From hammock to tent: EEEKKKKK

**zukiguy** · 12-21-2016, 20:24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXwRlLMvux0

I was surfing YouTube this evening and came across a cute blonde thru-hiker and watched a couple of her videos on the AT. I was pretty impressed until I got to one on how/why she ended up going to ground. Looks like she started out in a hammock (ENO) because it was "cheap" (a friend gave it to her) along with a tarp made from painting dropcloths and a foam pad. She headed out without much in the way of a shakedown. She never really says so in the video but I think the dreaded CBS got her in short order. The replacement for her "heavy" hammock setup was a $350 Big Agnes tent. Not exactly an apples to apples comparison...

The rest of her videos on trail hygiene, edibles, and other topics I've found pretty interesting though. I just wish that she'd made it to a local "hang" before heading out with sub-par gear and lacking knowledge, much like most of the noobs.

**gunner76** · 12-21-2016, 21:04

And she makes a big deal in that video about how she was a very tight budget. Saw her video some time ago. Typical of someone who get gear and does not know how to use it or it limitations and then blames the gear.

**TallPaul** · 12-21-2016, 21:08

Yea I followed her videos on the AT and saw this one when she posted it.
I didn't get much out of her comparing a cheap and new-to-her hammock/tarp setup to a premium tent setup. To me it is kind of like comparing steaks to McDonald's. But I did enjoy some of her other videos.

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**T- Minus** · 12-21-2016, 21:17

I say she wins, made a goal and succeeded. Note her goal was to thru hike the AT, she did, every blaze. The hammock was a last min gift and a see through homemade tarp. Privacy, education, experience I am sure were all a factor, and yes I was a little bummed that she ditched the hammock. Felt a little better when I found out it was an ENO and lol. I would have too if I didn't know about Dutch or had the time to wait for some of the other fine folks on here to make one.

**soul embrace** · 12-21-2016, 21:52

I stumbled across her videos when I started watching videos on hiking. She is from my state and her first over night backpacking trip was the start of her AT thru hike. Her videos is what got me to want to do section hikes on the AT.

She admits that she knew nothing about hammocks before and never slept in an hammock before and hardly ever laid in one. She said she has car camp and slept in tents before, so I understand why she made the switch and don't blame her. I think she got the hammock right before she left and it would have been nice if the friend would have showed how to use it. She didn't have an UQ or TQ so I'm sure she got cold

**whatsananna** · 12-21-2016, 21:57

Yep. Saw that one too. But hey, she thru hiked the AT, which is probably not ever going to happen for me at this point so yay for her!

**SilvrSurfr** · 12-21-2016, 22:02

Probably too late to sell her on hammocks!

**mikeholczer** · 12-21-2016, 22:04

Yeah, I think she made the right choice to switch when she did. Unfortunately, I doubt the outfitters on the trail have great hammock options, hopefully that will change. I think the average viewer takes away that hammocks are heavier then tents, so I just wish she had stressed the price difference between the two setups.

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**soul embrace** · 12-21-2016, 22:05

Originally Posted by whatsananna

Yep. Saw that one too. But hey, she thru hiked the AT, which is probably not ever going to happen for me at this point so yay for her!

Yep and she is going to start a thru hike of the PCT in April

**PharmGeek** · 12-22-2016, 00:39

I spoke to her in comments

Offered her personally to try my gear for a local trip and make a repeat video....no bites...fellow alabamian

I like her videos though!

There are a few videos on YT much like this one - another comes to mind - "the late boyscout" - painful to watch people present poorly developed knowledge base and unsuitable gear present their failures - not just at all how their failures could be mitigated or avoided but that it is more general to hammock camping...she however did not do that.

I have been planning on my my head producing a satirical video about some of these videos...

One commentor made a good point though - there may be hammock campers that switched from suboptimal ground gear and left the ground in a similar manner.

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