Originally Posted by
SilvrSurfr
First off, hammocks-for-two is just ENO marketing; after 15 minutes you'll be miserable (though there are at least five people on HF who seem to make it work). Added width won't make a simple, gathered-end hammock more comfortable for two people. When you see wider hammocks being sold, it's usually for wider people or people who just car camp. You'll notice that none of the cottage vendors sell or market hammocks for two because it's not particularly honest. The Clark Vertex is an actual hammock for two, but it will weigh 5+ lbs., cost a fortune, and will need three trees to setup. So I'd personally suggest you forget hammocks for two - it sounds great but in practice, it's not.
Dutch has a variety of netless hammocks with different weight-bearing capabilities. Most of them are 58" wide, but there are wider versions for $15 more like the Hexon W 1.6. Of course, wider means heavier, so keep that in mind when selecting (if you ever go hiking with it).
Depending on your weight, or if you're going to use a pad, you probably don't need a double layer. The lower the number Dutch lists, the lower the weight-bearing capacity. For example, I'm 5'11" and 165 lbs., and I use a Dutch PolyD 1.4 hammock. However, he sells fabrics up to the Dobby 2.4; the higher the number, the greater the weight-bearing capacity. Ask Dutch for recommended weights for each size (I don't see them on the website).
Dutch doesn't do colors around the edge - that is an ENO gimmick (and an annoying seam to help you not sleep).
The Knotty mod is just a piece of shock cord sewn into the hem of the hammock. It's for controlling floppy fabric and keeping your quilts and such in the hammock. I've tried the Knotty mod and don't particularly see much point in it (especially since I don't care for hammocks wider than 60 inches and don't kick my quilts out of my hammock).
When you say "occasional outdoor trip," is that car camping or hiking? My Dutch PolyD1.4 hammock is approximately 10 ounces, but a double layer would be double that, and I personally wouldn't want to carry a 1.5 lb. hammock (like an ENO). What about mosquitoes? If you're camping outdoors in bug season you'll definitely need something like Dutch's Fronkey bugnet. Lastly, if you're thinking about camping outside, you'd better think about under-insulation. I use an UQ even inside - anything below 70* F and you're going to find a hammock to be chilly without a pad or something underneath you. That's the only reason I'd get a double layer - to manage a pad.
Good luck!
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