How much room is needed?

**Alaskan Hanger** · 07-04-2015, 07:22

Hello All,
I am a noobie to hammocks. I have a WBBH XLC on order. I am wondering how much room does a hammock, tarp under and top quilts take up in a backpack. I am looking at picking up a new backpack. And I am just not sure of what size pack I will need for a 2-4 day outing.

If anyone out there could give me a little bit of an idea of how much volume the camping hammock and above mentioned equipment will take up in a pack. I would sure appreciate it.

Thanks for your time.
Alaskan Hanger

**Trail Runner** · 07-04-2015, 08:05

A lot depends upon the specific tarp and quilts you'll be getting (or have) and how much $$ you're willing to spend on a pack but here goes: The hammock in its stuff sack is about the size of a large thermos; warm weather full-sized quilts (40F or 50F) in their stuff sacks are each about half the size as the hammock; and a tarp in its stuff sack will be about 50% bigger than the quilts.

I carry a ULA Ohm 2.0 backpack (63L) and my DH Thunderbird Hammock (about the same size as your XLC) and quilts take up about a ¼ to ⅓ of the volume of the main compartment depending upon how much I compress the stuff while packing. My tarp gets carried on the outside of the pack in the large mesh pocket in the front. The Ohm is plenty large enough for me for trips up to 7 days in warmer weather (late spring, summer, early autumn). If you plan on doing a lot of winter camping, as your screenname suggests, you'll need a larger pack to accomodate the larger quilts and clothing.

I can't recommend ULA enough. They make fabulous packs but they are a bit spendy. I'm sure others will chime in with pack recommendations but you can't go wrong with ULA.

Welcome aboard!

**sargevining** · 07-04-2015, 08:29

The combination of tarp and hammock will take up a bit more space than a one man bivy or small tent, without the need for poles, you quilts about 1 1/2 times what a similarly rated and constructed sleeping bag; down quilts will compress more than synthetics will. You're not adding too much more bulk to your pack.

I designed a pack specifically for my hammocks and had Chris Zimmer at Zimmerbuilt make it for me:

http://www.zimmerbuilt.com/hammock-pack---vining.html

I had it made a bit over two years ago, and back then it came out to about $50 more than the ULA that trail runner linked to. There are two long pockets on each side of the pack, one mesh for the tarp and one water resistant for the hammock, and there's a full width and length pocket on the back for my synthetic quilts, which gives me about 2150 cu inches in the roll top ruck.

The idea behind the pack is that the hammock and tarp are "linear" items, so they pack in a linear fashion. I'll pack my hammock into its pocket head end first with the suspension and tree straps attached and just stuff it down until the foot end suspension and straps are at the top, and the tarp the same way. When I get to where I'm camping I place the hammock at the base of the tree where the foot end goes, tie on, then walk the pack over to the other tree.

Chris has made a bunch of these and has a couple on his site that took the concept a bit further. The next one I get will be the Hammock Pack Bowdine which adds water bottle pockets:

http://www.zimmerbuilt.com/hammock-pack---bowdine.html

**Shug** · 07-04-2015, 09:37

You will be glad to have the comfort and such if hammocks become your mainstay. Big difference in hiking well rested.
All loads vary a bit depending on your selected hammock, tarp, TQ, UQ and accoutrements.
I use a ULA OHM for 90% of my backpacking and can get a lot in there with still what I consider a light comfort old man load.
Carry forth,
Shug

**Country Roads** · 07-04-2015, 19:45

I can get my entire 3-season stuff: WBBB, HG20 degree incubator& burrow & either my Z-packs cuben tarp w/doors or my Superfly in a 45 liter pack, along with a couple days of food, clothes and other misc gear. Those down quilts compress very nicely.

So, a 60 liter pack should fit everything very nicely with some wiggle room.

**Atlas918** · 07-05-2015, 21:16

I have a Granite Gear Crown 60L pack, and I line the bottom with a trash compressor bag, then stuff my quilts, hammock and clothes in there. It takes up about 1/3 of the pack. If space is really an issue I can put both quilts in a compression sack to try and conserve space.

**swink1** · 07-06-2015, 12:16

I like 50 to 65 liter packs. That will take care of most all your trips. Its all up to you what else you pack or dont pack. Lots of packs out there in that size range.

**Loki** · 07-06-2015, 16:44

Originally Posted by swink1

I like 50 to 65 liter packs. That will take care of most all your trips. Its all up to you what else you pack or dont pack. Lots of packs out there in that size range.

Agreed.
For me...
Winter 58 liters plus a 5 liter optional add-on.
Summer about 40 liters.
Ultra light hikers ive seen using packs from mid 20 to 35 liters. I carry more comfort items since i don't do long distances

Annnnndd... always carry your essential-10.