90 Degree Hammock Tent

[OlTrailDog]

I completed the Alcott pup tent pole modification. Simply took two old easton arrows that I found in the woods, cut them off at 22", put automotive tube caps over the ends to protect the tent pole sleeves; used a plastic zip tie for the center pivot; and it was done. The length is 22" for each shaft and that fits perfectly when tied at the center for inserting the shafts in the tent top sleeves. I tie a line from the crossed poles to my hammock suspension. With the tent pegged down it will work very well.

The arrow poles weigh 1 oz. and the regular poles weighed 7.6 oz. Now the total pup tent package weighs in at 13.6 oz. and is compact. I would take pics but the whole set up is indoors and I can't really peg the tent to the floor for a taut set up.

[OlTrailDog]

I thought I'd post about a mod I came up with for Lukes 90 Degree Hammock. As I wrote earlier if you are 6 foot or near 6 foot there can be hyper-extension stress on the knees because of the overall gentle arc shape of the hammock lay that becomes pronounced toward the ends.

Following is what I did and what I wrote to Luke about concerning some experimenting that I have done with my 90 Hammock:
"After considerable experimentation I would like to suggest a modification to your 90 Degree hammock design. I have the Gamma UL and have corresponded with you in the past concerning the pressure the slight overall arc puts on the knees, resulting in discomfort after an extended time in the hammock, At 6 foot tall I'm at the upper end of the hammock suitability. We talked about using gear beneath placed beneath the knees to alleviate the stress.

While swapping time between my Warbonnet Ridgerunner and the 90 Degree Hammock, I noticed some features in the WBRR that lessened pressure on my knees. Specifically, how my legs lay in the hammock and the use of a toe box at the end of the hammock. Therefore, I thought that I would experiment with shortening some of the strings on the 90 Degree Hammock in order to create something similar in function. The basic idea was to create a gentle horizontal S shape to the 90 Degree Hammock instead of the gentle continuous arc. Take a look at picture number 7 on you website slide show which in effect shows a person lying in the hammock from the side in a pasture/field near a fence line. What is notable about the picture is the S shape created by the person lying in the hammock, especially note the legs.

Of course I didn't want to cut the suspension cords. So, I ended up getting some nylon spacers and rounding the inside and outside edges to protect the suspension cords. I used a girth hitch around the nylon washers to effectively shorten the suspension cords (see attached images). What worked the best was to shorten the suspension cords just below my butt, on down toward my feet, and leave the last three cords at the original length to create a slight toe box. I actually used a nylon spacer and a smaller spacer on the two suspension cords that supported the fabric directly under my knees, i.e. further shortening these two suspension lines. The effect is to create a gentle S shape from my head to my feet with the bulge on the lower part of the S supporting my knees. This greatly alleviated the hyper-extension stress placed on my knees by the original gentle arc.

The nylon washers are small enough and alternately offset to enable the suspension sleeves to slide over the spacers. Of course, the nylon spacers were used as an experiment that would damage the spectra cords. The real world solution would be to engineer in a gentle S shape that provided support underneath the knees and a toe box to lessen foot squeeze."

The 90 Degree Hammock is very comfortable when lying on either side and the gentle arc doesn't effect comfort. However, I spend considerable time on my back and after extended periods of time it can become uncomfortable on my old knees. This is especially noticeable when you get out of the hammock and more so after several nights use. I also purchased a bag of 500 beads from WalMart today. The beads may work just as well as the nylon spacers and I will do some further experimentation.Lukes90DegreeHammockMod_1.jpgLukes90DegreeHammockMod_2.jpg

[WV]

You're definitely on the right track. That's what I do with my adjustable bridge hammocks, and it's derived from the way I adjusted the side strings on my right-angle hammock. Now I'm working on a bridge that doesn't use a side cut, but instead has a simple geometric side design using straight lines. It has the effect of lifting the hammock bed under my knees and lowering the foot end.

[OlTrailDog]

Okay! Yesterday I replaced the nylon spacers that were rather expensive with WalMart beads (500 for a dollar). Nice thing about the beads is they are cheap and already have rounded edges. I spent the night in the backyard in the rain. I am convinced that for my height (length) this is a wonderful mod. As you can see from the pictures going progressively from no beads, one bead, two bead, three beads, and back to no beads helps spread the weight systematically and builds the lazy S into the hammock lay. Done correctly, there is enough knee support and yet foot relief (toe box) by having no beads at the foot end suspension strings. The three bead strings are directly under my knees and since knees have flex the stress on the three bead strings is minimized. When lay in the hammock and tug on the suspension strings it definitely does not seem to place undue stress on any particular set of strings.

One observation is that you need to exert more effort to exit the hammock due to the "uphill" effect of the raised part of the lazy S. Not a problem, just an observation. Coincident with that is possibly taking more care to make sure your butt is more centered in the hammock lengthwise when entering the hammock by bunching up the end and sitting well into the hammock before loading it. Doing so may help to reduce possible stress on the shortest stings in now in the knee area. May not be important, but as this is experimental I am trying to be cautious. Using an inflatable pad in the hammock also aids in spreading out the load stress when entering the hammock.

I do not find any problems switching into a side sleeping position with the lazy S suspension mod. Side sleeping is phenomenal in a 90 degree hammock because the ends move in toward the center, and there is so much more room than in a conventional hammock. This is especially noticeable if you use a underquilt, or an underquilt and a 3/4 length foam or Thermarest pad in the foot section. The UQ (either a Costco down throw or Arrowhead 3/4 Ridge Creek) with a 3/4 pad (either closed cell foam or Thermarest prolite) is my preferred system. This is because it is warm, relatively light weight, and yet provides a little rigidity at the foot end which keeps the foot end of the hammock from collapsing toward the center and maximizes foot comfort for me. Experimentation continues.

The tarp is a silnylon 8x12 that I've had for years and worked great in the rain and wind last night. And the hammock stand is from the Amy radio antenna you can get on ebay for an easily portable hammock stand system that I can use with either the 90 Degree or WBRR by adding another section in the ridge line.

[GreenGoblin]

Thanks for your work OTD.

I haven't tried mine with an underquilt yet. So you don't need a full length and wide pad for structure?

Does the 12' tarp give you good coverage? In most of the 90degree photos, the bottom of the hammock looks to be quite exposed, so been a bit worried about the 12' length.

[OlTrailDog]

I've tried a myriad of combinations including: Exped Downmats LW, Exped Synmats LW, Sea to Summit Comfort light Large, Thermarest Pro lite 3/4, Thermarest Sol lite?, 1/2 length Thermarest Ridgerest, Evolite 1/2" LW, Arrowhead Ridge Creek UQ (from my WBRR), and a Costco Down Throw UQ. The Exed LW pads work great; the Exped regular Synmat works poorly; the S2S works poorly; The Thermarest Solite too big and sold before I got the knife out. What seems to work the best for me is either the Arrowhead 3/4 UQ or full length Costco Down Throw modified into a UQ PLUS a longer "foot pad" made of either the Thermarest Prolite; the Thermarest 3/4 Ridgerest; or the LW Evolite CC foam pad (I had to look long and hard for a LW Evolite foam CC pad and consequently won't cut it up). The advantage of the combination 3/4 UQ with a foam or Prolite "foot pad" is it is relatively light compared to other systems; UQ are toasty warm; I like the way it gives some structure to the foot area with the foot pad that can also be used for a camp pad; and yet the hammock will collapse a good deal when you leave the hammock. Having the hammock collapse when you exit the hammock leaves room under the tarp for other chores like getting dressed, or you can use the partially collapsed hammock as a chair; the partially collapsed hammock doesn't rocket up to poke the tarp when you exit the hammock or sit on the hammock like it will with a full length inflatable pad like the Expeds; The full length Evolite LW is limp enough to collapse unlike the inflatable pads like Exped or Themarest Xlite or Xtherm. In addition, using a partially collapsible pad system allows the hammock to partially collapse when I roll onto my side. This seems to make it extra roomy and comfortable compared to using a full length inflatable pad. Perhaps this is more of a personal preference feature??? To sum up all that blather, read what folks have used and experiment to see what works best for you.

Regarding the tarp. I just measured it and it is a 9x12 silnylon tarp that I had for years that I grabbed to set up as a storm cell was blowing in last evening. I didn't want to try and set up my cuben Winter Palace in the winds. Lo and behold, I was extremely pleased with how much coverage the 9x12 provided and it will become the go to tarp for the 90 Degree. That is unless the silpoly Wilderness Mountain Gear "Amock" tarp is reasonably priced. I'm currently exchanging emails with the vendor on that little number. Is there no end to pouring bucks down the hammock rabbit hole? After last night, I am confident the 9x12 would handle just about any windy and rainy conditions if pitched with a little common sense, i.e. no ridge top hangs with the open ends exposed to the gale winds.

Speaking of inclement weather and tarps I did have a "learning experience" earlier this summer hanging up a Hyalite Lake with a Yukon diamond shaped tarp (a bargain Woot purchase) over my WBRR. A typical Montana evening thunderstorm blew in early that night and the wind blown rain started coming at a slant into the hammock. I managed to grab my Winter Palace that I brought along just in case. I held it over me and the WBRR with my hands and feet while the rain came down, the lightening flashed, the thunder boomed, and the wind whipped the rain and draped Winter Palace to and fro. I thought about Jesus and the disciples being tossed about in the boat during the stormy weather, so I prayed every thing would stay put and the storm would pass for me too. Guess what? It actually did! I was extra proud of my young border collie who did an outstanding job hunkering under the hammock and flailing Cuben Fiber WP tarp, just like the trail pro she is becoming!

[WV]

Great work, OlTrailDog. I haven't experimented with different insulation systems as much as you have, and I haven't worked on my right angle hammock in a while, but everything pertaining to adjustable side strings that's worked best for me is similar to what you report here. I'm moving from full length underquilts to 3/4 plus a foot pad, too. The 3/4 quilts fit better under my knees without compressing the insulation.

[OlTrailDog]

An update:

I have found the Walmart beads are too fragile. I have had several pop in half while exiting the hammock. Since then, I have removed the Walmart beads and replaced them with a combination of larger acrylic beads and nylon spacers. Since the acrylic beads are larger I am only using one per suspension strand pairs for the most lift under the knees (three suspension strands) with two smaller nylon spacers on four suspension strands (two aft of the beaded strands and two fore of the beaded strands) Seems to be holding up fine. If the acrylic beads don't survive I will go back to using all nylon spacers or hunt for nylon beads?

[QFT]

How have your nylon spacers been doing? Still good a month later?

I just got a Gamma UL with the fly. I'm wondering if I'll be able to take it down to 30 degrees with no underquilt, just my R-4.1 Klymit Static V Lite Insulated pad.

[Johnny Gunz]

I just ordered a Hammock Tent Gamma and man this thread has been educational! Any new info? I'm trying to figure out light and cheap tarp and pad/UQ options. I have a Loco Libre Cayenne Pepper 3/4 UQ which may work well. I just need the right pad I guess? I'm tall at 6'2", so I'm not sure whether a full or short pad is best. I should get the hammock in a week or two. Thanks for all the great info!