Appalachian Trail, last 500mi section hike, gear shakedown

[schwad]

Hi all,

First post on here.

I'm planning for a hike of the North end of the Appalachian Trail, the last 500 miles or so through NH and ME. I'd like a gear shakedown.

My style isn't ultralight, but I'm trying to push further that direction, within certain constraints. My base weight is still about 20lbs, but a couple trips ago it was 40lbs, so -- progress!

I'm just getting into hammocking, so I especially want advice about what hammock system to buy. I've hammock-backpacked only once, but I think I slept better than I ever have in a tent, so I'm about ready to take the plunge to buy real hammock gear. Here's what I used last trip:

CURRENT SYSTEM
Kootek hammock	~$28	23.1oz
straps, Kootek hammock	included	13.7oz
Equip Hammock bug net #97712 (Walmart)	$15	12.2oz
Paria Sanctuary Siltarp, 10’x8’ (over spec weight; hence discount)	~$45	25.2oz
TOTAL	$88	74.2oz

While heavy, this system worked reasonably well. I did find the bug net to be rather stifling on my outing (June in WV), so I didn't use it. Here's a gear list from that trip: https://lighterpack.com/r/6m6eev

In choosing a "real" backpacking hammock, I considered the Warbonnet Blackbird as an "all in one solution" but I think I prefer to sleep on the other diagonal -- with my head to the right, and feet to the left -- which is opposite the setup of the WBBB, unfortunately. So I've given preference to options that allow flexibility of which diagonal to use.

Below are a few options I've concocted. Should I choose one of these? Something else? What considerations should I have?

For reference, I'm pretty fit guy, about 5'10" tall and about 165 lbs.

option A:

CHAMELEON SYSTEM from Dutchware Gear
Chameleon Hammock, 11-ft, Hexon 1.6 (including asym bugnet)	$165	577.48g (20.38oz)
UHMWPE strap suspension, 15' with Ti Dutch Clips	$48.54	90.04g (3.2oz)
Dutchware aluminum Y stakes (check against REI), qty 4	$6	13*6=78g (2.75oz)
Xenon Hex Tarp, 11ft ridgeline x 9.5ft width	$110	370g (13.0 oz)
TOTAL	$323.54	1115.5g (39.3oz)

option B:

NETLESS SYSTEM from Dutchware Gear
11-ft netless hammock, with options: 1) Hexon 1.6 4) structural ridgeline ($7.50) and 5) continuous loops. Consider 3) dual Knotty mod	$58	345.7g (12.2oz)
Summer sock, 11-ft without zipper	$60	255g (9.0oz)
UHMWPE strap suspension, 15' with Ti Dutch Clips	$48.54	90.04g (3.2oz)
Dutchware aluminum Y stakes (check against REI), qty 4	$6	13*6=78g (2.75oz)
Xenon Hex Tarp, 11ft ridgeline x 9.5ft width	$110	370g (13.0 oz)
TOTAL	$282.54	1138.7g (40.2oz)

I plan to use a Becket hitch to attach the suspension to the hammock. I'm not afraid of knots, I like the infinite adjustability, and it's lightweight.

Whichever system I got, I would likely want a Peak Shelf ($25, 28g) and a Ridgeline Organizer ($10, 10g) for storage in the hammock. I'm somewhat concerned about the peak shelf interfering with my ability to get to the opening of the summer sock, to close/open it (with the zipperless version).

Here's a possible gear list for the AT hike through NH and ME, using option B above: https://lighterpack.com/r/n0oz4z

Considerations:

• I want gear that's lightweight enough that I can knock out 400-500mi in about a month... fingers crossed.
• I want gear that's durable enough to easily make this trip, and plenty of others.
• I'd like the ability to go to ground and not completely hate myself. Hence the Nemo Tensor pad. Also, I'm just starting with hammocking, so I don't want to get a UQ yet.
• Estimated dates: Aug 15 to mid-September
• Anything on my list that has a price hasn't been bought yet. Things with no price, I already own.
• I'm happy to spend about $10 to save an ounce. $20/oz sounds a bit much, to me, but I'd consider it.
• Yes, I know my Osprey Kestrel 48 pack is much heavier than numerous other options. But I need a very effective transfer of weight to my hips (nearly 100%) due to an old shoulder injury. Ineffective weight transfer leaves my shoulder hurting after a few hours. I tried on everything in the 35L to 50L range that REI had, and this was the one that worked. (Did not work: Osprey Talon 44, all Gregory packs, various Deuter packs, various Kelty packs. Not a fan of the curved packing volume in the Osprey Exos.) Granite Gear Crown2 60L came close to fitting, but not quite. Would love to try but they're not at REI: Gorilla Gear Mariposa 60L, ZPacks Arc Blast, HMG Southwest 3400. Oh well.

Thanks for your help!

[cmoulder]

Welcome to HF!

You might find this useful. Beardoh and SweetPea have gobs of experience. Beardoh posts here on HF as "Chop," so search his posts for more info.

There is an Ultra Lite Gear forum here on HF and you might find it worth becoming a donating member ($10) to access other non-hammock related info.

Many people have done multiple thruhikes using the same UL gear, so 'durable' is a subjective term. I appreciate that there are people who are very hard on gear and people who are very easy on gear, and everything in between, and where you find yourself on that spectrum matters bigly.

As for the hammock choices you've listed, I'd go with A, but get Kevlar straps (if you can find 'em!), no longer than 12' and use Evo Loops and not dutch clips.

I find an air mat in a GE hammock to be profoundly awful, but if you wanna give it a go....

[schwad]

Welcome to HF!

Thanks!

You might find this useful. Beardoh and SweetPea have gobs of experience. Beardoh posts here on HF as "Chop," so search his posts for more info.

Thanks for that reference. I'll study it, and see what I can glean. Beardoh/Chop seems very experienced. I'll take a while to get to that point.

There is an Ultra Lite Gear forum here on HF and you might find it worth becoming a donating member ($10) to access other non-hammock related info.

Interesting, thanks for the pointer.

Many people have done multiple thruhikes using the same UL gear, so 'durable' is a subjective term. I appreciate that there are people who are very hard on gear and people who are very easy on gear, and everything in between, and where you find yourself on that spectrum matters bigly.

I'm pretty gentle with my gear. I've also had a history of protecting things with other things (e.g. plastic groundsheet under a tent groundcloth), which I'm trying to get away from because it makes my pack heavy. If I know the gear is durable, I won't bring extra weight trying to protect it.

As for the hammock choices you've listed, I'd go with A, but get Kevlar straps (if you can find 'em!), no longer than 12' and use Evo Loops and not dutch clips.

Interesting. Why choose A? I'd love to know the rationale of an experienced hammocker.

Why Kevlar straps? These Kevlar straps look 1.5x as heavy per length as these UHMWPE straps. The page says Kevlar also degrades in the sun. What's the performance advantage of Kevlar?

Why not dutch clips? I realize they're not necessary, but it seemed it would make attaching to the tree (and adjustments) quicker. [EDIT: Oh, you're suggesting Evo loops to replace the dutch clips? I'll need to figure out what Evo loops are.]

I find an air mat in a GE hammock to be profoundly awful, but if you wanna give it a go....

It worked for me in that Kootek hammock. Maybe it's wider than other hammocks? Dunno... If hammocking goes well, I may get a UQ in short order.

[cmoulder]

Interesting. Why choose A? I'd love to know the rationale of an experienced hammocker.

Why Kevlar straps? These Kevlar straps look 1.5x as heavy per length as these UHMWPE straps. The page says Kevlar also degrades in the sun. What's the performance advantage of Kevlar?

Why not dutch clips? I realize they're not necessary, but it seemed it would make attaching to the tree (and adjustments) quicker. [EDIT: Oh, you're suggesting Evo loops to replace the dutch clips? I'll need to figure out what Evo loops are.]



It worked for me in that Kootek hammock. Maybe it's wider than other hammocks? Dunno... If hammocking goes well, I may get a UQ in short order.

I think you'll find an integrated net a lot less fidgety than a sock in the long run... getting in and out less of a hassle.

Most UHMWPE straps don't remain straps for long. They bunch up after minimal use and handle more like cord than webbing. One exception that I've been using lately is Myerstech Hybrid Poly-Dyneema and thus far they're the best 'behaved' of the current UHMWPE straps, although it looks as if Mr. Myers has sold all the ones he had in stock, and hopefully he'll make some more.

Kevlar 3.3 has been my mainstay for quite a while now. The lowest stretch material, and unless you leave it out in the sun for protracted periods on a regular basis UV is not a problem. When I'm backpacking the hammock goes up late in the day, usually in the shade, and gets packed away pretty early in the morning.

I'm hardware-averse, preferring to use cord and knots instead of bling. Also, Dutch Clip instructions call for the hammock strap to be mounted on the side of the tree such that the webbing exits at about 90° angle to the clip to reduce stress on the webbing. This not only complicates hanging the hammock but also the tarp. So I use either Evo loops or simply tie a slipped buntline hitch.

[schwad]

Most UHMWPE straps don't remain straps for long. They bunch up after minimal use and handle more like cord than webbing. One exception that I've been using lately is Myerstech Hybrid Poly-Dyneema and thus far they're the best 'behaved' of the current UHMWPE straps, although it looks as if Mr. Myers has sold all the ones he had in stock, and hopefully he'll make some more.
Kevlar 3.3 has been my mainstay for quite a while now. The lowest stretch material, and unless you leave it out in the sun for protracted periods on a regular basis UV is not a problem. When I'm backpacking the hammock goes up late in the day, usually in the shade, and gets packed away pretty early in the morning.

Great info, I had no idea. I couldn't find any Kevlar available. I found that Jeff Myers is selling these presently: Myerstech Hybrid poly-dyneema straps, 15'. I didn't see any 12-footers. Worth getting, then?

I use either Evo loops or simply tie a slipped buntline hitch.

More tricks for my bag, thanks!

[cmoulder]

Great info, I had no idea. I couldn't find any Kevlar available. I found that Jeff Myers is selling these presently: Myerstech Hybrid poly-dyneema straps, 15'. I didn't see any 12-footers. Worth getting, then?

Those are the ones. He upped the price a bit — the initial batch were $35/set, sold out in no time flat — but still worth it... includes Evo loops for suspension and CLs.

The design is clever, with polyester (the grey part) being the main material and UHMWPE added to reduce stretch. I've tested the 3.3g/ft poyester webbing (no dyneema) and find it pretty stretchy, and it has a listed 900lb break strength which is rather minimal in Hammocklandia.

Now, Myers description says these hybrids have 2000lb break strength and that might be a bit optimistic (?) ... but maybe he and/or the manufacturer have tested them on a machine, I dunno. They're quite new on the scene so nobody has been using them for a long time in all sorts of conditions, and that is the true test that reveals any hiccups.

[taraH]

What about hummingbird's ultralight whoopie straps? How do these compare in long lasting strength?

[cmoulder]

What about hummingbird's ultralight whoopie straps? How do these compare in long lasting strength?

If you mean these, there's nothing wrong with them if you like the method of attaching to hammock, which they don't really show, and can live with the 8' length of each one, which might be problematic in some areas with large trees. Also, Dyneema straps tend to bunch up in very short order and handle more like cord than webbing.

It seems to me that using separate webbing for the tree and a MSH+toggle, with whoopie attached to hammock, might be more flexible and easier to deploy. BUT I haven't used, or even seen, these Hummingbird straps/whoopies so I can't comment more on them.

As it sometimes happens, absolute lightest weight and least volume are not necessarily the primary concerns.

[Ldog]

I find an air mat in a GE hammock to be profoundly awful, but if you wanna give it a go....

I carry an air mattress on long hikes on the AT and LT. There are times I just wanna throw one down in a shelter, eat, and pass out!

In summer, I like my Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad - Short (48"x20"x3") (R 1.6) at 230g. In shoulder seasons, I like my old Exped UL Synmat 7 M R 3.1 at 420g. I tell myself it'll supplement my 40° UQ, but I haven't used it that way yet.

[cmoulder]

I carry an air mattress on long hikes on the AT and LT. There are times I just wanna throw one down in a shelter, eat, and pass out!

In summer, I like my Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad - Short (48"x20"x3") (R 1.6) at 230g. In shoulder seasons, I like my old Exped UL Synmat 7 M R 3.1 at 420g. I tell myself it'll supplement my 40° UQ, but I haven't used it that way yet.

If I ever did a long hike where GtG was very likely I'd also carry some sort of ground option. I did that at Baxter a couple of years ago and the first couple of days it annoyed me to no end that I was carrying 295g extra. But I got over it.

But I really hate shelters largely due to one of the few (perhaps unreasonable) phobias I have, which is Hantavirus (which can be airborne in dry mouse poop), with a dollop of Norovirus. And I just don't like sleeping with other snoring, stinky strangers, although I'll reluctantly take advantage of the cover for heating dinner water if it's raining or super windy.

Good luck with the air mat in the hammock. No amount of inflation/deflation worked for me!