90DegreeHammock_02.jpgI received my 90* hammock the day before Christmas. I have been sleeping in it for most nights since then. I have it set up in the dog trot where the temperature ranges from 35F to 40F.
My other hammock is a WBRR that I can compare it with. So, I will start by throwing out random thoughts.
- I like the smaller foot print, i.e. ridgeline setup length, compared to setting up my WBRR
- I enjoy the head/toe swing. I fact I'm guilty of trying to get it to swing more as I lay there.
- It needs more storage space in addition to the two small mesh storage pockets.
- You can use the zippered head pocket access for more storage, but my pad is there.
- Setting it up is simple enough.
- I am fearful of sitting on the bug mesh as I get in and there needs to be a better way to protect the mesh. I just see a disaster coming in the middle of a dark and rainy night.
- Believe me, you can not turn around and lay with your head in the feet location.
- I am also very concerned about just how fast I can exit the hammock when I get hit with a case of leg cramps after a long hard hike. Something I contend with periodically.
- I like the WBRR ease of entrance and exit on either side and not being hemmed in by bug mesh.
- I spend most of my time sleeping on my side. The 90* excels at this and if far more comfortable than my WBRR. Much less shoulder and foot squeese. When you lay on your side the hammock shortens and widens to accomodate the side sleeper.
- A con about the side sleeping is if you do not have a pad to hold the 90* hammock ends out it will tend to shrink to the middle and be less comfortable. This is solved with a pad holding the hammock body open.
- The biggest con and almost a deal killer is the overall banana shape of the hammock. The head and foot arc slightly up. This is great on the head end because it holds the pillow and even may eliminate the need for a pillow. However, the curl on the foot end causes a little hyperextension of the knees if you lay for long periods on your back. This makes my knees uncomfortable. The way I, and the inventor, have dealt with this is to place a jacket or other soft bundle under the knees when laying for extended periods of time on you back. I never lay on my stomach.
- It is much lighter than the Exped Ergo or the Amok.
- I have spent every night assessing different pad configurations in preparation for a thru-hike. Following are a few of my conclusions thus far. First a pad is mandatory for the thru-hike for nights in mandatory shelters, hostels, or cowboy camping.
- The best pad I've used is my Exped Downmat UL 7.
- My Exped Downmat 7 LW works just as fine, but is heavier than I want to carry on a thru-hike.
- The coldest nights I suffered from CBS were with a Thermarest Solite.
- A night with a Sea to Summit Comfort lite mummy LW was CBS theater too.
- I have not tried my Exped Synmat 7 UL MW yet because it is still new in the bag. I suspect the R rating will result in CBS at the temperatures I am currently using it.
- Using my Arrowhead Ridgecreek from my WBRR would not conform to the outside of the hammock when I turned on my side and brought my feet up...equals...CBS.
- I folded my Costco down throw in two, added ties and shock cord that could be used to loop to the suspension cords. The same results as the Arrowhead when laying on you side. Just say no to CBS.
- Next I started experimenting with both the Arrowhead ridgecreek and the costco throw wrapped around a CCF. I put this inside the pad pocket and the CCF holds the UQ in place. Call this the UQ/CCF.
- Both the AH Ridgecreek and Costco throw work great, simply great when used as a UQ/CCF combination. This is as comforatble as the Exped Downmat 7 UL MW. Perhaps even more so as the hammock conforms more to my body as I lay on my side. I like this a lot.
- The UQ/Exped Synmat UL regular does not work. DO NOT use a regular width pad even with a UQ. Simply a poor night.
- A UQ/CCF with a Walmart Blue LW was a very comfortable night.
- Last night with a UQ/CCF a Evozote yellow 9.5 XL was superb. This is lighter and more compact than the Walmart Blue and may ultimately be the system I take on the thru-hike.
- Tonight I am testing the Sea to Summit Comfort light with the UQ at the head end. The S2S comfort light doesn't come in rectangular and the other S2S are too heavy. I have flipped the S2S around so the wide mummy end is at the feet. My head and sholders will be kept warm by the UQ and the foot end of the S2S...We will see.
- What I have planned in the future is to put a series of five small grommets in the pad pocket near the side top edge. I will thread shock cord attached to my UQ or Costco throw through these grommets and use a toggle to cinch the UQ snug to the pad pocket edge. This will work great, but I didn't want to modify the hammock while in the testing phase.
- i have an ebay down retangular bag that I am going to sew to reduce to 35" square that will work as a down UQ for both my WBRR and 90* hammock.
- I have purchase an Alcott pup tent for my border collie to use during inclement weather. She sleeps in it next to the hammock. I am thinking about replacing the arch poles with two short arrow shaft pieces to spread the top and are attached to the ridgeline near the suspension rings.
- If my grommet UQ system works well I will use a torso length Evozote pad or the S2S comfort light for the thru-hike regardless if I take the 90* or the WBRR.
- I will swap out the 90* suspension rings for some larger aluminum rap rings I have because they will be easier to adjust and remove.
- I might even end up using my WBRR suspension with Dutch Kevlar straps. Testing waits arrival of Dutch straps.
- I have a secret project for a CF tarp that i will let you know about in the future...if it works...teaser.
- If all systems fail due to too much space and weight I will KISS and use my CF hextent, polycro, and S2S comfort light. Hanging takes second place to succeeding.
- I forgot something, but i can't remember what it is?
- Oh, yeah, I remembered. I should have posted each comment in a separate post so that I can make 50 comments and achieve the seller's quota quicker
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