speer hammock = pretty cool

[rip waverly]

just got my new speer hammock and have been playing around with it.

SUSPENSION: the suspension webbing is super heavy seatbelt stuff - i appreciate it, but it's gotta go. just too heavy. seems to use a sheetbend to finish the whipping and attach to the hammock ends. can't tell, as there is a 'hennessy' style fabric cap covering the attachment. i'm also not hip to the speer suspension wrap method for hanging at the tree. that said, the little d-ring sewn to the webbing near the hammock whipping for attaching the shockcord/ridgeline is pretty sweet, i have some ideas on swapping suspension, while keeping with the "stock idea" of ridgeline attachment via d-ring. just putting amsteel on this will likely drop ~6 oz.- taking the rigged hammock under 20 oz. total. **currently 24.8 oz. rigged and in stuff sack on my scale.

BUGNET: bombproof no-seeum, with hook&latch along both entire long edges. small, maybe 2' wide. doesn't give much interior space to sit up, and attaches along the side of the hammock with the velcro. the 'sharp' velcro is on the net itself, the soft stuff is along the entire length(s) of the hammock. 2 tabs are sewn to the middle point of the net, for easy detachment while inside. the ends taper, and secure vertically to each other to create a full seal. i was concerned about the actual usability, but its actually quite easy. a little practice, and sealing the velcro up is simple. its also cool, because it can be totally removed, or un'stuck from one side and tossed over the back for an open hammock. the frugal use of no-seeum is nice, minimal weight and efficient. the included ridgeline is classic speer no-tangle line with a small length of 1/16" shockcord at one end to prevent over tensioning. a plastic hook clips the shockcord to one of the d-rings on the webbing, and a slippery half hitch connects the no-tangle line to the d-ring at the other suspension. that much velcro could be considered "loud" when opening--- sorta caught me off guard, and would likely startle your hiking partner in the middle of wilderness nights. *but no louder than my ""jiffy pop"" cuben tarp in the rain

HAMMOCK: hi-stregth 1.9 ripstop i believe. overkill for my weight, but heavy duty for worry free hanging. same brown as my ex-switchback. whipping is the old-school, gather, fold over and sheetbend the suspension to secure. something so nostalgic in that method. me likee. ed speer from what i gather pulled the edges of the fabric body higher up into the whipping, creating high side walls, and i frankly really like it. it really cradles the user, and helps to make up for the narrow bug net. along the entire long edges is soft velco, for pod, snugfit, or bugnet attachment. after that, comfort. i've been a big advocate for the dismissal of a ridgeline for MY comfort. that, in conjunction with the speer whipping makes this hammock awesome for me. just like the switchback, i can lay almost dead center, flip to either side, no calf ridges or pressure points.

this hammock, a true original from hammock lover ed speer & tttg, is simple- utilitarian and efficient. it offers everything i'm looking for: no srl, single layer, removable bug protection (that isn't a huge net completely separate from the hammock like a few vendors offer). my reservations against looooong stretches of hook&latch are diminishing, and the system is becoming quite easy to use *note, i can be a perfectionist,,,, & the netting actually closes up nicely without much effort. not quite as easy as a zipper, but not bad either.
sidenote thought****i would venture to say the net and hammock could probably be attached via zippers... (*think convertible pants/shorts), where the net would actually be completely detachable, and one would merely need to simply engage the zippers like a jacket. little patches of nylon could be sewn to both ends of the bugnet to finish the seal, securing around the whipping.

i've been watching the tttg website for close to a year, popping in at the speer hammock every now and again and was excited to see it in stock.
originally bought out of curiosity and hammock nostalgia, i intend to give
the speer hammock a shot at out-doing my other hammocks, making its way
to the top as my primary hammock.