Long time tenter converted with no resistance.

**MotoHang** · 02-28-2020, 23:00

Hello all from Norman, OK. I've been lurking in the background on HF for about a year or two and finally decided to make an account. I was getting sick of waking up sore in a tent and looking for a better option when I found Shug on YT, needless to say, after a combination of his humor and prop comedy as well as valuable information on hammocks I bought my first hammock. It was a disaster, I woke up cold, slightly damp from a poorly pitched tarp and my backside touching ground by the next morning but my back DID. NOT. HURT! So I still called it a win and from there got addicted to Dutch bling and tinkering with my setup. Happy to be here!

**Canadark** · 02-29-2020, 12:35

Welcome aboard. Tinkering with the setup is a big part of the fun, but getting high quality, restful sleep is the kicker.

**DrPhun** · 02-29-2020, 17:58

It only gets better

**MikekiM** · 03-01-2020, 07:24

Welcome aboard Moto!!

Can't imagine sleeping on the ground..

All of what you describe, sort of right of passage as you get into hammocks) can be resolved fairly easily. There is a tarp specific forum to discuss how to tweak you pitch, a suspension forum to discuss alternatives so you find yourself on or near the ground and insulation forums to discuss options and tweaks there too!!

Have fun!

**cmoulder** · 03-03-2020, 08:01

After many (many!) years of tent/tarp I finally switched about 2.5 yrs ago and do not regret one bit.

Besides the comfort advantage, one of biggest pluses for me is the vast increase in possible campsites... no longer need a flat, open spot! Just a couple of days ago I ended my hike in a large area that was boulder strewn, with adjacent areas full of tangled undergrowth. I camped where no tent would ever work, and even a simple bivy sack would not have fit easily.

**brutalguyracing** · 03-03-2020, 15:01

Originally Posted by cmoulder

After many (many!) years of tent/tarp I finally switched about 2.5 yrs ago and do not regret one bit.

Besides the comfort advantage, one of biggest pluses for me is the vast increase in possible campsites... no longer need a flat, open spot! Just a couple of days ago I ended my hike in a large area that was boulder strewn, with adjacent areas full of tangled undergrowth. I camped where no tent would ever work, and even a simple bivy sack would not have fit easily.

That's a pretty good sized tree to the left

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**cmoulder** · 03-03-2020, 16:05

Originally Posted by brutalguyracing

That's a pretty good sized tree to the left

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

LOL that's an optical delusion... it's actually a double-trunk, smaller on the left where the hammock is attached.

Different view, with the tarp:

**AndyK** · 03-19-2020, 14:18

The more you hang the quicker you'll start to put things together and have warm, dry, comfortable nights. Took me about 10 trips to really start to figure things out, but I'm a slow learner.

Welcome!