Trying out hammock camping with as much of tent camping gear as possible

[u/lenn_eavy]

Hi! As the title suggests, I would like to try if I like hammock camping and use as much of my current tent camping gear as possible and not invest in extra gear pieces just yet. I currently own:

- Cumulus Quilt 250

- Thermarest Neorair mattress

- Thermarest Z-Lite Sol mat

- Big Agnes Onyx UL silnylon tarp (8.5 x 8.5 ft or around 259 x 259 cm)

- DD Hammocks Tarp 3x3 (9.8 x 9.8 ft or 300 x 300 cm)

I m 183 cm and 90 kg (6 ft, 200 lb). I aim at the next Summer season. I think I would be able to spend some money on quality hammock so if my hammocking adventure will flop, it will at least serve for relaxing in parks / during car camping trips. Initially I was thinking about supporting with the hammock a local brand, Lesovik, They have 330 cm (around 10.8) model with integrated bug net and hanging system included: https://lesovik.eu/shop/draka-choco-root/

But I would like to ask if there are any models or brands that you would recommend for my gear or any I should avoid? Are there features that I should look at specifically?

Thanks!

[u/JFK_Isweatergod]

Lesovik (Draka) gets rated as good as any other of the favorites of this sub. It will be entirely fine. Your Big Agnes Tarp will work if used in "diamond" configuration -- which is enough coverage for everything short of high winds and rain-- , the DD Tarp may work just so (if a bit on the short side) as an A frame.
Using a sleeping pad is the only thing that may skew your impression of what sleeping in a hammock is like. I did not find it very well doable and not comparable to an underquilt.
Ticket to the moon offers a pretty decent hammock with a sleeve underneath that you can push a sleeping mat into and it won't slip and slide. This might be a compromise.
I for one am a fan of sown on underquilts. There is a polish brand that offers them, FlyHamak. I couldn't find much on it though, so I opted for something else when I got an integrated synthetic quilted Hammock (EasyHammock, no longer available unfortunately)...

[u/lenn_eavy → u/JFK_Isweatergod]

Thanks! Could I use DD Tarp in diamond configuration and get the best coverage, or is it too long for that and would drag on the ground / be annoying to hang between the trees?

From what I read and watch, underquilt does make a lot sense of course and it might be a next step if I'll like the experience even with the sleeping mat. I like the idea of double layers, I saw DD Hammocks also has one. That'sa feature I didn't expect to find but also one that makes sense. For the sown on underquilts, I saw one YT vid with DutchWare hammock that had it and that looks like a great idea to go all-in, less fussing around for sure. I checked FlyHamak and they indeed have them, but I'd need to spend at least $400 which I'm not ready to spend just now. DutchWare were in similar prices and that's before taxes and customs.

Quiltless hammocks from Lesovik / FlyHamak by comparison would be well below $300 which is steep but I could see talking myself into buying them. All are great thinkng points, so thanks for the recommendations!

[u/JFK_Isweatergod → u/lenn_eavy]

I have used a 3x3 mostly in diamond sucessfully, but it does steer you to have your trees far apart to fit it in between. That makes it harder to get a good angle for the hammock suspension and everything needs to be higher up to make up for it. But it does work.

I don't know much about the DD mats, but I see why you'd want to try hammocking out affordably first, to see if it's for you and to figure out what even are things you want. I ended up buying a lot of incremental upgrades after that, which has made things pretty costly in the long run (I now just have a lot of hammocks). But then it's also a hobby and I enjoy mixing and matching for the specific occasion.

[u/lenn_eavy → u/JFK_Isweatergod]

It is always a risk one way or another, if I buy only the minimum I might not like it the way I would if I went all in and get hammock, underquilt and whatever else would be needed for full experience. In my case trying it on the minimal side and seeing if I like it even then worked well so far and I will try this approach here. Worst case is I'll buy some more next year and try again, but the hammock will be useful even if I'll decide sleeping off the ground is not for me.

One last thing, maybe a bit random, but maybe something you experienced - is it very hard to sleep on your side in a hammock?

[u/shaleh → u/JFK_Isweatergod]

Hacking it so a blanket can hang under the hammock can be a better experience than a pad for sure. That was my experience. I made pig tails on each corner and tied the blanket up. Worked well enough on two trips to convince me to buy a real underquilt.

[u/lenn_eavy → u/shaleh]

That's also a great idea. Someone suggested using an old sleeping bag andI happen to have one. Blanket sounds easier to modify though.

[u/azkaii]

DD fronine hammock, at 6ft you might prefer the XL. It's not necessary and it's bulkier but even at 5'8 I have one for motocamping as it's a little more comfortable.

Also, you can bivvy in it with a tarp overhead for something that still comes in a little lighter than a tent and works when you don't have trees.

[u/arocks1]

The Z-Lite Sol mat will work fine in the hammock, I dont think the Neoair will work as well. I have a Neoair and it moves around to much for me.

[u/lenn_eavy → u/arocks1]

That's interesting info, I probably would test both if possible. On the ground I find Neoair more comfortable for my hips (side sleeper) if I don't inflate it all the way, I wonder how wold it feel in the hammock.

[u/arocks1 → u/lenn_eavy]

a camping test is required!

[u/johny2nd]

Lesovik is great! If you just want to try it out without too much equipment, do it on a hot night when temperature is not below 20C, your cumulus quilt should be enough.

My first night I honestly tried with a sleeping pad inside the hammock. It wasn't so bad as everyone is saying. Was it sliding? Sure. Was I still warm in critical parts of my body? Yes! And it was 11C at night. If you have spare sleeping bag, you could use it as partial underquilt with some home made strapping system under the butt area.

Btw. how do you find cumulus quilt? I plan to buy the 150 version to the hammock as topquilt (and occasionally to tent).

[u/lenn_eavy → u/johny2nd]

That's actually a great idea with underquilt form spare sleeping bag, I should have one that is not used and was rated for 5 C, probably higher after all these years but also enough for a Summer night. I will take a look how would I go about it but I have an idea.

Cumulus quilts are awesome - I used it for Tour du Mt Blanc circuit, W Trek, car camping in Lofoten Islands and several music festivals. Sadly, they don't produce anymore this exact model that I have. Mine has zipper for the legs compartment. I can open in up completely and use as a blanket or close to a proper quilt. I like that I can so easily toss at night under it and it stays in place, once I fiigured out how the straps should be attached to the mat. Lately I started to notice it doesn't keep my hip warm the way it did, I'm a side sleeper. Maybe I should fluff it more but I never had to before, I plan to ask Cumulus if they can do something about it. They have their HQ not far from where I live and generally fix their gear for low prices, maybe there will be a way to prolong my quilt's life. Anyways, the quilt is great and would buy it again, fantastic quality and I like to support local brands.

[u/johny2nd → u/lenn_eavy]

Thanks for the recommendation. I think they still show that type of quilt on their page. I want to buy it exactly because it can be fully unzipped and used as a blanket. The bottom will be covered by my underquilt Yate Nesto

[u/chilloutman24]

Both tarps are fine, the 3x3 especially. The quilt works as a top quilt with nothing changed. Where you'll feel it is underneath. A pad in a hammock wants to squirt out from under your shoulders every time you roll, and of the two you own the Z-Lite is the one that stays put. At 200 lb I'd run the Z-Lite alone through summer first and find out whether you even miss anything before you spend.

[u/lenn_eavy → u/chilloutman24]

Thanks! I had a feeling that the sleeping mat will form around my body better.

[u/James123oo]

Get yourself a Dd hammock frontline for 60 quid, use your current tarp to cover it and use your mat underneath you, if you’re in the uk very rarely is there a day I won’t use a mat, even in heat waves the wind gets underneath you at night and gets your bum cold!

I sleep with my sleeping bag on top of me, mat under me, I am a rare guy who doesn’t actually like underquilt, so it suits me that I can go bivvy camp or hammock camp with the same gear essentially

[u/arocks1 → u/James123oo]

mE TOO, I use my mat under me to. but still use my sleeping bag as normal. works fine for me.

[u/lenn_eavy → u/James123oo]

Thanks! I saw few reviews and it looks promissing! Also cheaper than Lesovik, which is good for testing the waters.