I have the Draumr XL...love the comfort but hate the weight when doing long distances. What do y’all recommend for something at less than 2.5lbs including hammock, tarp, stakes? Also, is DCF worth it for the tarp assuming cost isn’t a factor?
I have the Draumr XL...love the comfort but hate the weight when doing long distances. What do y’all recommend for something at less than 2.5lbs including hammock, tarp, stakes? Also, is DCF worth it for the tarp assuming cost isn’t a factor?
Pnicogen - I see this is your second post so welcome to the forum. If you become a donating member ($10/year), you’ll have Access to several more sub-forums, including one specializing on issues around ultralite gear. I am not a UL’er, though of course I would pick the lighter load of all other issue were equal - BUT THEY’RE NOT. It’s a mistake to think ultralite gear is exactly like their heavier counterparts, except lighter and more expensive. Often - not always of course - you give up some durability or other characteristics. Not that that is bad - just be aware of it. A question like “… is DCF worth it …” seems simple. But DCF tarps have their special characteristics that some find unappealing even though they are ounces lighter that alternative tarps.
So there are lots of value judgements. You indicated that, “…pretending you won the lottery, what would you get …” But still … for some it’s worth it go get a DCF tarp. For others, they’d rather invest the money in getting 950 fill TQ and UQ instead.
If you are short enough, you can get by with a ¾ length UQ and shorter (if that’s an option with the vendor) TQ. - But I see you have an XL hammock so maybe that’s not an option for you.
A lot has to do with where you are hiking and for what seasons. For example, you mention stakes but for may places, you don’t need stakes. There are branches and rocks to use as anchors. If you plan to good weather hiking, maybe a WB MiniFly would be enough. So you see - a lot of the choices depend on the physical and climatological environment.
I’m sure you’ll get a lot of suggestion here, but tell us what your pack weights now?
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Cougarmeat- thanks for the reply. I’m 5’10”, so I probably didn’t need the XL. My last hike pack weight was an insane 38lbs (27lb baseweight). Without changing to lighter gear but removing non-essentials I can get to a baseweight of 24lbs. I’m swapping my 5lb Baltoro pack for a much lighter HMG, simplifying my cooking system, and possibly going lighter on my sleep system. If I go with an ultralight tent system I can get my baseweight to a very manageable 17 lbs. would love to have a similar baseweight with a hammock system too.
You can get to a 17 lb base for sure. May take some cash output on newer lightweight gear and some stripping down but not hard. I got my 3 season 21ºF base load to 16/17 pounds. For sure you can pack lighter insulation than me perhaps as you are in Florida and me in Minnesota.
I have DCF tarps but prefer my silnylon or silpoly tarps as the pack down smaller and only a bit heavier when all is said and done. Plus I like that they are not as translucent. Though others feel differently.
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Think about what the switch means. You are considering replacing A) tent(w rainfly), sleeping bag, sleeping pad for B) hammock, UQ, TQ, tarp (not why we call them tarps!)/rain fly. You probably are going to find it hard to save much in terms of weight, especially compared to an ultra-light tent. It's more about really wanting to sleep in a hammock and that can be for many, many reasons. FWIW, all other things being equal, most (not all) find a longer hammock to be more comfortable. That will add a few ounces. I'm not saying that you should stick with sleeping on the ground. Just make the change for the right reasons. FWIW, I'm equally comfortable in a hammock or in a tent. I DO like being high and dry and out of the dirt though most of the time.
(38 lbs seems less insane compared to the old days with external frame packs, etc.!!!)
Do I now have to worry about being censured by my state party?
Last edited by TominMN; 02-17-2021 at 07:47.
I’d plan to keep my top quilt for both tent or hammock setups and have a good ‘nuff bottom quilt (Kammok bobcat) already. I’m curious how much weight savings over the draumr I could get from a lighter hammock, lighter bobcat UQ vs XL pad needed with draumr, and lighter rainfly. I too like the idea of staying above the dirt, thus would like options for UL hammock/rainfly in my arsenal in addition to a UL tent setup.
You can definitely cut a lot of weight by switching out that Draumr for something else...
You can go pretty darn light with hammock, bug net, and a minimum-sized fly. But,... think about trading features (including weather and bug protection) for ounces when weighing (no pun intended) the options.
Last edited by TominMN; 02-16-2021 at 14:12.
This is my UL rig when a bugnet is required:
hammock - Dream Hammock Darien, 11'x62", 1.3 MTN XL (in stuff sack, with tie outs) - 15.19 oz
hammock suspension - 2x12' - 1.9 Kevlar straps (wrapped in hair tie) - 1.73 oz
hammock suspension - 2x evo loop, 7/64" Amsteel - 0.25 oz
tarp - Hammock Gear Dyneema Palace, 11' (in stuff sack, with repair tape) - 9.55 oz
tarp suspension - Autumn Ultralight Figure 8 ridgeline with Nama Claws & small spliced loops - 0.88 oz
tarp guylines - 2x5' + 2x10' - 2mm Lawson Glowire - 1.10 oz
tarp guylines - 4x3' - 3/32" shock cord (tarp doors) - 0.58 oz
tarp stakes - 4x titanium shepherd hook + 4x DAC aluminum V-stake, small (in 1.43 DCF stake bag) - 2.37 oz
Total = 31.64 oz
or an even more minimal setup with a fronkey style net and a narrower tarp without doors:
hammock - Dutchware netless, 11'x58", Hexon 1.0 with dual knotty mod (in stuff sack) - 8.46 oz
bugnet - Dutchware bottom entry bugnet, 11' (no stuff sack, goes with hammock) - 5.67 oz
hammock suspension - 2x12' - 1.9 Kevlar straps (wrapped in hair tie) - 1.73 oz
hammock suspension - 2x evo loop, 7/64" Amsteel - 0.25 oz
tarp - Hammock Gear Dyneema Hex Tarp, 11' (in stuff sack, with repair tape) - 5.43 oz
tarp suspension - 30' Lash-It with Dutch Hook + Dutch Fly + 2x small spliced loops - 0.67 oz
tarp guylines - 2x5' + 2x10' - Zpacks 1.3mm Z Line - 0.42 oz
tarp stakes - 4x titanium shepherd hook (in 1.43 DCF stake bag) - 0.95 oz
Total = 23.58 oz
Last edited by cmc4free; 02-16-2021 at 14:21.
If you're referring to the various types of UHMWPE webbing, it's because they typically bunch up badly after a very short time of actual use and are subsequently very hard to flatten out, at least on the trail. This makes them look and handle very similar to a cord, not a strap. My experience is that the webbing near the tree can remain somewhat flat for a while, although if you attach it around smaller trees the bunching eventually works its way all the way up to the sewn loop and makes it a real hassle to flatten out even a 3-4' section where it goes around trees.
I recently flattened out two 12' straps at home and it took about 20 minutes, see-sawing 8-10" sections over a chair arm until friction warmed them up a bit.
Comparison of the typical (RBTR Venom) UHMWPE webbing bunched up and flattened out:
Five Basic Principles of Going Lighter (not me... the great Cam Honan of OZ)
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