Lessons learned: Things you learned the hard way

**cataraftgirl** · 04-10-2016, 20:40

#1 - check it out before you take it out. Your backyard is the place to practice and tweak your set-up.
#2 - check your suspension & knots before making a fool of yourself in front of your friends. Hitting the ground is embarrassing and possibly painful.
#3 - invest in a good headlamp and make sure the batteries are good.
#4 - don't over tighten your hammock suspension.
#5 - hang your hammock in a spot with a great view, hop in, and relax

**BigE94** · 04-10-2016, 20:44

I haven't been around long, but I am slowly learning that it's okay to just use the tried and true methods. They are tried and true for a reason. Example, why buy Dutch bling when figure 9s will work? Yes they will work but wasps and flys make everything so much easier. I don't know how much time and money I spent messing with ridge lines before just going with the tried and true. I love diy, but there's no reason to reinvent the wheel. I also learned that this former scout of many years no longer enjoys tying knots. Strange.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**Latt** · 04-11-2016, 04:00

Save money and buy the best (often more expensive) stuff right away.

If hammocking in cold environments, learn to set-up your UQ properly before going out. Take it down, set it up, so it so many times you can do it in your sleep. Learn how tight it needs to be for you to stay warm. Learn to avoid cold drafts.

Learn to accept calls of nature and get it over with fast and then return to your warm fluffy bed in the air

**12trysomething** · 04-11-2016, 05:31

Feet are in charge, your feet dictate the level of enjoyment you will have on the trail.

Clipping your toenails, clean socks, shoes with a proper fit (both length and width) and keeping your feet clean will all give a better chance of having a fun time.

**ktitan** · 04-11-2016, 07:34

Some animals will chew on sweaty shoes left on the ground.

**Eidson** · 04-11-2016, 09:46

Give the trees you're hanging from a good test before you sleep or fully get in the hammock. Just because your 8 inch tree/branch looks nice, green and leafy on the outside, doesn't always mean that it isn't rotted and hollow on the inside.
Falls suck. Falls followed by large objects crashing down on you suck more.

**accrete** · 04-12-2016, 17:55

Like another stated; "Thinking I could get into hammocking 'casually' "... from ENO SN and then 12 months later to the following... and there is NOTHING casual about it ; )

Happy Hanging,
Thom

**The Tree Frog** · 04-12-2016, 19:30

Remember to hang your own hang. There is no one right way, and there are many wrong ways to do something. Find your own way.

**Penfold** · 04-12-2016, 19:42

Third what SilvSurfr said. Practice your setup. Not much worse than getting to a campsite and setting up in the dark and trying to fumble your your way through it. Also tarp guy lines, secure them by looping them around your fingers and use hair bands to hold them. Untangling guy lines when it is dark and raining is not a fun experience.

**Ratdog** · 04-12-2016, 19:47

Great thread, lots of gems.

Look up.
Deadfalls suck.

It's not about the miles, it's about the journey. Soak it up.

Hammocking is a journey. You'll be learning for years and enjoying it the whole time.

Backup knots, even a half hitch, are never overkill.

Slippery half hitch back up to the line locs on windy days makes a difference.

A bandana has a thousand uses.

Never trust a meteorologist.

Plans are great, flexibility is greater.

Some of the worst conditions can lead to the best of times and epic tales that will be told for years to come. Embrace what comes.