Bowhunting UL Hammock/Tarp Shelters..the perfect Shelter?

[Hardcorehunter]

I have several SilNylon UL shelters, one of which is a 5 man 2.5 lb tipi with a 2.5 lb wood burner, which is especially great for cold weather setups, BUT, the more I use my DIY UL hammock/tarp setup, the more I am convinced that these hammock setups are the ticket for most of our bow hunter's/outdoorsman's needs. My setup has a pocket on each side and these are a must IMO, or putting your boots, cell phone, gear, etc. Some guys in Alaska that have no trees will disagree, but the rest of us that have trees, will appreciate a hammock. This UL hammock use is relatively new in the outdoor world, compared to other types of ul shelters.
Hammock/Trap setups the perfect UL shelter? I am thinking so the more I use mine.
1. Comfort. Sleeping on the ground can't compare with these, end of discussion
2. Fast setup. These setup in on a few minutes.
3. No spiders, snakes, mosquitos, or mice can get you
4. Can setup a hammock in in standing water
5. No concerns of the terrain or rocks
6. Lightweight; my entire 10X12 tarp, bugnet, stuff sack, carabiners, rope, and hammock weighs 3.5 lbs
7. Trees are everywhere in my bow hunting adventures. By bringing extra 7/64" rope, I can setup anywhere trees are 12' to 30' ft apart. If need be, I can bring more rope.
8. I can vary the pitch of the tarp and let breezes in or shut them down, depending on the outside temp. Underquilts can be added for cold weather.
9. No need of carrying a sleeping pad to keep me off of the hard ground
10. Did I mention comfort?

Here are some pics from several outings this year field testing my setup. I made everything myself.

Inside view

Some trout from today

 

[Critter]

Neat pics Don..........does your girlfriend sleep in the same one, or does she have her own? I would think you'd feel like a sardine with more than one person in them.

 

[DOR]

Looks like a great trout hole. Nice fish HC!

 

[Crimson Arrows]

Really like the trout pics...nice job!

 

[Hardcorehunter]

I love NE IA!!

 

[Hardcorehunter]

Critter, she has her own. I posted pics of her Hawkeye one I made her a awhile back. Here it is again

 

[Daver]

HC, you're going to make someone a nice wife one of these days with all of that good sewing you do!

How much weight can one of these units support, how about something 275 pounds or so? (I am asking for a friend. )

These would seem ideal for a Boy Scout troop, heck they could probably earn their sewing badge making them and then use them for their campouts for the next few years.

 

[timekiller]

Those things are sweet Don. I think I know the exact spot in those stream pics. Let me know if you go back. I'll meet you up there to do a little fishing.

 

[JakeWym]

Where were ya fishing? Prly not too far from me I'd bet.

 

[Hardcorehunter]

PM sent Jake. Brian, sounds like a plan. I'll PM you next time I get away up there. Hoping for next week.:way:

 

[Hardcorehunter]

HC, you're going to make someone a nice wife one of these days with all of that good sewing you do! .

I am trying to not need a ,"Chinese Wife" since most of our gear seems to be made over there. Oh, and we don't sew, we hammock forum guys make gear, and we don't run sewing machines, we run ,"thread injectors"

How much weight can one of these units support, how about something 275 pounds or so? (I am asking for a friend. )

Mine is a double layer of 1.1 oz ripstop, and I believe it is rated for 500 #'s ?. I believe I have read where guys use single layer 1.7 oz and they are rated for around 350? You aren't going to break one. The rope I use is 1/8" for my suspension lines, and it is rated for 2500#. Lots of guys use 7/64" and it is rated for 1500#. Amsteel is amazing rope.

These would seem ideal for a Boy Scout troop, heck they could probably earn their sewing badge making them and then use them for their campouts for the next few years.

There are a couple of guys on hammockforums.com that are boyscout leaders and they have implemented hammocks into the outings. My advice for anybody interested is to look at the Warbonnet Blackbird, Hennesey, or Clark hammocks if you want commercially made ones, and join the hammockforums.com site and their DIY section is awesome if you want to make your own. They have sections and tutorials on suspensions, tarp making, everything. Great bunch of people there, that really know their stuff.