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Bivy tent or hammock?

These things look awesome! I think they would be great. One thing that always sucked sleeping in a tent when it was raining was the ground seepage. Always damp if not wet. These would definately solve this problem. What are the price ranges? Great thread.... keep the info and pics coming! I see one of these in my future!
 
Bare bones hammocks are from $20-80 I guess. All depends what it's made from, how big, and what type of suspension. Bug nets cost more, rain flies cost more, etc
 
swampsnyper said:
Y'all are bad for the pocket book!

No kidding. I've been using a cheapo hammock with tarps for a long time, but that's just for camping or kayak trips. Since I have only hunted close to home, I've had no need to look further into this. Until you guys got me curious. Some of the setups available are really sophisticated, and pricey. But now that they're on my radar, I guess I'll just have to try some stuff. Here I go again. Budget? What budget? Oh yeah, thats the thing I keep amending to reduce extra payments originally planned for debt elimination and adding that money into the misc (aka hunting and outdoor gear) category.
 
alukban said:
I prefer hammocks but I do go on the ground sometimes - when there is lots of snow for building. What I don't do are any sort of tent. I use the same tarps for ground camping and hammocking and, if the situation permits, prefer not to use any tarps at all because I like to see the stars.

On the ground with a small overhead tarp and an UL bivy bag is the lightest I get. The hammock setup is always heavier than that for me.

I went out in NE PA after the Christmas holidays because I had to get outside. It got down to 15°F but it was windless and no forecast for precipitation so I went tarpless. It was a good time out with some friends :)

017A5DBC-2D6D-4063-96A7-C792E8016481_zps7hzpmhxx.jpg
Nice incubator quilt, Alukban. Hammock Gear quilts are the best, I also put my vote in for hammock when available, I hate sleeping on ground anymore.
 
fcae14ec50b4146aea6b2dd1c625ac5c.jpg

Fun, but heavy. Not great for packing in.


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Stoney_06 said:
Any of you guys thought about sleeping in your tree using a portaledge? I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Hike in midday. Hunt till dark. Rack it in the tree. Wake up. Hunt the the morning. Leave about midday.

Been reading this guys site allot thinking about it.
https://treefool.com/2014/09/07/diy-portaledge-cheap-easy-and-light/

I just browsed the site quickly and didn't read much, but for your idea wouldn't it be lighter to use a hammock instead?
 
Re: RE: Re: Bivy tent or hammock?

redsquirrel said:
Stoney_06 said:
Any of you guys thought about sleeping in your tree using a portaledge? I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Hike in midday. Hunt till dark. Rack it in the tree. Wake up. Hunt the the morning. Leave about midday.

Been reading this guys site allot thinking about it.
https://treefool.com/2014/09/07/diy-portaledge-cheap-easy-and-light/

I just browsed the site quickly and didn't read much, but for your idea wouldn't it be lighter to use a hammock instead?
I agree a hammock would be much lighter. A portaledge advantage is that it could be used with a single point attachment to the tree making it more versatile in regards to site selection.

Sent from my SM-T900 using Tapatalk
 
Re: RE: Re: Bivy tent or hammock?

Stoney_06 said:
redsquirrel said:
Stoney_06 said:
Any of you guys thought about sleeping in your tree using a portaledge? I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Hike in midday. Hunt till dark. Rack it in the tree. Wake up. Hunt the the morning. Leave about midday.

Been reading this guys site allot thinking about it.
https://treefool.com/2014/09/07/diy-portaledge-cheap-easy-and-light/

I just browsed the site quickly and didn't read much, but for your idea wouldn't it be lighter to use a hammock instead?
I agree a hammock would be much lighter. A portaledge advantage is that it could be used with a single point attachment to the tree making it more versatile in regards to site selection.

Sent from my SM-T900 using Tapatalk
Ok. For me, there are trees everywhere so I wouldn't have a problem with finding a spot for a hammock. I see you are in Montana so maybe having a single attachment point would be more convenient for you?
 
Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Bivy tent or hammock?

redsquirrel said:
Stoney_06 said:
redsquirrel said:
I just browsed the site quickly and didn't read much, but for your idea wouldn't it be lighter to use a hammock instead?
I agree a hammock would be much lighter. A portaledge advantage is that it could be used with a single point attachment to the tree making it more versatile in regards to site selection.

Sent from my SM-T900 using Tapatalk
Ok. For me, there are trees everywhere so I wouldn't have a problem with finding a spot for a hammock. I see you are in Montana so maybe having a single attachment point would be more convenient for you?
Yup. A lot of the areas I hunt in the Ponderosa's are just too spread out. Also, what about setting the portaledge up high in the tree so you don't need to climb down to sleep?

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Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Bivy tent or hammock?

Stoney_06 said:
redsquirrel said:
Stoney_06 said:
I agree a hammock would be much lighter. A portaledge advantage is that it could be used with a single point attachment to the tree making it more versatile in regards to site selection.

Sent from my SM-T900 using Tapatalk
Ok. For me, there are trees everywhere so I wouldn't have a problem with finding a spot for a hammock. I see you are in Montana so maybe having a single attachment point would be more convenient for you?
Yup. A lot of the areas I hunt in the Ponderosa's are just too spread out. Also, what about setting the portaledge up high in the tree so you don't need to climb down to sleep?

Sent from my SM-T900 using Tapatalk

It could be done. It made me think of this product from new tribe: https://www.newtribe.com/TBhome.htm
 
Check out the rec tree climbing sites. That crew is all into tree camping :D

For hunting I think if I were to try something like that I'd be tempted to go in in the evening. Get high up in the tree, say 50-60' to keep the scent off the ground as best as possible, then come down early in the am to hunt. Hunting, sleeping, and hunting in the same tree is too much time in the same spot to me. Pretty soon scent permeates the area and odds go down. Id rather get in, hunt, and move to fresh spots a couple times a day
 
Y'all are bad for the pocket book! I read this thread a couple months ago and it was the 1st time I've heard of hammock camping beside what we use to do in the woods behind the house as kids. I was quite intrigued of the idea and went straight to researching it. I have a small lease to deer hunt on with the kids and all we use is a tent. No backpacking needed. After this season and camping in a tent every weekend for months, I've had enough and said next season I'll make a lil shelter. I still have plans for the shelter but having hammocks in the inside instead of cots seemed like a great idea! I just purchased a cheap on from walmart to see if I could sleep in it. I love this thing! And since it will be used in the lil camp I think the lil cheap hammock is all we need. So I'll probably get a few more for the kids.
Then I get invited on a DIY elk hunt in Colorado for 2016. Never hunted in the mountains or much less backpacked. So then the hammock idea hit me again and I think thats the route I'll go, but wow!!!! I had no idea how expensive this could get! Good thing I have another whole year to buy a little at a time!
Any Help from you guys on what I need and whats over kill would be appreciated. SOOOOOOO many options! Also, I'm concerned about those lil rain flys for them. Are they really efficient or just made to the minimum for weight saving. Just seems like the wind would whip rain on the hammock. That would really suck!

Well its 2016 and close to Elk season. Did you end up getting a hammock?
 
Well its 2016 and close to Elk season. Did you end up getting a hammock?

I built some in the DIY forum. I love them. Bought a Kuiu icon pro backpack on sale. Got almost all my gear but had to move to Alabama and now I'm clearing land to build a barn to live in while I build a house so I can get out of this rent house as soon as possible. Had to put the hunt off for now.
Pics from my elk hunt:
bdbec92f2279b05ca1c581514fe69ee2.jpg
 
From the site: With a total weight of 6.95lbs - including tent/hammock, insulated air mattress, and sleeping bag.
 
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