How to Hammock Camp – From Basics to Pro Tips

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Sintax77

How to to Hammock Camp for Backpacking and other Adventures

Topics Covered

Hammock Camping Basic Components and Setup

Hammock Suspension Systems – Tree Straps, Whoopie Hooks , Daisy Chain Webbing , Cinch Buckles , Climbing Carabiners , Dutch Clips, Tree Strap Length Selection

Hammock Hang Angle – The Magic 30 Degree Angle , Structural Ridge Line Advantages

Hammock Tree Selection – Tree Distance vs Strap Height , Safe site selection

Tarps for Hammock Camping – Cuben Fiber / Dyneema , Nylon / Polyester tarps , Budget Hammock Camping Tarps , Continuous Ridgeline , Tarp Side Pull-Outs , Tarp Guy Line Hardware , Tarp Snakeskins ,

Camping Hammock Body – Hammock Length , Budget Hammocks , Ultralight Hammocks , Hammock Bugnets , Modular Hammock Camping Systems , Hammock Fabric Choices and Weight Ratings , Double Ended Stuff Sack , Knotty Mod Foot Box ,

Hammock Lay Direction – Feet Right vs Feet Left , Symetrical vs Asymetrical Hammocks ,

Hammock Insulation – Budget Insulation Options , Hammock Sleeping Pads , Underquilts , 3/4 Length Underquilt vs Full Length Underquilt, Down vs Synthetic , Symmetrical vs Asymmetrical Underquilts , Using a Sleeping Bag in a Hammock , Top Quilts , Open vs Sewn Foot Box

Advanced Hammock Camping Tips and Tricks

Hammock Camping in Bad Weather – Hammock Camping in the Rain , Hammock Camping in Winter, Cold Weather, Snow, and Ice , Stacking Underquilts vs Dedicated Winter Underquilt , Boosting your Top Quilt Rating , Solid Top Cover , Hammock Sock for Winter Hammock Camping , Winter Hammock Camping Tarp , Tarp with Doors , Hammock Setup Tips for Blowing Rain and Snow , Underquilt Protector , Tarp Porch Mode for Cooking and Camp Chores

Unusual Hammock Camping Setups – Two Hammocks on One Tree , Two Hammocks Under One Tarp , Flat Lay Hammocks

My Favorite Cottage Vendors used to create my Ultralight Hammock Camping Setup, as seen in the video: Dutchware Gear and Hammock Gear

Sara’s Shocking Budget Backpacking Gear Challenge

Posted on June 12, 2024 by Sintax77

Sara goes Backpacking to try out some $30 Amazon Camping Gear.

For this early spring backpacking trip, Sara and I headed to an upper elevation section of Arizona’s Coconino National Forest, about 30 miles southwest of Sedona. Despite it’s close proximity to the much hotter and drier desert like climate of Sedona, the 7,500 foot elevation and abundant snow melt provided an environment surprisingly similar to hiking back on our native east coast. Yes, you can actually find snow, pine trees and abundant streams in Arizona!

To get our dose of 20 degree cooler temps, along with some pockets of remaining snow, we chose to hike a section of the larger Cabin Loop Trail system. This loop utilizes several different local trails. One of which is the Arizona Trail, a roughly 800 mile long distance trail that traverses the entire length of the state from the Mexican border to the Utah state line.

This particular region of the AZT gave us some awesome camping opportunities right along the Mogollon Rim with stunning views down into the valley some 2,000 feet below. To be fair though, we didn’t really spend too much time on the actual AZT. We chose instead to create our own route along the rim, in search of drinking water and those aforementioned great views.

For gear on this trip, Sara decided to pick up several new pieces budget backpacking to test out – a sleeping pad, two person tent, and two person sleeping bag complete with pillows. She found each of these for about $30 a piece on Amazon. But would they get the job done for an overnight backpacking trip with our dog in tow? Well, there’s only one way to find that out, I guess.

Oh, and the last mile or so of road to the trailhead was impassable due to a blockade of remaining snow, so that made for an interesting start 🙂

Trailhead Used
Battle of Big Dry Wash Historical Landmark & AZT Trailhead
Payson, AZ 85541
34°27’15.4″N 111°15’02.5″W

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I Finally Upgraded my Winter Backpacking Gear!

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Sintax77

I finally upgraded some of my Winter Backpacking Gear Essentials and made my picks from Backcountry’s full inventory of outdoor gear.

FTC Disclosure: This video is in partnership with Backcountry. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through my links. Individual gear selections were made by me and all opinions are my own.

For detailed specs on the items I found most attractive, here are the
Three Pieces of Winter Camping Gear that I Ultimately Chose

Other Backcountry Gear Seen and Discussed

Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe
Fjallraven Keb Backpack
Kahthoola Microspikes
1 Liter Nalgene
Black Diamond Z-Poles
MSR EVO Ascent Snow Shoes
Gregory Optic 48 Backpack (my 3-season pack seen in the summer clip)
Adidas Terrex Swift R2 GTX (My go-to 3-season trail runners)

MEGA Tarp for 2 Hammocks or Bad Weather – Dutchware Xenon

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Sintax77

Setting up my Dutchware Xenon Two Person Tarp for Two Hammocks under One Tarp or Bad Weather Camping Conditions, such as wind snow and rain while hammock camping.

This is a 12 foot long, 11.5 foot wide tarp with an end pole mod to better accommodate a two hammock spreader bar setup and two doors at one end for wind protection, privacy at camp, etc.

I’m also using an optional internal pole mode to create even more space inside. I’m using a single one in the middle, but it’s also possible to use two of them for even more space. If you want to take it even further, you can have it made with optional side pull-outs as well. I don’t really find this necessary with the internal pole mods that I’m using. I suppose you could go that route if you’re looking for a lighter alternative to the internal pole mod.

The double hammock spreader bar system I’m using is a Dutchware Beetle Buckle suspension with 32″ spreader bar pole, but I don’t see why you couldn’t use this tarp with any other DIY spreader bar solution you may already be using.

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