Sea To Summit Pyramid as a hammock bugnet?

[AyeJay]

Hello. I've ordered a 12 ft x 65 inch hammock without bugnet, my very first hammock.

I own a Sea to Summit Double Mosquito Net, meant for the ground. It is 8 ft long, 5.5 ft wide, and 4.2 ft tall at the head end. It tapers down to zero at the foot end.

It has a shock-corded open-bottomed skirt the whole way around the bottom perimeter, like a fitted bed sheet. This is designed to tuck under a large mattress or two mattresses side-by-side. Here is a picture of it:

http://www.seatosummit.com.au/produc...s-double/?ref=


I think you know my question. Can I use this mozzie net as a tapered-end bugnet over my hammock? Perhaps the skirt can fit around the hammock's undercarriage, and attach the head end of the mozzie net to the head end of the hammock's ridgeline. I've got no real-life experience with hammocks or bugnets so can't visualize whether this would work or how well it would fit.

Perhaps to keep the tapered section from sagging onto me, I could have a string attached to the net and to the hammock's ridgeline.

[hutzelbein]

You can always try it, but from the picture and the dimensions given on the website, it definitely won't be a natural fit. And I think it's too small for a 12' hammock. A Fronkey style bug net would need to be about 10.2' long and 4.8' deep. That's a lot of fabric. I'd say you're better off ordering a hammock bug sock for a 12' hammock.

[AyeJay]

Thanks for looking, I may go with a sock bugnet, I've beeno looking at SDL's bottom-entry sock/net which is both light, cheap, and can be made in my size. SLD also has this "Mosquito Defender" which tapers at the foot end. That might be a good net but to my uninitiated eyes it looks like a bit of a weird design, a bit too close perhaps. I'll have to look at some reviews to see how it runs. They are both the same price at $60 USD. That's interesting about the Fronkey bugnet using a lot of fabric. Weight is definitely a concern.

[hutzelbein]

Well, you'll need more fabric for ANY net sock (doesn't matter if it's a bottom entry or any other design) than for an integrated net, because the sock goes around the hammock. Depending on the type of netting, the weight can be comparable to the S2S net tent.

I haven't tried the Mosquito Defender or any socks with a similar design, because I think it is be too much bother to pull the sock up to one end. At only 5'4" I would have to stretch quite a bit to open and close the sock. And I'm not sure how well it keeps the mosquitoes out while entering and exiting. The Fronkey style bug sock (also called bottom entry) is very effective in that respect. Better than a zippered sock.

If you want 360° protection, Wilderness Logics makes a zippered bug sock, and they probably can make it 12'. I don't like the curve of the entry and the fact that the sock is not round on the bottom. The best zippered bug sock in my opinion is the one Warbonnet sells for the standard Traveler - but that's only for 10' hammocks, and they generally don't do custom work You could always ask Jared if he would sew you up a 12' zippered bug sock. I hear he does a lot of custom work.

[AyeJay]

Well, you'll need more fabric for ANY net sock (doesn't matter if it's a bottom entry or any other design) than for an integrated net, because the sock goes around the hammock. Depending on the type of netting, the weight can be comparable to the S2S net tent.

I haven't tried the Mosquito Defender or any socks with a similar design, because I think it is be too much bother to pull the sock up to one end. At only 5'4" I would have to stretch quite a bit to open and close the sock. And I'm not sure how well it keeps the mosquitoes out while entering and exiting. The Fronkey style bug sock (also called bottom entry) is very effective in that respect. Better than a zippered sock.

If you want 360° protection, Wilderness Logics makes a zippered bug sock, and they probably can make it 12'. I don't like the curve of the entry and the fact that the sock is not round on the bottom. The best zippered bug sock in my opinion is the one Warbonnet sells for the standard Traveler - but that's only for 10' hammocks, and they generally don't do custom work You could always ask Jared if he would sew you up a 12' zippered bug sock. I hear he does a lot of custom work.

Yup I see.

I also like the look of the Warbonnet bugnet. The WildernessLogic is similar design too and not bad.

The ones where you get in the hammock then pull the net over, I agree it seems like you might be taking some mozzies in with you. I'm not totally sold on that one myself. Even with the zippered design that might be an issue, but with the bottom entry not so much. I also heard someone claim that mozzie don't fly upwards or something, so the bottom entry works well in that regard. Never heard that one before but might be true lol.

At this stage I'm liking the bottom entry. I can see that the Fronkey bugnet is simply a design you make yourself. Any sewing machine required?

SDL says on their bugnet page that when making the bugnet, if you don't tell him the length of your ridgeline, he will simply make the bugnet length 83% of your hammock length. So I thought that I should wait until I know my ridgeline length before ordering a bugnet, as I may end up with a different sag than 83%.

[hutzelbein]

I also heard someone claim that mozzie don't fly upwards or something, so the bottom entry works well in that regard. Never heard that one before but might be true lol.

It's not so much that but that you pull the bug net over you like when you are putting on a sweatshirt. The net is more or less in contact with you, and brushes mosquitos off. When it hangs over the hammock, the opening is pretty much sealed off. I'm using a bottom entry bug sock with my bed hammock at home, and I don't even cinch up the shock cord. Never had a mosquito find its way in. On the other hand, if I were to live in Australia, with all those scary creepy crawlies, I would go for a zippered sock. I wouldn't care for spiders under my top quilt

I can see that the Fronkey bugnet is simply a design you make yourself. Any sewing machine required?

Well, you could always hand sew. But it's a lot faster with a machine.

SDL says on their bugnet page that when making the bugnet, if you don't tell him the length of your ridgeline, he will simply make the bugnet length 83% of your hammock length. So I thought that I should wait until I know my ridgeline length before ordering a bugnet, as I may end up with a different sag than 83%.

I prefer my bug socks a bit larger than I need. That way it doesn't matter if I use them with a slightly longer hammock, or if I make my adjustable ridgeline longer for a change. If you have a ridgeline installed, it doesn't matter if the sock is a bit longer. There might be some excess fabric, but that never bothered me. We are only talking about a couple of inches. I would probably order a bug sock with a ~90% length of the hammock.

[AyeJay]

Wonderful advice. So a bugnet made for a bigger hammock will also fit onto a smaller one. I think I will get 90% of 12 feet then, and if I'm using a shorter ridgeline, the net still fits.

When a vendor installs a ridgeline, do they make it permanent where they sew both ends of the rope onto the fabric or something, so you can't take the rope off ever?

When I ordered my hammock, I opted to do my own ridgeline, I've ordered Amsteel Blue for that job. But I was wondering how a vendor attaches a ridgeline, is it the same as we'd do it at home just with a simple knot, or more elaborate? If it's a simple knot, I can't see why people would pay for that when they can just attach their own knot with their own rope.

[hutzelbein]

So a bugnet made for a bigger hammock will also fit onto a smaller one.

Within reason. A 12' bug sock would probably not be great to use on a 9' hammock. But I have used an 11' sock on a 10' hammock without problems. Depending on the design of the openings (for the suspension), you can also get away with a slightly bigger hammock.

When a vendor installs a ridgeline, do they make it permanent where they sew both ends of the rope onto the fabric or something, so you can't take the rope off ever?

Usually, the ridgeline is just larksheaded over the suspension. There might be hammock models where the ridgeline is permanently attached to the hammock, but I haven't seen this, yet.

When I ordered my hammock, I opted to do my own ridgeline, I've ordered Amsteel Blue for that job. But I was wondering how a vendor attaches a ridgeline, is it the same as we'd do it at home just with a simple knot, or more elaborate?

It depends. Most cottage vendors offer a choice of spliced ridgelines for their no-net hammocks: none, fixed and adjustable. I would always go for an adjustable ridgeline, or make one myself. The ends of the ridgeline are either hung or larksheaded over the suspension.

If it's a simple knot, I can't see why people would pay for that when they can just attach their own knot with their own rope.

Usually, ridgelines are made from Zing-It/Lash-It or sometimes Amsteel (although this is overkill), and they're spliced not knotted. A ridgeline is not difficult to make, but it's helpful to buy a professionally made ridgeline once. I have always found it easier to do something myself after having seen how the pros do it, than just doing it with only ever having seen pictures of it. And some people don't have an inclination for DIY. It's not difficult to splice a ridgeline, but it takes some time. And as with almost everything: practice makes perfect. Your first ridgeline will probably not look as clean as that of someone who has been splicing hundreds. And you might not get the proportions perfect. That's why people buy finished ridgelines.

[AyeJay]

I see. Mainly for budgetary reasons I forwent all the options except for the 4 tie-outs. Boy hammocking is so much more complex than ground camping!

When you say a splice for the ridgeline, do you mean a dogbone and perhaps whoopies for the adjustable version? There's tutorials on how to make whoopie slings out of Amsteel, and dogbones. I guess if you're using fixed-line dogbones, you won't be able to adjust it ever, unless you made new dogbones. If I'm not using adjustable, maybe I could just use a knot for the ridgeline that I can retie for adjustment.

I've got webbing, Amsteel, and 2 carabiners. I'm planning to create continuous loops and larkshead through the channels of my hammock. I'll make it short in case the trees are close together. On that I'll attach a carabiner, then attach Amsteel to the other side of the carabiner which leads to the webbing and a marline spike toggle thingy. And the webbing goes around the tree.

Then the ridgeline afixes to the carabiner (either dogbone or knot). Have I messed anything up?

[hutzelbein]

I think you would get a better overview and understanding if you were to watch Shug's videos on hammocking. Maybe start with his ridgeline tutorial:



You can look for further Shug videos about hammocks here: https://www.youtube.com/user/shugemery/videos

Dutch also did a short video, showing different ridgeline options:



I think it's easier to grasp the concept when you see something and don't just read about it.