Newbie in central NC

**SubaruWx** · 07-27-2020, 19:36

I’m a fan of camping and a long time Scouter who has recently tried hammock camping on trips along the AT and a local lake. The high heat and humidity Here makes even a lifelong tenter look for cooler, comfortable sleeping...hence my recent attempts at hammock camping.

I’m a large man - 76 inches tall and 275lbs. My first hammock camping experience is the classic story of discomfort of trying to sleep straight in a short hammock (yes, it was an ENO). i asked why anyone would do this kind of camping, which led me to research and eventually this great forum.

So now I get to follow another passion: research! And this forum provides me with years of material to keep me busy researching my next few hammocks and backpacking trips. Glad to have found this forum and I look forward to reading and hopefully contributing.

**Phantom Grappler** · 07-28-2020, 06:04

SubaruWx, lots of hammock campers around here.
Have you watched Shug’s ten part series on YouTube
How to hang a hammock, tarp, insulation-pads, top quilts, underquilts, suspensions etc
For a crash course in hammockology, go to two group hammock hangs.

For your comfort I recommend a gathered end hammock 12 feet long and five and a half to 6 feet wide. Talk and or email hammock vendors—their advice is valuable.

You don’t have to be crazy to be a hammock camper...

But it helps!

**PappyAmos** · 07-28-2020, 06:40

Welcome from down at the beach!

Hook up with gunner76. Big guy like you with lots of hammock knowledge and experience.

**Dvankirk** · 07-28-2020, 07:10

Welcome to the forums!

**SubaruWx** · 07-28-2020, 18:26

Thanks for the welcome and advice. I’ve read some where some folks really prefer the longer 12 ft hammocks, while others are very happy with an 11ft extra wide GE hammock (see - I’m already trying to use the right jargon!). I seem to often end up backpacking and camping in the rain, which means I probably would need a longer tarp for a longer hammock. I really wish there was a store to buy and try different length/width and fabric combos. If I had the cash, I’d just buy a bunch then sell the others that didn’t fit as well.

I have decided that for now, I’m more of a camper than a hiker, and I am usually happy to carry a bit more weight. But I can see myself eventually moving to an ultralight setup for hiking the AT and Mountains to Sea trail in NC. But that is a few years away once my kids and other Scouts warm up to such crazy ideas.

I found Shug’s YouTube channel, and my first thought was this guy has got to be from the south, not Minnesota. His style and content is absolutely a JOY TO WATCH!

**SubaruWx** · 07-28-2020, 18:33

Thanks for the tip. I found a few threads focus on big boy hammocking, but there is still so much to read.

To me, it seems the styles, fabrics, and innovations were rapidly changing a few years ago, but it seems to have stabilized more recently ... except for fabrics - those seem to continue to evolve. As a newbie, it’s pretty overwhelming. It also seems some vendors have come and gone, which means lots of valuable knowledge has come and gone as well. I’m grateful to learn of a community like this where this knowledge is shared.