Hammocks from Kickstarter

[Tony c]

ran across this one recently https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/f...ible-camping#/

IT's Clark and i assume legit.

[P-Dub]

The Dutch Chameleon is the only Kickstarter hammock I've ever seen that I would buy. However, that's not even a normal Kickstarter. Dutch is a well-established vendor with excellent customer service, so you know it was going to be a success.

Most every other piece of hammock kit sold on Kickstarter seems to me to be an ill-conceived, poorly thought out, overpriced ripoff. There may be exceptions, but I'm personally not ever going to give my money to Kickstarter (not even for Dutch).

Ditto

[Torbs]

That Clark looks interesting. Would like to see some reviews on it when it is released.

[hutzelbein]

I often find really good and cheap gear there.
Is there anything worth considering?

Sometimes yes, but more often no. If you can separate the wheat from the chaff, you might be able to find a good hammock. But as others have said already, good gear has its price. A $10 hammock won't compare to Dutch netless in all likelihood. But maybe you can find a $35 hammock that will. It's a risk, though. That's why I wouldn't buy stuff from Kickstarter that I can already buy from proven sellers. I might buy something new and innovative, though. For example, I would consider the Flex-360 but not something like this.

[alifeoutdoors]

but not something like this.

rotfl "re-invented" the hammock........

[Dynamystic]

rotfl "re-invented" the hammock........

Haha!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[cougarmeat]

My experience with KickStarter is every product I've purchased was delivered late. I suppose that's the nature of "startup" - you should factor it in.

Another issue is, unlike buying a product from our established cottage industry, is what you end up with might not be what was initially described. For example, Kammok kickstarted a Top Quilt. Because of production issues (in China) it was delivered way late - I know these things happen. But what they settled on seemed to also be a manufacturing mistake. The foot box area was missing one snap. There was no snap closure at the head end and there was no snap closure at the very end of the box (just a bungee tightener). In fact, the Top Quilt was just a symmetrical blanket with bungee to gather the ends and a few snaps along the edges near the ends. Not at all like the Top Quits from our well know cottage industry folks. My point of going into the above detail is what you get might not be what was initially described.

That said, everyone has to start someplace. If you want to support innovation, KickStarter provides a wide variety of projects. But don't make the mistake of thinking that pledging money toward a project with a delivery date is the same as making an order with an established vendor.

[jmstallard]

I have participated in a few Kickstarter projects over the years, and yeah, they delivered, but...meh...I just don't like the model. Paying for a product that far in advance just seems awfully risky.

The Flex 360 does look interesting though.

[HandyRandy]

They have just as many shotty products outside of kickstarter as well. I don’t think it’s fair to criticize KS excessively. Just don’t be fooled into thinking KS does a thorough job of approving only “worthwhile” projects. It sure seems like most KS projects deliver late and that’s unfortunate. It’s annoying when the marketing videos make cute, corny and exaggerated jokes about the “shortcomings” of their competitors. Often because they have little worthwhile to say about their own stuff. Change the channel when you see that.
Exhibit 1
https://youtu.be/YozipnlyezA

[akaCat]

I've backed a lot of projects on Kickstarter with about a 95% success rate. (Success being that I received the backer item, and it isn't missing any features I consider a deal-breaker.) I've got three rules for deciding to back a project, besides just wanting whatever it is:

1. If it's for a product that's available elsewhere, there's got to be something unique about it that I want and can't replicate at home.

2. There's no deadline on how useful the product is. (IE, I can't only want it for a once-in-a-lifetime event that's happening 10 months from now.)

3. I have to be able to afford to lose my money.

I've gotten some really cool stuff. Some things I've used every day, and some have never been available outside of Kickstarter. But it is a gamble.