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I just place my hammock on the ground, no need for tree straps.

Been hanging for forty five years. I used one in Boy Scouts. It rains in Washington. After a couple of miserable trips I swore I wouldn't sleep on the ground again. I've slept well since. A few things I've earned over the years: I string a mesh hammock beneath for gear, pack at one end. It keeps everything off the ground, helps block wind. and gear dries off. To keep crawlies off the hammock attach fly paper to a piece of cloth and wrap it around the rope at the ends sticky side out. Fold and keep in a ziplock. If you're careful there's no mess. Ben Gay works around stake lines, keeps ants off and it's waterproof. The bigger the tarp the better. Mine's 12X12 (Tyvek). The extra tarp as compared with a 10X12 is about 4 ounces, the benefits far outweigh the extra weight. Like I said, I live in Washington. I tie up 4" off the ground 3' either side of center. That's 5' at the ridgeline. My hammock hangs 2' off the ground in the center in the lying position. It's the best balance for me. 12' length lets me pinch the ends with a clip to reduce air flow. In really cold weather I draw one side under my setup to block air and trap heat. I carry a half a shower curtain for a ground cloth. It's durable and keeps the dirt off my feet. My under quilt is a lightweight sleeping bag (rated at 40 degrees but not really useful below 50 as a bag). I'm good to about 15 F. I cook with alcohol under the tarp before going to sleep to prewarm the enclosure a bit. Site selection is probably the most important thing. A site protected from the wind is usually a plus unless it's warm out and/or the view takes precedence. If rain is forecast I always choose a site on a slight slope so water doesn't accumulate. Last but not least more expensive doesn't necessarily equate to better. My son uses a window sheer knotted at the ends. It's worked well for years. My Tyvek tarp is well worn but still water repellent. My tree straps are webbing from Harbor Freight. We're not the REI crowd but we make out pretty well. It all depend on what you're trying to do and how you use what you have. Happy hangin'

Pro tip: if you have a wool blanket, dont lay on it in the hammock, it inevitably slides down or out if the hammock altogether. Instead, string the blanket in a diamond configuration under your hammock, attaching the ends to either end your hammock with a bit of paracord or something, lay in the hammock and wrap the two draping sides over you. The blanket insulates you from the bottom, and the two layers over you trap dead airspace and help keep you warm from the top. Works great! Tip courtesy of Dave Canterbury.

Old boot protection trick, knock two short stakes into the ground and put your boots one on each stake upside down so they are off the ground, rainwater hits the sole and drips off, and bugs don't find it hospitable. Also, strap protection trick, use a bag closing clip, that can clip over the flat strap. Being made of plastic it's an impermeable barrier that covers both top and bottom of the strap.

I am out in the wild most of the time. Usually in places where a tent set up just isn’t worth the work. So a hammock is my go to sleep system when I am in wild terrain. I employ all the tactics that you mentioned.....with a couple of extra disciplines. I use a daisy chain to hold gear that I need to have in arms reach during the night.......flashlight, knife, etc. I just run it right under my ridge line. I also use a bug net.......because summers in Texas are rough with all the mosquito. If you’re not using an underquilt, then make certain that your netting fully encompasses your hammock because mosquitoes have no trouble biting you right through the hammock material. Great video! I really enjoyed it.

I always bring my protractor into the woods

I traded out my big straps for whoopie slings. Lighter, less volume, a TON of adjustability, and super fast. Thanks Shug!

7:31 While I won't claim to have enough experience with underquilts to make my own claim (I use a hammock pad), let it be known that there is a significant following of people in the hammock community (hammockforums, r/hammockcamping, dutchware) that disagree with this. There are entire rigging systems, like suspension triangles, ridgeline hooks, and secondary suspension systems all designed to change the angle of tension and minimize the air gap between the underquilt and hammock. The underquilt has enough air trapped inside of it to act as an insulating layer-adding an additional air gap just requires you to heat more air volume up with you body heat-air volume that can then easily be pushed ("burped") out the ends of the quilt if you move at all in your sleep, as it's not trapped within the loft of the insulation.

Really easy fix for your shoes or anything else you don't want bugs getting in: Get a bug net meant to go over a hat. Cheap, easy, and pretty effective.

I like hammocks because I can see the stars and fireflys. I love the fresh air of a hammock. I love the exposure, too. The critters growling at me in the dark are kind of thrilling. Hammocks weigh less than my smallest tent, and are faster to set up and take down. Plus, they pack smaller.

#11 spray a section of your straps with Off, or something similar. Keeps ants and such from getting to you.

Thank you for the cool advice! Sounds like a lot of wisdom there. However, when I saw you put that dinky little carabiner on the proper one, I thought two things. First, those aluminum carabiners do not like to touch sharp hard objects, which deform them and ultimately make them fail. Second, the small suicidial carabiner is hardly designed to hold the amount of force that a human body sleeping in a hammock can provide. I'd rather visit a climber shop and buy some proper heavy duty alternative instead, and that type of stuff so that I never have to connect one carabiner to another directly, without some rope (or other softer, but highly bearing material) in between.

Hammock camping all day & night long! It’s great for my back. Here are a few tips I would suggest. 1. Use a slip knot for your ridge line. Easy up, easy down and easy to tighten. The tighter your ridge line, the more gear you can hang from it. 2. Instead of purchasing an under quilt, use the sleeping bag you already own. And for warmer months use a bed sheet, going from diagonal corners as your under quilt. 3. Soak/dip your hammock in permethrin as insect repellent. Do NOT use deet. Deet will eat away at your hammock.

My first hammock camp was a week of the worst storm to hit the UK in years. LOVED IT. But since I've tent camped having bought a more sturdy (more expensive) sleeping matt, and I loved that too. Hammock camping is definitely the way for space saving (and rocking gently to sleep). A whole tent doesn't tend to easily fit in a backpack.

Great stuff! For #7, I motocamp and carry a pair of knee high nylons to cover my boots. The nylons let the boot breathe a bit, while also preventing critter entry. I will also say I decided to get a hammock because of the increased air flow. I camp primarily in warmer temps and that is a huge advantage over tent camping. So no underquilt, or low tarp for me 😉

I love hammock camping. I don't get to do it often because I usually have my wife and dogs, but if I am solo, especially on a motorcycle trip, it is my preferred method. The compact storage makes it perfect for motorcycle trips! Great video with good information. Happy to say I am already doing most of it, but I still learned some things. Thanks!

Great informative hammock camping video. You asked about viewers tent/hammock preferences. As a backpacker I prefer a tent as it is simpler in various scenarios, more weather bomb proof, more organized, more versatile above tree line or desert, canyon, beach situations, etc.

1. Your intro logo is nicely artistic 2. You have a great idea about the socks stuffed and over boots. 3. I sleep folded in my hammock, thanks for the tip on sleeping ascewed. 4. Have a great day

Just received my hammock, tore open the box and set it up in the front yard. Immediately flipped right out of it! LMAO. Took me three try's to get the pitch/slope right. Used your index finger-thumb rule and was perfect! If I didn't watch your video I might've sent it back. Thank you.

@7:35 You don't need a gap between you in the hammock and your under quilt. Your UQ shouldn't be compressed smashed against your hammock but it shouldn't be hanging several inches below your back. If you look at it empty yes it can hang a little below your empty hammock but once you lay in it the UQ should gently touch your back without a gap for air to sneak in and rob the heat. The heat gets trapped in your baffels so as long as it's just snug against your back not squished you will have a properly working under quilt. Rest of the video sounds good for the new people.

I tent camp, but I'm trying to learn more about hammock camping, so thanks for this great informative video!

I stopped camping when I was about your age (about the time you were born) because I was done with sleeping on the ground. Now with the hammocks available today I'm really considering going back into the woods !! Thank you so very much for the information and the inspiration !!

I love my hammock. Been using one for some years now and have my own UKposts channel teaching Norwegians about it. But I also use a ridge line for getting the perfect sag and have a place to hang my stuff on at night. The backpack is easy to hang from one of the straps so it hangs under the tarp. Love your video and you have a pleasant voice to listen to. Cheers!

Kammock roo single for backpacking (for the lite weight) Warbonnet Superfly. Outdoor Vitals Aerie 20 underquilt when temp hits in the 50s or less. I have a ZPack classic Sleeping bag. Again very light. It has a nice footbox built in and actually makes a good quilt for my hammock. Outdoor Vitals bug net and rain fly for my backpack. Hammocks are very comfortable and if you have sleep apnea that curve in the hammock helps greatly.

I've switched to the hammock awhile back and definitely prefer it. Being handy I made my own kit and dealt with some of the issues thusly. Concerning the loss of heat by convection, I purchased a %80 wool moving blanket and spray mounted a mylar safety blanket to it. The mylar reflects my body heat back towards me and the wool insulates to decrease any heat loss due to conduction. As for storage, I had extra fabric left over so I made a mini hammock that I string up just below the primary one. This allows for dry storage and makes for easy access to my gear while I'm in the primary hammock.

Enjoyed your video thanks. I only have a gap in my under quilt when venting heat on a warm night.

Just got into hammock camping. Absolutely love it. Still learning and made most of those mistakes.

3:27 My mom walked in. Now shes calling the cops

Hammock camping because you stay dry and you stay comfortable temperature wise. I've woken up too many times in a tent because it's too stuffy and hot

I prefer hammock camping because I sleep in a hammock every night. I used to have a lot of problems sleeping. From snoring to back pain, even pain in my chest (side sleeping). I couldn't take it. Using a hammock not only solved my sleeping problems, but it also saved my marriage.

Great video.! I have been hammock camping for about 5 years now. I have gotten wet everytime I used a tent, but never, even from the very first time in a hammock. I like sleeping in a hammock so much, that is all I have slept in for the past 2 years. (Home, Van, backpacking, and trail maintenance). I have only used Kevlar straps with a whoopie sling, no carabiner, and never had water get into the hammock (Ever). For underside insulation, 70 degrees on up nothing, 40-70 degrees a silver reflectix windshield cover, below 30-40 degrees a down underquilt, below 30 degrees down underquilt and silver reflectix. If your underquilt is not tight to the hammock when your in it, it will be cold, that is why there are drawstrings on the ends to adjust it so you have an air tight fit. I even use prusik knots on the 4 corners of the suspension to keep the underquilt as tight as possible under me. One other piece of equipment I use is a very light thin silnylon cover over the underquilt to prevent rain splash from getting the underquilt wet, it also provide additional protection from wind. I use a cuben fiber 12'x8' tarp with doors on one end and 100' of cordage, 7oz. (25' ridge line, 6' each corner, 15' each door and 10' on each long side to pull out the middle of the sides for more head room).

I took a bridge hammock (diy) for the first 815 miles or so of the Pacific Crest Trail (Part 1--I flew out due to altitude sickness) resuming with a gathered end hammock from Echo Summit to Canada (Part 2). Love both hammocks. Had to go to ground a few times on Part 1--my underside insulation: a Thermarest Neoair xtherm. The rest of the walk(Part 2), I had an Underquilt from Hammock Gear. I had a poly-cryo tarp for part 1, but due to neglect, it needed 10 ounces of duct tape to hold it together. For Part 2, my tarp was a Warbonnet Superfly (doors!) which really shone in some wind and rain whipped nights. I camped in so many places that tent campers had to pass, including sides of hills and over rocks. I never had to push on past sunset to get to what the trail apps marked as campsites. For a few really cold nights I'll swear by those mylar reflective emergency blankets--take one! I often sleep in a hammock at home. It's not a habit I want to break!

I love hammocks cause I like to “bikepack” a lot and hammocks are small and light and quick to setup

Just starting hammock camping at 76 it was getting difficult getting up in a tent that I could not stand up in. also setup seem to be easer. I tried using my sleeping pad in the hammock that convinced me to buy an under quilt. I am also going to try placing a piece of reflectx insolation in the under quilt.

My hammock is set up in my backyard right now and I will sleep out there as much as possible. I started 2 nights ago. It rained and was SO RELAXING.

Great to see I have the exact same Outdoor Vitals UQ as you, I did a ton of research!

Good basics video. A little knowledge will spare you from a lot of discomfort.

I only use a hammock. I live in Alaska and in the summer I't doesn't get dark tell around 1 to 1:30 am . Tents blind you from the wilderness, it's like sleeping indoors. Well my bed is a hammock

Great thoughts on one of my favorite ways to camp! I also enjoyed the quality of what you put together and the way you presented everything! Just getting my channel going and I’m learning a lot from your vids.

Love hammock camping - especially using the amok hammock system. Great video, thank you!

I enjoy tent camping. This is because they can be placed in almost any place. Now yes Hammocks are super comfortable but they require a forest-ish area to work. But I live in a desert so it’s a bit bias.

Nice video! Well organized, nice pacing of speech, very articulate, very informative!!!

I'm definitely a hammock camper for life. I made the switch a few years back and sold my MSR bubba bubba tent (even even though it's a top notch tent). Hammock set ups are far more customizable and you can say goodbye to the condensation issues that tent camping almost certainly provide. A couple ways to store your boots and pack are either with a gear sling that hangs under your hammock or by tying your boot laces together and hanging them from your carabiner and your pack can hang up against one of the trees from your tree strap. I double wrap my pack with 2 rain flies 😎👍 happy trails!

Thanks for expressing your opinions as "the right way" you do have a few good points though. I prefer my hammock taught. There are cheap drip straps available that clip to tree huggers, I've found the loops in strap work well naturally.

Ridge line. I love mine. Hammock camping all the way

Thanks for the tip about using fingers to gage angle! I've always tent camped but I loss a fair amount of leg usage recently so I can't get off the ground anymore without help. I've been looking into hammock camping as a way to adapt my favourite hobby to my disability

very nice video, thank you for sharing this! I love hammock camping!! it's infinitely more comfortable than tent camping! however, my hammock setup is probably twice the volume (and price!) of my tent camping gear. and with the exception of camping in forests (or at a site that i know well), the risk of not being able to find a suitable site has lead me to also carry an emergency bivy and half pad. i've been looking into a noground system to allow me to pitch with only one tree to try and mitigate the need to bring backup ground gear (but i reckon that will weigh in about the same as my bivy with half pad). all in all hammock camping aint cheap or particularly space efficient, but done properly it's more comfortable than sleeping in my bed at home!

After many hours of tips and tricks videos, I've finally found one worth showing my buddies. Solid information straight to the point!

I love hammocks! I have the whole family a hammoch and made some underquilts fron old sleepingbags! There is only one thing i feel you forgot to take in the list thats life and death thing, always look for dead twigs and brances because they can fall from the tree and kill you. Always hang in healthy trees. Thanks for a great video!

I actually prefer the ground. I find both comfortable and $$ for $$ I have found ground systems to be lighter and simpler to set up. Also parts of it can be multi-purpose, such as the trekking poles for my two person tent or the Trekking pole and poncho for my 1 person set up. After that the tents give more privacy, especially if I am backpacking with my fiance. Good info here though none the less.

I spent a couple of months living in a hammock in the Belize jungle a few years ago on a course. I learned some of these tricks the hard way! Bergen (pack) stored above ground level was a good one - all sorts of creatures on the J floor. I found that storing my boots upside down on a trip flare stand under the basha (tarp) kept the beasties out of them (a thin stick would do). Sometime you would get a huge swarm of ants migrating through the area and the whole ground would look like it was moving, so being off the floor was a winner. I still banged the boots on a tree before putting them on though! Mozzie net was a must, if just to keep the scorpions off your face.

Great video! Lots of valuable info to guide a person along the way! 👍.. I prefer hammock camping over tent camping. My first hammock was an Equip with the attached mosquito netting, which was purchased at Wal-Mart when I was living in Florida. I have been hooked ever since. Prior to the purchase I reviewed a lot of UKposts videos where individuals were sharing hammock camping adventures & figured "what the heck, give it a go"! Haven't shared any camping vids since I've moved to Wisconsin, but hopefully will be able to after my relocation back home to Ohio. Again, great footage. Love your vids 👍.. Keep 'em coming!

Spent a long time in the jungle sleeping in a hammock. Used 550 cord the whole time. That being said...I use straps and whoopie slings now. Also...I only made the mistake of not having insulation once too.

A lot of times I bring my tent and my hammock and set both up. The sleep in a hammock is amazing UNLESS you’ve drank too much 😅 then that gentle hammock sway turns in to death

Good tips. I have converted to hammock camping as well. I do a lot of bike touring, and not only do hammocks take up less room, they are so much more comfortable than tents in my opinion. On the rare occasion, even when there are no trees, i can still use my hammock. I place a sleeping pad on the ground then my ENO jungle nest on top. I simply stick my trekking poles into the ground & string up the jungle nest hammock net on a ridge-line btwn the two poles. Works out pretty well.

Thank you for the information. Great video! You explain everything really well.

I prefer sleeping straight on in my hammock. After injuring my shoulder in a military accident in 2000, I find that the hammock pushing against my shoulder helps improve my sleep in a cradling effect.

The drip line needs to be under the tarp

I recently converted to hammocks. Last year. I started with a Grand Trunk and almost instantly ordered a custom hammock from Dream Hammock. Best choice I have made in a while. I also started with a Outdoor Vitals tarp and again almost instantly went to a UGQ hex tarp and ended up with a Winterdream tarp. I do hang my tarp a little high but I live in Florida so cold isn't an issue. I have a cinch buckle strap system. I ordered extra long straps that I wrap around itself as a drip strip and it works flawlessly. I'll never give up my tents as everything has it's uses for specific applications. All of my gear is protected courtesy of Smith & Wesson located above my head Conveniently stored in a gun pouch on my ridgeline.

Wasn't too much new information for me having been at it a while (I even sleep in a hammock nightly at home) but you delivered the information for well, professionally, and thoroughly. Got yourself another subcriber.

You don't know I'm not a banana...

Some things I have found and done over the last 60 plus years of hammock camping. Yes, I prefer to hammock camp here in Florida's heat and humidity. I affectionately call my tent a Sweat lodge when I have to use it. Some hammocks you have to sleep in a straight line or at best only at a slight angle. A good example is the WW 2 , U.S.Army's Jungle Hammock and even today with some of the modern ones. One i have is the discontinued Clark Tropical being a good example. Also I do not use a under quilt , I use a 1/2 to 3/4 inflated ( self Inflating ) therm-a-rest mummy air mattress. I start the evening with it along the side of me and later move it under me when the air cools. Then if I have to ground the hammock I still have insulation and paddling to support me. My Rain Fly is normally set in the porch mode with one side at a 45 degree to the ground and the other level with the ground to catch any available breeze. My luxury item is a one pound folding camping chair and at night it is put by the hammock and my shoes are placed in it so they are available when nature calls during the night.

Good info! I have been sleeping in a 4 season Henessy Hammock for 7 years now in the Sierra Nevada moutains. Learned most of these tips the hard way...had a cicada hatch cover my boots for about two weeks. Tied the laces together and hang them...

Solo camping I'll take me hammocks 😁 a $10 nylon net hammock to stow my gear off the ground and a DD frontline XL hammock for me, normally use a flokati rug under the frontline in winter months and a modified wool army blanket and or poncho liner instead of a sleeping bag, as for the tarp a couple of ponchos or a 3x4mtr tarp I made from OD parachute nylon and treated with Teflon water/stain proofing spray

In a pod system you might want an air gap between the bottom of the hammock and the pod, but you NEVER want an air gap between the bottom of your hammock and an under quilt. Trust me, and the dozens of hammock hangers I know, on this. (Unless you are using, say, a 0-degree quilt when it's 50 degrees outside.)

Hammock! Best investment EVER! I sleep so soundly in my hammock, comfort was always an issue in a tent (to be comfortable you have to spend more $, so a hammock is a little more cost efficient).

I sleep in a hammock every night in my bedroom. It's glorious. To ensure i have the ideal slack, i attached 550 cord to both ends on the hammock. This ensures that no matter how far apart the trees are, the tension travels from trees strap to 550 cord to tree strap.

I carry a second lightweight hammock. I use it not only for an emergency hammock (should the primary hammock tear, I can still sleep), but I use it to keep all my gear off the ground. I can string it up underneath my hammock, alongside it, etc. I prefer two single-layer hammocks over one double-layer hammock. Works well.

I can fix most these issues with a stove under my tarp with the hammock and some cord to stash my gear in a tree or just on the hammock straps

Why not to just tie shoes to the mounting strap

Hammock camping for close to 10 years. First 4 or 5 years I was doing it wrong too! This is a good bit of info for the beginner hanger.

I just got into camping a few years back... Not sure why I haven't been in the woods sooner, life got in the way. BUT! I find myself loving the hammock so I appreciate any tips. I'm still learning but I love it so thank you!

"Bannana lay" is how i sleep in my hammock.it really depends on the length compared to your height. Diagonal lay is better for most people

In the rainforest, hammocking is better. Especially near rocky rivers. No place for tents, plenty of trees for hammocks.

Definitely love hammock camping. I’m about to go on my first solo multi night trip, I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right with the hammock, so thank you! Normally my husband and I share the load, I carry the food and he carries the tent or vice a versa. Don’t need the two person tent now it’s gonna just be me. I will say though, I’m planning on not bringing my tarp if the weather is looking good for the weekend. Because I want that air to flow through and cool me off. It’s hot as Hades right now even in the mountains of Virginia! Other than that I plan to do everything pretty much as you suggest. I already have a sleeping pad though so I’ll just throw that underneath me if I find I do need a bit of insulation if the night gets chillier than I expect. That will also be good if it starts to rain. I can throw my already inflated sleeping pad into the shelter. :-) Got some super lightweight waterproof string lights to hang around the rope that my bug net will be tethered to. The bug net is a must this time of year as well! :-) Really glad I don’t have to pack out my protractor, since I don’t even own one. ;-)

Going hammock camping for the first time this weekend, I feel much more confident after watching this, thanks mate.

Hammocks all the way. A hammock ridge line helps with getting proper sag and allows for a better sleep positions. Also, tie the drip line to the carabiner. It really helps with the water break. Old cotton sgoe laces work great. Great tips! Cool video! 👍

Thanks for the video! Good stuff, ... The only thing that I would differ on is that your underquilt needs to be up against you when you're sleeping with NO gap at all. If there is a gap you will get colder than if there was not, also this prevents mosquitoes from being able to get you through your hammock. The best way to get the underquilt right up against you is to hook up some of your underquilt lines to your Ridgeline on your tarp to bring that thing way up. I would recommend you check out shug and his videos on fitting an underquilt for a hammock if you have not already, as he is the master of the hammock. LOL!

Thank you for the video, I am considering hammock camping for a bicycle tour BUT not sure if all the campgrounds have evenly spaced tree as in the plain states

Love tents for the family camping at the campgrounds, love hammocks for hiking and backpacking 💙💚

Hammock camping for comfort. Sometimes I hike above the tree line so it is not always feasible.

Some great tips there. I particularly like the finger and thumb method of estimating 30 degrees. Thanks. (Sub'd)

Good film fella. Dont usually watch these but really enjoyed your presentation style and calm explanations 👍

I tent camp but I’ve had a much more pleasant time every time I have stayed the night in a hammock. I like the feeling of the cool air hitting your back thought the hammock in the morning on hot summer days next to the river or lake.

Hammocks. Easier to set up, more comfortable, nicer views, no crawling in and out, you can sit up in them like a real chair, you can walk around under the tarp. The only thing a tent has is "privacy" and more places cater to them in comparison to hammocking - least in Ireland where I'm from.

I run a second line of 550 in between my hammock and tarp and carabine my pack and boots to. Keeps them dry under the tarp and off the ground.

Hammock camping is my preference as I am not sore in the morning as I was not sleeping on the ground.

Never been hammock camping but I sleep in an indoor hammock all the time. Rotating between bed, floor mat, and hammock. Good tips for indoor hammock use too. Especially the body heat loss, you will bleed heat like crazy even indoors.

Hammock all the way!!! Its so comfortable!

I can't remember the last time I used my tent. Oh yes it was just before I bought my hammock. You only make the mistake of not having under insulation once lol

seems like good info to me. my older brother is a hammock lover, he made me one , even the first night in it I was amazed how comfy I was,, thank you big brother,,,,

Great video thanks. My first hammock tent came yesterday, really excited to use it. I usually camp in a trailer tent but wanted to try something different. Thanks again.

I prefer hammock camping so I stay off the ground where the bugs and the dirts are. Hammocks are just so much more comfortable, too. And for the boots; Just throw them over your ridgeline and youre good to go, also you can put them on without touching the ground when you get out of your hammock. My gear usually lies directly beneath my hammock and thus is protected from the rain usually.

I’m going to be honest with you guys Right now my made A homemade Hamic made out of a blanket Hanging on one of those bunkbeds With no bottom bunk

Another good reason to set your rain fly just barely above the hammock is shelter from the rain and elements. I put mine too high once, and when I got in the hammock during a hale storm, the gap between my weighted hammock and rain fly allowed hail (falling at an angle due to the high wind) into the end of my hammock, which made it's way to the lowest part of the hammock. The hale then melted and left me in a slightly wet sleeping bag.

I completely agree with your point about lying diagonally across the hammock instead of parallel with the center line between the trees to more properly support your back. The biggest reason for me though, is in regard to my legs. When lying parallel (banana) my bum and heels make contact with the hammock but the backs of my knees are unsupported and long before morning comes my knees are sore (this often keeps me awake). Lying diagonally as you said provides more support for your back, but also for your legs as it allows you to lie flat (or closer to it). Thanks, great points!

*PREPPERISMS: The following isn't meant to be an exhaustive list of Prepper knowledge, just inspiration.* *"MORE YOU KNOW, LESS YOU NEED"* Skills are more valuable than stuff. So seek to acquire as many practical skills & knowledge as is available because they can't be easily lost, stolen or broken. Another way to look at it is "the more you know the _lighter_ your load". *"TWO is ONE & ONE is NONE"* Because stuff gets lost, broken, stolen, so have backups to your backups of essentials like 2 knives, 2 lighters, etc. *"RULE of 3"* You can die after 3 seconds of indecision during a fatal threat (predetermine reasonable losses) 3 minutes without air (practice freediving) 3 hours of exposure to extreme weather (practice hydrotherapy to enhance body thermo-regulation) 3 days without water (practice economy of movement & water fasting) 3 weeks without food (practice fasting) 3 months without a long term plan (because seasons change) 3 years without a partner/team (screen members now) 3 decades without reproduction (new generation is necessary) *FOUR SELF-DEFENSE* EVASION (head-on-a-swivel; become a "Grayman") PERSUASION (humble negotiation; See Negotiation in "Seven Heaven Skills" below) DEFENSE (if evasion/persuasion fails, target their eyes, throat, ears, groin, knees, feet then escape; resilience & tenacity can outstrip strength & speed) DEFENSIVE TOOL (firearms may be common but it may be wise to consider a concealable range defense with low maintenance & not dependent on manufactured ammo, such as a baseball bat, adjustable walking staff/cane, crowbar, bullwhip, slingshot, etc) *FIVE to SURTHRIVE!* True, we should all be prepared to survive without energy/electricity or public water. But creating energy & water off-grid means more than just surviving, but it's thriving! SOLAR POWER SYSTEM: solar panels, battery bank, inverter WIND GENERATOR: wind turbine, battery bank, inverter. HANDCRANK GENERATOR: gear ratio allows just one person to turn a handle & generate power. COMBO GENERATOR: generator that combines as many of the sources mentioned above. DEHUMIDIFIER: can pull water right out of the air! PROs: Solar & Wind power can be increased by adding more panels, turbines, or batteries. Handcrank can also be hooked up to a bicycle & is never dependent on the weather but can generate electricity 24/7. Dehumidifier (large free standing room model) can provide upto 8 gallons of water per day (depending on humidity level in your area) even in a tiny little apartment. CONs: No sun or wind, or human fatigue may limit power. Dehumidifiers are useless without electricity & if the air is contaminated be prepared to filter the water before drinking. Inevitably things will require maintenance & repair so mechanical/electrical/electronic skills will be valuable. *SIX SHIELDED SHELTER* _"Watchout With Wetty, Windy, Warmy, Wiggly, Wicky & Widow-makers!"_ Build a shelter where it's high & dry above "wetty" during rain, but close to a "wetty" source to stay hydrated; where "windy" is blocked when it's cold, but allow "windy" when hot; where fire wood keeps you "warmy" when cold, but shaded from "warmy" when hot; where you're off the ground away from "wiggly" critters & off a "wicky" cold ground; & not under "widow-maker" dead trees/limbs that could fall on you. Remember, you need something to sleep under, to sleep on & to sleep in. *SEVEN HEAVEN SKILLS* UKposts "How to" videos for these force multipliers & practice daily/wkly: LEARNING/REMEMBERING (attention=retention, repetition=recall, adaptability=survivability) HABIT CREATION (uses cues, craving, routine, reward; success is the compound interest of effective habits) MEDITATION (enhances attention span, pain & stress management) HEALTH (Eat better but less; Move more often & faster; Hygiene your machine by keeping clean) FASTING (autophagy & strengthens self-control/self-discipline) FIRST-AID/TRAUMA (YOU are your "first responder", practice M.A.R.C.H. algorithm) NEGOTIATION (reading body language, micro expressions, listening, psychology, persuasive language patterns, bartering) *EIGHT PREP RATE* Acquire EVERYTHING to survive an entire short period first, before getting more stuff for a longer period because you do NOT want to have a year's worth of water but only 1wk of food & no medical supplies when everything collapses! 1ST: 1 week of water (1gal per person per day), 1 week of food (pre-cooked non-perishable), medical supplies, 1 week of hygiene supplies, 1 week of etc, etc. 2ND: enhance home security & security protocols 3RD: 3 months of water, food, etc 4TH: enhance transportation options (bicycle, trike, cart, dollie, etc), dependability & security protocols 5TH: Bug-Out-Bag Myth that bugging out is your first option? NO! Despite the fact that sheltering-in-place is optimum, we never know when we may be forced to bug-out, so it's "Better To Have It & Not Need It, Than Need It & Not Have It". Next, double up on equipment because, "Two is One & One is None". 6TH: 6 mos mix of seeds & more water, food, etc (heirloom Non-GMO seeds are greater than gold) 7TH: Self-Sustainable Sustenance, food production (study & practice gardening/small animal farming [chickens, meat rabbits, etc]) 8TH: Priority Faith to pray for wisdom & humility to answer "If I only had enough time/money to acquire just one more thing/skill before a collapse what would it be?" *_The beginner should just strive to survive without electricity for 72hrs. Eventually, over time, if you are able to survive a nuclear attack, then you can most likely survive every other kind of disaster. Remember, "prepping" (being prepared) is not an event, it's a lifestyle._* *NINE CORE MEMBERS* Anyone opposed to your core Principles & Purposes of life should NOT be in your intimate group! GUARDIAN (Security, safety) HEALER (doctor, medic, nurse, therapist, herbalist) PROVIDER (hunts, forages, scavenges) TINKERER (engineer, scientist, mechanic, handyman, tradesman, etc) FARMER (reproduces animal/plant food; "When you can feed yourself, you can free yourself!") CLERK (organizes supplies, equipment, tasks, training, etc) CAREGIVER (domestic [cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc], counselor, teacher/babysitter) LEADER (empathetically unemotional, logical, negotiator; will emerge as core group is established) CHAMELEON (quick learner, adaptable, willing to change positions & either already has or studies other skills not listed here) *_All skills should be cross trained._* *B.O.B. (BUG OUT BAG)* _(This is not to be confused with a smaller "Go-bag/Get-Home-Bag" you may keep in your vehicle)_ Without compromising quality, get the lightest weight versions of the following items & choose multifunction tools to keep total pack weight to less than 20% of a healthy person's body weight. Bare minimum examples are included below but there are always better quality items so do your own research. Remember, the best survival items are the ones you already have on you & know how to use well, & the more you know the lighter your load, so consider ways to improvise equipment/tools in the field & practice with what you have. Hanging on the outside of the B.O.B. have a small bag of "survival pocket litter" that you will empty into your pants/jacket pockets & onto your belt & try include at least one item from each of the following catagories, just in case you get separated from your B.O.B. CONTAINER: Collapsible 1liter plastic water bottle or metal capped canister; water is 8lbs per gallon, so in addition to having some initial water on you, the ability to filter discovered water while on the move will be vital to keeping you hydrated & your load light so consider a mini-Sawyer water filter). CUTTING: Knife (3/16" thick, full tang), Multi-tool with folding knife, saw, screwdriver set, scissors, awl, can & bottle opener, & pliers. COMBUSTION: lighters, ferro rods, fresnel lens (magnifying glass), tinder, candle, flashlight, headlamp, etc. CORDAGE: rope/paracord/duct tape COVERING: Heavy duty plastic tarp 6x8, 55gal plastic drum liners or sleeping bag, hammock tent, 2 pair socks, 2 underwear, 2 undershirts (avoid cotton, cotton kills), long-sleeved shirt/pull over hoodie, pants (not shorts), gloves, face mask, bandana/shemagh, mosquito netting, hat, boots, light rain jacket w/hood (unless you live in a region that is cold more than ⅓ of the year do not pack a heavy winter coat, but just layer up all clothing when cold & insulate with plastic/rain poncho), avoid camouflage because it's not "Grayman" CARE: First-Aid/Trauma kit (tourniquet, compression bandages, assortment of guaze, medications, etc); Hygiene (comb, 3 hand towels/rags, toothbrush, toenail clippers, sewing needles & upholstery thread, etc) CONSUMPTION: Food (pre-cooked non-perishable -MREs/jerky) & Fishing/Hunting tools (hooks, string, weights, snare wire, fish/gill net, slingshot, crossbow, etc) COMMUNICATIONS: Whistle, handcrank/solar AM/FM radio w/weather stations; walkie talkie, CB or ham radio, Topo Maps (local,state,country) & Compass; Energy (charger cords, handcrank/solar charger, batteries) CREDENTIALS: (pin note on B.O.B. reminding you to get these before leaving) birth certificate, passport, marriage license, house & car keys, etc. CASH: Initially cash money will still be King; pocket sized barter items (small packets of non-perishable food, instant coffee packets, sample bottles of liquor, gold/silver chain, candy/gum, etc) CRAFTING: Axe/Machete, Folding/bow/wire saws, Clawbar 10" (doubles as hammer & key to the city), Self-adjusting wrench, Locking pliers, Multi Bit Screwdriver & Nut Driver, Electrical wire stripper/crimper. CREATIVE: playing cards, harmonica (can scare off wild predators), pocket bible, SAS Survival Guide, etc. *_"But what if nothing happens?"_** It's okay to be wrong, just don't be dead wrong.* *Liberty=Peace & in the name of my Savior Jesus Christ I pray to his father, Almighty God Jehovah, that we always enjoy both!*

It is more of function. In WA forest good luck finding a level spot not full of wood and ferns to pitch a tent. In AZ desert good luck finding a spot to hang a hammock. But tent is easy peasy. In campgrounds its 50/50

Gonna be trying hammock camping for the first time next week