4 hour pocket warmer in your bag 30 minutes before bed makes it nice and cozy, I keep a second one in my ridge line bag incase I need it later in the night,
If you don’t want to use a pee bottle and you don’t want to get out of the hammock, just turn to the side and pee out of the hammock. Make sure not to step into the pee in the morning or pee on your shoes
Pro tip: using appropriate tarp configurations eliminates the need for under/over quilts. First pitch your hammock as low to ground as possible without touching the ground. Depending on the conditions you can A-frame your tarp and stake the edges to the ground, using leaves to fill in any gaps. This method blocks all but the strongest winds. It creates a smaller cavity cutting down on heat loss. And it still has two small windows that allow for ventilation and keeps condensation to a minimum. Another configuration is the cocoon wrap, sometimes known as the burrito roll. This one works great in severe weather. Another Pro tip: attach a drip line to both your ridge line as well as the hammock's tie up points to keep water from running down the lines and into your hammock.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH I have many more from years of experience. I subbed and will watch this channel grow. It is my joy to not only help you but anyone else to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
@@tag1462 Awesome! I love learning new tips and tricks and any others you have are greatly appreciated. I'm definitely going to try yours out, the mornings are getting cooler here and I'm ready to get in the hammock.
Pro tip...prepare to freeze your butt off with out any insulation no matter how low you hang your hammock and your tarp. You will need some sort of insulation underneath and on top once the temps drop below 70 degrees. I have been using a hammock for over 10 years, backpacking, car camping, in the rain, in the snow down to 9 degrees. If you have to pee, just get up and water a tree.
@@otway00 I agree, I use a half quilt even in the summer months and have been stacking it with my other full quilt (which is only a 40 degree) during the winter and it works pretty good, I hope to get a nice winter quilt for Christmas from my wife lol. I do want to try the insulating with leaves one night to see how it works.
Cool video I use a peanut butter jar they seal tight and have a large mouth. I tried the sleeping pad it slid around too much I ended up throwing it out in the middle of the night. I now have a under quilt. In cool weather I add a piece of reflectex I use my sleeping bag inside the hammock upside down.
Someone else commented on here about using a peanutbutter jar, I always get a kick out of the pee bottle comments. I was using that during the cold nights when I camped for 200 nights straight and was drinking a lot of camp fire tea before bed lol. Getting out of the hammock and hiking over to a tree 4 to 6 times in the cold was killing me.
Thanks Randy, In the hammock I have it works pretty good, I hated when I'd get in and not pay attention and the zipper would crawl way out of reach lol.
@@jamesthornton3339 It works pretty good, I freak out if I get just one mosquito in my hammock lol, this trick helped me get it closed quick without hassle. It also helps me find the zipper easier at night.
Why are you putting your hot water bottle outside the hammock lol... :-> After a bit of a video binge, I'm wondering why nobody sews a tape for a karabiner to hang boots from into their hammock...
Ive been hammock camping for quite a while now and I’m trying out new brands for my gear. Is there any way you could drop and amazon link to the pillow ? If you can thank you. Great video btw!
Thanks! That pillow was actually 20 years old and I loved it. Unfortunately I don't have it anymore and I haven't been able to find one like it. It was a Slumber Jack camp pillow. I currently have been using a Klymit blow up pillow, its very lightweight but not as comfortable.
Hey I did find one on Amazon, It's a little different but a slumberjack. www.sunnysports.com/p-smjsp/slumberjack-slumberloft-camp-pillow-assorted-colors?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4L2BBhCvARIsAO0SBdbAPs-1HmqxrqSjwhGMznWJBG0aoPQL9kdSicoK_YahOs4wr7oOk3EaAj2cEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
@@PADDLECAMPFISH thank you. I was looking at them on amazon earlier lol. I’m going to pick one up soon hopefully! I just made a big move so I’m not getting out camping very much yet, but i am trying to get out soon !
They work too, I use one in my other hammock but most of them are white which get dirty easy and a little too big. The Sawyer bag worked out great because most everyone doesn't use them and it's small and pretty durable. Just a simple hack. I've also thought of using the laundry bag for a side car type bag for storage.
And its nice to get a "heart" from Paddle Camp Fish as a response to my post. Thank you. But I would have really preferred some arguments.... I mean: 2:36 : isnt the pee bottle thing telling? I use a pee bottle myself. But only for pulka winter trips with temperatures of -40 celsius. In other weather conditions than that, I just get sleepily up and pee outside. If thats hard to do in a hammock and you have to reach consciousness and focus on peeing in a bottle without wetting yourself, than this might tell you, that hammocks have plenty of unnecessary disadvantages, compared to tents.....
I read your comment yesterday evening and was very appreciative of your thoughts and dedication to tent camping so I gave you a heart and thought I'd share some of my thoughts when I get off of work this afternoon. I'll share some of my views and debates soon.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH Thanks. I am looking forward to hear your thoughts. My arguments are: all your four life hacks are not necessary in a tent: its easy to reach the zipper in a tent without a zipper line, you can pee outside instead of using a pee bottle, you can take your backpack into your tent so you dont need to put stuff in an extra compartment. But if you like to do so: all my tents come with small inbuilt pockets. And the matrice of course does not slide. But the more important arguments are: -A tent offers privacy, which is extra important in countries like India or Bangladesh, where you will be surrounded day and night by up to a hundred watching people. - A tent offers you the opportunity to take the luggage inside, which makes it not only more comfortable to reach your stuff but its also more safe for the luggage. I had unknown animals stealing my shoes from under the outer tent (which can be deadly in the wilderness) and I had humans stealing complete food bags from the same spot. Once I had a big group of wild pigs in the middle of the day silently eating the food stored inside the tent while I had a short nap inside the very same tent with open zippers. In one occasion I experienced a very severe snow storm in the mountains with high winds in one night, after going to bed the previous evening in calm weather and with no snow at all. I couldnt recover my plate and pan under one meter of snow the next day. Since than I prefer to take everything into the tent (And to close the zippers ! :-D). -A tent is more stable in really high winds. First because its built closer to the ground and can benefit of the cover of a big rock or snow wall therefore. Second because its closed and is not build like a tarp, which resembles a big wing with both sides streamed by the wind. And third because its stable and cant start swinging like a hammock. -A tent can be pitched everywhere. Deserts, the arctic, high altitudes and cities are off limits for hammocks. -A tent offers some space: which is important if you get bad weather over a longer period of time. You can really start living in a tent, which includes cooking inside and even using the "toilet" for "number two" (shitting into your pot with a plastic bag inside) and collecting water, in the form of snow, in a tent with two entries. While a hammock is only good for laying down and sleeping. The longest I got trapped 24/7 inside a tent was close to a month in Greenland. I would have lost my ability to walk, lying in a hammock for a month. -And last but not least: you can have sex in a tent! So in short: A tent is a travelling home, pretty much like a multi room house with a bedroom, a kitchen, a toilet and a bathroom. A hammock is only the equivalent of a (single) bed in the open.
@@scheisstag Hello sir, getting back to giving you a reply. It seems like you have a lot of experience in tent camping and sounds like some really good stories to tell! Yes I do agree with some of the things you listed but maybe I can shed some light to why I switched to hammock camping and the reason for making this video. I've been tent camping for over 30 years and switched to hammock camping around 3 years ago. I still have 3 tents in my gear closet matter fact. Ok so the part I don't agree on, is you say hammock camping is an internet fad and people who are doing it aren't really out there much. You also say you have to buy the right gear which is true and thats why I hammock camp. You probably know from the title of my channel my hobby is kayak camping and exploring different water ways. I've been doing this for around 25 years now and have proudly camped in all different kinds of tents but what I've found is hammock camping just matches what I'm doing better than a tent. I tend to paddle 20 to 30 miles a day at times and when I come in to set up a camp I'm beat! The biggest thing I've found in a hammock is comfort. I've had all kinds of tents and sleep pads and I always wake up feeling like I was hit by a truck or woke up on a prison floor. When I got the hammock I slept like a baby and am ready to paddle another 30 miles. Next is weight and packability. On a kayak you have to keep things light and simple. My hammock with the bug net weighs 8 ounces and packs up to the size of my fist. If I want a tent that can do that I'll be spending $500 and have to carry trekking poles to set it up. Another biggie is there's not always a place to set up a tent along certain stretches of river. Ive been forced to camp on marshy wet bars before and tides have filled my tent with water as well. With the hammock i can hang over the water and my gear clips right on the strap in my pack.. Did I mention snakes and gators a long the river lol! I hang my hammock high. No fun with a water moccasin slipping under your tent floor to keep warm. I feel we both have valuable points and its really to each his own. There will always be people chasing fads and always people trying to make money on selling us a load of crap and faddy gear. I see the hype with fancy tents as well. Thats why I made this video. People who are just starting out will make mistakes and need to learn the ropes. So I put together some basic hacks that I ran into to help newbies out that might run into those issues. Now the pee bottle that was just a fun one. I don't always use it lol but I did at that time. I camped in my hammock for 200 nights straight and it was just convenient. So hey I appreciate your thoughts and respect your experience and I love both a hammock and a tent. Thanks again for your feedback. Maybe I'll do a video on hammock vs tent with both of our points taken into play.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH Thanks for your reply! First allow me to state: you made a valid clip: you dealt with hammock life hacks. Your hacks are all working. So well done! My perspective has a different angle: I do not tend towards gear fetishism. But for long periods of winter camping in the arctic you need good gear. So recently I bought a Hilleberg tent for 900 Dollar. And it turns out to be a design failure and crap. When I complained to my trip partner, he said its my fault and I should have asked on the internet for gear advice. Turns out: thats what I did and thats the reason why I decided to buy this tent: I found only recommendations. And plenty of them. But in reality it stays crap, I already failed to sell it, I still have to buy a different one and so I wasted nearly a 1000 bucks. Thank you internet! So in Corona times I am turning to the net again to do research for the next tent. And while a hammock will most certainly not be my next choice for the arctic :-D, the first thing I notice is: there are a overwhelming amount of new hammock clips that praise hammocks and favour them over tents. And other than you say: the hammocks seem to be pretty pricey. A basic tent combination comes at roughly the same price as a basic hammock combination (hammock, tarp, underquilt). So as a camping noob, starting now, I would listen to the internet advice and buy a hammock gear set. And than would later realize: there are huge limitations: a hammock is good only for back sleepers and only for wooden areas and only in summer. And than I would be in the same situation like I am now: realizing, that I wasted a good amount of money and that I have to buy new to be able to continue to do camping. And while I totally agree, that a hammock is not only a fashion hype ( I inherited a century old knot hammock that one of my ancestors used as a sailor on sailing ships. I joined a film crew in 2018 into the Darien Gap. And their security adviser, a very experienced british ex soldier, advised everybody to use hammocks.) its also true, that hammocks are a hype right now and that your first gear set for camping at all should not be a hammock set. And when I google "hammock" on youtube, than thousands of clips pop up. And they are ALL, without any exceptions, ONLY positive. While there are really overall for worldwide camping more limitations of hammocks than there are pro arguments. I guess thats because most people are kind of binary: they are either pro or con. They dont see much between. And please realize: you are just fitting into this small frame that makes the use of a hammock possible or maybe even advisable: Its not your first and only gear, you use in the woods, there are not that many other people present (unlike on a camping ground or in Bangladesh) so the lack of privacy is not a problem, and you use your hammock in summer and you dont have problems to sleep on your back. And if you are unbiased you have to admit: this is a very small "pocket". If you are fitting into this pocket, than you are good to go with a hammock. But a hammock does not make a good basic kit that fits most environments or customers. For example: only roughly 1 third of dry land is covered with trees. You might think: when I do camping here in the US (?), there are always trees. So its normal to have trees around. But if its 31 percent, than its not the norm worldwide/for other people/for camping in general. Also there are camping grounds. Thats a special area made to care for the needs of people who do camping. If your camping equipment does not allow you to use the areas specially designed to your needs, this is also pretty telling. So yeah: I think that would be beneficial for the world: A youtube clip, that tells people the UNBIASED pro and cons of hammocks.
@@scheisstag Wow $900 ouch! I looked at those Hilbergs and like you say on the internet they look pretty durable. I do understand your take on hammocks not being an all around camping solution. I have a buddy who is a thru hiker and won't even try a hammock. Some strecthes he hikes have limited trees and he also likes his privacy. Hey I appreciate the feedback, not too often do I get comments like yours that make me think and look at things from a different view point. I think I might do a video showing both pros and cons of hammocks and tents and use your thoughts as a guide of reference.
Hey mate, thanks for the video, Can you share the brand of your pillow or where it was purchased. I like the flannel square cut as it looks like it would be great for winter hammock camping. Thanks in advance
That pillow I believe is a slumber jack and has been with me for going on 20 years lol. I too like the flannel square cut, it packs down pretty small as well. Not sure if they still make them though.
If you can't get through the night without needing to pee, you probably need to get checked to see if you're pre-diabetic or diabetic. I had that issue at 42, then got my blood sugar down where it belongs and it stopped.
Unfortunately the beloved pee bottle was blown away when the tornado hit the house. I did manage to fix all the late night spritz though. I was drinking a hot tea by the campfire each evening, when I stopped that I never needed the pee bottle again.
Lol, it worked great in the winter when It was too cold to be getting in and out of the hammock 3 or more times a night. I found I was enjoying too much hot tea right before bed lol.I don't think I'll carry it on my summer kayak adventures though.
I can't believe how many people talk in their videos and posts about stumbling around in the dark for relief. Been there, done that, changed that. I use a bottle in my van, in my kayak, in a tent, and in a hammock. I've even gotten my wife to start using a bottle assisted by a feminine funnel, although I don't think she could pull that off in a hammock.... I use cheap Outdoor Products copies of Nalgenes found at WalMart in dark colors. Just don't confuse it with whatever you are drinking from. Rinse it out once a day, spritz with Lysol or similar, you're good to "go!"
It sure does make things easier especially as you get older. I lost my fancy bottle in a tornado that hit us a few years back and have been getting in and out of the hammock to pee but hey I do have an old Nalgene bottle I don't use anymore! Think I'll try that out 😆
Just wanted to stop by and say I took your advice here and cut the intro down when making new videos. I'm slowly learning this You tube thing, but thanks for the comment it did help.
@@russ2991 Well it actually helped me see that I didn't need a full video before the video lol, bare with me though I'm learning. Thanks for the reply.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH I still haven't recovered from Bear Gryllis giving himself an enema with bird shit water on public TV. Sorry, my response is like PTSD from the trauma that caused me.
Pro tip: avoid hammocks and quilts and go for tents, matrices and sleeping bags. This hammock stuff is just an internet thing. In which it is not important what kind of trips you do, but what kind of equipment you buy (and maybe never really use) to show off. And since people used tents for centuries with great success the hip thing of the next year had to be something else....
You're wrong, they have a few videos from the AT and hammocks are becoming big. Wouldnt be good for the PCT but the universal hammock/tent combos are catching on
I totally believe, that hammocks are the next "big" thing. That is actually my point: your reference is not this or that advantage of hammocks, but that there are a few clips out on the internet promoting their use. But most city slickers dont have a clue what they are doing outdoors and they will follow any internet fashion, no matter how useful it is. And AT or PCT is also only another urban trend and not the wilderness. A tent is pretty much a travelling home with a luggage room, a kitchen, and a bathroom with privacy. A hammock is only the equivalent of a bed. The hammock is very limited: it works only in woods. Maybe you are from the US and you will say: but doesent "outdoor" means "woods"? Isnt it the same? No, there is the arctic, the high altitude plateau, the rocky mountains, the desert, the steppe and the cities: all areas without enough trees. That means worldwide less than one third of dry land is covered with trees. And once you bought a hammock set with tarp, quilt and hammock you have to spent money again for a new set of equipment to travel there, which is not the case vice versa with a tent, which is useful in all environments. You cant even use a hammock on most commercial camping sites worldwide. Which tells you something, if you cant even use an institution, that is specially designed to serve you and cant be totally avoided on longer multi country trips. And you even admitted it: a hammock might not even be of use on the PCT. So why should anybody buy an equipment that pretty much limits its field of use to the AT and some jungles while you could get a tent set for the same price and for the same weight with all terrain usefulness? Plus: a hammock is only more or less for stable back sleepers. Which most of the population are not. And you are sleeping at home on a matrice. Which makes it easier on short trips to get accustomed to matrices in tents, while hammocks need a short time to get used to it. (I have been a member of archaeological and biological expeditions and lived roughly around three years of my life outdoor in tents.)
I agree! I slept in a tent last week for the first time in years to try a new quilt I bought and I woke up so stiff I could barely get out lol! I love my hammock!
@@dwightrhodes2051 I am totally fine with somebody saying: for my special circumstances this works fine and I am satisfied. It would be ridiculous from me to say: "No, you are not." My point is: you cant advocate in public, that hammocks are advantageous over matrices for camping in general.
Good eye! There is a method to my madness 😆 I have a few different underquilts. My go to is a forest green Loco Libre half quilt I normally use on my river trips that blends in well with the camo. The actual problem is I'm too cheap and didn't want to spend the money on a full camo under quilt. They want an arm and a leg to add camo on the quilts. The hammock and tarp were no extra price since they had a camo selection. I got the Maroon full quilt really cheap but I don't use it if I'm stealth camping. It's made to be a top/under quilt and I normally use it as a top quilt.
Looking back on the end of my 200 nights sleeping in the hammock your absolutely right. I ditched the old pee bottle and just adjusted my water intake before bed.
Lol! Yeah I learned my lesson on that, that was one of my first videos and I've found people stop watching after the first 30 seconds in the intro. Hey but I'm still learning 🙂 thanks for the feedback.
![SahBabii - Viking [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D37cL92JX0I/mqdefault.jpg)
Only two tips in but love it already! Thank you!❤❤❤
4 hour pocket warmer in your bag 30 minutes before bed makes it nice and cozy, I keep a second one in my ridge line bag incase I need it later in the night,
Great hacks. I have recently ordered a hammock setup. Thanks
On tip number two, you know that bottle would make a great foot warmer😄
If you don’t want to use a pee bottle and you don’t want to get out of the hammock, just turn to the side and pee out of the hammock. Make sure not to step into the pee in the morning or pee on your shoes
I have to admit I did that once lol. You have to be very steady.
I’ve woke up with wet boots before I admit
@@PADDLECAMPFISH or have a really long johnson
@@NilsFLindberg LOL! He must have a fire hose to be able do all that.
Peed on my pack once... Twice...
Pro tip: using appropriate tarp configurations eliminates the need for under/over quilts. First pitch your hammock as low to ground as possible without touching the ground. Depending on the conditions you can A-frame your tarp and stake the edges to the ground, using leaves to fill in any gaps. This method blocks all but the strongest winds. It creates a smaller cavity cutting down on heat loss. And it still has two small windows that allow for ventilation and keeps condensation to a minimum. Another configuration is the cocoon wrap, sometimes known as the burrito roll. This one works great in severe weather. Another Pro tip: attach a drip line to both your ridge line as well as the hammock's tie up points to keep water from running down the lines and into your hammock.
Hey I'll give those a try this winter, pretty cool! Thanks for sharing!
@@PADDLECAMPFISH I have many more from years of experience. I subbed and will watch this channel grow. It is my joy to not only help you but anyone else to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
@@tag1462 Awesome! I love learning new tips and tricks and any others you have are greatly appreciated. I'm definitely going to try yours out, the mornings are getting cooler here and I'm ready to get in the hammock.
Pro tip...prepare to freeze your butt off with out any insulation no matter how low you hang your hammock and your tarp. You will need some sort of insulation underneath and on top once the temps drop below 70 degrees. I have been using a hammock for over 10 years, backpacking, car camping, in the rain, in the snow down to 9 degrees. If you have to pee, just get up and water a tree.
@@otway00 I agree, I use a half quilt even in the summer months and have been stacking it with my other full quilt (which is only a 40 degree) during the winter and it works pretty good, I hope to get a nice winter quilt for Christmas from my wife lol. I do want to try the insulating with leaves one night to see how it works.
Tip number 1 dark socks maybe 😂
😀I agree lol!
Wanted to thank you for these tips, I used the zipper to the guy line and an empty Gatorade bottle for you know what. Plan on using these from now on.
Thanks for the hacks. Great channels!
Thanks! I'll hopefully have some new content out soon.
Cool video I use a peanut butter jar they seal tight and have a large mouth. I tried the sleeping pad it slid around too much I ended up throwing it out in the middle of the night. I now have a under quilt. In cool weather I add a piece of reflectex I use my sleeping bag inside the hammock upside down.
Someone else commented on here about using a peanutbutter jar, I always get a kick out of the pee bottle comments. I was using that during the cold nights when I camped for 200 nights straight and was drinking a lot of camp fire tea before bed lol. Getting out of the hammock and hiking over to a tree 4 to 6 times in the cold was killing me.
Underquilts are the way to go! I think we all start out with the ole wandering sleeping pad and eventually graduate to an underquilt.
Good info. I use a large Skippy peanut (no pun intended) butter jar. it has a wide mouth and a very good seal.
Never thought of that but hey that sounds good and cheap too. Just gotta make sure to clean it out well before using lol..
LOL would not want to contaminate the urine with peanut butter. ;-) I usually recycle after a few trips.
Great video brother thanks for sharing
Thanks! I need to do an updated version. That was one of my first videos and I've learned so much since then.
Love the zipper string!! 👍
Thanks Randy, In the hammock I have it works pretty good, I hated when I'd get in and not pay attention and the zipper would crawl way out of reach lol.
I will be using this tip, glad I found this video!
@@jamesthornton3339 It works pretty good, I freak out if I get just one mosquito in my hammock lol, this trick helped me get it closed quick without hassle. It also helps me find the zipper easier at night.
Why are you putting your hot water bottle outside the hammock lol...
:->
After a bit of a video binge, I'm wondering why nobody sews a tape for a karabiner to hang boots from into their hammock...
Ive been hammock camping for quite a while now and I’m trying out new brands for my gear. Is there any way you could drop and amazon link to the pillow ? If you can thank you. Great video btw!
Thanks! That pillow was actually 20 years old and I loved it. Unfortunately I don't have it anymore and I haven't been able to find one like it. It was a Slumber Jack camp pillow. I currently have been using a Klymit blow up pillow, its very lightweight but not as comfortable.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH okay thank you anyways ! Keep up the great content !
Hey I did find one on Amazon, It's a little different but a slumberjack.
www.sunnysports.com/p-smjsp/slumberjack-slumberloft-camp-pillow-assorted-colors?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4L2BBhCvARIsAO0SBdbAPs-1HmqxrqSjwhGMznWJBG0aoPQL9kdSicoK_YahOs4wr7oOk3EaAj2cEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
@@PADDLECAMPFISH thank you. I was looking at them on amazon earlier lol. I’m going to pick one up soon hopefully! I just made a big move so I’m not getting out camping very much yet, but i am trying to get out soon !
@@fives645 Ok awesome! let me know how it works.
for tip number three just get a small mesh laundry bag.
They work too, I use one in my other hammock but most of them are white which get dirty easy and a little too big. The Sawyer bag worked out great because most everyone doesn't use them and it's small and pretty durable. Just a simple hack. I've also thought of using the laundry bag for a side car type bag for storage.
And its nice to get a "heart" from Paddle Camp Fish as a response to my post. Thank you. But I would have really preferred some arguments....
I mean: 2:36 : isnt the pee bottle thing telling? I use a pee bottle myself. But only for pulka winter trips with temperatures of -40 celsius. In other weather conditions than that, I just get sleepily up and pee outside. If thats hard to do in a hammock and you have to reach consciousness and focus on peeing in a bottle without wetting yourself, than this might tell you, that hammocks have plenty of unnecessary disadvantages, compared to tents.....
I read your comment yesterday evening and was very appreciative of your thoughts and dedication to tent camping so I gave you a heart and thought I'd share some of my thoughts when I get off of work this afternoon. I'll share some of my views and debates soon.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH Thanks. I am looking forward to hear your thoughts.
My arguments are: all your four life hacks are not necessary in a tent: its easy to reach the zipper in a tent without a zipper line, you can pee outside instead of using a pee bottle, you can take your backpack into your tent so you dont need to put stuff in an extra compartment. But if you like to do so: all my tents come with small inbuilt pockets. And the matrice of course does not slide.
But the more important arguments are:
-A tent offers privacy, which is extra important in countries like India or Bangladesh, where you will be surrounded day and night by up to a hundred watching people.
- A tent offers you the opportunity to take the luggage inside, which makes it not only more comfortable to reach your stuff but its also more safe for the luggage. I had unknown animals stealing my shoes from under the outer tent (which can be deadly in the wilderness) and I had humans stealing complete food bags from the same spot. Once I had a big group of wild pigs in the middle of the day silently eating the food stored inside the tent while I had a short nap inside the very same tent with open zippers. In one occasion I experienced a very severe snow storm in the mountains with high winds in one night, after going to bed the previous evening in calm weather and with no snow at all. I couldnt recover my plate and pan under one meter of snow the next day. Since than I prefer to take everything into the tent (And to close the zippers ! :-D).
-A tent is more stable in really high winds. First because its built closer to the ground and can benefit of the cover of a big rock or snow wall therefore. Second because its closed and is not build like a tarp, which resembles a big wing with both sides streamed by the wind. And third because its stable and cant start swinging like a hammock.
-A tent can be pitched everywhere. Deserts, the arctic, high altitudes and cities are off limits for hammocks.
-A tent offers some space: which is important if you get bad weather over a longer period of time. You can really start living in a tent, which includes cooking inside and even using the "toilet" for "number two" (shitting into your pot with a plastic bag inside) and collecting water, in the form of snow, in a tent with two entries. While a hammock is only good for laying down and sleeping. The longest I got trapped 24/7 inside a tent was close to a month in Greenland. I would have lost my ability to walk, lying in a hammock for a month.
-And last but not least: you can have sex in a tent!
So in short: A tent is a travelling home, pretty much like a multi room house with a bedroom, a kitchen, a toilet and a bathroom. A hammock is only the equivalent of a (single) bed in the open.
@@scheisstag Hello sir, getting back to giving you a reply. It seems like you have a lot of experience in tent camping and sounds like some really good stories to tell! Yes I do agree with some of the things you listed but maybe I can shed some light to why I switched to hammock camping and the reason for making this video. I've been tent camping for over 30 years and switched to hammock camping around 3 years ago. I still have 3 tents in my gear closet matter fact. Ok so the part I don't agree on, is you say hammock camping is an internet fad and people who are doing it aren't really out there much. You also say you have to buy the right gear which is true and thats why I hammock camp. You probably know from the title of my channel my hobby is kayak camping and exploring different water ways. I've been doing this for around 25 years now and have proudly camped in all different kinds of tents but what I've found is hammock camping just matches what I'm doing better than a tent. I tend to paddle 20 to 30 miles a day at times and when I come in to set up a camp I'm beat! The biggest thing I've found in a hammock is comfort. I've had all kinds of tents and sleep pads and I always wake up feeling like I was hit by a truck or woke up on a prison floor. When I got the hammock I slept like a baby and am ready to paddle another 30 miles. Next is weight and packability. On a kayak you have to keep things light and simple. My hammock with the bug net weighs 8 ounces and packs up to the size of my fist. If I want a tent that can do that I'll be spending $500 and have to carry trekking poles to set it up. Another biggie is there's not always a place to set up a tent along certain stretches of river. Ive been forced to camp on marshy wet bars before and tides have filled my tent with water as well. With the hammock i can hang over the water and my gear clips right on the strap in my pack..
Did I mention snakes and gators a long the river lol! I hang my hammock high. No fun with a water moccasin slipping under your tent floor to keep warm. I feel we both have valuable points and its really to each his own. There will always be people chasing fads and always people trying to make money on selling us a load of crap and faddy gear. I see the hype with fancy tents as well. Thats why I made this video. People who are just starting out will make mistakes and need to learn the ropes. So I put together some basic hacks that I ran into to help newbies out that might run into those issues. Now the pee bottle that was just a fun one. I don't always use it lol but I did at that time. I camped in my hammock for 200 nights straight and it was just convenient. So hey I appreciate your thoughts and respect your experience and I love both a hammock and a tent. Thanks again for your feedback. Maybe I'll do a video on hammock vs tent with both of our points taken into play.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH Thanks for your reply! First allow me to state: you made a valid clip: you dealt with hammock life hacks. Your hacks are all working. So well done!
My perspective has a different angle:
I do not tend towards gear fetishism. But for long periods of winter camping in the arctic you need good gear. So recently I bought a Hilleberg tent for 900 Dollar. And it turns out to be a design failure and crap. When I complained to my trip partner, he said its my fault and I should have asked on the internet for gear advice. Turns out: thats what I did and thats the reason why I decided to buy this tent: I found only recommendations. And plenty of them.
But in reality it stays crap, I already failed to sell it, I still have to buy a different one and so I wasted nearly a 1000 bucks. Thank you internet!
So in Corona times I am turning to the net again to do research for the next tent. And while a hammock will most certainly not be my next choice for the arctic :-D, the first thing I notice is: there are a overwhelming amount of new hammock clips that praise hammocks and favour them over tents.
And other than you say: the hammocks seem to be pretty pricey. A basic tent combination comes at roughly the same price as a basic hammock combination (hammock, tarp, underquilt).
So as a camping noob, starting now, I would listen to the internet advice and buy a hammock gear set. And than would later realize: there are huge limitations: a hammock is good only for back sleepers and only for wooden areas and only in summer. And than I would be in the same situation like I am now: realizing, that I wasted a good amount of money and that I have to buy new to be able to continue to do camping.
And while I totally agree, that a hammock is not only a fashion hype ( I inherited a century old knot hammock that one of my ancestors used as a sailor on sailing ships. I joined a film crew in 2018 into the Darien Gap. And their security adviser, a very experienced british ex soldier, advised everybody to use hammocks.) its also true, that hammocks are a hype right now and that your first gear set for camping at all should not be a hammock set.
And when I google "hammock" on youtube, than thousands of clips pop up. And they are ALL, without any exceptions, ONLY positive. While there are really overall for worldwide camping more limitations of hammocks than there are pro arguments.
I guess thats because most people are kind of binary: they are either pro or con. They dont see much between.
And please realize: you are just fitting into this small frame that makes the use of a hammock possible or maybe even advisable: Its not your first and only gear, you use in the woods, there are not that many other people present (unlike on a camping ground or in Bangladesh) so the lack of privacy is not a problem, and you use your hammock in summer and you dont have problems to sleep on your back.
And if you are unbiased you have to admit: this is a very small "pocket". If you are fitting into this pocket, than you are good to go with a hammock. But a hammock does not make a good basic kit that fits most environments or customers.
For example: only roughly 1 third of dry land is covered with trees. You might think: when I do camping here in the US (?), there are always trees. So its normal to have trees around. But if its 31 percent, than its not the norm worldwide/for other people/for camping in general.
Also there are camping grounds. Thats a special area made to care for the needs of people who do camping. If your camping equipment does not allow you to use the areas specially designed to your needs, this is also pretty telling.
So yeah: I think that would be beneficial for the world: A youtube clip, that tells people the UNBIASED pro and cons of hammocks.
@@scheisstag Wow $900 ouch! I looked at those Hilbergs and like you say on the internet they look pretty durable. I do understand your take on hammocks not being an all around camping solution. I have a buddy who is a thru hiker and won't even try a hammock. Some strecthes he hikes have limited trees and he also likes his privacy. Hey I appreciate the feedback, not too often do I get comments like yours that make me think and look at things from a different view point. I think I might do a video showing both pros and cons of hammocks and tents and use your thoughts as a guide of reference.
Hey mate, thanks for the video, Can you share the brand of your pillow or where it was purchased. I like the flannel square cut as it looks like it would be great for winter hammock camping. Thanks in advance
That pillow I believe is a slumber jack and has been with me for going on 20 years lol. I too like the flannel square cut, it packs down pretty small as well. Not sure if they still make them though.
Some cool ideas👍
Thanks! That video seemed so long ago. I've learned and updated things along the way.
What camo hammock are you using in the beginning of the video?
Its a Dutchware half zipped
When it comes to your tip with the sleeping bag and the mat are you supposed to sleep on top of sleeping bag or in it?
On top, the sleeping bag helps keep the pad from sliding out from under you.
Nicely done
Thanks Bama Jim! Ilooks like you have some interesting videos, Im going to be checking them out.
Thanks Bama Jim, looks like you have some interesting videos, I'm going to be checking them out!
2:16 u can see a sad native face / spirt that used to roam this land
nope where ?
If you can't get through the night without needing to pee, you probably need to get checked to see if you're pre-diabetic or diabetic. I had that issue at 42, then got my blood sugar down where it belongs and it stopped.
Unfortunately the beloved pee bottle was blown away when the tornado hit the house. I did manage to fix all the late night spritz though. I was drinking a hot tea by the campfire each evening, when I stopped that I never needed the pee bottle again.
Good info keep it up
My cold weather hack is to wear down jacket and down pants in addition to my 40 degree top quilt and underquilt. It is like wearing a sleeping bag.
1:59 yw
At 32* and not underquilt, I had no issue with the water bottle opening (just capacity). After underquilt, I could pull it over the side.
Lol, an underquilt is every man's dream.
👍
These are great! Definitely getting that pee bottle!
Lol, it worked great in the winter when It was too cold to be getting in and out of the hammock 3 or more times a night. I found I was enjoying too much hot tea right before bed lol.I don't think I'll carry it on my summer kayak adventures though.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH I'm just lazy and hate getting out of the hammock at night. LOL!
I can't believe how many people talk in their videos and posts about stumbling around in the dark for relief. Been there, done that, changed that. I use a bottle in my van, in my kayak, in a tent, and in a hammock. I've even gotten my wife to start using a bottle assisted by a feminine funnel, although I don't think she could pull that off in a hammock.... I use cheap Outdoor Products copies of Nalgenes found at WalMart in dark colors. Just don't confuse it with whatever you are drinking from. Rinse it out once a day, spritz with Lysol or similar, you're good to "go!"
It sure does make things easier especially as you get older. I lost my fancy bottle in a tornado that hit us a few years back and have been getting in and out of the hammock to pee but hey I do have an old Nalgene bottle I don't use anymore! Think I'll try that out 😆
Just get some heat pad and plug in a powerbank:)
Does that work pretty well? Sounds nice and warm!
Shoenice?
The one problem that I have with a sleeping bag and/or pad is that I fall out a lot.
I agree! I found it's better to save and get a nice underquilt and top quit it makes it so nice and comfortable.
Yup !!! Sooner or later U WILL getta underquilt
Yes sir! I need a good 20 degree under and top quilt and I'll be set!
A full 2 minutes to get to the meat of the video...no thanks.
Just wanted to stop by and say I took your advice here and cut the intro down when making new videos. I'm slowly learning this You tube thing, but thanks for the comment it did help.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH Cool. I'll be checking out your new videos. My comment was too harsh, sorry about that.
@@russ2991 Well it actually helped me see that I didn't need a full video before the video lol, bare with me though I'm learning. Thanks for the reply.
Pee is natural hydrates with mineral benifits a tree
Tell me he's not going to piss in that bottle on TV!!!!🤯
Lol!! No just a demo lol!
@@PADDLECAMPFISH I still haven't recovered from Bear Gryllis giving himself an enema with bird shit water on public TV. Sorry, my response is like PTSD from the trauma that caused me.
@@richardanderson4916 Now that would give me trauma! Sounds like a good way to get an infection lol. He should have use coffee.
@@PADDLECAMPFISH ROFL! A coffee enema! Starbucks or DD?
They say to use organic coffee
Pro tip: avoid hammocks and quilts and go for tents, matrices and sleeping bags.
This hammock stuff is just an internet thing. In which it is not important what kind of trips you do, but what kind of equipment you buy (and maybe never really use) to show off. And since people used tents for centuries with great success the hip thing of the next year had to be something else....
You're wrong, they have a few videos from the AT and hammocks are becoming big.
Wouldnt be good for the PCT but the universal hammock/tent combos are catching on
I totally believe, that hammocks are the next "big" thing. That is actually my point: your reference is not this or that advantage of hammocks, but that there are a few clips out on the internet promoting their use. But most city slickers dont have a clue what they are doing outdoors and they will follow any internet fashion, no matter how useful it is. And AT or PCT is also only another urban trend and not the wilderness.
A tent is pretty much a travelling home with a luggage room, a kitchen, and a bathroom with privacy. A hammock is only the equivalent of a bed.
The hammock is very limited: it works only in woods. Maybe you are from the US and you will say: but doesent "outdoor" means "woods"? Isnt it the same? No, there is the arctic, the high altitude plateau, the rocky mountains, the desert, the steppe and the cities: all areas without enough trees. That means worldwide less than one third of dry land is covered with trees. And once you bought a hammock set with tarp, quilt and hammock you have to spent money again for a new set of equipment to travel there, which is not the case vice versa with a tent, which is useful in all environments.
You cant even use a hammock on most commercial camping sites worldwide. Which tells you something, if you cant even use an institution, that is specially designed to serve you and cant be totally avoided on longer multi country trips.
And you even admitted it: a hammock might not even be of use on the PCT. So why should anybody buy an equipment that pretty much limits its field of use to the AT and some jungles while you could get a tent set for the same price and for the same weight with all terrain usefulness?
Plus: a hammock is only more or less for stable back sleepers. Which most of the population are not. And you are sleeping at home on a matrice. Which makes it easier on short trips to get accustomed to matrices in tents, while hammocks need a short time to get used to it.
(I have been a member of archaeological and biological expeditions and lived roughly around three years of my life outdoor in tents.)
@@scheisstag it's more comfortable than a tent and doubles as a seat. And for me everywhere I camp has trees so it's perfect.
I agree! I slept in a tent last week for the first time in years to try a new quilt I bought and I woke up so stiff I could barely get out lol! I love my hammock!
@@dwightrhodes2051 I am totally fine with somebody saying: for my special circumstances this works fine and I am satisfied. It would be ridiculous from me to say: "No, you are not."
My point is: you cant advocate in public, that hammocks are advantageous over matrices for camping in general.
Looks like a Setup of a Clown^^
WHY SPEND ALL THE MONEY FOR CAMO TO TOP IT ALL OFF WITH MARROON ???
Good eye! There is a method to my madness 😆 I have a few different underquilts. My go to is a forest green Loco Libre half quilt I normally use on my river trips that blends in well with the camo. The actual problem is I'm too cheap and didn't want to spend the money on a full camo under quilt. They want an arm and a leg to add camo on the quilts. The hammock and tarp were no extra price since they had a camo selection. I got the Maroon full quilt really cheap but I don't use it if I'm stealth camping. It's made to be a top/under quilt and I normally use it as a top quilt.
If you are too lazy to get up and pee, then don't go camping
Looking back on the end of my 200 nights sleeping in the hammock your absolutely right. I ditched the old pee bottle and just adjusted my water intake before bed.
what the fuck was that intro
Long enough intro??
Lol! Yeah I learned my lesson on that, that was one of my first videos and I've found people stop watching after the first 30 seconds in the intro. Hey but I'm still learning 🙂 thanks for the feedback.