My new Blackbird XLC!

**bansheekitty** · 06-12-2020, 11:00

My new XLC came yesterday! When the package arrived I thought it was cat food actually, since I'd gotten a delivery notification for that, and the XLC wasn't supposed to arrive until the next day. When I picked up the package though, it was awfully light for 12 cans of cat food!

I set it up last night in my basement and... I'm in love! It is *so* comfortable. It's more comfortable than my Ridgerunner even. I love my Dream Hammock Sparrow, which has served me well for years, but honestly, the foot box in the XLC can't be beat. I just can't believe how quick and easy it is to get the perfect lay. I also like the Dreamtex fabric a lot. I really made some errors when purchasing my Sparrow, like I got a double-layer, which I didn't even end up making use of (I got double-layer because I use the double-layer in my Ridgerunner), and got Hexon 1.6 for the inner fabric and 2.4 for the outer fabric, so it's really stiff. I honestly don't know what I was thinking with that. But man, I lay in my XLC last night and it was everything I could want and more from a gathered end hammock.

I also think the shelf will come in handy. One problem I always had with the Sparrow was that there was no place to store big things, and my attempts at using a gear hammock were never very successful. This is not to insult the Sparrow - it is a really great hammock, and I actually like its zippers better than the zippers on the XLC. I also like the variety of colors and ability to customize with Dream Hammock, like choosing color accents. I also think I'm going to have to stake out the bugnet on the XLC to keep it off my face, which I didn't have to do with the Sparrow. I will also miss my peak shelf. But after getting the XLC I don't see myself using my Sparrow again, just because of the difference in comfort. I'm sure the problem was me, but I always seemed to have an issue with my Sparrow where the ridge-line was very tight, and if I adjusted my hang to get a looser ridge-line, I found the hammock to be uncomfortable. The XLC set up exactly how I would have expected though, with the right amount of ridge-line tension translating into a comfortable lay. I also like the buckles for the suspension, which have been updated since I bought my Ridgerunner. I tried different suspension options with my Sparrow, but the Warbonnet buckles are my favorite - very easy to adjust, and I don't worry about them slipping. I'm really looking forward to getting out and using this hammock. Crossing my fingers for a July 4th sale so I can pick up a Wooki. It would be a nice distraction from the fireworks being cancelled.

I did not, alas, get the color samples I had requested (for helping with decisions on future quilts, underquilt protector, top cover and tarp), so I'll contact Warbonnet about that to see whether they can send them. I also got a small mystery stuff sac - I'm not sure what's it's meant to be used for. A stuff sac for the pillow I purchased? It seems too small for that. Any ideas? (I'll post a picture)

**FLTurtle** · 06-12-2020, 11:28

Maybe a stuff sack for the bugnet?

**bansheekitty** · 06-12-2020, 11:31

Oh, maybe! It would be the right size for that.

**OlTrailDog** · 06-12-2020, 18:32

I have both the XLC and a Sparrow. Love them both. But my XLC is more for backpacking and my Sparrow gets nightly use. Hence I went for the Hex2.2(?) DL and I know it will survive a lot of use and abuse. My Sparrow is symmetrical and I often switch it up, even during the same night. You are right about the bennies of the XLC shelf, I like it too. For my personal sweet spot I ended up using an adjustable whoopie ridge line and lengthening the stock ridge line on both XLC and Sparrow. Enjoy and nice color choice.

**WBjcobbzz** · 06-12-2020, 21:16

It's for the pillow. It's a tight squeeze. Congrats on the new XLC!

**Spike** · 06-14-2020, 16:09

I have the WBBB and the traveler that I use for vacation and park hangs. I just got the Eldorado and its the best I've hung yet!

**bansheekitty** · 06-24-2020, 15:19

I finally took my XLC out last weekend. I LOVE this hammock. It was so easy to get a good hang, and it was so comfortable. I also really love how spacious it is on the inside. One cool thing I hadn't expected was how good a view you have out one side of the hammock. I thought switching from my Ridgerunner would mean no more good views from the hammock. The XLC really is such a clever design. The shelf was awesome for stashing my pillow and PJs/the next day's clothes.

Also, I thought it might be a minor annoyance to stake out the bugnet, but I was able to just clip the shockcord to my tarp, so it took about two seconds. I will have to adjust to hanging a longer hammock under my tarp however. I ended up with one end too close to the edge of the tarp (and was too lazy to fix it because the weather was good).

I also can't wait to get a new underquilt. Currently my only gathered-end style underquilt is a 0 degree Incubator. I didn't want to completely forgo an underquilt, but the 0 degree was a *little* much in humid, 90 degree weather, and I ended up shoving it half off. I'd like to get a 50 degree Yeti for 80+ weather, plus a 20 degree Wooki for fall/spring (and eventually a 0 degree Wooki for winter). Maybe I should just set up my paycheck to automatically deposit funds to Warbonnet every month!

**FLTurtle** · 06-24-2020, 16:41

I think you got the Incubator on backwards...or is that on purpose to help vent?

**bansheekitty** · 06-24-2020, 16:46

Originally Posted by FLTurtle

I think you got the Incubator on backwards...or is that on purpose to help vent?

Haha, I think you're right! No, I wasn't clever enough to do it on purpose. I had put the Incubator on down in my basement at around midnight the first time I slept in the XLC. I was trying to get to sleep, decided I was too cold without an underquilt, so I got it out and threw it on there quickly and sloppily. Then I packed the whole kit into into a catch-all sack for the overnight, so I never took the underquilt off. Thanks for pointing it out though! Even though it's far too warm for the quilt, it's still better to have it on correctly.

**mtnlove** · 07-20-2020, 10:20

Congrats on the new xlc! I have found nothing more comfortable (even our tempurpedic king size) when set up right. I've been wanting to check out a Sparrow but really can't justify the expense since this one is so great! Enjoy.