HAMMOCK CAMPING NEWS
Aug 2006
Here you will find the latest
hammock camping NEWS and IDEAS, including industry-related event
listings, new products, trip reports, gear reviews, hammocking tips, links to
additional information, and much more.
This F-R-E-E e-newsletter is a
great way to share hammock camping information with the outdoors world; thus
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Disclosure Note: HAMMOCK
CAMPING NEWS is owned and written by hammock manufacturer Speer Hammocks,
Inc of
=============================================================
IN THIS ISSUE FROM SPEER HAMMOCKS Aug 2006
=============================================================
- Hammock
Camping News
- Hammock
Stand for Couples
- 14th
SEHHA Campout now History
- Next SEHHA
Campouts
- Camping
Hammock Manufacturers
- Other
Hammocks Suitable for Camping
- Camping
Hammock Accessories
- Misc
Online Resources
- Speer
Hammocks Calendar
- Hammock
Friendly Government Lands
- Hammock
Camping Authors
1----------------------HAMMOCK
CAMPING NEWS------------------------
A. 2006 Continues as a banner year
for camping hammokcs
Record Number of Camping Hammock Manufacturers—21
The fast pace of conversion to hammock
camping continues unabated as the good news spreads. No longer the exclusive domain of long
distance hikers, hammock camping is rapidly spreading throughout the outdoor
community. New hammock models and
accessories continue to be introduced. In
the spirit of promoting the industry, this newsletter includes a detailed list
of known hammock and hammock-accessory manufacturers—the worldwide list now
totals 21! That’s 5 new camping hammock
manufactures in the past 18 months alone!
In addition to the list of camping
hammock manufacturers, numerous other lists of useful online hammock
information sources are also given near the end of this newsletter.
Hammock Warmth
The interest in stay-warm systems continues
and is driven by the ever-increasing number of new users as well as the increased
use of hammocks in winter camping. Many
hammock enthusiasts even make their own stay-warm systems and share their
experiences online. Speer Hammocks
recently upgraded their unique PeaPod and Top Blanket system with 900-fill down
and baffled construction for a significant increase in warmth.
Online Discussions
Internet bulletin boards continue
to spread the good news about hammock camping.
Our own Hammock Camping List now totals 1,500 members actively
exchanging and sharing ideas. The HC-List
allows hammock enthusiasts and novices to share and learn from each other. It also allows hammock campers to arrange
outings in their area. Membership to the Hammock Camping-L is open to anyone—see
elsewhere in this newsletter for info on how to sign up. Hammock camping also continues to be a hot
topic on numerous other outdoor related discussion boards.
Hammock Campouts
Our informal Southeast Hammock
Hangers Association (SEHHA) sponsored five well-attended
campouts in 2005 and our second one of 2006 will be held in September. Hosted by Speer Hammocks, these campouts are
open to the public and help bring enthusiasts, novices, and want-to-be’s
together for fun weekends of sharing and learning. These campouts provide an ideal outdoor opportunity
for hammockers to demo their new or home-made gear. And the comradely can’t be beat! Two more campouts are also planned for this
year—hope you can make both of them! See
elsewhere in this newsletter for the campout schedules.
2006 promises continued excitement
in the brave new world of hammock camping.
Welcome aboard and hang on for the ride!
Ed “Not To Worry” Speer
B. DID YOU MISS A PAST
ISSUE?
Postings of
each newsletter on Yahoo Groups will be left on the Hammock Camping News home
page for subscribers to view any time; go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hammock_Camping_News/
Subscribers
and non-subscribers can freely view and download the current issue or any of
the back issues at:
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/NEWS.htm
Note: Some
of the many web links in the newsletters do not survive in the email
versions--if this happened to yours, you might want to download the newsletter
from the hammockcamping.com site.
C.
Newsletter Publishing Schedule
The
publishing schedule for Hammock Camping News is:
Publish Date Submission
Date
January 1, 2007 Dec
15, 2006
May 1, 2007 April 15,
2007
August 1, 2007 July 15, 2007
Please note
that the next issue is due January 1, 2007 and submissions for publication are
due December 15, 2006.
D. BAFFLED 900-Fill down PeaPods and Top Blankets Now Available
Speer Hammocks is now offering 900-fill down hammock gear! This is the highest-loft goose down available
anywhere, thus our Peapods and Top Blankets offer the ultimate in uncomplicated
lightweight warmth! The 900-fil down
combined with our new baffle construction provides 40% increase in thickness over
the previous models with no increase in weight!
This means greater warmth for you!
PeaPods are insulated bags that completely surround an occupied
top-entry camping hammock. Top Blankets
are insulated quilts for use over a hammock sleeper or they can be used as
liners inside PeaPods. Together they
make the best system available for cold weather hammock comfort. Now warmth at any temperature is possible. Learn more at:
http://speerhammocks.com/Products/PRODUCTLINK2.htm or call (828) 724-4444, 9-5 Eastern
Time, workdays.
E.
Segmented Pad Extenders--AFFORDABLE
WARMTH IS HERE!
Speer Hammocks recently introduced their new Segmented Pad Extender,
the simple lightweight and affordable way to provide 4-season warmth in any
hammock. The SPE incorporates your own gear
for insulation! A central sleeve accepts
your sleeping pad or multiple pads for bottom warmth while segmented side wings
provide shoulder, hip, and knee protection.
Multiple sleeping pads can be stacked in the central sleeve up to a
total thickness of 3”, allowing the user to mix and match pads for conditions
from 700F to well below zero!
Inflatable pads and closed cell foam pads in full length or three-quarter
length can be stacked as needed for warmth and comfort. The wings can be filled with closed cell foam
pad inserts and/or rolls of extra clothes, again providing adjustable
insulation. The SPE also accepts dead
leaves, the ultimate no-carried-weight insulation! Find out more about these remarkable
accessories at: http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
Contact SpeerHammocks.com at 828-724-4444,
or email at info@speerhammocks.com
NOTE: Staying warm in a
hammock is serious business, especially in extreme conditions—your comfort and
even your safety are at stake. Everyone
is encouraged to successfully test their gear first in a safe environment
before heading to the backcountry. Safe
environments include those with easy ‘bail-out’ options, such as your own back
yard or public campgrounds. Know your
equipment before it gets cold!
F.
HAMMOCK CAMPING BOOK
Hammock Camping: The Complete Guide To Greater Comfort, Convenience and
Freedom by
Ed Speer was published in 2003 and is based on Ed's many years of hammock
camping around the world and his experience making and designing his own
hammocks. In addition to key chapters on
"How To Stay Warm In A Hammock" and "How To Make Your Own
Hammock", the book contains numerous entries from Ed's trail journals that
show just how hammocks can be used in actual wilderness settings. The book is well documented with numerous
photos, drawings and tables of information. For those not inclined to make a hammock, one
chapter presents brief reviews of all the commercially available camping
hammocks. Appendices give valuable
information on Ed's hammocking tips, hammock manufactures, the Leave No Trace
organization, and web links to additional hammock information. This book is the standard reference manual on
hammock camping. Autographed copies and
free shipping on all orders from Speer Hammocks. Order online at http://www.HammockCamping.com or
call (828) 724-4444, 9-5 Eastern Time workdays--$19.95. Also available at major Internet book sites
or a bookstore or retail outfitter near you.
G.
MAKE-YOUR-OWN HAMMOCK KITS
It's fun and easy to make your own camping hammock with the
simple kits from Speer Hammocks.
Based on our successful hammock design, the kits come
complete with all the fabric, webbing, Velcro, pull tabs, guidelines,
ridgeline, hardware, etc. needed to make a complete hammock with bug net and
rain canopy. Even the thread is
included! Making your own hammock is
highly rewarding and each one should give years of satisfactory use. The only thing needed is a household sewing
machine and minimal sewing skills (only easy edge hems, straight stitches, and
one flat felled seam are required). Check
out the kits at: http://www.SpeerHammocks.com Check
out the free, kit sewing instructions at: http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/SewingTips.htm
H. HAMMOCK
CAMPING WEB SITE
http://www.HammockCamping.com.
This site provides a general exchange of hammock camping news and
information. Excerpts from Ed's new book
and F-R-E-E copies of these newsletters
are featured here, as well as lots of F-R-E-E
hammock camping reports and handy hammocking tips. Anyone wishing to post information on this
site should contact us at: Ed@SpeerHammocks.com.
I.
HAMMOCK CAMPING-L Discussion Group
Join more than 1,500 fellow outdoor enthusiasts in an open
discussion on all aspects of hammock camping. Learn from the experts before you buy or make
your own. Or help others by sharing your
knowledge. The widespread use of camping
hammocks is the latest development in wilderness travel. Be a part of this exciting phenomenon. The Hammock Camping-List is hosted on Yahoo
Groups and works like any other online "list”; however you do not have to
be a member of Yahoo in order to join. All you need is a valid email address to join
the group. NOTE that subscribers to this
free Hammock Camping News e-zine are not automatically signed up
for the bulletin board (you must sign up yourself).
All messages are archived and searchable by members. Whether you are a novice or a veteran hammock
user, there is much to learn and share on The Hammock Camping List!
To join, send email to: hammockcamping-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Or sign up online at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hammockcamping
J. Follow Leave No Trace!
As hammock campers we have the duty to not only act
responsibly in the backcountry, but to also set a proper example for others to
follow. One of the great advantages of
hammock camping is the ability to reduce our adverse impact on the environment. Everyone is encouraged to join and support
the worthy Leave No Trace organization and to follow their outdoor
ethics. To learn more, visit:
K. Hammocks in the news
An article for the new hammock
shopper appeared in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette (
L. Hammock Fun!
The ground was hard, or so I’m told,
Sloped a little down the fold,
A bit of rain came down the slope,
Wetting sleeping bags, they mope,
A big raccoon was bothersome,
They say that no, it was no fun,
And creepie-crawlies
everywhere,
Plus condensation
from thin air.
Only I missed this adventure.
Sleeping in my hammock’s center
Until coffee smell
did wake me…
Thank God tenters
get up early!
Andre Corterier
Hammock Camping List 5Aug05
Want to see your
hammock poetry in print? Submit it to: info@speerhammocks.com
2-------------------------Feature
Article------------------------------
How to Build
Three-Leg Hammock Stand for Couples
Couples often feel they’re left out of
the camping hammock phenomenon, but now they have something to rejoice about—an
easy to assembly hammock stand specifically designed for them! The stand is constructed with off-the-shelf
items costing about $220 and readily available from most hardware or home
improvement stores.
While several hammock manufactures
offer hammock models they claim are comfortable enough for two people, the
reality is most adult couples find the comfort of a single hammock less than
desirable for more than a few minutes. Instead,
couples seeking intimacy and all-night comfort generally prefer two top-entry hammocks
without spreader bars set up side-by-side.
The advantages of two separate but
adjacent hammocks are obvious: 1) neither adult is unduly crushed or squeezed
by the other; 2) with hammocks placed close enough, either adult can reach over
and touch, kiss or caress the other; 3) with the hammocks always touching
slightly at the shoulders or hips, each adult is aware of the others’ movements
without being overly disturbed; 4) each adult gets to adjust their own hammock
with the sag and height appropriate for them; 5) a single large tarp can cover
both hammocks: and 6) in cold weather, the hammock couple gains noticeable
warmth from each others presence.
The couples’ hammock setup described
herein offers the camping couple convenience, closeness, intimacy and comfort. While the weight (131 lbs) and bulk of this
hammock stand limits its use to the house, back yard or campground, the
technique can easily be adapted for use with three trees when camping in the
backcountry.
The stand is portable and can be
easily disassembled, transported in a vehicle, and re-assembled as needed. Karen and I use our stand in the backyard as
pictured below. We also take it with us
on car-camping trips where, in public campgrounds, we often find ourselves the
center of attention and the envy of everyone!
A
recent check at a home-improvement store near my house found the costs of the hammock
stand items totaling $219.38. While the
same design might also work with less-expensive 1” diameter pipe, we prefer the
extra stability and security of 1.25” diameter pipe.
Materials Needed:
6’ long x 1.24” dia.
Galvanized Pipe (5 lengths)
24” long x 1.25” dia.
Galvanized Pipe (8 lengths)
T Connectors, 1.25” (4)
90O Elbows, 1.25” (3)
Inline Connector, 1.25” (1)
To
assemble or disassemble, you’ll need two pipe wrenches.
Thanks for your time and
happy hammocking!
Ed "Not To Worry"
Speer
Take a hammock on your next
wilderness trip
And experience the wonder
of nature all over again
3-------------------------Apr06
Hammock Campout---------------
The 14th SEHHA Campout
is now History
Our last Southeast Hammock Hangers Association
campout in
Previous SEHHA Campouts
1. Foothills Trail,
2. Foothills Trail,
3. Mountain To Sea Trail,
4. Appalachian Trail,
5. Benton MacKaye Trail, Springer
6. Rainbow Springs campground,
7.
8. Rainbow Springs campground,
9. Appalachian Trail, Springer
10.
11.
12.
13. Appalachian Trail, Springer
14.
Ed "Not To Worry" Speer
Safe
Hammocking!
4------------------------Next SEHHA Campouts-------------------------------
15th SEHHA Campout
Everyone Welcome!
September 22-24, 2006
Sponsored by Speer
Hammocks, Inc
Join us for
the 15th SEHHA (SouthEast Hammock
Hangers Association) campout the weekend of September 22-24,
2006. It's FREE! (except for your $5/nite camping fee). This is an informal group event and everyone
is welcome--veteran, novice or future hammockers. See, learn and share
your knowledge with other hammock enthusiasts. This will be an easy
overnight campout at a commercial campground in a beautiful mountain river
setting near the Appalachian Trail in western
Come help us
celebrate the beginning of Autumn!
We will camp
in the popular Hot Springs Campground approximately 45 minute drive northwest
of Asheville, NC or 1.5 hours east of Knoxville, TN. The campground is
located on the east side of the town of
Show up
anytime and leave anytime, but don't miss our free Saturday evening hot dog
cookout! This is now a tradition at each
hammock hangers campout--it's not to be missed! Otherwise, everyone will be responsible for
his or her own meals.
Upon
arrival, check in at the campground gate and ask for the 'hammock group'. Don't pay at the entrance gate--you pay me at
the campsite itself. Karen and I will be at the
campsite Friday afternoon thru midday Sunday, so arrive anytime after 1 pm
Friday. The
Find
complete campground details at:
Find driving
directions at: http://nchotsprings.com/directions.html
Early Fall temperatures at this elevation can fluctuate wildly, so
expect daytime temps of 50-80F and nighttime temps of 30-50F. Rain is possible so be prepared.
Signing up
is not necessary, but letting us know will be appreciated-- ed@speerhammocks.com or call (828)
724-4444
Everyone
Welcome! See
ya at
MORE SEHHA Campouts for 2006!
Sep 22-24,
2006 15th SEHHA
Campout,
Dec 31-Jan
1, 2006-2007 16th SEHHA
Campout, New Year's Eve on Springer
5-----------------Camping
Hammock Manufacturers---------------------
As hammock camping continues to catch on, the number of
manufacturers is growing as can be seen in the following list--a total of 21! Only makers of secure, comfortable and
complete hammocks with bug net and rain canopy are included. Many of these manufacturers frequently upgrade
their existing models and accessories or issue new ones, so check these web
links often.
[Manufacturers of some other hammocks that might be modified
for camping use can be found in the next section.]
Speer Hammocks, Inc.
http://www.speerhammocks.com/ Email: info@speerhammocks.com
Hennessy Hammock Co.
http://www.hennessyhammock.com/ Email: info@hennessyhammock.com
4637 South 300 West--
http://www.junglehammock.com/ Email: info@junglehammock.com
Lawson Hammock Co.
http://www.lawsonhammockco.com/
http://www.tbcinc.com/hammocks/hamindex.html
Crazy Creek Products
http://www.crazycreek.com/ Email: chairs@crazycreek.com
Terrelogic, Inc.
http://www.terrelogic.com/ Email: mdj@terrelogic.com
Laid Back Designs, Ltd.
800-465-7519 http://www.travelsource.com/travelstore/lbd/lbd.html
Email: sammyd@mgl.ca
New Tribe, Inc.
Email: newtribe@cdsnet.net
Four Season Hammocks
http://www.mrhammock.com/ Email: mrhammock@verinet.com
Tawatchai Jaranai (Eff)--80/
http://www.siamhammock.com/ Email: f_goodfeeling@yahoo.com
Tammock Trading + Marketing
Rolf + Thomas Schneeberger--Steinenvorstadt 79/4--CH-4051
+41 61 281 73 33
http://www.tammock.com/ Email:
info@tammock.com
The Trease™
Trease.Biz--
http://members.aol.com/treasebiz/ Email: mailto:treasebiz@aol.com
SleepCatcher
(805) 705-6937
Hammock Bliss
5800 N. Kolb #9246,
Mosquito Hammock
Tom Claytor c/o
http://www.mosquitohammock.com/
Email: tom@claytor.com
Ticket To The Moon
Jalan Tangkuban Perahu no. 14X,
Kerobokan Bali -
http://www.ticketothemoon.com/ Email: office@ticketothemoon.com
Eco Sleep System
Pyramid Body Guards Suisstulle Uk PLC
tel: 0115 969 2500
http://www.pyramidbodyguards.co.uk/
Eagle’s Nest
http://www.eaglesnestoutfit.com/ Email: mail@eaglesnestoutfit.com
Exped
Exped AG, Hardstrasse 81, CH-8004 Zuerich
Tel. +41 (0)44 4971010 Fax +41 (0)44 4971011 E-Mail: info@exped.com
http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf/b43HomePageE?openframeset
Mountain Laurel Designs new!
921
Tel. 540-400-8522 E-Mail:
Mountainlaureldesigns@yahoo.com
http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com
Nahanny new!
+00 40 - 722 - 925 234
+00 40 - 721 - 262 004
E-mail: valistanciu@montangrup.ro
http://www.montangrup.ro/index_engleza.html
6---------------Other
Hammocks Suitable for Camping-----------------
Some hammocks that do not come with a bug net or rain canopy
may be modified for hammock camping.
While many hammocks offer this potential, the following ones may be
promising. Note that a proper bug net
and rain canopy must be added to these hammocks in order to make them suitable
for serious camping use.
·
Byer of Maine
solid fabric hammocks; several models http://www.byerofmaine.com/
· Exped Expedition
Equipment Scout
Hammock; ripstop nylon bottom