warmer, safer and you can be just as comfortable by getting yourself a collapsable camp bed. I've just spent the last three weeks in my tent working various festivals around Ireland and there's no way I could have lasted that long in a hammock.

As said above, you cant make yer dinner in a hammock. and the wind WILL keep you awake when you're that exposed to the elements.

Just sayin'.

Slick · « **Reply #21 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 08:16 »

While suggestions of comfortable bedding that isn't too heavy or too bulky is useful info, it is all too heavy and too bulky for me since I am trying to be as mobile as possible and bike everywhere.

Also it is worth re-stating that if you follow the link in the original post, you will see that it is protected from bugs and rain quite satisfactorily.

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #22 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 08:29 »

I would go for the Tentmock, as far as I understand you can also set it up as a Tent?

Also, If it rains Tentmock is totally the way forward cause your tent won't get flooded away.

Van donk III · « **Reply #23 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 08:30 »

if mobility is going to be a problem, get one of these.

Gemmwah · « **Reply #24 on:** 17 Jul 2010, 09:32 »

james those hammocks look so badass please get one of them.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #25 on:** 18 Jul 2010, 09:43 »

All of these tent people have very well reasoned and legitimate reasons to get a tent.

Then I think about the hammocks and I say fuck yeah get a hammock.

Aurjay · « **Reply #26 on:** 18 Jul 2010, 10:51 »

hammock looks cool and all but what do you do if your like me and are in the desert without a tree in sight?

Slick · « **Reply #27 on:** 18 Jul 2010, 11:39 »

Quote from: Aurjay on 18 Jul 2010, 10:51

hammock looks cool and all but what do you do if your like me and are in the desert without a tree in sight?

You read the thread!

Quote from: Slick on 16 Jul 2010, 20:53

Quote from: allison on 16 Jul 2010, 20:12
I am going to go with tent on this, because you may not always find a sturdy place to hang a hammock
These guys figured out something to make it a passable tent.

Also, while a trailer is a useful thing to have, I do not want one. I've got a rack and two panniers on my bike, ideally I want to be traveling just with those for a few reasons (simplicity of maintenance, weight, mobility). Even if I had a trailer, I don't know that I'd want the extra bulk of bed rolls.

The main deterrent to getting the hammock right now is not knowing about Canadian sales, I think I'll send the dude an e-mail.

Aurjay · « **Reply #28 on:** 18 Jul 2010, 13:25 »

guess i should follow all the links before i post something. Yeah using a bike looks doable and if your not needing to stow a lot of gear out of the weather then sure go with the hammock.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #29 on:** 18 Jul 2010, 13:42 »

I have a wigwam type tent I take to festivals and re-enactment shows where I'm not sleeping in a dorm tent. Probably too bulky for your man vs. nature, do things a deliberately hard way whilst wearing spandex sensibilities, but it's fucking awsome. Also I have never needed anything more to be comfortable than a mummy-style sleeping bag and my backpack as a pillow.

carrotosaurus · « **Reply #30 on:** 18 Jul 2010, 19:46 »

Guys. I can't believe we're having this argument when Henry Shires has already perfected the Tarptent years ago and it weighs less than 1 pound and costs around $200. I carry mine regardless when camping since it's so light. He also makes one you can use a hiking pole for instead of having to carry extra poles.

http://www.tarptent.com/

Hammocks are no fun in bad weather. I don't care how you position the damn rainfly. The bugscreen usually makes getting in a pain in the ass, too. Also, if you're ever going to be dealing with cold weather, I wouldn't be caught dead in a hammock.

redglasscurls · « **Reply #31 on:** 19 Jul 2010, 09:37 »

I have two of those hammocks James! And they are really pretty great, but I usually ditch the lid and just bring one or both along for seating or napping in addition to a tent, mostly because of gear-storage issues. You also have to be pretty particular about sleeping correctly- if you slip towards the middle instead of lying diagonal, you wake up with one hell of a sore back.

sean · « **Reply #32 on:** 19 Jul 2010, 18:43 »

Quote from: Zingoleb on 17 Jul 2010, 00:34

See yeah, I'm 6'5, those would suck so hard for me.

wait what? there are forumites who would tower over me? this is completely unacceptable.

Slick · « **Reply #33 on:** 19 Jul 2010, 18:48 »

manda that is excellent info, thanks.

Carrot I am at first sceptical of tarptent because a) they look a lot like tents that I've seen elsewhere first and b) they are all really lame colours but then again you are giving them a good word here and colour is a lame reason to think a functional piece of hardware like a tent is lame. I will look into them more, they look decent and cheaper than the MSR tents I like.

Khar I do not wear spandex but you can imagine I do if that pleases you.

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Author Topic: Hammock v. Tent (Read 4216 times)

Zingoleb

Zingoleb