"This book is AWESOME! It's a must for any outdoor enthusiast. Makes me wish I had such a brilliant book under my tarp on the AT during my first week. I especially enjoy your journal snippets of real-world situations..Bears, Snakes, Crowds for starters. Some of these stories make me really yearn to be back on the trail again...and now I want to be on the trail with a hammock!"
Greg 'G-Force' Scholz, Farmington, CT, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 2000

"The seven chapters and four appendixes cover such topics as cold weather hammock camping, how to build a hammock and leave no trace camping with a hammock. The book also does a good job of comparing and contrasting the various hammocks on the market. The first two chapters talk you through concerns you might have when thinking about camping with a hammock. The book will show you how to use a hammock in all weather conditions. The Leave No Trace chapter shows how we have wider choices on our camp sites with a hammock. By itself the great chapter on making your own hammock justifies buying the book."
Paul Morgan, book review in THE LONG DISTANCE HIKER, the newsletter of the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association, Spring 2003 (v.14, no. 1)

"I figured someone would write a book on hammock camping. You beat me to it! And you've done an excellent job."
Earnest 'Sgt Rock' Engman, AL, monitor of Hammock Camping Forum:
http://hikinghq.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=eb636c936eeab6df3780773543424349&forumid=74

"Thank you for the opportunity to review your book. It looks great and the Leave No Trace information is accurate and plentiful. I'm glad that you chose to include so much about Leave No Trace."
Ben Lawhon, Education and Projects Manager, Leave No Trace, Inc.; Boulder, CO

"I received your book yesterday and read almost all of it last night. Thank you for writing it. It was exactly what I needed, when I needed it."
David Risley, Springfield, IL

Speer's new Hammock Camping book is featured in the article "Hammocks For Goatpackers" in the Spring 2003 issue (v. IX, issue 1) of GOAT TRACKS, JOURNAL OF THE WORKING GOAT magazine, Carolyn Eddy, ed.
http://www.goattracksmagazine.com

"Before trying one of Ed's hammocks, I would never have believed that any hammock could be so comfortable."
Dr. Cato Holler, Fellow, Explorers Club; author, Caves of South Carolina; Director, Carolina Cave Survey; Marion, NC

"Ed turned me on to hammock camping two years ago. I'll never go back to tents again."
Matthew 'Dark Star' Carter, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 1999; Louisville, KY

"At first I was skeptical, but after the first night, I was sold."
Stacy 'MoJo' Hielger, Outfitter store manager; Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 2001; Baltimore, MD

"I love this hammock...spend all my time in it even when not sleeping. It really is more comfortable than my bed. Thank you very much...back to hammock I go."
Ron 'Mudman' Grace, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 1999, hammock set up in cabin; Wilmont, NH

"I thought your book is well written Ed. I cannot say how much I enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed the knowledge and ideas which I gained; and the quirky humor which you added at times (based on your many experiences and a few mishaps; those which allowed you to write the book you have today). As I read the book, it took me into my little "perfect utopia", bringing back memories that now allow me to scale these city walls and help rekindle my future hiking dreams."
Tim 'Sherpa' Johnson, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 2001; New York, NY

"I finished the book last night in the hammock. Good and useful is my main opinion. I will definitely build a hammock from the chapter on that subject, and the book is worth the price just for that purpose. Using the directions, it took all of an hour to sear the ends, hem the edges, sew the Velcro, tie the knots and sew the ends of the straps. I REALLY like the method of attaching the hammock with wrapping instead of knots!

I've been off delivering stuff and Marines all over the Med this last week with a C141 aircrew. I was the envy of the loadmaster corps when I rolled out my little bundle of a (homemade Speer) hammock and attached it to the walls of the C141. Talk about comfortable!" See the hammock at:
http://www.flyfisher-kayaks.com/ultralite/hammockc141.jpg
Rick 'Flyfisher' Allnutt; Beavercreek, OH

"This hammock is a lot more comfortable than I thought it was going to be."
Hammock tester, Appalachian Trail Hiker Celebration Trail Days 2002, Damascus, VA

"One of kind; it would appeal to novice and experienced hikers/campers. Great reference book for all who enjoy the outdoors."
Andrew Denalsky, Embden, ME; reviewer for The Good Sam Club's HIGHWAYS magazine

"Hi Ed, I enjoyed your book, it is very well written and contains a lot of good info.....I read it twice. I'm convinced that you are right about the straps being preferable to rope."
Ron Bush, Harrison, TN

"I think Ed Speer has found the best solution to keeping warm in a simple hammock. The (loaner PeaPod) bag performed so well, that today I ordered one of my own."
David Chinell, Sarasota, FL

"I found 'Hammock Camping' by Ed Speer very user friendly. When trying to improve comfort, convenience and freedom for the backpacking experience, Ed challenges us to think outside the box (tent)."
Thomas 'Mickey-One-Sock' Grandstaff, hiking the Appalachian Trail 2003

"The book is excellent and even if you don't want to make your own, get the book. There is a ton of great information. Even though I have owned another type of hammock and spent some time last year using it, I still have learned a few new tricks. The one thing that
impressed me was the presentation of the book. I think I was expecting something less than a professionally bound and printed text. The cover is very well done and all of the illustrations in the book are clear and concise. Highly recommended to anyone interested in hammock camping." John Kennedy, Mobile, AL

"I just finished sewing a Speer hammock. Thanks so much for sharing your method, Ed (I have your book). Incredibly easy project." Debra Weisenstein, Wayland, MA