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  1. #1
    New Member Mj_browne's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Hammock
    DWG Chameleon 1.6 Hex, Sym BugNet
    Tarp
    12'x10' Silnylon
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    HG Incubator 20
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    DWG Beetle Buckles
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    Cool Hello from the beautiful Chicago

    What's up everyone? I've been on this forum for awhile but I've stayed quiet mostly because I never have time to jump on. I have a few pics on my gallery of my setups but that's about it so far.

    BUT...

    I love hammocks. I think I spend most of my down time researching different methods of...well.... everything! Tarps, knots, suspension, you name it.

    A little about me:
    I work in finance, and am studying for the CFA exams which monopolizes most of my time. But in my off time, I can be found spending time outside and tinkering with my hammock gear.

    I got into backpacking years ago. I grew up car camping, as my family used to pack two cars full of every piece of camping gear imaginable to go spend a week in a campsite at a state park here in Illinois. None of my family members had ever backpacked before (as a matter of fact some of my family members think it's outright dangerous). Guess that was extra motivation lol. But there was something about the nomadic style of camping that caught my attention. That and the fact that I could haul in gear to a place a car could not reach and see different scenery at camp every day. I love it.

    I slowly assembled a ton of gear, way more than I needed. But I've learned through experience over the years what is a necessity, a want, and what I can reasonably justify carrying. I'll never forget my first 5 day trip to the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan in the UP, with a 60lb pack that almost killed me out there. That was by far the most painful trip, but I made great memories and learned a lot.

    I started out tent camping. Used a 2 person kelty salida 2 which weighs in at about 4.5lbs. Dropped down to a special edition Big Agnes Windy Point 1 person tent that was about 3 lbs. Still have both and use them when the occasion calls.

    Then I got the chance to try a hammock and my whole perspective of camping changed. I realized tents and tarps are basically the same thing when I thought tarps were such a foriegn world to me.

    I got some cheap hammocks and tarps, messed with each a lot. Learned about all the different types of suspensions and methods, pros and cons to each. I learned about going to the ground when needed. I learned to lighten my load. I learned about dyneema cordage and how to splice (and I'm way too addicted to that now!). I learned about all of the different brands of cottage vendors and what each one brings to the table.

    Needless to say, tenting and hammock camping have both taught me a lot. I've gone through a few different setups and now I rock a 12x10 tarp, a ducthware netless hammock with the fronkey bugnet, and the hammock gear incubator. I have a lot of plans to upgrade my backpack, my hammock (I'd love a chameleon one day, works really well for going to the ground if needed), and would love to one day get a top quilt (I'm still using sleeping bags from my tenting days, and they are nice sleeping bags so that will probably be the last thing on my list.

    Once I'm done with all three CFA exams I'm hoping I'll have more time and money for backpacking, but until then I'll only be able to swing some short trips here in the midwest. There are a few places I frequent in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. And I have my gear/pack list really dialed in right now so planning is east. Lighterpack.com is a big help with that.

    I do have a YouTube channel if anyone is interested. It doesn't have a lot of hammock camping on it...yet (a lot of the videos are my tenting and early hammock days) because I just didn't film much on recent trips. But enjoy if you are interested. I started out thinking YouTube was gonna be my thing, but now I only put up videos of my trips so me and my friends who go with me can look back on the memories. (Please don't laugh, some of my commentary on there is cringey lol). There is also a link on the channel to my instagram. Here's a link to the channel:
    https://youtube.com/c/EscapingTheCity

    Anyways, thanks for reading this long autobiography, and I can't wait to participate a bit more on the forum here!

  2. #2
    Senior Member cmoulder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Ossining, NY
    Hammock
    DH Darien, SLD Tree Runner
    Tarp
    HG hex
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    Timmermade, Revolt
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    Kevlar, Lapp Hitch
    Posts
    4,912
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    Welcome from downstate NY!

    There is an Ultra Lite Gear forum here on HF. Access for Donating Members, but well worth $10/year if you ask me. Great place to geek out on all manner of gear in addition to hammocks.

    Regrettably, for a good long while I resisted getting into hammocking because all the setups I had seen looked rather heavy and I didn't see how it could mesh with my UL goals. But I've discovered that there are some very light setups that weigh only a few ounces more than some comparable ground setups, although it is really nearly impossible to make apple-to-apple comparisons between the 2. Suffice to say, a good summer setup for hammock, suspension, tarp and both quilts can weigh in around 2.5lbs total, which comes as a surprise to many.
    Five Basic Principles of Going Lighter (not me... the great Cam Honan of OZ)
    “If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.” ~ Gen. George S Patton

  3. #3
    Senior Member Karla "with a k"'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Hammock
    11 ft DIY 1.6 HyperD Diamd Ripstop
    Tarp
    UGQ WD 13 End Mods
    Insulation
    Hammock Gear
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    Ultimate Straps
    Posts
    1,615
    I'm up the road from you in Milwaukee, WI. I also work at a financial firm (compliance officer) so good luck to you on your CFA exams! Hopefully we'll meet a hammock hang sometime!
    ◘ May 17-19: BACONFEST @ Interstate WI SP ◘ Oct 3-6: miCHILIgan @ Middleville, MI ◘ YouTube: karlawithak216 ◘ Instagram: i.am.karla.with.a.k ◘ 97 months

  4. #4
    New Member Mj_browne's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Hammock
    DWG Chameleon 1.6 Hex, Sym BugNet
    Tarp
    12'x10' Silnylon
    Insulation
    HG Incubator 20
    Suspension
    DWG Beetle Buckles
    Posts
    12
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    11
    Quote Originally Posted by cmoulder View Post
    Welcome from downstate NY!

    There is an Ultra Lite Gear forum here on HF. Access for Donating Members, but well worth $10/year if you ask me. Great place to geek out on all manner of gear in addition to hammocks.

    Regrettably, for a good long while I resisted getting into hammocking because all the setups I had seen looked rather heavy and I didn't see how it could mesh with my UL goals. But I've discovered that there are some very light setups that weigh only a few ounces more than some comparable ground setups, although it is really nearly impossible to make apple-to-apple comparisons between the 2. Suffice to say, a good summer setup for hammock, suspension, tarp and both quilts can weigh in around 2.5lbs total, which comes as a surprise to many.
    I will check it out! Yes, I'm shocked at long it took me to get into hammocks so I'm with you!

  5. #5
    New Member Mj_browne's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Hammock
    DWG Chameleon 1.6 Hex, Sym BugNet
    Tarp
    12'x10' Silnylon
    Insulation
    HG Incubator 20
    Suspension
    DWG Beetle Buckles
    Posts
    12
    Images
    11
    Quote Originally Posted by Karla "with a k" View Post
    I'm up the road from you in Milwaukee, WI. I also work at a financial firm (compliance officer) so good luck to you on your CFA exams! Hopefully we'll meet a hammock hang sometime!
    Thanks!! I frequently visit Milwaukee for work, among most other parts of Wisconsin (Madison, Green Bay, Wausau, etc). The instution I work for is based in Wisconsin. (not sure how much I'm allowed to post on a forum about my job so hope you don't mind me keeping it vague). I'd love to make it out to a group hang. I know about the Frozen Butt Hang that happens once a year but it's always when I can't make it. One of these days!

  6. #6
    Phantom Grappler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Denton NC
    Hammock
    WildernessLogics 12x6
    Tarp
    HG cuben 13ridge12
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    TopQuiltUnderQuilt
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    S and D
    Posts
    4,926
    You’ve made a wise financial decision, investing in all things hammock
    A big shout out from deep in the Uwharries

    I too have a few YouTube videos, just don’t put no stock in anything Phantom…

    Aaaaaaaaiiiiight

  7. #7
    Senior Member Karla "with a k"'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Hammock
    11 ft DIY 1.6 HyperD Diamd Ripstop
    Tarp
    UGQ WD 13 End Mods
    Insulation
    Hammock Gear
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    Ultimate Straps
    Posts
    1,615
    Quote Originally Posted by Mj_browne View Post
    Thanks!! I frequently visit Milwaukee for work, among most other parts of Wisconsin (Madison, Green Bay, Wausau, etc). The instution I work for is based in Wisconsin. (not sure how much I'm allowed to post on a forum about my job so hope you don't mind me keeping it vague). I'd love to make it out to a group hang. I know about the Frozen Butt Hang that happens once a year but it's always when I can't make it. One of these days!
    With Covid, the WI hangs have been small and unannounced mostly. I do keep public hangs listed in my signature and there is one this coming weekend. Maybe you could make it?
    ◘ May 17-19: BACONFEST @ Interstate WI SP ◘ Oct 3-6: miCHILIgan @ Middleville, MI ◘ YouTube: karlawithak216 ◘ Instagram: i.am.karla.with.a.k ◘ 97 months

  8. #8
    New Member Mj_browne's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Hammock
    DWG Chameleon 1.6 Hex, Sym BugNet
    Tarp
    12'x10' Silnylon
    Insulation
    HG Incubator 20
    Suspension
    DWG Beetle Buckles
    Posts
    12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Karla "with a k" View Post
    With Covid, the WI hangs have been small and unannounced mostly. I do keep public hangs listed in my signature and there is one this coming weekend. Maybe you could make it?
    I appreciate the offer but unfortunately can't. My exam in November is fast approaching so I need to study. I will probably be doing some winter overnighters after it's over tho.

  9. #9
    New Member Mj_browne's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Hammock
    DWG Chameleon 1.6 Hex, Sym BugNet
    Tarp
    12'x10' Silnylon
    Insulation
    HG Incubator 20
    Suspension
    DWG Beetle Buckles
    Posts
    12
    Images
    11
    Quote Originally Posted by Phantom Grappler View Post
    You’ve made a wise financial decision, investing in all things hammock
    A big shout out from deep in the Uwharries

    I too have a few YouTube videos, just don’t put no stock in anything Phantom…

    Aaaaaaaaiiiiight
    It's a funny thing how some have big houses, boats, and fast cars, and yet all you really need to be happy is a hammock and tarp in the woods.

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