Pak-it-lite Hammock questions

**theseakayaker** · 08-19-2015, 09:25

Here is another review from CJ sent to me via email:

"I just wanted to say that I have spent a little time in my new FOB and I wanted to share my first impression.

Likes:

OK Love! I love the ability to lay perfectly flat in your Hammock! This is something I struggled with in my Clark NX250- always having to hang the foot end higher and not able to really lay flat.

I was unsure how you achieved this claim initially, but after inspecting the hammock and seeing how it is cut- definitely different than anything else out on the market!

The quality of the Hammock is all top notch! From the stitching to the fabric and even to the well thought out small details- It really shows how much thought and time must have gone into designing this system.

The pad sleeve is great- no more sliding around on a pad, and the side pockets that add a significant amount of warmth that almost cradle you in comfort.

I was unsure as to the claim of being tested to -2F without any underquilt! Boy, I am a believer now. I'm sure with a quality bag and pad with some spare clothes in the side tubes that this is a very realistic claim.

I am kind of a gear nut and was honestly happy enough with the Clark NX250- That was because I didn't know what I was missing in comfort and warmth! I changed because...well just because I could, and I am sure glad I did.

I am sending you this in the hopes that you post it on your site as an honest review of your product- I couldn't be happier with it and can't think of anything I would change!

This will definitely be with me in my High Country Elk Hunts in the Sky Lakes Wilderness for many seasons to come!

CJ"

**Stevie** · 01-20-2016, 12:48

Some great reviews again Tony, keep up the good work and ignore the nay-sayers. I love my P.I.L and having been the owner of several hammocks including some of the coveted ones on this particular forum, nothing can compare to it in terms of warmth, ease of use and comfort. Never before have I slept so soundly.

I guess some people cant or simply won't embrace change. I fully concede that not everyone will like a particular product for one or a number of reasons, these things happen. Its very easy to criticise but that criticism can sounds like bitterness if those very people have no experience with the product in question.

**Koolranch** · 01-20-2016, 22:57

I am really fascinated by this hammock. I wish there was more info on them.

**Stevie** · 01-21-2016, 08:34

Originally Posted by Koolranch

I am really fascinated by this hammock. I wish there was more info on them.

Hi fella,

Why not call Tony or drop him an e-mail. I'm quite sure he'll answer any questions you may have. Great hammocks mate, one of the best kept secrets in the camping business. And that's possibly why other vendors are very quick to dismiss them. ��

**ShellHammock** · 02-03-2016, 14:54

Tony posted a video recently that lifts the veil of mystery a little about the patented design of Pack-It-Light Hammocks. You can find it on the company's facebook page (sorry, I couldn't find a link to youtube or another, non-fb platform) I thought I'd share it here. The video helps explain the thought behind the invention. However, with new fabrics like Hexon from Dutchware and HEX70 From RBTR, that bias stretch is practically eliminated, making a lightweight low stretch, supportive hammock not only possible but affordable.

Originally Posted by Stevie

one of the best kept secrets in the camping business. And that's possibly why other vendors are very quick to dismiss them. ��

...I bet Tony would agree that he'd much prefer it if Pack-It-Lite wasn't so much of a secret.

Sargevining nailed it in his earlier post about the purpose of this forum and openly discussing our passion for hammocks:

Originally Posted by sargevining

The goal of many of us here is to de-mystify hammocks to promote their wider use.

...throughout this thread, Tony remains firm in his beliefs that what he's doing with his company is totally unique, from construction to suspension. I think most of us who've been around simply know better than to believe the marketing hype.

**Stevie** · 02-03-2016, 16:56

Maybe I'm old fashioned but I find its easier to judge the merits of a product if I've actually used it. Otherwise I might be accused of supposition...

**mychal** · 02-03-2016, 22:00

Originally Posted by Stevie

Maybe I'm old fashioned but I find its easier to judge the merits of a product if I've actually used it. Otherwise I might be accused of supposition...

...maybe...on the other hand, when a seemingly outrageous claim was made about the hammock, and some of us objected, it was revealed that there were all kinds of caveats that went along with the original claim. Posts about this company's hammocks have been riddled with such double-talk. In this thread alone, there's a lack of understanding of how the hang angle impacts the forces exerted on the anchor points and the hammock itself. In another thread there's a claim that you can get down to a very low temperature, only to find out later in the thread you needed all kinds of other insulation involved to get down to that claimed temperature, which you can do in any hammock.

Look. This may be Miracle Hammock. But because of the way the hammock has been marketed on this forum, we remain skeptical. Very skeptical. And skepticism ain't no supposition.

This is supposition: You will have very hard nipples in this hammock, at 0 degrees F, wearing only a t-shirt and shorts, with no additional insulation. I don't own the hammock, so I can't prove it. But I'm pretty confident that I'm right.

**SilvrSurfr** · 02-04-2016, 16:45

I always get a chuckle out of "winter" hammocks, especially one that says, " Designed for hammock camping in colder weather, the F.O.B was engineered around heat retention techniques and has been tested to -2F with no underquilt needed." Only Clark, to my knowledge, markets a "4-season" hammock, and adding a few pockets for insulation does not, in my opinion, make a hammock "4-season" or "winter." If underquilts aren't needed, then why does Pak-It Lite have an announcement "Coming Soon! Pak-It Lite Thermal Liners (underquilts) - add another 20* to your hammock"? I guess we're supposed to think that a pad will easily get us to -2 F, and the underquilt will get us to -22 F.

Reminds me of ENO's Doublenest supposedly two-person hammock: "Big enough for two and palatial for one." Yeah, right.

Place me firmly in the "skeptical" column on "tested to -2 F with no underquilt needed."