Originally Posted by
veganbikes
I love hammocks and hammock camping without a doubt but I can assure you if I didn't have trees where I was going I would have a tent (or shelter like the Sea to Summit Specialist Duo) and a lightweight pad or at the very least a Bivouac sack and pad. Trying to come up with odd hammock remedies is cool on paper but will prove to be more of a pain to build and then later set up in the real world. I hate to say it because hammocks are quite comfortable but I gotta be practical here.
I am glad to see some open-minded-ness on a topic where the proponents seem to be pretty much not open to alternatives. I agree that you should pick the solution that fits your situation.
I think that with just a bit of care in equipment selection the various classes of shelter choices can all be quite adequately comfortable. Hammocks, tents, tarps, and bivies all have their advantages and it makes sense to choose the one that makes the most sense for where and how you are travelling. For me I find various ground based shelters fit most of my needs better.
If I did more backpacking in the places with lots of trees and extremely swampy or rocky ground I'd probably buy a hammock. While backpacking in Pennsylvania, I have camped in places where a hammock clearly would have been a better answer. Similarly in Washington state I have had the same experience.
That said... for my style of bike touring I don't think I will ever use one though.