Can't fall sleep

[TallPaul]

When I started, i slept less hours but still woke up feeling refreshed and not in pain from sleeping on the hard ground.
After that, I stopped counting the hours slept, which probably helped me sleep more hours.

[Wilder]

Whiskey helps..

[TrailSlug]

As Shug says, we all can't like hammock so sleep your own sleep. If you like a tent and sleep well in a tent then by all means go with a tent. We all know if you are hiking/camping the last thing we want is no sleep or a lack of sleep or you tend to not like camping and finally quit. You can recoup most of your money if you bought good gear and it appears you did.

[LazyBee]

Don't give up! I had the same experiences like most of the comments before. The one for sure that you will eventually realize is the REAL rest that comes from the hammock, I can't recall ever waking up with my back in pain like I did on the ground. Stick with it a while longer, you may be pleased.

[tazmaniac]

Where are you sleeping? Are you scared of something? Is it the gentle motion? If you can sleep in a tent but not in a hammock those are the 2 most logical issues. Or maybe you are trying it in a urban setting?

[markhait]

Thanks everyone for their input. One of my last outings with the hammock, I hiked 9 miles and felt for sure that I was going to pass out in my hammock that night, but once again I stared at the netting all night. I know I slept a few times because I woke myself up snoring! :-) I'll keep on keeping on.
I live in the country and so I really don't hear any noises at night and I even have the luxury of owing a large barn that I can hang in whenever I want. I guess maybe I should stop feeling sorry for myself and just sleep in it more and stop trying to find a quick and easy fix......then maybe something magical will happen.
Thanks again!!!

[tazmaniac]

Almost wish I had his issue, I sleep so deep and so long that I feel a little embarrassed when the other guys call me sleepy head.

[markhait]

I forgot to mention.....on the Warbonnet (and probably others too) there are side bungee tie outs that I use and that does stop the hammock from swinging around. I tried not using them and there was no way I was going to sleep with that side to side motion! I probably would have gotten sick instead!

[Texas Hanger]

Truth be told... I never would have tried hammock camping if I could sleep in a tent on an air mattress.

[alifeoutdoors]

Mark, I had the exact same problem and I've been hanging for years. No matter what gathered end or bridge I tried I just could not sleep well during the night. A couple hours then I'm awake, couple hours than awake. I was perfectly comfortable, loved being off the ground so I just dealt with it for the last 8 years. As others said I felt great in the morning but I just hated there laying awake at night trying to get back to sleep. I don't know if it's because I'm a side / stomach sleeper and when I move I wake up or as someone said the inner ear thing. I find the swinging action soothing so I know that wasn't it. I live in the woods so I know it's not the change of environment and I feel more at ease in the deeps woods than I do at town. I borrowed a friends Amok Draumr just on a whim and bam, changed everything. Slept straight through. Something about the way I sleep demands the rigidness of a pad. Picked up one immediately on their end of year clearance deal. I should have clued into it because I had the same experience, when tenting with my wife no issues, sleep through the night. I'm not saying your only answer is to go spend a bunch of money on another setup, just sharing my experience with the same issue. I greatly appreciate an underquilt being the superior setup for a gathered end, I wouldn't even begin to try to use a pad in a GE it's a nightmare so (for me) thankfully another option was invented that just speaks to my body. It needs that "plank" to sleep on.