Review of “The Ultimate Hang 2”, Derek Hansen’s updated and expanded edition to the original “The Ultimate Hang.”
I recently purchased this book (from Amazon, $17.96, so I am an unpaid, independent reviewer although future bribes would not be out of the question!). Have to say, I am thoroughly impressed with the new edition. As promised, Derek has updated the content and added a ton of stuff not found in the original. All the essential topics—hammocks, tarps, insulation, bug protection, and suspension options are all there. In addition there are sections on campsite selection, through-hiking with a hammock, tips for using hammocks with children, comfort and sleeping, the origins of modern hammock, and packing and quick set up ideas, as well as many others. There’s even a short section on cottage vendors I think is a great addition as many “newbies” may not be familiar with what a cottage vendor is. (And he does have a fairly comprehensive list of cottage vendors, although there are no Web addresses listed for them.) Each topic is clearly explained in writing and of course there are lots of Derek’s trademark, often humorous, drawings to help illustrate what he’s talking about. (If you get the book try and find the Batman logo!)
There is also a “Making Your Own Hammock Gear” section that some might find helpful if they’re so inclined and have some basic sewing skills.
Each topic is explained in enough detail to provide a sound, fundamental understanding of it. In the introduction Derek explains it is not his intention to provide specific information on particular hammock gear, nor provide any endorsements, product reviews, or buying advice. People looking for more information on specific pieces of gear would best be served by going to the vendor’s website and looking at sites like “hammockforums.net” and Derek’s site “theultimatehang.com.” And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention all the reviews and advice available on Youtube. (Looking at you Shug! Derek's got some good stuff there as well.)
The organization of TUH2 has been changed from TUH1. I like the change. It seems to “flow” better from one subject to the next. Each section also stands on its own quite well so one could skip around and focus on a particular topic without necessarily having to read the previous section to understand it.
The text is clearly written and easy to read. Some of the text is word-for-word from the first edition. A lot of it has been rewritten, and a lot of it is new. Each main topic is broken down into small sections which I find easier to read and process (as opposed to lengthy chapters). And there are lots and lots of numbered tips and pieces of advice throughout the book that are very useful. (I’m still trying to figure out the numbering system though.)
Couple of minor quibbles which have more to do with the layout than the content. Some of the tables and captions are hard to read as they are printed in a smaller font, and in some cases lighter color type. I understand why it’s laid out that way though—there’s a lot of information that has to be squeezed into each page. It’d be nice to darken it up a bit more though. (Update: I understand Derek has since gone back and made some changes to make the tables more readable.) I do like the font of the first edition slightly better, but again, that’s nitpicking.
So, the question a lot of people are asking is, “If I already have the first edition, is there enough new information to justify buying the second edition?” Let me put it this way, “Yes!” There is so much more in TUH2 that it justifies buying it. I consider The Ultimate Hang 2 the new, definitive guide to hammock camping, for both beginners and even the experienced hangers out there. (Until “The Ultimate Hang 3" comes out. You are working on that, right Derek?)
Side by side comparison. The new edition is definitely bigger and better.
The new edition (left side) is much thicker--344 pages vs the original's 129. So there's lots of new stuff packed in there.
Since we seem to be crazy about how much things weigh, the new edition runs 27.4 ounces. The original weighs in at 7.4 ounces. So the new edition contains 20 more ounces of information.
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Originally Posted by drsolarmolar
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