Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

I've been eyeing hammock camping for a while, and some recent time in NM finally gave me the excuse to bite the bullet.

The Hennessy is very well made: quality materials and a relatively good design. It's very versatile when it comes to choosing a campsite, I've set it up on a 30 degree slope above 3 feet of snow... you can pitch it in places you'd never dream of putting a tent. At just under 2 lbs, no poles or stakes, you're going to save weight and space.

Others have mentioned the problem with cold... the airflow underneath you sucks a lot of heat. I'm managed to stay warm down to 35/40 degrees with a +35 down bag and fleece liner... double up the liner and stay on top of it in the bag. A sleeping bag alone will compress too much, and if it's chilly outside you'll know very quickly when you don't have enough insulation. I imagine she's going to be quite nice in warmer climes.

All that said, I'd say don't by this hammock... yet. Sleeping in a hammock is much different than sleeping on the ground, and before you make the investment, you might want to buy a cheaper model/brand and see if you're comfortable in a hammock.

Personally, I can only get comofrtable about 50% of the time... if I'm exhausted from dragging a pack up a few thousand feet, no problem... but on milder hikes I often end up never finding a comfortable position.

If you have knee or back problems, a hammock might not be for you. I biffed a knee on a ski trip, and sleeping on my back in the curved hammock puts a negative bend on my leg... it can get rather uncomfortable.

If you toss or turn during sleep, you may also have issues. Changing positions while in the hammock is a test of will, especially while trying to stay in/on a sleeping bag. If you've ever pitched a tent on a slight slope and ended up bunched at one end in the morning, imaging pitching the tent in a bowl.

Same thing with making sure the hammock is level and even when you pitch it... you can pitch it on any slope, but if it's not level you'll end up sliding to one end or the other. It took a while to get this process down, especially when pitching on a slope which throws your horizontal reference off.

I've seen claims that the hammock only takes 2 minutes to pitch... I'm not sure what kind of race those testers were running, but I've found it's a good 15-20 minute process. I imagine if you've got two trees the perfect distance apart, facing the right direction relative to the wind (the hammock fly can either be a great windbreak or huge sail), and the hammock already unpacked, you could race through it, but site selection takes time.

The lashing of the hammock to the trees is definitely not a quick process. I wouldn't say it's difficult, but it's tedious and can be annoying as my buddies throw up their tents. If you don't lash it tightly enough, the support cord can slice through the 1" nylon webbing "tree hugger" like hot butter... at least you'll only make that mistake once, but it can put the hammock out of commission for the trip. I'm trying to devise a faster and more rugged way to hang this thing, perhaps with biners and quick tensioners. I imgine that the lashing method is the lightest way to go, but here I'll trade a few ounces to save some setup time.

Finally, you don't have much room for gear in the hammock; I typically go in with boots and rain jacket, pack stays outside on a tree. The velcro "easy entry" bottom is going to annihilate any light, synthetic clothing you're wearing. I've learned to roll the velcro away from the entrance and cover it with the hammock material to keep it from snagging everything I'm wearing.

I'm not giving up on the hammock yet (cost too much to toss) but it ain't all posies and kittens like most reviews make it out to be.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

The single best purchase I've made! As long as you are below the tree line, this is the most comfortable shelter period! As good or better than any tent or bivy and much less weight and bulk. No need for a sleeping pad either. Easy to set up and take down. Bugs and water stay out. I purchased this 6 years ago and have absolutely no regrets. The only down side is that is a solo shelter so your significant other needs their own. A 3 season shelter as well. Winter temps could be challenging given the airflow below your body will diminish the bags rating by about 15-20 degrees in my personal experience using a North Face Cats' Meow.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

Hands down, this is the best piece fo gear I've ever owned. It has totally changed the way I camp and sleep (all positive).

There is alearning curve with hammock camping, but there are excellent support forums on the web.

I carry less weight, sleep more comfortably, and have so many more camping options, it's just amazing.

The design is ingenious, quality is high and ideally designed for a positive camping experience.

I have pitched my hammock on slopes, over water, out of sight, you name it and you can do it.

It's not ideal if you stay above the treeline, but 90% of my trips include at least some trees.

Simply cannot say enough good things about my HH.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

I slept in this hammock for months at a time in Mexico and the US. It has endured dry heat, humid heat, snow, wind and rain. It is extremely weatherproof. I have watched my friends' tents flood and blow away, while the hammock remained tied down and dry all night.
After a night or two of adjusting, I prefer this to a bed! The hammock cradles your body while supporting your spine. There are no pressure points. A shirt or fleece is more than enough for a pillow. The bottom entry makes it impossible to flip, and seals tightly behind you. Your friends will laugh when you first crawl in. Then they will want to try.
With a little practice, you can learn to hang all your gear inside or just under the tent. You can lounge outside w/out the net or use it as a chair.
This thing rocks. I have had mine for over 4 years and it shows no sign of wear except for the elastic lines, which I just retie when they break.
Tip: you lose a lot of heat in a hammock! This is great in warm climates, but even in temperate climates you will need something under you. I've used closed cell foam, thermarests or wool blankets. Hennessy now makes a special under cover, but I haven't tried it yet. Space blankets can be used in extreme weather.
All this and it weighs about 1.5 pounds. You don't have to find a level space, just trees that are appropriately spaced. Not hard in a forest. More challenging in a desert. I have set up just the tarp on the ground when there were no trees and it kept off light rain.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

The best night of sleep I've ever had while camping! I recently took my son out for an evening under the stars and tried out the Hennessey UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym Hammock for the first time. It was much easier to setup than I initially imagined and I was very impressed with its sturdy design. I was very comfortable sleeping on both my back and my side. In fact most time spent sleeping was on my side! Something I didn't think would be easy to do in a hammock. I stayed very warm with just a blanket and a sleeping pad however the night time temperatures did not dip below 60 degrees. I would like to try it out in much colder weather to see how it compares but for now I am very satisfied with my purchase.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

Whether you are a minimalist or comfort driven you can not find a better rig. Trees are always more abundant than flat ground on an AT hike. Get away from mouse infested shelters. The company also sells a water collection system that works in conjunction with the rain fly.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

My wife and I have had our Hennessy Ultralight Backpackers for about a year and have used them camping in the Idaho mountains and traveling/camping in Malaysia and South Korea. The hammock is very well constructed and very strong.

If you are going to use it in cold (or even cool) weather, you will probably need to include a blanket or sleeping pad because hammocks are meant to diffuse heat. If plan to be in the high country any time of year you may need to factor this extra weight into the equation when you consider buying one. In the tropics or on hot summer nights there isn't a better shelter: with the bug screen and rain fly you're set and will feel very smug suspended above the vermin and safe from the mosquitoes.

Probably the best thing about this hammock is that it is a complete shelter at under 2 pounds that can be hung in lots of places that you couldn't dream of pitching a tent. This means that you can take it with you even if you think you MIGHT use it. We've had ours strung up between buildings, over the surf and on the outskirts of "full" campgrounds--they tend to make people jealous.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

The Hennessy Hammock is the most comfortable way to backpack. This tent goes everywhere with me and has not let me down. It has gone backpacking through Europe for a month, and I have taken it to Colorado for some winter camping. People say that it looses a lot of heat, but i survived a couple of nights that hovered above 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The only down side is trying to wake up in the morning! I just want to stay wrapped up in my Hammock.

If you are a lightweight camper, this is the most comfortable way to go minimal. There is no other hammock like it on the market

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

This hammock is every bit as easy to set up as you've heard. I know next to nothing about knots or lashing and was able to master the technique to hang it from the 45 second video clip on Hennessy's website from the first time. Takes 5 minutes max to set up once you've found your spot.

One word of caution, though - stay away from the Nite Ize figure 9 rope tighteners that you'll find on the "related products" page. Seemed like a good idea until I tried them out. They cut right through my ropes and now I'm having to exchange the hammock for a new one.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym:

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