Hammock Camping and
Converting to Ultralight Backpacking

I asked a regular visitor to the website to write a short report for me on his experience hammock camping, and I got something better. The following is not only about his experience with a Hennessy Hammock designed for camping, but also relates how he converted to ultralight backpacking for a bit more than two hundred dollars (and if you have been to this site before you know I like to keep it cheap as well as light).

Cheap Ultralight Backpacking - How I made the transition for $200

I first got really interested in ultralight backpacking after doing a long trip that was up hill all the way (literally), and I had a pack that weighed 38% of my body weight, which, although it isn't that much, made me one of the last in the group. It didn't help any that one of the guys in the group had a pack that, when we were done, couldn't have weighed more than 25 pounds, and he is 6 feet tall and probably 175 pounds, so he was way ahead of where I was. So that got me thinking. What can I do to make my pack lighter?

I had had influence in Ultralight Backpacking (UB from now on) before from several acquaintances, both those who did it and those who didn't, and I had brought a catalog along, so on the way back home I started shopping. The problem was that I didn't really have much money to throw at it or enough time or expertise to make my own gear.

Since I already had all the necessary backpacking gear I decided to just get the "big three" for potential weight savings: sleeping bag, shelter, and pack. The sleeping bag I got was a Slumberjack Super Guide which weighs 2 pounds 9 ounces, cost $50 (on quarterly sale), is insulated with Thermolite Extreme, and has a temperature rating of 30 degrees. It comes with a compression sack - I get it down to about 6x12 inches.

The shelter I decided on was the Scout, a hammock made by Hennessy Hammock that weighs 2 pounds, 13 ounces., cost $110 with shipping, and comes with built in mosquito net, rain fly, and "Snake Skins," their invention for packing it away without getting it dirty. I have it packed down to 12x5x6 inches.

The backpack I picked out was the Outdoor Research DryPeak Summit Sack which is a 1600 cubic inches waterproof day pack that weighs 9 ounces and cost $43.

All that adds up to about $203 plus $8 shipping if you ordered the sleeping bag and backpack online from Campmor like I did, which would add up to $211. My hammock is only available from Hennessy Hammocks. That is a little bit past $200, but not a whole lot. Once I had all the stuff together I went on another backpacking trip to the same place that made me become an UB'er. I had knocked the weight down to 23 pounds including 2 liters of water and a 10 inch bush knife (just 'cause). That is still a little bit more than what most UB'ers carry, but it cost less too. It made an obvious difference in the trip. Instead of being near the back, I was almost at the front. I also had a lot more energy for the rest of the trip. I think I was in about the same physical physical condition, too.

Now, after going on that trip I learned two things. First, my $50 sleeping bag is not quite warm enough for 26 degree weather in a hammock. Actually, I don't think it is quite as warm as it is supposed to be because I get cold in it all the time. I do get cold fairly easily though, anyway. I have found a $120, 20-degree down sleeping bag that weighs 2 pounds 4 ounces, that I will upgrade to as soon as I have the money.

I also decided that the pack was a little bit small, but I ended up getting it exchanged for the next size up (Drycomp Summit Sack, about 1880 cubic inches and 11 ounces for only 7 dollars for return shipping to the manufacturer and I think it will be big enough. You can get it for as low as $50 new, which is the exact same price I ended up paying for it.

I have really come to like the hammock and will probably keep it for a while as my main shelter for several reasons. First, it is quicker to set up due to not needing to clear a place of all the rocks, sticks, roots, etc. Also, it is much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground for the same reasons listed above, as well as the fact that it is more natural of a position on your back and shoulders. I never had any trouble adjusting to sleeping in a hammock, but on one camping trip I got cold every night in the hammock and woke up about every couple of hours. The one night I slept in a tent, though, I woke up just as often because I was sore (and I am not old). The one thing I don't like, is that it is a little colder than sleeping on the ground. I never sleep on a pad, partially because I don't have one that I think would work, but it is one of the things that a lot of the hammock campers do. I am currently working on a solution.

If you want to go cheaper, there are several options. Wenzel makes a 1.5 man tent that weighs 3 pounds, 8 ounces and packs down fairly small (I have actually seen one). It costs around $30. If you want to go lighter and cheaper you could go with the ultimate cheapest shelter which would be a plastic drop cloth from Home Depot or Lowes for less than $5. I have personally never used one of these, but they are cheap enough that you could replace them after each trip, being a little bit less wear resistant than a much more expensive or heavy tarp. You could also go with an ordinary tarp which will usually cost between $5 and $65 and weigh between 3 pounds for a heavy one or 12 ounces if it was a real ultralight one.

The bottom line is, you might not be able to do the transition for $200 like I did, unless you get exactly the same stuff, but $250 or $300 would give you many options, like a warmer sleeping bag, if you looked in the right places (like not the 'New' section in REI). Find a store that reliably has lower prices, (my favorite is www.campmor.com), and do some shopping around. Doing the research can save lots of money and weight. Have fun!

Steve's Note: A hammock require trees, of course, so when camping above timberline you might need to bring a bivy sack or tent instead. One other thing I wonder about is sleeping position. It seems that only laying on your back would be comfortable, which could be a problem for those that snore in that position. In any case, I like the idea of hammock camping, and I may try it.

Every chapter has tips for lightweight backpacking and wilderness survival.