HAMMOCK CAMPING NEWS
January 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
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Back issues of HAMMOCK CAMPING NEWS are archived
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=============================================================
IN THIS ISSUE FROM SPEER HAMMOCKS January 2006
=============================================================
- Hammock
Camping News
- Hammock
Insulation—Dave Womble
- Hammock
Sag Angle—Dave Womble
- 12th
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 State Parks
- Hammock
Camping Authors
1----------------------HAMMOCK
CAMPING NEWS------------------------
A. 2005
The Year in Review
As the year draws to a close,
there is much in the exciting world of hammock camping to reflect upon. The fast pace of conversion to hammock
camping continues unabated with new manufacturers starting business as well as
new hammock models and accessories introduced by the existing makers. 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 19!
In addition, lists of useful online hammock information sources are also
given near the end of each newsletter.
The advance in stay-warm systems
was impressive in 2005 and was driven by the ever-increasing number of new
users as well as the increased interest in winter camping. Many hammock enthusiasts even made their own
stay-warm systems and shared their experiences online. Several hammock and hammock-accessory
manufacturers introduced new stay-warm products in 2005.
Internet bulletin boards continued
to spread the good news about hammock camping.
The Hammock Camping List now totals over 1,200 members actively
exchanging and sharing ideas. The 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.
Our informal Southeast Hammock
Hangers Association (SEHHA) sponsored five well-attended campouts in 2005. Hosted by Speer Hammocks, these campouts are
open to the public and help bring both 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! Five campouts are also planned for 2006—hope
you can make one or even all five! See
elsewhere in this newsletter for the campout schedules.
The coming year 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
May 1, 2006 April
15, 2006
August 1, 2006 July 15, 2006
January 1, 2007 Dec
15, 2006
Please note
that the next issue is due May 1 and submissions for publication are due April
15.
D. 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. Visit us at TrailDays05 in
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 announces their new SPE, 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 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 info@speerhammocks.com
F.
HAMMOCK CAMPING BOOK
Hammock Camping: The Complete
Guide To Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom by Ed Speer was published in
2003. The book 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 sure to become 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 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 1,200 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. Season’s Greetings!
T'was
the night before summit, and all on the ground,
Not a hiker was sleeping; no campsite was found.
The walkers were vexed by ground so unstable
No flat spot was found the size of a table.
The campers tried nestling on top of their packs,
but the lumps and the bumps were twisting their backs.
Try though they might, no rest could they find,
And one did exclaim, "My poor aching behind!"
When out from the trail there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their bags to check out the matter.
Downward they looked with their aches and their pains
From their long sleepless evening they felt quite insane
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a fantastic sleigh, and eight ginormous reindeer,
With a little old driver, with huge hiker gams,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Ham.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Speer! now, Hennessy! now Bana and Byer!
On, Bliss! on Jungle!, on Amazonas! and Lyer!
To the top of the hill now! to the top of the wall!
Now stop yo'self! stop yo'self! stop yo'self all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the switchback the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of hammocks, and St. Ham too.
And then, in a twinkling, he tossed out a sack,
then another, and another, and they all just stared back.
As my bag slipped away, and fell to the ground,
He was dressed all in Gore-Tex, from his head to his foot,
And he looked quite refreshed with his well-rested look.
A bag full of tarps he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a thru-hiker opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled -- his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a Slim-Jim he held tight in his teeth,
And hiker stench encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and hands that were strong,
And as he strung hammocks, he sung a fine song.
"Woe to you groundling, with the rocks and the roots
Without enough enough sense to take off your boots!
Watch this now and closely, I'll just show you twice;
Once you can do this, you'll escape snakes and mice!"
He tied up the beds, and lined them with care
With pads and thick bags and a pillow to spare
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I would sleep like the dead.
He spoke not a word, but kept straight to his work,
He tied all the knots; which he cinched with a jerk,
He drove in some stakes, and strung up a tarp,
then pulled them all tightly in the quickening dark.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his teams gave a whistle,
And downward they slid off the hill like a missle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Hammocking to all, and to all a good-night!"
Shane Steinkamp, moderator Hammock Camping List
shane@theplacewithnoname.com
2-------------------------Feature
Article------------------------------
A Look at Insulation
and How Much Is Enough
Sleeping In Hammocks
NOTE: Staying warm in a
hammock is serious business, especially in extreme conditions—your comfort and
even your safety are at stake. This
discussion should be taken as a rough guideline and only used as a starting
point. Why? Because a lot of what follows are
guesstimates based on personal experiences and your own personable metabolism
is responsible in a large part for how comfortable you will be at any given
temperature. Also there are many
intangibles that sometimes play a part... humidity, how tired you are and the
number of hours since you ate any food are just a few of these. With a disclaimer like this, one would
question as to why say anything at all.
That is a good point. My feeling
is that most people need something to start with, a point of reference. In that regard, I hope this helps fill that
void.
For background, there are three mechanisms for heat
transfer: conduction, convection and radiation.
Conduction is often thought of as with solid objects since it is a
molecular exchange of energy that requires direct contact, but it occurs when
any material comes in contact, like when cold air is in contact with your warm
skin. Convection occurs when a fluid is
heated and the warm areas of the fluid expand, rise or in general mix with
cooler areas of the fluid. In this
discussion we are primarily concerned with our warm boundary layer of air
rising and being displaced by cooler air.
When there is no wind, this is called natural convection and occurs
because warm air is lighter than cold air... warm air naturally rises and is
replaced by cooler air. When the
replacement of warm air with cooler air is assisted by the wind, we call this
forced convection. Radiant heat transfer
occurs between two objects that are at different temperatures and have space
between them that infrared radiation waves can traverse. I’m not going to talk about radiant heat
transfer in this discussion but radiation is why direct sunlight is so warm.
Top Side Insulation
How
Much Top Loft Do I Need?
I propose
the following equation as a guideline for loft in a typical breathable sleeping
bag or quilt and it assumes you are wearing some light weight sleeping clothes
that keep you comfortable to 70°F with no additional insulation:
[temperature rating °F] = 70 -
([thickness inches] X 20)
|
Top
Loft |
Temperature
Rating |
|
0” |
70°F |
|
1” |
50°F |
|
2” |
30°F |
|
3” |
10°F |
As used here, Top Loft is the thickness of insulation covering your top side,
not the sum of the insulation on top and below you in a sleeping bag. Note that sleeping bag manufacturers add the top
and bottom insulation thickness to calculate loft. Two other things, don't forget that you need
some type of insulation underneath you with insulating capabilities that follow
the same type of criteria and that you have to stay out of the wind because
forced convection currents (moving air in this case) can effectively rob you of
much of your insulation. When you are
sleeping on the ground your weight compresses the underside insulation of your
sleeping bag and with highly compressible sleeping bags this seriously reduces
the effect of the bottom side insulation, so you will need some type of
sleeping mat for insulation that does not compress as much when you are using
these types of sleeping bags.
Bottom Side Insulation
Okay,
what do I need beneath me when I am sleeping on the ground?
Often the ground is not at the same temperature as the
outside air and to further complicate things sometimes the ground acts like
insulation while at other times the ground acts like a heat sink. The extremes in how the ground acts are best
understood by looking at the contrast between soft forest duff and solid frozen
ground, a virtual block of ice.
Obviously whether the ground is dry or soaking wet can also be a
factor. All these things make specific
ratings questionable... and that is before one factors in differences between
individuals. Nevertheless, let’s
proceed.
A
Therm-a-rest® is a Therm-a-rest®, NOT!
Probably the
most popular sleeping mats are the Therm-a-rest® brand of self inflating open
cell foam mattresses. One of the more
popular models is the ProLite 4. It is
one of the Therm-a-rests® that uses their die-cut foam to make it lighter and
pack smaller, so it isn't really designed to get all the insulating capability
that one could get from a 1.5" open cell foam mattress. It is designed such that weight and pack size
are more important than cold weather performance.
R-value is how Therm-a-rest® mats are specified in terms of insulating
capability. Here is what I think
Therm-a-rest® currently produces or has produced in recent years in their self
inflating line of backpacking pads (the R-value numbers are valid for fully
inflated mats):
1.0" ProLite 3 .......R-value = 2.3
(die cut foam)
1.5" ProLite 4 .......R-value = 3.2
(die cut foam)
1.25" Trail ...........R-value = 4.2 (solid foam)
1.75" Expedition ......R-value = 4.4 (die cut foam)
1.75" Basecamp ........R-value = 5.8 (solid foam)
2.0" Luxury Camp .....R-value = 6.1
(solid foam)
1.0" UltraLite .......R-value = 2.6 (die cut foam)
1.5" GuideLite .......R-value = 3.8
(die cut foam)
2.0" LE ..............R-value = 4.1
(cored foam)
1.5" Explorer ........R-value = 4.7 (solid foam)
1.75" Standard ........R-value = 5.8 (solid foam)
I don't know how Therm-a-rest® expects you to make use of these R-value
numbers, other than a higher R-value means a higher insulating value. Insulation is not just about being warm or
cold, there is toasty, warm, okay, cool, cold and freezing. I don't pretend to really know how to convert
those R-values into temperatures that you will be happy with, but I can make a
guess. I would propose a guesstimate
using the following formula where the constant (k) is somewhere between 12 and
16.
Low Temp (degrees F) = 70 - k * R-value
Using this guesstimate, you would get something like this:
ProLite 3 ......42 to 33°F
ProLite 4 ......32 to 19°F
Trail ..........20 to 3°F
Expedition .....17 to 0°F
BaseCamp ....... 0 to -23°F
Luxury Camp ....-3 to 28°F
UltraLite ......39 to 28°F
GuideLite ......24 to 9°F
LE .............21 to 4°F
Explorer .......14 to -5°F
Standard ....... 0 to -23°F
Now these numbers are somewhat pulled out of the air to demonstrate what
R-value should lead to. So what do you
do if you are using a Therm-a-rest® that isn't warm enough? You can obtain a warmer one or you can
augment what you have by placing a closed cell foam pad underneath it in cold
conditions. For instance, if your
ProLite 4 isn't warm enough, placing a RidgeRest closed cell foam pad
underneath it with its R-value of 2.6 should augment your Prolite 4's R-value
of 3.2, giving you an R-value of 5.8 (3.2 + 2.6 = 5.8), which is the same
R-value as the BaseCamp and should offer about the same warmth, something good
to somewhere in the vicinity of 0 to -23°F.
At least that is the way it is suppose to work.
Closed
Cell Foam Pads
Therm-a-rest® also produces closed cell foam pads that are
unique in that they are not solid on the top and bottom surfaces, which
provides more comfort with less weight.
Their current models of this type are as follow:
3/4” Z-Lite .............R-value = 2.2
5/8” RidgeRest ..........R-value = 2.6
3/4” RidgeRest Deluxe ...R-value = 3.1
Applying the same equation yields the following table:
Z-Lite .............44 to 35°F
RidgeRest ..........39 to 28°F
RidgeRest Deluxe ...33 to 20°F
There are many other closed cell foam pads used for
backpacking that are either solid or egg crated, etc. Most of these don’t have R-values specified
and it makes it difficult to figure out their temperature ratings. Without any other information, I assign solid
pads an R-value based on their thickness.
This is obviously not always correct but is the best I know to do. The egg crated pads are perplexing because
you don’t know for sure whether you can effectively trap air in the small
crated parts of the pad. If you can
their R-value would approach a value determined by their maximum thickness...
if you can’t then the R-value would approach a value determined by their
minimum thickness. The following table
summarizes the values for generic closed cell foam pads:
1/4” ....R-value = 1.1 .... 57 to 52°F
3/8” ....R-value = 1.6 .... 51 to 44°F
1/2" ....R-value = 2.2 .... 44 to 35°F
5/8” ....R-value = 2.7 .... 38 to 27°F
3/4” ....R-value = 3.3 .... 30 to 17°F
Insulation in a
Hammock
Things involving insulation change in a hammock. Top side insulation doesn’t particular change
but you are not in contact with the ground anymore and that does significantly
change bottom side insulation. Also worth
noting is that backpacking hammocks tend to wrap around your sides which
affects the width requirement if you are using pads... you will need a wider
pad in a hammock.
If you are using blankets or quilts in some fashion on the
outside of the hammock where they are not compressed by your weight, I believe
the same loft requirements that are used for top side insulation apply equally
for bottom side insulation. However,
there are some differences worth noting for bottom side quilts or sleeping bags
that are separate from the hammock and they are fit and ventilation. Gravity no longer gently drapes the bag on
top of you, it pulls it away and you may not have easy access to the
adjustments that affect the ventilation of the outside insulation. You have to pull it snug but not so snug as
to excessively compress the insulation while at the same time not allowing
unwanted ventilation. This is not always
an easy task for the complex shapes that occur when someone is in a comfortable
hammock whose fabric is selected to stretch enough to comfortably caress the
contours of your body so that it doesn’t produce uncomfortable pressure
points. For these reasons, I think that
some modification is prudent for bottom side quilts or sleeping bags that are
separate from the hammock. This is my
best guess for separate bottom side quilts or sleeping bags:
[temperature rating °F]
= 70 - ([thickness inches] X 15)
The following chart shows the comparison I see for top side
quilts or sleeping bags versus bottom side quilts or sleeping bags.
|
|
Temperature
Rating |
Temperature
Rating |
|
Loft |
Top
Side |
Bottom
Side |
|
0” |
70°F |
70°F |
|
1” |
50°F |
55°F |
|
2” |
30°F |
40°F |
|
3” |
10°F |
25°F |
Ground mats that are traditionally used in tent camping can also
be used in a hammock. The temperature
rating may be different in a hammock because the outside of the hammock is
exposed to outside air (and wind--but wind is not factored into these
equations). Some pads provide enough
insulation to be used by themselves while others require addition pads to
provide enough insulation. Also worth
noting is that the compressible pads tend to compress more in the low spot of
hammocks (your tush) than they do on the ground. The following chart is for hammock use, reflects
these phenomena and uses the previously described equations with k equal to 10
for the more compressible self inflating pads and k equal to 12 for closed cell
foam pads. It also shows how pads can be
stacked to increase the effective temperature range. Stacking pads will occur more often when pads
are used in hammocks because more bottom side insulation is generally needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Therm-A-Rest Pads® |
Thickness
(inches) |
R-value |
Without
Extra Pads (°F) |
With
1/4" ccf Pad (°F) |
With
3/8" ccf Pad (°F) |
With
1/2" ccf Pad (°F) |
|
|
|
|
ProLite
3 |
1 |
2.3 |
47 |
34 |
27 |
20 |
|
|
|
|
ProLite
4 |
1.5 |
3.2 |
38 |
25 |
18 |
--- |
|
|
|
|
Trail |
1.25 |
4.2 |
28 |
15 |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
Expedition |
1.75 |
4.4 |
26 |
13 |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
BaseCamp |
1.75 |
5.8 |
12 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
Luxury
Camp |
2 |
6.1 |
9 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
UltraLite |
1 |
2.6 |
44 |
31 |
24 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
GuideLite |
1.5 |
3.8 |
32 |
19 |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
LE |
2 |
4.1 |
29 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
Explorer |
1.5 |
4.7 |
23 |
10 |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
Standard |
1.75 |
5.8 |
12 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Closed Cell Foam Pads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1/8 |
0.5 |
63 |
50 |
43 |
36 |
|
|
|
|
|
1/4 |
1.1 |
57 |
44 |
37 |
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
3/8 |
1.6 |
50 |
37 |
30 |
23 |
|
|
|
|
|
1/2 |
2.2 |
43 |
30 |
23 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
5/8 |
2.7 |
37 |
24 |
17 |
--- |
|
|
|
|
|
3/4 |
3.3 |
30 |
17 |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
|
7/8 |
3.8 |
23 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
|
1.0 |
4.3 |
17 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hammocks
and wind
In closing, something needs to be said about wind and
hammock use. The above discussions have
ignored the effects of wind. Make no
mistake about it--wind will cool you off in most any temperature you will be
camping in. If you can block the wind
before it gets to your outer insulation, the wind will have no affect. If it gets to your outer insulation, at the
least it changes the dynamics of your boundary layer of warm air--it changes
natural convection currents to forced convection currents. At the worst it penetrates the trapped air in
your insulation and actually flushes the warm air out of your insulation. This flushing action is stopped by any outer
shell that is impenetrable to air flow and restricted by other fabric shells
inversely to their breathability. The
more breathable they are the more warm air will be flushed from them when the
wind hits them... this can have a dramatic affect as the wind literally robs
you of your insulation. This is
particularly a concern with quilts that hang loosely on the outside of a
hammock because of the potential air gaps between the hammock and the quilt and
will be much more noticeable as the temperatures drop.
Back to the wind changing natural convection to forced
convection on your boundary layer of warm air.
What this does is effectively reduce your insulation by some amount that
is determined by the wind speed and air temperature. The defining equations for this are
complicated, but based on my experience and the latest wind chill formulas from
the National Weather Service; I propose a simple
rule of thumb as a guideline for this application. I propose that you lose about 1°F of
insulation per 1 mph of wind that hits your boundary layer of insulation for
wind speeds up to 20 mph. At wind speeds
greater than 20 mph, the cooling effect of the wind continues to increase but
at a lower rate.
What does this mean to you?
It means that you effectively lower the temperature requirements for
your insulation 1°F for every 1 mph of wind speed that hits your boundary layer
of insulation... up to 20°F worth for 20 mph winds. For example, if you are in 40°F temperatures
and your insulation is exposed to 20 mph winds you will need insulation capable
of keeping you warm at 20°F in calm conditions.
In this example I would not be as concerned about wind if I had
insulation rated to 20°F as I would if I had insulation rated to 40°F because
with insulation rated to 40°F, I would not have the insulation margin to handle
wind exposure.
The
following are some rough guidelines taken from the Beaufort Scale© (http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/scales/beaufort.html)
for estimating wind speed:
5 mph ...
leaves rustle
10 mph ... leaves and twigs move
15 mph ... small branches move
20 mph ... small trees sway
25 mph ... large branches move
35 mph ... whole trees move
Keep in mind that some of these indicators are for wind
speed in your general vicinity and are not necessarily the wind speed that your
insulation is experiencing. Often the
wind is very much reduced close to the ground or behind natural barriers,
especially in heavily forested areas or areas with small brush.
For those times when you can’t completely avoid the wind, or
when conditions change drastically over the course of the night, it is helpful
to have a stay-warm system that allows you to adjust the amount of insulation,
or to reposition it when needed. An
inside insulation system using multiple sleeping pads or an outside system that
can be opened or closed as needed can be a nice advantage.
Recommendations
Like most people, I prefer both top and bottom insulation
for comfortable hammock sleeping when the temperature drops below about 70OF. The colder it gets, the more insulation I
need. I designed the Segmented Pad
Extender (SPE) as a simple lightweight yet functional stay-warm system that
uses sleeping pads I already own. The
SPE allows me to match the thickness of my insulation to the expected outside
temperature by stacking multiple sleeping pads or adding clothes or even
leaves! You can read more about the SPE
at: SpeerHammocks.com.
The wise hammock camper should carefully select the proper
insulation based on many factors, including warmth, flexibility, and
adaptability. Like everything else,
personal experience is the best teacher and the wise camper should become
comfortable with their gear in safe environments before heading to the backcountry--experimenting
in the back yard is highly recommended.
Hopefully some of my observations in this article can help get you
started.
The good news is that staying warm is possible using either
outdoor gear you already own or by purchasing some of the new accessories
provided by camping hammock manufacturers.
Acceptable stay-warm setups primarily focus on inside insulation,
outside insulation, or a combination of both.
Inside insulation can include sleeping bags, blankets, quilts and
sleeping pads. Outside insulation
includes vapor barrier shells, quilts or blankets beneath the hammock, or
specifically-designed sleeping bags that completely surround the hammock. Each system has its own advantages and
disadvantages, and a combination of both is sometimes called for.
Dave
“Youngblood” Womble,
Dave Womble is a design
engineer with extensive outdoor experience who enjoys making his own gear. His Segmented Pad Extender, or SPE, is an extra
wide, multiple pad stay-warm system for use inside camping hammocks. The SPE is available exclusively from Speer Hammocks, Inc.
Edited by Ed Speer, owner
of Speer Hammocks and author of the book “Hammock Camping, the Complete Guide
to Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom”
3-------------------------Feature
Article------------------------------
Hammock Sag Angle
There seems
to be some confusion in how to hang a conventional hammock. For consistency, it helps to define the lay
of the hammock in terms of the hammock sag angle. This is determined by the ratio of the straight
line horizontal distance between two appropriate points on the hammock system
and the corresponding length of the hammock system that is in parallel with
that. I take the inverse cosine of that
ratio to obtain the degrees (referenced to the horizon) that the hammock
suspension ropes or webbing approximate.
This angle is easily seen on hammocks without structural ridgelines but
may be difficult to visualize on hammocks with structural ridgelines that
attach at the hammock fabric itself. All
in all, the sag angle concept is a useful one.
The most common mistake I see with folks hanging their hammocks that
don’t have a structural ridgeline is that they don’t seem to understand the
geometry involved and hang the hammock taut between the supports. This typically results in a hammock with too
small of a sag angle that isn’t very comfortable. This is easily solved by properly adjusting
the length of the hammock suspension lines and connecting them at the
appropriate height on the supports. I
feel that some of this confusion is because hammocks with structural ridgelines
are sometimes initially hung taut between the supports.
For clarity,
I am calling a structural ridgeline a ridgeline that sets the sag angle of a
hammock, with the Hennessy Hammocks being the model that most people are
familiar with. The Speer Hammocks use a
removable ridgeline that supports the bugnet but it is either adjusted manually
or uses some type of shock cord so that it does not affect the sag angle of the
occupied hammock. Some hammocks use
webbing for the hammock suspension lines and some use rope, I did not try to
make that distinction in this discussion or the diagrams and in general just
called them hammock suspension lines or ropes.
For this discussion it makes no difference whether they are ropes or
webbing.
This figure
shows an 8.0 Speer Hammock hung too taut.
As you can
see the shortened edges of the hammock are taut or close to being taut. This makes for an uncomfortable hammock that
tends to swallow you, excessively squeeze your shoulders and make it difficult,
if not impossible, to lie comfortably on a slight diagonal to the longitudinal
axis of the hammock.
The next
figure shows a Speer 8.0 hung with a more preferred 30 degree sag angle.
Notice that
the edges of the hammock droop somewhat, resolving the problems encountered when
the sag angle is too small. Also notice
that the sag angle is set by adjusting the hammock suspension lines for the
appropriate length for each unique separation distance of the supports and that
the height the suspension lines are tied also change as the separation distance
between the supports change.
The following
three diagrams attempt to show how a structural ridgeline sets the sag angle
and more importantly why you don’t want to set up a Speer Hammock using the
same technique. The first diagram shows
a structural ridgeline attached at the hammock fabric itself.
It is hard to visually see the sag angle with this configuration since
neither the hammock suspension lines nor any other line shows it, but it is
there.
This next diagram
shows the structural ridgeline moved away from the hammock body and attached to
the hammock suspension lines.
This works
the same as far as setting the hammock sag angle goes and now we get a visually
indication of the sag angle. The deflection
of the angle of the suspension lines where the ridgeline is attached is a
dramatic indication that the ridgeline is setting the sag of the hammock and is
thus a structural ridgeline. Sometimes
non-structural ridgelines used only for bugnets are like this when the hammock
is unoccupied but stretch when the hammock is occupied and don’t deflect the
angle of the suspension lines. They
therefore don’t set the sag angle and they stretch because a structural
ridgeline can have quite a bit of force applied to it. This force is a function of how much the
hammock is weighted and how much the angle of the hammock suspension lines
differ from the hammock sag angle. This
force on the structural ridgeline is also present in the exact same amount in
the previous example where the ridgeline is attached at the hammock fabric but
is not visually demonstrated as it is in this example by the deflection of the
suspension line.
The next
diagram shows the structural ridgeline moved further along the hammock
suspension lines. In fact it is moved
all the way out to the point where the suspension lines attach to supports that
are separated by twelve feet. When the
supports are at twelve feet, the ridgeline is structurally doing nothing and
the hanging dimensions are the same as in the 2nd diagram where a
structural ridgeline is not used. I
included this case to graphically demonstrate that the same sag angle can be
achieved with or without a structural ridgeline and that selecting the
appropriate length for the suspension lines does set the hammock sag.
As I stated
in the beginning, the hammock sag is determined by the ratio of the straight
line horizontal distance between two appropriate points on the hammock system
and the corresponding length of the hammock system that is in parallel with
that. For these five diagrams we can
tabulate this ratio and the corresponding sag angle that goes with that.
In summary,
the sag angle of a suspended hammock can be set in several different ways to
get the same overall affect. The
following two diagrams are overlays of the previous diagrams and are included
because often diagrams or pictures are easier to understand than words.
Dave “Youngblood” Womble
4-------------------------September05
Hammock Campout---------------
The 12th
SEHHA Campout
is now History
Our 12th Southeast Hammock Hangers Association
campout September 23-25 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
Ed "Not To Worry" Speer
Safe Hammocking!
Take a hammock on your next outdoor trip
And experience the wonder of nature all over again
5------------------------Next SEHHA Campouts-------------------------------
13th
SEHHA Campout
Everyone Welcome!
New Year’s Eve
South
End of
Springer
Join us for our next hammock hangers'
campout and help us ring in the 2006 New Year!
Learn from the hammock experts or show off your own stay-warm gear. Meet Ed Speer, maker of camping hammocks and
inventor of the PeaPod! This will be a
challenging winter campout with possible temperatures below 10F! Severe storm conditions including high wind,
cold rain or heavy snow are possible.
This unorganized event is open to all hikers and will include hammockers
as well as ground sleepers--expect 10-30 campers.
We will camp at or near the
In spite of the potential for
severe weather, some recent campouts have experienced only moderate
conditions. Daytime highs in the 50’s
and nighttime lows in the 30’s were the norm for the 2003 & 2004 campouts. Again, a close eye on the weather forecast is
critical for those not equipped & experienced for arctic conditions.
Some useful trail information can be found at the web links
below:
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/ Appalachian Trail Conference
http://www.nps.gov/appa/ National Park AT
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_trail/appalach.htm GORP AT
http://georgiatrails.com/features/apptrail.html Georgia Trails AT
http://georgiatrails.com/trails/southterm.html Access Trail--Amicalola Falls SP
http://www.fred.net/kathy/at.html
http://www.rhodesmill.org/thefox/maps.html Nat'l Park Service AT maps
Amicalola Falls State Park is
located 9 miles south of Springer Mtn and some may choose to park there and
hike up to the campout. Information
about the park can be found at: http://gastateparks.org/info/amicalola/ or http://ngeorgia.com/parks/amicalola.html
or phone: (706)265-8888; address:
14th
SEHHA Campout
April 21-23, 2006, again in Hot Springs, NC. It's FREE!
(Except for your $5 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
We will camp in the popular Hot Springs Campground
approximately 45 minutes drive northwest of
This outing offers the perfect opportunity for families who
camp together, so bring the kids as well as the hammocks.
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 hanger’s 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 entrance gate and
ask for the 'hammock group'. Karen and I
will be at the campsite Friday afternoon thru midday Sunday, so arrive anytime
after 2 pm Friday. Folding lounge chairs
might be appropriate for the festival, so bring your own. The
Find complete campground details at: http://camp.nchotsprings.com/
Find driving directions at: http://nchotsprings.com/directions.html
Fall temperatures at this elevation can fluctuate wildly, so
expect daytime highs of 30-70F and nighttime lows of 30-50F. Rain is
possible so be prepared.
Signing up is not necessary, but letting us know will be
appreciated--
Everyone Welcome!
See ya at
MORE SEHHA Campouts
for 2006!
Jun 9-11,
2006 15th
SEHHA Campout, Hot Springs, NC.
Sep 22-24,
2006 16th
SEHHA Campout,
Dec 31-Jan
1, 2006-2007 17th
SEHHA Campout, New Year's Eve on Springer
…..Ed "Not To Worry" Speer
6-----------------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
19! 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
new!
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 new!
http://www.eaglesnestoutfit.com/ Email: mail@eaglesnestoutfit.com
Exped new!
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
7---------------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
http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf?OpenDatabase&Language=E
· Nomad
Travel Tropical Hammock (search Sleeping Essentials), double
bottom
http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/#
· Paradise
Hammock parachute silk http://www.paradisehammocks.co.uk/
· Sportsman's
Guide Guide Gear®
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?p=WX2&i=70415
· Suspended
Sleeping System by Center of Gravity, Inc
Unique backpack-hammock-sleeping
bag-mattress system; not available yet?; see review at: http://www.backpacking.net/gear-reviews/sss
· Cedar Tree StrapoLounger Unique Sleeping Pad-Backpack-Hammock
combination
http://www.thepacka.com/strappack/page2.html
Hammock Universe See the camping hammock section http://www.hammockuniverse.com
· The Travel Hammock http://www.thetravelhammock.com new!
8----------------------Camping
Hammock Accessories-------------------
This list
includes useful but often hard to find camping hammock accessories. Web searches and/or eBay auctions may turn up these and other
suitable accessories. This list will be
expanded over time.
Sleeping
Pads
· Speer Hammocks Segmented Pad Extenders; hammock
warmth from your own sleeping pad, wings provide side insulation http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
· Exped
Expedition Equipment Down-filled
air mattress
http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf/bc533c91605f6841c12566e6006e0c82/abe00eea82521552c1256ae2002374a4!OpenDocument See also: http://www.backcountry-equipment.com/sleeping_pads/exped_downairmattress.html
· High
Country Outdoor Products Mt
Washington Pad closed-cell foam; 7
oz; 20"X60"X0.6"
· Knox
Foam closed cell foam,
3/8"X73", buy by linear foot; other styles available
http://www.knoxfoam.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/closedcellfoam/CCR02.htm?L+scstore+nigf9039+1062576884
· Oware closed-cell foam,
1/4"X60"X40"; 7oz http://www.owareusa.com/sleep.html
· Quest
Outfitters Thin, extra-wide
closed-cell foam; must be cut to size
http://www.questoutfitters.com/Foam%20Page.htm
· Target
Stores 27" wide
closed-cell blue foam http://www.target.com
· The Coleman
Co 24" wide closed-cell foam;
various thicknesses
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/subcategory.asp?CategoryID=9060
· Therm-A-Rest wide selection of various self-inflating
& closed-cell foam pads http://www.cascadedesigns.com/thermarest/
· Seattle
Fabrics, Inc Thin,
extra-wide closed-cell foam; must be cut to size
http://www.seattlefabrics.com/
· Slumberjack
Products covered and
uncovered closed-cell foam and inflatable pads
http://www.slumberjack.com/category_list.asp?category_name=Sleeping+Mats
· Speer
Hammocks, Inc extra wide,
1/4"-thick closed-cell foam & reflectix pads
· Sportsman's
Guide closed-cell foam w/
reflective bottom coating
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=77344
· Stearns,
Inc Inflatable, various models
· Stevenson's
Warmlite Down-filled
air mattress D.A.M. http://www.warmlite.com
· Wal-Mart Ozark Trail Egg Crate Camp Pad, 24" wide
closed-cell foam http://www.walmart.com/
Bug Nets
· Hammock
Bliss Net for any hammock http://www.hammockbliss.com/
· Nomad
Travel several models
(search Mosquito Nets) http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/
· MPI
Outdoors Hammock
Netting Cover http://mpioutdoors.com/netting5.htm
Insulation
Around Hammock
· Speer
Hammocks, Inc PeaPod sleeping bag
fits completely around hammock! Now baffled with 900 fill down!
http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/PRODUCTLINK2.htm
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/DownPeaPods.htm
· Jacks
"r" Better Down under
quilts for bottom entry hammocks http://216.83.168.206/
Email: jacksrbetterquilts@cox.net
·
www.kickassquilts.com
Synthetic under quilts
for bottom entry hammocks
Rain
Canopies
· Campmor Ultralight Backpacking Tarp, 8X10, silicone,
ripstop
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=226&prrfnbr=88643
· GoLite Sheet Tarp, silicone ripstop
http://www.golitestore.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=SH6007&variation=&aitem=4&mitem=12
· Integral
Designs various size silnylon tarps
http://www.integraldesigns.com/tarps-frame.htm
· Oware silicone-treated nylon tarps http://www.owareusa.com/tarps.html
· Speer
Hammocks, Inc 8X10 silicone 1.1 oz
ripstop complete w/ guidelines; 13 oz
http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/PRODUCTLINK2.htm
· Hennessy
Hammocks http://www.hennessyhammock.com/
· Equinox,
Ltd The One Pound
Tarp
http://www.equinoxltd.com/Cart/description.php?II=1989&UID=2003090311484863.90.39.154
· Hammock
Bliss All Purpose Shelter http://www.hammockbliss.com/
· Silnylon fabrics require some regular
maintenance to retain their water proof ability. For an excellent how-to treatise on this
subject, check out: http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/Silnylon1/index.html
· http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier.com/maccattarps.htm MacCat Tarps
· Mountain Laurel Designs http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/supertarps.php
Portable
Hammock Stands
· Campmor Search Hammock Stand http://www.campmor.com
· Google Search
Hammock Stands--Generates many retailers
http://www.google.com
· Hammocks
America.Com good listing of
stands
http://www.hammocksamerica.com/store/standall.html
· Hammocks.Com Many stands, second tree stands, also hanging
gear
http://www.hammocks.com/hammock_stands/index.cfm
· Hangouts.Com Many stands and online services
http://hangouts.com/hammocks/hammock_stand.html
· Magic
Hammock.Com Portable hammock w/
· WrightStuff.Net Heavy duty tubular steel, w/ hanging rack
http://www.wrightstuff.net/products/hammockstand.htm
· Wal-Mart 5-piece green steel stand (search GARDEN
section for hammocks)
Other
Accessories
· Speer Hammocks Segmented Pad Extenders; hammock
warmth from your own sleeping pad, wings provide side insulation http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
· Hammocks
America.Com Hanging
gear http://www.hammocksamerica.com/store/hammacceshook.html
· Hammock
Jungle.Com Hanging gear http://www.hammockjungle.com/accessories/
· Hammocks.Com Hanging gear
http://www.hammocks.com/hammock_stands/hammock_hanging_kits.cfm
· Hammock
Bliss Tree straps http://www.hammockbliss.com/
9-------------------------Misc Online
Resources------------------------------
How To Make A Hammock
· http://speerhammocks.com/Tips/Tips%20on%20hammock%20camping.htm
· http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/PRODUCTLINK2.htm Make Your Own Kits
· http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/ultrahammockkit.htm
· http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/ultraquarterweight.htm
· http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/hammocktube.htm
· http://home.attbi.com/~egowtkimoto/
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Garlington%20Insulator/GIversion2.htm
· http://www.uniqueprojects.com/projects/hammock/hammock.htm
· http://www.hammocksamerica.com/how_to_make_a_hammock/how_to_make_a_hammock.html
· http://www.shelter-systems.com/gripclips/hammock.html
· http://www.angelfire.com/sc2/tygerheart/homepage2.html
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free
Reports/SewingTips.htm Sew Your
Own Hammock
· http://www.australianheritagefleet.com/au/SpecEv/Hammock.html Suspension
bridge design
· http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGear.html
History of Hammocks
· http://www.hammocksamerica.com/portable_hammock/portable_hammock.html
· http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/hammock.htm
· http://www.hammocks.net/hammock-history.html
· http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/whyhammock.htm
Camping Hammock Use
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Tips/Tips.htm
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/News.htm
· http://www.speerhammocks.com/Tips/Tips_on_hammock_camping.htm
· http://www.hammocksamerica.com/Camping_Hammocks/Camping_Hammocks.html
· http://www.hammocksamerica.com/jungle_hammock/jungle_hammock.html
· http://www.shire.net/mormon/hammock.html
· http://www.hikinghq.net/hammock/hammock.html
· http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/whyhammock.htm
· http://www.imrisk.com/index.htm
· http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/ultradoublehammock.htm
· http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/Tips/hammock.htm
· http://www.hammock-hammocks.com
· http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/speerknot.htm
· http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/improvedknot.htm
· http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCamping.html
· http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingDry.html
How To Stay Warm in a
Hammock
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/SpeerStayWarm.htm Stay warm tables
· http://www.speerhammocks.com/Tips/Tips%20on%20hammock%20camping.htm Hammock Tips
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Tips/Tips.htm Hammock Tips
· http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
Segmented Pad Extenders; hammock warmth from your own sleeping pad,
wings provide side insulation
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/Jan2003.htm Stay-warm tables
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/Nov2003.htm Sleeping pads
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/FreeReports/PeaPod03.htm PeaPods for hammocks
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/Dec2003.htm PeaPods for hammocks
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/DownPeaPods.htm Down PeaPods
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Garlington%20Insulator/GIversion2.htm
Garlington Insulator
· http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/ultrahammock.htm Cold weather experiments
· http://home.attbi.com/~egowtkimoto/ Home made LiteLoft under quilt
· http://www.Speerhammocks.com\Reviews\Zirkel-Durham.htm Review of Speer Hammock & Big
Agnes Zirkel Sleeping Bag
· http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/Zirkel-Durham.htm Review of Speer Hammock & Big
Agnes Zirkel Sleeping Bag
· http://www.thru-hiker.com/workshop.asp?subcat=5&cid=72 Home made down under quilt
· http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingWarm.html How to
Stay Warm
General Hammock
Interest
· http://www.goattracksmagazine.com Goat packers love hammocks too
· http://www.myhammock.com Complete selection of hammocks and
accessories
· http://www.angelfire.com/sc2/tygerheart/homepage2.html Workshops on hand weaving hammocks
· http://www.treetopadventures.com Tree climbers love hammocks too
Online Hammock Camping
Discussion Sites
· http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hammockcamping Hammock Camping Email List
· http://hikinghq.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=eb636c93eeabedf3780773543424349&forumid=74 Hammock Camping Forum
10--------------Speer
Hammocks Calendar------------------
Meet Ed Speer, buy a signed copy of the Hammock Camping book
and see the complete line of camping hammocks, down PeaPods, and accessories
from Speer Hammocks at these upcoming events:
Dec 31-Jan
1, 2005-2006 13th
SEHHA Campout. New Year's Eve campout on
Springer Mtn, Georgia. Sponsored by
Speer Hammocks. Expect cold winter
weather on this 3,782' mountain.
Southern terminus of Appalachian Trail—see information elsewhere in this
issue
Apr 21-23,
2006 14th
SEHHA Campout, Hot Springs, NC.
Sponsored by Speer Hammocks.
Everyone welcome—see information elsewhere in this issue
May 19-21,
2006 TrailDays06,
Damascus, VA. Visit us in the vendor
area in the town park
Jun 9-11,
2006 15th
SEHHA Campout, Hot Springs, NC.
Sponsored by Speer Hammocks.
Everyone welcome—see information elsewhere in this issue
Sep 22-24,
2006 16th
SEHHA Campout, Hot Springs, NC.
Sponsored by Speer Hammocks.
Everyone welcome—see information elsewhere in this issue
Oct 6-8,
2006 The Gathering,
Dec 31-Jan
1, 2006-2007 17th
SEHHA Campout, New Year's Eve campout on Springer Mtn, Georgia. Sponsored by Speer Hammocks. Expect cold winter weather on this 3,782'
mountain. Southern terminus of
Appalachian Trail—see information elsewhere in this issue
11------------Hammock
Friendly Government Lands------------------
As the popularity of hammock camping spreads, we
increasingly find some outdoor locations where hammocks are inappropriate or
not allowed. While hammocks are welcome
on most public lands where camping is permitted, they may not be allowed on
others. While the restrictions may seem
unreasonable, often they are based on valid concerns of protecting the trees
(or even tree-living snails)! As
responsible hammock users, it is important for us to set a proper example by
abiding with all regulations. The
following information is an unofficial list of government land restrictions
gleamed from the personal experiences of members of the Hammock Camping
List. Each hammock camper should verify
this information by contacting the proper authorities at each park. This list will be updated and expanded in each
future issue of the Hammock Camping Newsletter.
Hammocks Allowed:
Hammocks Not Allowed:
12-------------------Hammock
Camping Authors--------------------------
Some of our
hammock camping friends are accomplished authors. To honor them, the following list gives the
specifics of their works and how to access them. Any member of the Hammock Camping List can
have their published or non-published writings listed in this section of each
issue of Hammock Camping News by contacting Speer Hammocks at: info@speerhammocks.com or (828)
724-4444.
Allnut,
Rick (aka Rist) A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike
2005, Wayah Press,
Bayern,
Mark FINAL REPORT: Semi-Automated
Mathematics: A Study in Man Machine Interaction
1970, published by US Air force Cambridge Research Lab
Bryan, Shane
(aka Mirage) User Selectable Application Grammar and Semantics; 2004, US patent # 6697089
Bryan, Shane
(aka Mirage) A Multi-Sourced Extensible Publishing and Editorial System and Related
Methods;
Chinell,
David (aka Bear) System Documentation: The in-Line
Approach 1990 ISBN
0-471-50492-0 out of print Published by John Wiley & Sons
Ghost writer, editor,
technical writer, technical editor
Cornelius,
Jodi (aka Banjo Doje, aka Skids)
Corterier,
Andre A New Approach to Solving the Problem of the Interest Rate Under
Article 78 CISG; 2000, International Trade and Business Law Annual, p.
33-42.
Corterier,
Andre Interest in Uniform Application: How to Solve the UN Sales Law’s
Interest Rate Problem Under CIGS Article 78 and CISG Article 84; 2002-3,
Review of the Convention on Contracts for the International Sales of Goods, p.
1-18.
Lipay, Mike Technical outdoor writer, editor
Oborn, Ralph Outdoor poetry writer
Speer,
Ed (aka Not To Worry) Geology
of the McDermitt Mercury Deposit, Humboldt Count,
Speer,
Ed (aka Not To Worry) Geology
and Recent Discoveries at the Haile Gold Mine,
Geology, v.35, p. 9-26
(South Carolina Geological Survey,
Speer,
Ed (aka Not To Worry) Whole
Rock and Trace Element Geochemistry of Rocks from the Snake Deposit, Haile Gold
Mine,
Carolina 1993, co-author w/ John Maddry, published by South Carolina
Geology, v.35, p. 27-36
(
Speer,
Ed (aka Not To Worry) Supergene
Enrichment at the Chase Hill Sericite Deposit, Haile Gold Mine,
1993, co-author w/ John Maddry, published by South Carolina
Geology, v.36, (South Carolina Geological Survey,
Speer,
Ed (aka Not To Worry) William Speer (1747-1830) His Life,
Family, and Descendents 1998,
510 p., published by Ed Speer,
828.724.4444 http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/p/e/Wade-E-Speer/index.html
Speer,
Ed (aka Not To Worry) W.E.
Speer Family History Newsletter v.
1 Dec 1998; v. 2 Jul 1999; v. 3 & 4 Aug 1999; v. 5 Sep 1999
Published by Ed Speer,
Marion, NC 828.724.4444
Speer,
Ed (aka Not To Worry) Hammock Camping, The Complete Guide to
Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom
2003 ISBN
0-9718594-4-2, 199 p.; published by Speer Hammocks Inc, Marion, NC 828.724.4444
http://www.hammockcamping.com
Speer,
Ed (aka Not To Worry) Hammock
Camping News (ezine) 2002-2005, Editor,
published by Speer Hammocks Inc, Inc., Marion, NC 828.724.4444
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/NEWS.htm
Sousa, Karen
(aka POG) Technical outdoor writer;
Marion, NC 828.768.0408
Steinkamp,
Shane Storming the Gates of Eden http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/voiceoftheuniverse/stgoe.htm Ghost writer, technical writer
Takeda, Matthew
(aka The JOAT) Technical writer,
editor PO Box 1877 Suisum City, CA
94585 matthew@matthewTakeda.net
Unknown,
Rosaleen Technical outdoor writer
Womble,
Dave (aka Youngblood) Technical writer;
Cold Weather Use of Closed Cell
Foam Pads in Hammocks
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/DWombleFoamPads.htm
A Look at Insulation and How Much is Enough http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/2005/Jan2005.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Ed
‘Not To Worry’ Speer