Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

I received this as a gift a few years ago and have gone on several backpacking trips with it.

Good things: It's super easy and fast to setup and take down (once you get the hang of the knots). If you have the snakeskin's then cleaning up camp takes about 30 seconds. It's pretty lightweight compared to tents. You can hang it in a variety of areas where you just can't put a tent.

I backpack a lot in the Catskills and you can camp as long as you're well off the trail, but you can't always find a spot without rocks and roots. This hammock takes that element out of looking for a campsite. You also don't have to worry about damp/muddy ground or other ground related issues with choosing a campsite. Steep slopes are no problem as long as the trees are big enough and you can find two that will set you up at the right angle (don't forget you're on a slope in the morning though).

It hunkers down great in the rain, I have spent hours in it and as long as you hung the rain fly correctly you don't get hit with a drop, and don't have to worry about flooding as much or muddy ground or water seeping in through the tent seams. Maybe during monsoons you might have water running down the ropes, but I've never had this problem in heavy rains. Also if you practice you can set the rainfly up, and then set the hammock up underneath and keep everything 100% dry while you do it.

Times when it's a wash: It's lightweight that's true, however I've had to carry an extra sleeping bag some nights because the convection currents make it get colder underneath. Ill sleep inside a 15F rated sleeping bag inside a 40F rated on nights when it was 32F or below and I'd be comfortable. It's not terribly cold as long as you carry the extra weight. Also you have to figure that the rainfly and some tent pegs and the snakeskins and the pouch. It's more than 2 lbs, I'd say more like 3 once you've got everything together for it. It saves on weight but you kinda have to carry more weight, so I'd say in the weight department it's a wash between this and a lightweight backpacking tent.

Another time when it's a wash is if you think about the environmental impact. It's true that setting up ground tents in the same spot can degrade the forest, and this doesn't do that. However the rope and straps can hurt the bark if you're not careful. That's why despite it being more friendly to the ground foliage, there is the possibility of it hurting a tree.

Kinda not so good stuff: Well you can't change you're clothes in it. (it's always the little things you forget!) Maybe if you're small and good at Yoga but I'm 6 foot 240 lbs and I look like a dying caterpillar that has been stabbed with a hot poker when I'm trying to wiggle out of my pants into a new pair. I've given up trying to maneuver around in the thing, and use it primarily just as a sleeping spot. I just change my clothes standing outside, as it takes so much less time and less cramping and pulling muscles.

Also there is less chance of fitting gear inside this than any tent. I am almost maxing out the weight limit including clothes and sleeping bags and pad. There is no way I would try to hang my 40-50lb pack in here with me. I have to string that up with it's own rain protection for the night, and have to remember to bring everything into the hammock that I will need for the night. Another thing to consider is what you will do with your boots. I just leave them under me, however one time they almost washed away in a hard rain, and another time I found a lot of bugs crawling around in them.

Also I was in the ADK by the marcy dam and was hitting up some of the peaks there solo. I could swear that the raccoon were messing with me and trying to walk out on the ropes in the middle of the night as I kept hearing things plucking the string, and then scurrying up the bark of the tree.

I will tell you there is a definite fear-factor "get used to it" that you are going to have things walking and moving underneath you during the night. Obviously it's a thin piece of nylon and offers the same amount of physical protection as a tent which is a thin piece of nylon. However sleeping in this thing when you know stuff is crawling around under you sniffing you out and walking on your ropes in the middle of the night creeps me out.

The next big problem is that since I'm a larger guy it's kind of a production for me to get into it and to get in a comfortable spot. I always take my boots off before getting in, then I have to get in the sleeping bag, zip it up wiggle all the way down. As I'm doing this I'm adding momentum to the hammock and it starts to sway, and can take up to an hour before it stops swaying. If I get uncomfortable and have to shuffle around it will start to sway again. Gotta get out to go to the bathroom? HA! The swaying isn't an enormous problem but if you do it in the dark you could get a bit seasick and want it to stop. There have been times when I've asked my camp mates to just stop me from rocking back and forth after I had gotten comfortable.

A trick to getting comfortable. It seems that no matter how taught you make it, that you're always going to bow down a bit. I noticed that if I hung it with the head slightly higher, then in the middle of the night I would wake up piled by my feet. I'd have to slide back up during the whole night. If You hang it with the feet slightly higher your feet might go a bit numb if you don't move em, but at least you don't have to constantly be re-positioning yourself the whole night. You could hang it level but that's just too hard to figure out unless you get in and out and re-position it a bunch of times when setting it up.

Other con: You gotta have trees. I almost took this on a hike that we went above the treeline. Also the trees have to be sturdy enough to support the hammock Some times up high in the mountains it's hard to find big enough trees that are tall enough that you can wrap this guy onto.

This is why I only give 3 of 5 stars. It's a great idea, just takes some getting used to, and some changes in your camping/backpacking style.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

Purchased the Hennessy Hammock as my bike touring shifted from hotels to camping. Don't have a lot of camping background, wasn't eager to embrace tents and sleeping on ground. I really enjoy the hammock.

I did two single-night shakedowns. One had very heavy rain overnight, I was dry as could be in the hammock.

I did a six-day bike camping trip, DC to Pittsburgh. The hammock worked very well. No problem finding suitable trees etc. Very comfortable sleeping - I did use a self-inflating pad. It rained two nights out of six, no problems with the hammock.

I do recommend using the online tutorial re the "right way" to do the lashing and secure the hammock, that's essential info.

I weight 235 and this worked real well for me. Highly recommended.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

I love this hammock, way better than a ENO. For the price you pay you get everything you need: hammock, bug fly, rain fly. Extremely comfortable to sleep in, and you can set it up anywhere you can find two trees. Not too heavy, but not too light. Everybody needs a Hennessy

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

First I would like to say that I've been hiking for only a few years now and I have never had a good nights sleep. I've tried a number of different pads but I haven't had the money to buy a really "comfortable" one yet. So I became interested in other shelters, ie hammocks. I bought a cheapo hammock from the local sporting goods store and was rather pleased just laying in it, but a full nights sleep was rather uncomfortable. Disappointed, I browsed the web in search of a better hammock. Every blog, and every site brought me to the Hennessey company. I've been looking at these for the better part of the year and I asked for it for a present. Thankfully I got it, and I've been hanging it in my backyard and local parks all week and I can say I am very, very pleased. I was able to stay asleep all night and stayed bug free, I haven't had it in the rain so I can't comment on that yet. I got the snake skins and 72" tree huggers as well, (sold through the Hennessey Company) and the snake skins are magic. Set up and tear down is more simplified, but not neccessarily shortened, not at first anyway. Bottom line, great great shelter, not always going to work in all areas, and for a more three-four season use the "Super Shelter" from Hennessey will have to be purchased seperatly. Go buy this if you are at all curious, you won't be disappointed.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

This is my first hammock, so I don't have much to compare it to, but I love this product!

I have only used it twice so far, but it has worked flawlessly. It is a snap to set up using the included straps. The only thing that you need to supply is 4 tent stakes for the optional rain fly and elastic outriggers on the hammock itself. They can be tied off to surrounding trees, or rocks but it is easier to carry some lightweight stakes just in case.

The hammock is extremely comfortable. It does not seem to stretch much at all. The bug netting works very well, I didn't get bit at all sleeping next to a buggy creek. I am 5'11 and almost 200lbs and have plenty of space in there. There is enough space to pull your pack in with you if it is raining but it is definitely a little more crowded that way. The pocket sewn on to the center line above your head is very handy for close storage of small items. On a chilly night you will probably want to throw a foam pad underneath your sleeping bag, as being up off the ground, it can get chilly quick.

It also packs up easily into the included sack. It is a shade under 3lbs with stakes and about the size of a small sack of flour.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

I really can't gush enough about this product. I have been using mine for 3 years now and it never fails me. My friends are often jealous when I wake up well rested after a comfortable night's sleep and they are shaking out the cramps from a night spent on their sleep pads in tents. The rainfly could be a bit bigger, but it's never actually been a problem for me. I use a large carbiner on the tree straps and tie the ends off to that rather than directly to the straps. This seems to make set up even easier.

If you're in the Northeast, it's extremely rare you would be camping somewhere that doesn't have trees an appropriate distance apart. Much more rare than not being able to find a level spot for a tent. When I'm on the AT and staying at shelters, I almost always find a sufficient pair of attachment points within the shelter to stay close to the group. Often when staying in lean-to style, three walled shelters, the beams on the front protrude enough to hang it across.

Great product and sure beats building your rig piece meal through ENO.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

I don't know how else to put this - There is NO better thing to sleep in. I discovered this thing about 2 years ago, and kept saying "I'll get one with my next REI dividend." I should have gotten one the minute I first heard about it from a friend.

This thing has been described as the Cadillac of hammocks, and it SO is. I have slept like a baby in this thing: rain-free, snow-free, and bug-free.

The first time I took this bad boy out in the wild, I was unexpectedly met by an enormous down-pouring of rain that lasted the whole night. I was dry as a bone when I woke up, and the ping-ping of the rain on the rainfly actually lulled me to sleep!

The second time I used this was in the dead of winter on a camping trip with my friends. Temperatures reached 9 degrees Fahrenheit that night, and the camp site got about 5 inches of snow. All of my friends were huddled around the fire when I lazily rolled out of my Super Shelter, having slept the whole night dry and toasty with only a 20 degree flannel sleeping bag. And when it came time to pack up, I was the first one to the car, with take down for me only being 5 minutes total - packed up and ready to go.

A few things to note:

First, If you don't know your knots, this may cause you some trouble in the set up phase. I suggest looking up Tom Hennessy's video on YouTube concerning set up. It's really helpful, and I learned the knots in no time. Practice setting up in your back yard a few times before it's the real deal.

Second, my model did not come with the SnakeSkins. I bought them separately, and let me just go ahead and tell you, GET THEM. I don't know if Hennessy is including them or not, so check that out first. But they make this thing even more of a breeze!

Lastly, the tree straps that come with it work great, but can be a little too small for some trees. As you can find on YouTube, there are ways to remedy this, but I suggest either buying longer ones from Hennessy, or finding them elsewhere for cheaper. There are all kinds of websites to buy seatbelt material, which is exactly what the Hennessy tree straps are. Look on hammock forums for where to get these.

All in all, I cannot shut up about this hammock! If I had more money, I would buy every serious backpacker in the world one of these SUPERSHELTERS!

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

I recently got the hammock and tested it out on a 4 day hike in the Appalachian Mountains, in late February. It set up very fast with the help of some karabiners and some rings. With a for-cast of 30+ mph winds, I pinned the rain fie down close to the hammock. I stayed warm and cozy through the night, never rocking in the winds. The next day I emerged triumphant as my friends groggily packed their cheaper hammocks after not getting much sleep. Its worth the [$] price tag for what it is. At about 2lbs its a little heavy , but not to bad. I would recommend getting the snakeskin as well. I look forward to many more nights hanging out in the hennessy

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

I had been using a cheaper hammock for camping for 2 years and decided that it was time to finally get a higher end one. I just came back from another trip into the Boundary waters with it and I love it. Everything about this hammock is high quality and it is incredibly comfortable. I have used the Tarp that comes with it when weather is mild, but I also have a much larger tarp to give me a more coverage to keep my gear dry when it's really coming down.

Comments about Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Hammock:

I had read about hammock camping but was somewhat dubious. I ordered a Hennessy in spite of my skepticism and was very pleased. It's lightweight, takes up hardly any space (no awkward tent poles to deal with) easy to set up and very durable.

I've used it twice so far and my aging back is much happier in a hammock than on the rough old ground. My only advice is to bring along a few tent pegs to tie the guywires to.