Yep, though I guess it is possible, it's hard for a pod to be too long. Although, much longer than your hammock would be that much more wasted cost, weight and bulk. And probably at some point, especially when the trees are at a minimal distance apart, it might be long enough to interfere with your suspension. But really unlikely, since perfection would be where it closes just past the end knots or end channels of the hammock, cinching tight around the suspension, still with enough room for you and all your added stuff. Closed tight on the ends means no worries about those pesky cold air leaks coming in the foot or head end and cold air sinking down under your legs, butt and back, a problem lots of folks do battle with.
Now, too short (or narrow) for the hammock, that is a different story and that is where the problem might be. Not that it can't be done with a longer hammock, because it has been. But the longer the hammock, the further back from the end knots/channels you will be cinching the pod's ends closed. And the further back from the ends, the wider the hammock becomes and the harder it becomes to cinch down. Still, I have been able to do it on longer hammocks and not really noticed significant problems. But it seems to me you are effectively shortening your long hammock?
52" wide should work great with a PeaPod, if the hammock is still comfy. My Claytor is 48" wide so not a big difference there, and it allows the pod to have very little top gap, maybe none depending on how much sag I hang the hammock with or if I lay straight or diagonal. Yes, I can lay straight with much comfort in my Claytor by having my legs on each side of the center ridge. Automatically bends my knees. But usually I am diagonal.
Claustrophobia can be the deal breaker on a PeaPod for sure, but then it is a tough one on any winter system that adequately protects the head, like a mummy bag closed down. Remember my friend who bought a pod for our trip to the Wind Rivers and did not consult further with me? Thus failed to consider his severe claustrophobia and did not plan on either using plenty of puffy clothing or a summer TQ to fill gaps and make a faux neck collar. He had a short 8 ft Claytor Expedition, perfect because the pod easily closed over both ends and draped down on him with no gaps. He would close the top all the way and be toasty, but quickly go crazy, having to open a good sized face vent and all of his warm air would rush right out and he was quickly freezing! He also did not bring a separate hood or thick hat with some kind of face cover so he could not have his head outside the pod and closed around his neck as I have occasionally done.
That was a bad scene. The next morning(it was in the 20s that night) 2 of us pod users got up, and my son in my CS Yeti and Cat's Meow bag, all got up well rested. warm and happy. But my other friend came out of that pod answering "how did you sleep" with "hate it, hate it, hate it!"! We finally got him fixed up where he was not too unhappy the rest of the week, but it was a challenge! So, yes, if some one is bad claustrophobic and plans on using a PeaPod, better make plans for separate head insulation and at least some sort of rigged thick neck collar so all the warm air does not rush out of the big face vent they will need. Me, I'm lucky: I can close that Velcro all the way or with just a 1" vent and be happy! When I do that, there is a ton of head and face insulation. Sorry, I know I have told this story many times. But after my friend bad experience which turned him off to hammocks for years, I just want folks to be aware. But, when he got back from his last trip without us to the Blue Glacier in WA, he was heard to mutter something about how sleeping on the ground sucked, so he may be coming back!
Cali, I'll be real interested to see how cold you can go with that combo. Are you a cold sleeper?
Bill
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