Hammock Camping
Hammock camping is an exciting alternative to tent camping, and more and more campers are discovering the joy of
travelling light and sleeping out in this low-key manner.
You don't even need a decent campsite for a hammock ... you know, an area of flat cleared ground you'd want for
a tent.
All you need for hammock camping is a pair of poles or tree trunks which are spaced around 12 to 15 feet apart.
And it really doesn't matter if the ground underneath you is rocky and lumpy or on a steep slope. A camping hammock
can set up and take down in just a few minutes, and it can give you a great night's sleep in the heaviest
rains.
What about insects such as mosquitoes and no-see-ums? What about keeping out the rain?
Well a camping hammock takes care of those things by having its own anti-insect netting, and also by having a
rain-proof flysheet that hangs above it.
Two well-known and established camping hammocks are the Hennessey Hammock and the Mosquito Hammock. They are both modern adaptations of the U.S. Army jungle hammocks issued to
GIs during World War II.
The original army jungle hammock was quite bulky and it was fiddly to set up. However you could get out of it in
a hurry, like if your unit came under enemy fire, by pulling a quick-release tab on the zipper — which then dumped
you unceremoniously on the ground.
And since then, soldiers and special forces personnel have been making a DIY camping hammock by improvising with
the three separate parts: hammock, mosquito net and a rain proof flysheet/tarpaulin. They had been doing this for
decades as jungle training, but nowadays most elite troops just buy the ready-made versions I mentioned above.
I personally own both types of hammock, the Hennessy and the Mosquito. I also used to have a genuine US army
jungle hammock when I was a teenager, so that's how I know about the quick-release. I have slept in other hammocks
of various types from those made in Brazil and even obtained a couple of types from Viet Nam quite recently — one
hammock that is all a mesh string design and the other that is a hand-sewn khaki sheet with ropes at each end.
The Hennessy Hammock has a fixed mosquito net that is always attached. You climb into the Hennessy Hammock by
pushing your head and shoulders into a slit opening in the bottom of the hammock. Pull the edge of the material
under your buttocks, sit down, lie your torso back and then lift in your legs. The slitted opening then closes
itself and seals almost magically with Velcro.
The Mosquito Hammock has a separate rope above it to support the rainproof flysheet. You climb into this one by
unzipping the side and getting your body inside in a similar manner. You then need to zip up the mosquito net again
quickly so the little devils don't follow you inside and make a meal of you once you fall asleep. It can also be
used as a kind of bivvy bag.
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Hammocks are perfect for warm-weather camping, but in cooler weather you will freeze your butt off
unless you place MUCH extra insulation beneath your body. A foam sleeping pad works well for hammock
insulation, and can be trimmed to fit better with a sharp knife if you like. If you have nothing
better, you can use your spare clothing, jacket, raincoat etc. Even newspapers work quite well.
Remember the air pockets in your sleeping bag get squashed flat by the weight of your body, and lose
their insulation properties. You could also add a Space Blanket or a poncho underneath you, and woolen
bed socks and a wool beanie cap will help keep you toasty warm on cold nights. |
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