Overwhelmed with first hammock purchase

[mikeonbikes]

Howdy all, I recently spent a night camping in a cheap Amazon hammock with a pad and EE Quilt (I toss and turn and could never do a mummy bag)

Suffice it to say, I’m a convert. For the first time ever I woke from a night of camping without aches and pains and was well rested.

I’m ready to invest in a good hammock, but after lurking, reading and watching the Shug videos I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed with the array of options.

I’m hoping to use the hammock bike packing and live in Arizona. One challenge I see is that trees in the Southwest can sometimes be hard to come by so I imagine there will be nights I’ll have to sleep on the ground. Because of that, I’ll likely use a pad so the the double material hammocks with pad openings are high on my list. I’ll eventually get an underquilt for areas I know I’ll have access to trees. There might be a few nights that I’d share the hammock with one of my kids who are 9 and 6.

I’m currently looking at the Chameleon, Warbinnet XLC and Trail Lair. I was considering the Hammock Gear because of the price, but it doesn’t look like they have a double layer option.

Given by use case, any advice on the model or accessories that I’ve got to have? Thanks so much, I’m already dreaming of comfortable nights under the sky.

[TrailSlug]

You are looking at three of the best hammocks made so either way you go there you shouldn't have issues. I would highly recommend a double layer if you are going to attempt to insulate using a pad. I would also recommend backyard testing what ever you get to be sure it keeps you warm enough as pads can be a bit hard to keep in place and stay centered on. If you haven't watched any of Shugs youtube videos do yourself a favor and do so. Here's one in particular about going to ground with a hammock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j54vMKGhiQ

[TrailSlug]

I just noticed a "brand new" Warbonnet Blackbird" for sale in the for sale section in case you are interested.
https://hammockforums.net/forum/show...ackbird-10-Off

[soul embrace]

If you haven't watched any of Shugs youtube videos do yourself a favor and do so. Here's one in particular about going to ground with a hammock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j54vMKGhiQ

I'm pretty sure he watch at least some of Shugs videos since he said this :

I’m ready to invest in a good hammock, but after lurking, reading and watching the Shug videos I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed with the array of options.

[mikeonbikes]

I just noticed a "brand new" Warbonnet Blackbird" for sale in the for sale section in case you are interested.
https://hammockforums.net/forum/show...ackbird-10-Off

I saw that too, but was thinking about going with the heavier duty fabric For durability and the higher weight rating with myself and a kid in the hammock.

[Phantom Grappler]

Gossamer Gear sells wider and longer pads
Maybe 40wide 70long and 3/16thick
You can cut that down if too large. If pad is too thick, wrinkles in pad from trying to follow curves of hammock can be bumpy, so don’t get a too thick pad.
I never cut my pad, it fit inside of double layer hammock and was wide enough—I never slid off side of pad—it enveloped me going up the sides of hammock. Now I use top and bottom quilts and stack them as needed.

[Phantom Grappler]

Do you know if you are Left Lay or Right Lay?
Some hammocks are sold as either Left or Right.
Some hammocks are sold as both Left and Right.
Left Lay is when you are in your hammock on a diagonal and your feet are pointing left.
Right lay is when your feet are pointing towards the right.
If not in a hurry, go to a group hang and possibly get to try out some of hammocks you got your eye on.

[Donfish06]

Are you not interested in dream Hammock? You could get a sparrow double layer. I have a single layer and Iove it!

[mikeonbikes]

Are you not interested in dream Hammock? You could get a sparrow double layer. I have a single layer and Iove it!

I checked them out, but the lead time was a little long.

[mikeonbikes]

Do you know if you are Left Lay or Right Lay?
Some hammocks are sold as either Left or Right.
Some hammocks are sold as both Left and Right.
Left Lay is when you are in your hammock on a diagonal and your feet are pointing left.
Right lay is when your feet are pointing towards the right.
If not in a hurry, go to a group hang and possibly get to try out some of hammocks you got your eye on.

I’m a left layer, but I also move around a lot. Your question made me start thinking the chameleon would be a better bet because of that.