Ultralight bridge hammock

[PBThompson]

Anyone have a line on an ultralight bridge hammock manufacturer. I am a side a stomachache sleeper and struggle to get comfortable in a traditional hammock.

Thanks

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[HarveyM]

Jacks R better have the new(?) James River Bridge Ultralight Hammock at Hammock body and secondary lines 9.1 oz & Spreader Bars 9.2 oz
Warbonnets single layer “no-net” Ridgerunner is 30d: 11.75 oz, 40d: 13.8 oz (without suspension) & Spreader Bar weight: 12 oz (carbon fiber can be bought from third party at 6.3oz.). Dutchware's comes in at roughly 1 lb 8 oz. Finally the Amok Draumr Ultra-light is approx. 1 lb 14 oz.

[cougarmeat]

Looks like the JRB has been out of stock for a while - because of the aluminum pole shortage. But if you wanted to kick in a little more $ - and get an even lighter bridge - you could get CF poles from Ruta Locura and see if JRB will sell you the UL Bridge without poles.

[Justin P]

Towns End has a few cool options.
https://thisgearsforyou.com/

[brohawk]

Warbonnet RR in single or double layer. Like others I have upgraded the poles from the factory aluminum to carbon fiber made by Ruta Locura. Not sure if they still carry them but worth a phone call because they shave some weight.

[Heavyopp]

Towns End has a few cool options.
https://thisgearsforyou.com/

Great option here for a side and stomach sleeper.

[de.sundance]

I can recommend https://crosshammock.com/ from Berlin, Germany. Standard version is around 300g / 10,5 oz + suspension.
(Ironically I am German but use an american hammock.)

[iceman857]

In case it helps anyone, according to my scale, the spreader bars for the Banyan are 177g, and the Ruta Locura carbon fiber spreader bars for the Ridgerunner are 187g (stock spreader bars are 393g). So there's that.

[Just Bill]

To the best of my knowledge and per current website specifications:

TL/DR- by weight
Town's End (zero, one and two)
Jack's- James River Bridge (3rd) or 2nd with CF poles
Ridgerunner with CF poles 4th
Banyon with DAC AL poles (and an asterisk) 5th


I have noted the lightest version available of each model I am aware of. Since both number Zero, one and number two are 'mine'
Figured I'd explain, post my sources, and let others argue any finer points too.
My style is to publicly post stuff like this- let folks point out any errors- and all learn something where possible.

To be fair/clear:
"Just a Bridge" is a prototype in development/testing (not for sale).
The James River Bridge with CF poles would be about 3 ounces lighter, and thus lighter than the Happy Medium and steal the #2 spot.
The Banyon is a bit skewed as there isn't a truly 'netless' version due to the zipper (chameleon) system.

To be doubly fair- Dutch was kind enough to sell me the DAC poles noted in the specs below.

To be infinitely fair- Each of us does something a little different. Me, Don at Jacks, Brandon at Warbonnet and his Dutchness at Dutchware.
This is one spec- weight.

Roughly- With the exception of the Happy Medium (Bigger) and Micro (smaller)… the bridges in question are all roughly the same size in terms of usable bedspace. (6' and over folks might quibble with honesty.)
Just a Bridge and (I think) the James River Bridge are symmetrical bridges (same size spreader at head and foot) while the RR and Banyon use asymmetrical poles.
The Happy Medium is a recessed bar, the Micro was a hybrid, the others are all End bar Bridges.

(ZERO) Town's End Micro bridge (lightest in the world and quite discontinued)- 9.25 ounces.
Built with Robic 1.0 and stunningly impossible .490" Easton 26" Aluminum poles with a 225lbs weight rating.
There was for a moment a beefier 'production model' that was 10.25 ounces.
It was basically big enough to side sleep in and/or attempt an FKT. (Think 20" sleeping pad)

Town's End- Just a Bridge Netless- END BAR MODEL.
Body- 6 ounces (includes ARL)

With Carbon Fiber Poles- +5.5 ounces= 11.5 oz.
With DAC AL Poles- 6oz +7.75=13.75 oz

Size- 37" ends x 84" long- 12' adjustable RL.
1.2 Mountain Hybrid XL- 225lbs rating

Netted prototypes- add 6-8 ounces.
Lightest version to date- 17.5 ounces. (full zipper- non-removable).

To the best of my knowledge this is the lightest full size bridge hammock in the world.
It has been in testing for several years now- with a few folks putting in over a year of use on various versions.
Getting real durn close to being added to my line up full time.

For reference- A netless Dutchware
11' 1.6 with ARL is 342g or about 12 ounces.
11' 1.6 wide with ARL is 402g or about 14 ounces.

Both of which are heavier than Just a Bridge.
Why 1.6 oz? To get a closer comparison to the lay for an average 200lbs user… 11' 1.6 standard or wide (depending on user height) is about right.
It's still apples and oranges- but not apples and broccoli.


Town's End- Happy Medium-Netless (RECESSED BAR MODEL)
Body- 11.75 (with do-dads)
Carbon Fiber Poles Standard- 5.5 ounces.
Total 17.25 ounces

36" recessed bars x approximately 96" long
1.7 ounce Mountain Hybrid XL- 250lbs rating
Other lighter versions available.
10' Adjustable RL

Add- Just a Net- 10' (9.5 ounces)
Total with net- 26.75 ounces.


Jacks R Better-
James River Bridge- (Netless)
Body and lines- 9.1 ounces
Spreader Bars- 9.2 ounces
Total- 18.3 ounces
36" ends by 81" Long

Bear Mountain Bridge- netted
No specs listed. My notes- 39 ounces total.

Warbonnet Ridgerunner-
Single Layer (netless)
Body- 11.75 in 30d or 13.8 in 40d
Spreader bars- 12 ounces

30d total- 23.75 or 25.8 in 40d.

Ruta Locura CF Poles= 6.6 ounces
30d plus CF pole upgrade- 18.35 ounces
40d plus CF pole upgrade- 20.4 ounces

Single Layer (with net)
Body- 17.75 in 30d or 19.8 in 40d (1.6 ounce)
Spreader bars- 12 ounces
29.75 or 31.8 total

Size not listed- roughly 40" head, 28" foot x 80" long.
No Ridgeline- approximately 13-15 tree to tree.


Dutchware Banyon-
Single layer 1.6 netless
Total weight listed 586g/20.56 oz

Single layer 1.6 basic net
Total weight listed 764g/26.8oz

38" head end, 28" foot, 80" long.

NOTE- the single layer netless is a bit unfair to compare.
This is due to the Banyon's zipper system.
So the 'netless' is not really apples to apple compared to other options.

For those who made it this far-
Just a Bridge is truly a collaboration and (Current) culmination of everyone's work on this forum and across the board.
From Dutch sourcing and sharing his UL DAC poles and Kyle's innovative Mountain 1.2 Fabric, Everyone pushing the envelope on webbings. The Jacks (and Don!) Bic/Hiker Dad, VW, and even all the way back to a conversation I had on a one degree night the one and only time I had the privilege of meeting Grizz in person.

He was kind enough to share the most important thing of all that night- his failures. One of those stuck in my craw and I tried to succeed at and also failed at.
But it led to another idea, that led to the core structural idea that makes this bridge work. One idea shared, passed, added to, and shared again.
Fast forward a few years, and a few innovations and some pushes from folks you might rightly call 'competition' and I was able to make a long awaited leap.
When I first made a bridge hammock I was too ignorant to understand why it couldn't be lighter than a comfortable gathered end hammock. Glad I still don't quite understand it.


Been a bit slow here at the old Hammock forum... and we've all gotten a bit busy... myself included. My tinkering is taking years instead of months these days but it's still happening.
Thanks to everyone here at the forums who does help push the art of slinging fabric between trees a bit further down the trail.

I hope your tinkering is still plodding along. Cheers.
Yer ol pal Bill

[dblhmmck]

One way that the Warbonnet RR stands apart, is if you factor in all of the add-on products that pair with the RR perfectly: Lynx 3/4 and full length UQ, Spindrift sock, UQ protector, plus the RidgeCreek and RidgeCreek XL UQs from AHE. I have owned all of these products, and am very happy with all of them. This variety of add-ons offers versatility and ease of use in the widest range of weather and environmental conditions. In my book, this makes RR the number one choice currently, if you are considering each part of the kit that make up a lightweight or ultralight system.