Hammock Backpacking vs. Hammock Car Camping

[Teegs]

I gotta say, I prefer backpacking for one reason.

MUCH EASIER PACKING. It all fits in one backpack. Which means, 1 trip to load the car, one trip to the campsite, one trip back, and one trip to unload the car.

Car camping:

Carry the backpack, chair, and cooler to the site in one, miserable, heavy, awkward trip. Then trudge back. Grab the firewood, fishing gear/whatever other toys I brought because it was "car camping", for another miserable, heavy, awkward trip.

Rinse and repeat TWICE more to load and unload the car.

Add a crashpad or two in there if it's a rock climbing trip. (Awesome, but believe me, a pain to carry around when you have all the other crap to carry too.)

Lugging crap aside, there's also cleaning out the cooler once you get home. I hate this because inevitably someone forgets to close the hot dog pack and now I have hot dog water all over my frickin' cooler, and on all my other food/food packs.

I'm also a minimalist when it comes to cooking, even when car camping. I try and keep it simple: Boil some water, make tea and top ramen or oatmeal. OR cook dogs over the fire. While some of my friends are making bacon, eggs, and pancakes in the morning. Ugh, what a mess. I'd spend most of my time cleaning dishes when I COULD be lounging, or adventuring!!!!!

I dunno, I guess it just feels like MORE work to car camp, when compared to backpacking for me.

[angrysparrow]

On my last two car-camping trips I took with friends, I took only my backpack (and its normal contents) and a cooler. The cooler just had some grilling stuff, and some good cold drinks.

I enjoyed that approach a lot. Coolers make a good footstool for sitting around.

[MAD777]

I never car camped until a couple of years ago when I started attending HF big group hangs. Before that, I was strictly a minimalist backpacker.

I can't find anything that I bring to these group hangs because it's all just thrown into the car, helter-skelter. I hate that feeling! Angrysparrow has the right idea!

[robbie g]

I can honestly say i have never before Hammock "car camped " for me it about the mountains the backpacking in moving the next day the hunting etc Not that it does not sound good...

[PapaSmurf]

This is a constant struggle in our Boy Scout Troop.
It's hard to preach "be prepared" and "don't over pack" in the same breath.

We generally have 2 groups of boys: backpackers who hang and car campers who tent.
Even though they bring much more gear, many of the "heavy packers" are less prepared than the backpackers.
It's not totally and age thing either. I've got 12 & 13 yr old Scouts who have seen the light.

[XSrcing]

I don't make many trips when I car camp because I drive my rig right up to the campsite. Granted it takes 4-low to get there, but that is fun in itself.

[SoundMan]

I like both.

When I car camp it is at the lake...so drive into the camp site, hang the hammock and then splash the boat...let the fun begin!

[R00K]

Backpack: Ultralight, moderate minimalist.


Car Camping: Someone call Hoarders.


I went to a fall MAHHA first, parking is about 20ft from the hang spots. Packed waaaay too much for the next MAHHA (Spring) where parking is over a mile from the hang spots. I had no idea about the distance change, and lugged a big gear container all the way to the hang spots only to give myself a year+ back injury and a broken backpack stay.

[nothermark]

gotta say I don't get your problem. When I car camp the car is the cupboard. No lugging anything farther than the tent or picnic table. If that is more than 10 ft you parked wrong. ;-)

[mountain_man_mike]

I like angrysparrow's concept of the same backpack and a cooler. It seems like a good compromise. Too many times I've hauled dutch ovens, dry boxes and a bunch of other stuff for the car camping trips... then again the vittles from them feed a large group rather well.