A very long time ago in April of 2007 I was looking for a way to make an underquilt. See I am very cheap by nature and really back then there wasn't many options. I have an AT thru-hike under my belt that I used an HH ULBA wit a z-rest and stock tarp. I really liked my set-up but the pad thing never suited me. So i went looking and I found JustJeff's site. That lead me to the newly founded Hammock Forums. I think I was the 260th person to join. I was immediately enthralled by the friendliness and the creativity. I think the only cottage vendors back then were Jacks R Better. Little did I know I had hiked with them on my thru but that is another story...
Some of the people who were around was Black Bishop, Schroeder, Hammock Engineer and this guy named WarbonnetGuy. This was an incredible group that had all kinds of creativity and a blank canvas to express it on. Everybody brought something different to the party. Every thread was a subject that had not been explored and new ideas came daily. There was a thread about using the large figure9 as a suspension device. It was the longest thread for a very long time. If it were not for that thread I am sure there would have never been a Dutch Clip or Dutchware. I couldn't wait to come home and collaborate with my new buddies about how to improve on hammock suspensions. And in this very smart group of people was a real genius. His name was Brandon and he seemed to know everything about rope, knots, and fabrics. I would ask questions to the general forum but secretly hoping Brandon would post the answer. Often I would not be disappointed and he would enlighted me with his wisdom.
Months later he announced he would be starting a hammock business and would be making the Elderado hammock. I was full of disappointment as I knew this would change everything. I knew no longer would this be a group of people who freely put forth ideas into group to see what came out. I had no idea how bad it would get though. I would see one start up after another over the next year and less people sharing ideas. I was a diyer at heart and I could never believe how someone could put so much love and work into something just to ship it to some stranger and never see it again, barbaric sell outs...
However I watch from the beginning as Brandon released his products. They were very good, great as a matter of fact. The Elderado got replaced by the Black Bird with its shelf and footbox. Still years later one of the greatest hammocks to be conceived. Then his mambajamba tarp. I would say many of the tarps today are just clones of the Mambajamba. Then the Yeti quilt. Finally the long awaited Ridge Runner and those great saddlebag pockets. His gear was so well thought out that it has truly stood the test of time. He doesn't come out with a new promotion, new product or even talk on this forum ever. He doesn't have too yet if you look and all the vendors, his has twice as many post as anyone else's. They guy is a genius by all standards. The class by which he has conducted himself. The product line and forethought that went into it. The business sense and seeing the potential of his industry was all first rate.
I have yet to meet Brandon. I am sure I will someday and will probably be starstruck. I have talk to him on the phone and I promise you I listened very closely to every word. Not just what he was saying but why he was saying it. I am proud to say I have done some business with him as I have with most of the fine vendors on here. He has always been 100% a straight shooter. I consider it a privileged to have any association to the man. Many of us here are walking in the footsteps of Giants. One of the great ones that has brought us so much in comfort along with innovation goes by the name WarbonnetGuy.
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Originally Posted by Dutch
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