Using a hammock as a tent
 

For the last several years I do all my bicycle camping with a hammock. I greatly prefer hammocks to tents. They're especially more suitable for wild camping, with no need to clear the site or find flat ground. But also much better for my back.

I know there are parts of the U.S. that have few trees. That hasn't been an important consideration where I've been going so far. But in a couple years I expect to retire from my job and hopefully take a tour over a much wider range of the country for several months.

Can a hammock be used like a poor mans tent when necessary? I could imagine laying it on the ground and inserting some kind of expandable framework of poles that keep it off my face. Or maybe not even that. Would I want a pad of some kind to seal out water better?

Are there hammock lovers out there that tour in treeless areas and have a story to tell?

This is a set up from the Hennessy site:
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/053...astent5462.jpg


I feel like I've heard someone mention using their bike as one of the hammock supports, as well, so you might get by with only one tree/post/whatever if you went that way.

My only concern with the ground is under-insulation. If you're using the typical underquilt set-up, it won't be much good for ground sleeping, and carrying a pad for the few times you might have to be on the ground seems like a waste. But it does seems like it's doable. I've hung my hammock in some odd places, but I always managed to hang. One time the trees were so far apart and of uneven heights that my butt was dragging, and then I did have a pad, so I put it under me, but most of me was off the ground.

I have thought about something like this: Handy Hammock

Just in case. If you could reliably use your bike to hold up one end, then you'd only need half that set. But even though it breaks down fairly small, it's still an awkwardly-sized piece of gear that may not actually get used. Still, it's on my wish list. There are some places I camp regularly where my camping location is dictated by the trees rather than by where I'd like to camp.

Thanks. That looks like a good setup. Like you say, having a pad remains an issue.

Try Hammock Forums.

Hammock Forums is a good source of information on hammock use, but with trees. You may find information on use as requested by the OP, but you'll likely find it far and few between.

I am playing with the setup in the picture above for my Sierra-Cascades trip, as suggested, you can stealth capm easier using a hammock. On a related note though, I feel a little uncomfortable putting my hammock in trees at state parks, as I think I'm going to be told I cannot touch the trees. Of course these poor trees are whacked at by people with all sorts of sharp instruments and my hammock straps do no damage. Tents are simply accepted.

As far as under insulation, I use the same pad for the hammock as I use for the ground. I don't think an underquilt is necessary until the temps drop very low, but I still think (no experience though) that my insulated sleeping pad would work okay.

Some states/ parks have banned anything tied to trees. I use some wide 1" straps that wrap around the trees.

Same here (on the wide straps - and I double wrap on smaller trees). As far as the banning that is what I am concerned about. However, I could always do what was shown in the picture.

The reason I'm even contemplating this is to have the advantage of camping on ground that a tent would not work, and therefore have the advantage of both forms of shelter. Others include: the poles for my bridge hammock are shorter than the tent's and are easier to pack, my hammock is way more comfortable, my hammock is slightly lighter, and I can create a great big space to hang out under my tarp.

Zpacks sells carbon fiber poles.

I found this single-tree method that might work where you can find a "pole" (like a downed tree/other) to brace for the other end. http://youtu.be/57I_HLsEnbc

I carry a bivy with me and sleep in that when there are no trees or I cannot use my hammock. As mentioned some parks have banned hanging anything from trees. The bivy weighs 7 ounces and was $80 from LL Bean. It's gotten me through 4 tours so far and still working well. I use my hammock rain fly as a tarp to cover it. Never had any issues. Something to consider.

Here's another option if one tree or pole available

http://www.bikeforums.net/touring/75...ock-stand.html

You can use the bike as one pole. I would check out rayjardine.com. He literally wrote the book on tarp camping, and it is actually pretty good. I just couldn't see how you could write a whole book on something you can basically own with a few minute practice. But he did it. Anyway, you can pick up what you need to know from the site if you like.

Ray has done the pacific coast, the great divide and the Appalachian trail many times over. In all that he has virtually never carried poles, in including through many deserts. So I would worry too much about poles.

I think approaching the thing from a tarp perspective is worthwhile compared to a just a hammock forum perspecitve, then you know what the ideal situation is, and can judge how close you are to it.