Magna

Getting a hammock tent- think they're awesome.

How does one get a good set up for cooking when it's raining? Your solutions are welcomed.

DuckFat

If you are talking about Hennessey Hammocks then get the extra large (hexagonal) rainfly and you shouldn't have problems positioning it to give you a nice dry patch for cooking or whatever.

becnal

Hex fly.

stokell

I usually stealth camp with my Hennessy hammock. That precludes cooking, as you aren't stealthing if you are attracting attention.

That said, the hex fly is amazingly useful for just about everything from cooking in the rain to keeping your bike dry.

Last summer I had to set up quickly in the rain. I first set the hex fly. I had already cooked, but you can cook under it before setting up the hammock. Once you've set up the fly you have a lot of options. You can set up the hammock, cook a gourmet meal, arrange a line dance or et al.

I choose the former (setting up hammock) and then dropped the bike under the hammock to stay dry. It was really cool. I was laying in the hammock high and dry listening to tunes on my MP-3 and watching the wet forest canopy around me as the sun set.

It doesn't get better than that.

FlyingAnchor

Man, I want to go touring with you.

I have been debating the tent vs Hennesey Hammock and need to pull the trigger before my tour this summer.

I already own a tent that will suffice but lust for the Hammock.

Looking forward to this thread.

Steven

Magna

That sounds sweet. Can't wait.

Rowan

Now, c'mon Mr Stokell... a line dance********** That's stretching things just a tiny tad And does the gourmet meal include wine service?

As to Magna's original question about food... do what we all do when it rains... pack off to the nearest pub for a counter meal and a few rounds of drinks!!! Then... you have a good time, get a belly full of food and remain true to the stealth camping doctrine

FWIW, I've just ordered a bivvy... a hammock without the strings attached.

stokell

Since I travel alone, line dancing is not out of the question I agree about the pub, and I often do that when one is available but I some times stealth camp in heavily rural areas.

As for the bivvy, I hope your ground is always soft and dry. That's the main reason I bought a hammock. I originally was shopping for a bivouac.

Hobartlemagne 

I can't sleep in a hammock, so that would be out for me.

tmac100

I used a Hennessy Hammock when I biked across n. Australia. 6 weeks and I had a poor sleeping bad - but with bubble pas (mylar coated) for my head and shoulders I was comfortable. I hit rain on the Atherton tablelands (July), but the rest of the time I just used the fly to keep the dew off and I thus kept warmer ;-)

My hammock is the Deluxe safari (A-Sym) with snakeskins and with tree savers. The latter two are particularly useful for set up and takedown. The hammock handles my wieght easily (220 lbs+). See particluars on the HH web site: https://www.hennessyhammock.com/

I got mine as a remanufactured one - they found some sewing flaws when they did an inspection on a batch that came fromm the factory (in viet Nam I think) and did the repair (cannot see it) and the rest is history - 6 weeks in the outback and it was great - just stretch the nylon "ropes" once or twice before you use it after not using it for a while ;-)

Madsnail

I'm about the same.
I've done it in the past though. I've slept in a huge hammock which allowed me to lie diagonally (flat). I could sleep but that wasn't the best for me.
My main problem is that I sleep on my belly, and you can't do that in a hammock... And I toss around quite a lot on top of that.
The thing is, I really feel like giving it a try but those Hennessy hammocks are way too expensive to buy one and figure out after a few nights that this is not going to work for me.

barlows

Like these guys said, if you hang the fly (preferably Hex) first, you can cook under it. But, if it's windy at all, that may not keep the rain off of your grub (if that matters to you). One thing that might be cool is a Jetboil stove with their hanging attachment... https://www.jetboil.com/Products/Accessories/Hanging-Kit. If you equip your hexfly with a ridgeline, you could attach the hanging kit directly to that. I looked at one of these when they were on sale from REI, but didn't pull the trigger. I'm using a pop can stove now.

Steve

stokell

The great thing about the Safari is that it is so big you can lay almost flat. I'm not sure about the tummy though. Many people think of those other hammocks, but my little illustration below shows that you sleep almost flat on a Hennessy.

NoReg

"As for the bivvy, I hope your ground is always soft and dry. That's the main reason I bought a hammock. I originally was shopping for a bivouac."

I totally agree a hammock is more comfortable than a bivy in treed buggy terrain. I have wrapped myself around a tree bivouacking in areas with heavy pine needle cover. It wasn't horrible. Bivies originally came from mountaineering where the previous option was your feet in your backpack and your body in your anorak. I still don't find my hammock all that comfy. It's heaven when I first crawl in, but not much fun over the whole night. I probably need to be shorter.

Rowan

I'm a tough guy. Give me a piece of ground and I can sleep on it!

To be totally truthful, the bivvy is designed for me doing long-distance, self-supported rides such as 1200 randonnees. There will be a lighweight pad and a light down sleeping bag included in the package. It's not a real bivvy in the sense of the GoreTex bags; it has a headframe, but it still comes in at well under 1kg. It's a Doite brand. I picked it up new on eBay for a total of $107 AUD incl postage. It's first official outing (after practice putting it up, course) will be a 1200 randonnee at Easter.

Up to now, I have been using a relfective emergency bivvy that I acquired in North America in 2005, and it has done me quite well. But the lack of closure across the top can be a VIP invitation to the mosquitoes and other insects.

Sorry, I am not trying to hijack the hammock thread; there are other options out there, but I don't think it worth starting a new thread just to talk about bivvies.