It seems Warbonnet has made some changes to the RidgeRunner and SpinDrift. Their videos for that gear only address the older style so I’m asking those with new setups if what I describe matches their experience.
1. RR connection at the hammock - the old style had metal brackets and as such, the spreader bars were installed inside the sock with the Amsteel dogbones feeding out the sock’s grommet holes. The new RR doesn’t use metal brackets - it has a “hole” in the Amsteel to receive the spreader bar pin. As such, the suspension dog bone can be pulled through the sock grommet so the spreader bar poles can be connected outside the spindrift. Although this is a new feature and makes it easier to remove the poles when using the spindrift, I’d mostly be using the spindrift in the winter and I kinda think I’d rather have those poles inside the sock, a bit protected from the weather, then outside with a higher potential of freezing.
2. Warbonnet mentioned nylon (grosgrain?) loops on the outside of the SpinDrift that the spreader bars could slide through - mine don’t have those so that much be a feature of newer socks?
3. The older RR had a “shorter header bar” option by removing a center piece, reducing the bar length about 4 inches. The New RR head bar is still three pieces, but the end pieces are shorter and middle piece longer - keeping the total full length the same as the old RR bar. I was told to remove the center piece on the new RR for that “shorter” option but doing so would reduce it 10 inches, not just 4. Also, that would leave you with two female sections (middle section is double male). I was told that “optionally" using the middle section insert (“male” part) would add stability to the shorter pole setup. But as the two pieces with the middle removed are just two female pieces, I don’t see how any insert is an Option - it seems to be a Requirement. It was suggested I could remove the insert part of the middle pole but it appears to be pinned to the middle sleeve. i.e. it is not designed to be removed.
So is that the deal - that using the newer spreader bars and shorter head end option results in poles being 10 inches shorter, not just 4? And you sort of have to mechanically break the middle section, by pulling the insert free, in order to use it with the two females sections? Seems, with the new RR’s poles, having a shorter head end pole is not really a designed in option? Certainly not as easy as the older pole mechanics.
4. The new RR is supposed to have a “head divot”, sort of a pocket near the head spreader bar. I see a little pouch there but it seems like my head would hit the spreader bar if it was that near the pocket. Also, there’s a little squeeze toggle with about i.5 inches of play on some cord. What is that for?
I have been in contact with Warbonnet but sometimes it helps to hear someone else describe their setup.
Or maybe there’s a video of that head end feature/setup. So far, all I’ve found are setups for the older style RR.
5. In the instructions for the RR, it mentions having the foot end 12 inches higher than the head end. I do understand “foot end higher” on a GE. And I know WB suggestions about a 16” difference with the BlackBird. But 12” seems a little extreme for a bridge hammock. As the instructions for the GE say to measure from the hammock ends (not the tree connection), I figure the height above ground measure for the RR is meant to be at the spreader bars. Do you usually set it up with that much head/foot end difference?
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