Thx for the video. I live where there is a lot of snow in the winter. Some times it gets slushy and ground camping is not an option.. but i do like both... trying to get the wife out more.. she has not been an out doors person till we got together 10yrs ago. she has never done the hammock thing. Im trying to brake her in and so far she has enjoyed everything I've shown her.... after watching videos she knows what to expect... soo thank you very much.. see you soon...
Well this is the perfect comparison Simon . My mate uses a hammock , his snoring is testament to its comfort 😂😂. Definitely going to take the plunge, the DD Frontline looks the business 🇮🇪🇮🇪Atb Tony
Great information in this comparison. As an older camper, I have trouble standing up from the ground, so I have turned to a Draumr 3.0 hammock package. I can stand from a sitting position without aid and the Draumr provides both a sleeping and a chair-like option through its adjustment straps. I'll get a few more nights out of doors with it.
As a stomach sleeper, I've always been relegated to the ground, as much as I have tried hammocking. I like lounging around in my hammock and I've tried to convert to side sleeping in it, to no avail. I'll fall asleep and then instinctively turn onto my stomach, break my back and wake up. I always end up going to ground under my hammock and tarp. I found the Draumr 3.0 from Amok last year while it was at the end of a sale. Then, it went off sale and I couldn't afford it. Then, I could afford it and it was out-of-stock. I was depressed because I have wanted to try one of them for a year now. Then, the XL went on pre-sale and I jumped at it. So, come April, I will finally have a hammock to accommodate my sleeping style (and the accompanying Fjol XL sleep pad) and I can stop carrying double equipment as I cross over the 50-year mark and am looking for lighter gear or gear which makes camping more comfortable for about the same weight. Everyone I have seen with one of these Amok Draumr series hammocks seems to love it. I am banking on becoming one of them. 👍
@@GrumpyGrunt woo, I just happened across your comment not 30 minutes(!) after unboxing my newly arrived Draumr XL, with the Fjøl and tarp. Can't wait to try it. It was both smaller and lighter than I expected. Now I just hope I can actually *sleep* in it :D
@@intermarer9145 Mine is still in it's packaging, waiting for this weekend to arrive (assuming I don't play hooky and sneak off Thursday night). I didn't get the tarp, but everything else is taunting me endlessly from across the room. Enjoy your inaugural hang!
Lovely friendly video, beautiful photography touches, great editing! My comment, in England every square metre is owned, your best bet for wild camping is to stealth camp in small woodland, away from the edge, hammock camping comes into its own with plenty of trees and you are out of the worst of any weather. I run a twig stove from wild stoves - a mini camp fire that you pack up and go - safe to use and leaving no trace! Keep up the good work...
Thank you Steve! Yes, totally agree - i stealth camp frequently and in the summer, a hammock and tarp setup is my go-to. Like you, I’m also a big fan of the twig stoves and I have a few that I’ve accumulated over the years - like you said, great for ‘leave no trace’ stealth camping. 😁👍🔥
Awesome presentation on the differences between hammock and ground dwelling. I will totally agree with you. Summer time brings out a lot of poisonous snakes in the Southern US
I use a Hennessy Hammock for both, it can be set up as a bug free bivvy using hiking poles to support the Hex fly, just need to take a sleeping pad with you if you think you might be sleeping on the ground. Best of both worlds.
My DD TravelBivi's similar in that respect. No problem to carry my sleeping pad at all times just in case there's no suitable place to hang the hammock. Definitely the best of both worlds.
That was a great video.. many people pick one or the other and blab on about why their choice was superior. I use both also and switch up every other time or so for variety. In winter I hammock camp also with a thicker under-quilt. I often will prefer hammocking in tick season. Both styles are great. Thanks again for a clear description of the options.
Thanks Mike! It’s good to mix things up a bit,, I’d like to use my hammock more in the winter months, just need to upgrade my insulation a bit - I’ve now got a thicker u/q and I’m planning on making a down top quilt. There are just so many options, I like to try out different systems as I come across them, nothing is perfect, but all are good! Atb, Simon
Great observations based on experience. Just trying a hammock. Have used tents, bivvies, tarps, or under the stars. As stated, each has its advantages.
As someone wanting to start out in doing this kinda stuff your videos have been a great inspiration. You give lots of unbiased info that really helps me decide what type of things I want to buy & work towards. I grew up doing the whole Cub & Scout thing but that was many, many years ago & looking forward to getting out & about very soon. Thank you.
Now ots 4yrs later, how are you finding it? Hammock camping, and staying in tents etc? Hope you're loving it. I'm so close to choosing a Hammock for the first time.
Simon I am a previous-tenter, now a hammock camper... this is one of( maybe THE ) best comparison I have watched.... balanced and fair I appreciate that you read and respond you comments... so many u-tubers dont seem to bother. New subscriber, looking forward to watching many more of your videos... how I havent found you before is a mystery to me! Cheers
Thank you Gary and thanks for the sub! Hugely appreciated! I can’t really decide which I prefer really - both comfy in their own right, I’ll still use both at different times if the year, although I’m working on a full winter hammock setup - watch this space! Haha! Atb, Simon
I exclusively tent camp 'cause of a spinal condition which makes the famous hammock learning curve dangerous; if something went wrong, even a 1ft fall would abruptly end my trip - like legit not even waiting for dawn - & I'd be in my wheelchair scoffing Endone for a week. Of course, getting up + down from the ground sucks too, so I use a tent w. at least stooping room, a stretcher (you can get some fantastic UL ones w. convertible leg options), & a _very_ squishy pad. I'm also (yay!) claustophobic, which is another critical mark against hammock-sleeping, for me; I just _really_ need that extra living space. I love your videos, & I really appreciate that your friendly + chill attitude extended even into this one, wherein you resisted the temptation to make the same hammock-proselytising video every other bushcraft YTer seems to have. I don't what it is w. a lot of hammock campers, but they're the Militant Vegans[tm]* of the camping world. HYOH, except if you've never tried hammock-camping, apparently. You would not believe the amount of people who have breezed right past my very good reasons to continue to try to change my mind about it, until "being convinced" started to feel like straight-up legit "being pressured". Thanks for keeping it real, Simon, + for always remembering that no 1 thing will _ever_ work universally, no matter what it is. I remain a big fan, & continue to think of you as the British (+ more bushcrafty) Steve Wallis (& believe me, that is a compliment). I hope it will amuse you to learn that I refer to you, to my husband (who does not camp, + so does not watch videos w. me) as Uncle Si; "Uncle Si has the most beautiful canoe," "Uncle Si has me reconsidering the humble roll-mat," "Uncle Si's convinced me to try to find a Lavuu!" ("What's a Lavuu?" "It's like a tipi." "Won't that be too cramped for you?" "...Oh, yeah. :-/") You're a minor celebrity in our house. ;-) *No offense intended to any vegan reading this - I know several perfectly lovely ones - unless you're specifically the aggressive type (in which case, _all_ offense intended).
Loved the comparison video! My son and Grandson hammock camp with the Boy Scouts year round. Cold is no problem as they zip the side of a sleeping bag and place it around the hammock. They love it and the Grandson is about a year from getting his Eagle Scout. A close friend camps all over the Smokies and prefers a two man tent. Each his own, I guess!
I do both and it tends to be hammock in the summer and on the ground in the winter, mostly because on the ground you can create a bed base to improve insulation and add structure to the tarp to help block the wind. One advantage of the hammock is you don't need level ground, I've made good use of trees on fairly steep embankments, just don't get out the wrong side in the night for that comfort brake!
Hahaha - that’s a mistake you don’t want to make! That’s my reason for going to ground in the winter too - better protection and insulation. Cheers, Simon
Great comparison. I prefer hammock but use tent when I have to. Hammock is much better for my back and I think it's more enjoyable to slack with a good book in a hammock than in a tent during rainy days 😀
Thanks Simon - all very informative - I personally prefer to swing, but heading down to meet my mate in Ely late November for a wild-camp and will be sleeping on the ground, hence packing foil-foam matt to insulate me from the cold damp earth
I've learned to bring along a bivvy bag when hammock camping as I bring a ground sheet so I can tarp camp if no good trees are found. Also bivvy bag in a hammock is a bonus if in windy stormy weather incase tarp blows off I'll be protected. I learned this from a youtuber but I forgot his name, but yes very bulky but better safe than sorry.
Awesome video. I like both, although I tend to gravitate towards ground dwelling; it is the versatility of the tarp that does it for me, to point that in a pinch you can wrap yourself in the tarp as an ad hoc bivy bag. Also, in my line of work how to camp is more determined by latitude/ecosystem; in the tropical rainforest I use the hammock exclusively, while in my current (Scandinavia) and previous posting (Greenland) it is ground/snow dwelling (there are also no trees in the arctic, but that is just a minor detail). Thanks for sharing Simon!
Thank you! Not much use for a hammock in the Arctic with no trees haha! I think if I were going to the tropics I’d take a hammock too - sanctuary from the insects!! Cheers, Simon
I do prefer a hammock and if I know where I am going I will gear for that. If I am unsure of the camping area, I will bring along a sleeping pad for the ground and I can use it in place of the hammock in case I have to go to the ground. Great video!
If one takes along an extra tarp for emergency groundsheet & trekking poles, one can get away with a hammock & tarp setup. Just use the hammock bivvy-style if no trees are available. The other components such as insulation remain the same.
I have a bad back, so the banana shape you get in a hammock is a no for me. I have chosen to utilize a light tent (a Lanshan). The sleep system is like tarp camping, but the added inner mesh tent provide the protection from insects in the summer that a tarp don't. With two entrances, the tent can also be pretty airy, meaning it will not necessarily be very hot. By adjusting the trekking poles, the tent can also lift the outer tent up from the ground completely, allowing even more airflow.
Love the video. As an antique camper most of the cracks and snaps in the woods are my joints. I've been thinking of a hammock for awhile and you answered a lot of my questions. There are quite a few places I canoe-camp that dont have any clearings so finding a big area for a tent is sometimes quite frustrating. And just to give you a chuckle....when I go out for a few days in my canoe, when there are no portages, I have started carrying a 6ft x 2ft roll of memory foam. Hate getting out of bed in the morning though...lol.
Hammock for me, an uncomfortable night hanging it better than the most comfortable one on the ground. Diagonal lay enables side sleeping. Converted about 4 yrs ago
Do you find you can get a diagonal lay in the Frontline? Is it long enough for that? I'm Looking at getting a hammock and have been swayed by the advice of 'The marine' and 'Section Hiker' who both advocate the 4 foot rule, i.e hammock should be 4 foot longer than you, and wide so you can get a proper asymmetrical lay, This advise put me off the frontline and has made me go towards the sea to summit pro single which is 10 foot long. Love to hear any feedback from people who use the frontline and great video cheers.
I can speak for the frontline but it's achievable in the hornet which is similar. Need to have enough sag. If you run a ridgeline at 83% of the hammocks length you'll be there or there abouts
Simon I appreciate your Insight on hammock and ground camping I find them both enjoyable but I prefer Hammock Camping but if you do some research you can find things that take care of the hammock problem with hanging. They have things such as Madera stands or other folding type hammock stands I am currently building one out of two by twos that folds up and it will turn into a trailer that you can either pull behind you or a bicycle good luck in your future endeavors Simon God bless
Nice break down of both systems. At heart I'm a ground dweller. I carry less things that way. I've tried hammock camping but always felt really vulnerable in one, I could never relax properly in it. But this was early on when I would go solo camping and was coming to terms with being out in the bush alone. If I tried it now I may react more positively to it. It's just MORE money to buy another system and I think the "boss" will be cross lol. Thanks for sharing, buddy. Take care.
Cheers Andy, yes, I know what you mean - kit costs a fortune! And I’m a sucker for it haha! The hammocks with built in mosi nets feel more enclosed, much more cocoon like! Atb mate, Simon
Hi Simon I hammock camp all year round , but the weight of the gear you need does increase as does the money you need to spend especially on a down underquilt , never really enjoyed ground dwelling much , have managed to pitch a set up on one of the tors on Dartmoor, I have an underquilt protector spare if you want it , it gives you a few more degrees warmth and weighs nothing..let me know if you can use it ... later mate
Cheers matey! I know what you mean about down underquilts - I looked at getting one a while ago haha! Very generous offer of the u/q protector! A few more degrees makes all the difference - I’ve spent a few nights shivering in sub zero! Are you on messenger? Cheers buddy, Simon.
Simon, a bloke in the woods yep I’m on messenger dude it’s ginger scarff ..let me know where to send it..they really make a difference could get you into late autumn with the hammock
A good comparison Simon. I hammock when I can and ground dwell when I need to. A hammock is so much more comfortable than any night on the ground, but I agree that it isn't nearly as versatile as a tarp and bivvy setup. All the best, Al
You are also restricted with the tarp with level ground. When hunting I can hammock camp on the side of a hill, where a level spot could be hours away. Hunt until dark. It's great
Ta for the vid. Really well thought through and put together. For myself, I like both. Been a ground dweller for most of my life but allowed myself to be talked into investing in the tree dwelling lifestyle a few years back (I'm at that funny age when I just can't remember when: I'm into my beerties!) In honesty, for me at least, it's horses for courses: It's all about need and desire (I can stealth easily in both but prefer being on the ground. It's just easier!) And sometimes I just want to 'hang-about' and lounge (only a hammock enables this). Weight is an issue (cos like you, and many others, I'm a gear whor..er, wasname, thingamebob...) And I gladly (ok, maybe not gladly) carry my comfort into the wilderness (ok, for those who also live in Blighty, you can stop laughing at that 'wilderness' word now). But then I have fiends who seem to be able to pack their entire kit into two rocket pockets and it weighs nowt. Again, horses for courses. And witchcraft. I'm gonna shut up now cos this is a topic that can carry a lot of mileage between mates (and has done for years) Take care, have fun, and no more of that dropping cameras in rivers as an excuse to go paddling! ;)
Hahaha - I wondered when that was going to crop up again! I’m with you about carrying the extra weight for a bit of luxury sometimes- it can be worth it for that good nights sleep at the end of a long slog! Cheers buddy, Simon
Nice video Simon. I have been using hammocks since 2000 and much prefer them, but you are reliant on trees in the right places. I like them too, as they are great for sleeping in steeply wooded valleys (you just have to remember which side to get out of during the night!). Thanks again for a great video. Atb Neil
Hahaha - Yes, I can imaging that might be an unexpected shock in the middle of the night! I’ve set up my hammock across a small stream before, as it was the only option available to me - needless to say I double and triple checked my suspension before getting my head down! Oh, and the sound of trickling water beneath you is worse than torture haha! Cheers, Simon
Awesome vid. Sub'd. I've got the DD TravelBivi - basically like your Frontline but waterproof fabric. Not as breathable but designed to be used on the ground as a bivvy (using sticks/hiking poles to support the tarp) if required. If the weather's wet, I'd prefer hammock over ground-camping - keep myself up away from the mud, water run-off etc. Most my camping has been on the ground - tents, not tarps - hammock camping is new for me and I'm still experimenting with gear to refine my setup. It's certainly a lot more customisable than the average tent setup.
Loving your videos, Simon. I do both, too, though I have the DD Travel hammock which can also be used as a bugnet bivvy on the ground if there's no trees around. I also use a 25 inch wide Thermarest NeoAir Camper mattress, which actually does fold around you a little bit in the hammock, so I haven't had to buy an additional dedicated underblanket. There are advantages to being a cheap git!
Hahaha - nowt wrong with that! I like the travel hammock, great system. As you use your neoair in your hammock, you’ve always got a complete system that works as well hung or not - love it! Thanks Stefan, Atb.
Only difference is, I like a bit of space when I'm sleeping on the ground, especially if on a multi-month bicycle tour so I can be bug free in the Summer and warm in the Winter (with my Kelly Kettle tent heater setup). So I take a three man tent with me - the Vango Halo 300. My hammock/bivvy setup is really just for short trips. I could do it on longer trips, I suppose, but the restrictive space tends to get old. On long trips I never get sick of my big tent. I could keep on 'til the sky falls in.
Having the ability to sleep flat and dry irrespective of the ground is what I like, however needing two trees or items is somewhat restrictive. Hammocks just seem more comfortable to me.
I find them really comfy, but I know a lot of people don’t - DD do a hammock called the Travel hammock which has a waterproof base and can be set up as a bivvy for ground dwelling with the added bonus of the mosi net. A good system if you find yourself without trees! Atb, Simon
Great video Simon, I have a hammock set up and also use my Banshee tent but although I love the Banshee I love using the hammock set up more as I find it so comfortable although without the under blanket it does get very cold in the night even in summer. The ground set up using the tarp as a tent is also another good option as the tarps are so versatile. looking forward to your next vid ATB Chris.
Have a hammock and standard my bivybag as well...but go around with a walkingtrailer. After backpack whole my life this is my way to go since a few years
both nice setups, slowly I'm adding to my camping gear, I recently purchased a hammock and a separate bugnet and I have a DD 4x4 tarp that will give me the coverage I want plus I can use it for ground camping when it's not feasible to take a tent
I have a hammock like that, when we went camping last time I took it with to test it out, I put a tarp over the top but to be honest I was so cold I ended up going back into the main tent at about 3am and haven’t used it since then.
Did you have any insulation under you? If not, then that is probably why you got so cold - a normal sleeping bag compresses under you and gives little to no insulation value - try it with a foam sleep mat under your sleeping bag or, better still, an underquilt. 👍
Just to add that hammocks are amazingly good for anyone with any degree of back trouble. Honestly, try it. The diagonal lay keeps you level and you'll be up and about from the moment you wake.
As usual you have produced an excellent video. Informative and thought provoking. I enjoyed watching. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and perspectives. Now, I am confident that in any sort of survival situation I certainly sleep in a hammock! I suppose that in a survival situation I would be so exhausted I could sleep on a rock after the efforts necessary to stay alive. That said: All my life I have slept on my stomach. I have never had back problems nor have I had snoring or associated problems. For me it is simply my natural sleeping position. As for “puncture” problems? It takes little work to clear the ground to avoid such. As for a tarp? I carry a lightweight single person tent! ( 4.4 lbs including the rain fly...) Two poles; takes less than 5 minutes to pitch. More that 60 % is netting and in dry weather it is cool and airy. The tarp I carry is only used for cover when outside my tent. Only if and when necessary. At any rate, thanks again for the video. Very well done, sir.
Cheers Walter! I’ve never been able to sleep comfortably on my stomach - I tend to roll over a few times before drifting off, including a spell on my stomach, but always end up on my side generally! A tent is certainly the best protection, and sounds like you’ve got a good, lightweight one - the mesh saving weight as well a working well in the warmer months! Thanks Walter, Atb, Simon
Thanks for the video Simon I'm ground dweller just can't get comfy need to feel the terra ferrma under me the only thing I add to your system is a grabber blanket
I enjoyed the vid very much, although i also prefer to sleep on the ground in the winter while using a hammock in the summer. I believe both methods have benefits.i have had a hammock since my youth and im middle age know, time flies by..lol thx for this info it was very informative, thx for sharing.
Nice setup. I have a similar setup, and I can adapt to whatever conditions I encounter. I am happy to hammock camp in winter, I just try to hang as protected as I can from the wind. Sleeping on the ground is a backup option, and I can pitch my tarp any number of ways, but my 62 year old body doesn't like ground sleeping much nowadays 😁.
One way to keep an option is to use the Travel hammock, from DD hammocks like your Frontline, as this has a waterproof bottom so you can use it on the ground as well, keeping the bug net it comes with. Personally I never had a problem with geting cold in a hammock even in winter, my now almost 38 years old Fjällräven kip mat always did its job. I turned to the hammock when I lived in the Pyrenees, where in the middle altitude ranges you often have two situations : either flat enough for a tent but muddy or not muddy but not enough flat space. As these parts are mostly wooded,and often very densely so, there's hardly ever a problem to string up a hammock but it's sometimes difficult to find room for a tent in the first place. And of course a hammock is much better for a back as finicky as mine has become... In a tarp setup such as yours for the ground option, the DD 4x4 m tarp which I chose offers me 1 meter's with on the ground, so no need for an extra groundcloth. Also, it's big enough to go over myself, a hammock and my canoe, which counts when you're bivying in places where this is not allowed and why I chose the multicam version. NB : in France navigation is not free save on "public domain" rivers, so the more discrete the better both day and night as landowners on the banks can forbid your the thouroughfare. Last but not least, I find it enraging to be in a tent, hear an animal come by and not be able to see it as opening a zip would send it running. So all this, as per usual, is personal and depends on the situations you encounter.
Thanks Johan! Good idea with the 4x4 tarp - huge covered area - great workspace too! Do you find the travel hammock causes condensation? I did consider it but that’s what put me off - or it it still breathable enough through the base? I do find my hammock incredibly comfy!
Thank you Darius! Eating and especially cooking is much easier when set up on the ground - you can have a fire and make the most of the warmth from when sleeping too! For hammock camping, I often pull my snake skins over the hammock when I’m not actually using it - during the day, you’ve then got note room under the tarp for working, eating etc. Cheers, Simon
I really wanted to like hammocking but im quite an active sleeper and sleep on my stomach alot which doesnt really work in the hammock for me unfortunately. Im using a lightweight simple mesh tent with tarp these days which still gives me a good view out into the surroundings but also keeps away the famous nasty british slugs and midgys ofcourse.
Two important factors in selection: Terrain and season. In the desert of SW Texas I do not use a hammock, not a tree in sight. In the forests of NW New Jersey I do. Weather then being the other factor. Stoves and hammocks do not play well together. All good kit, when used properly.
I think the main concern from most people is the discomfort of laying on the ground. Especially on cheaper sleeping pads... When it comes to weight, and hamock setup, i dont (currently) have a top- or under-quilt, and just take the rope to the hammock through the bottom of my sleeping bag, and use the sleeping bag around the hammock (which will avoid compressing the sleeping bag - but does not work with hammocks with an attatched moskito net). This makes it very easy to get in and out. Just lay down in the hammock, and pull the sleeping bag up around you (and tighten the top end a bit to avoid cold air to blow into the bottom side of it)... You will need a somewhat wide sleeping bag if you plan on laying diagonally in the hammock, but even when i lay parallell with the hammock, and just have the hammock tied up a bit tighter than i would if i wanted a diagonal lay, i still feel that i lay MUCH more comfortable than in a tent (i just got my hammock recently, and have just tried it out for an hour or something, but not actually sleeping in it). Just the hammock alone is perfect for daytrips, so i can rest comfortably anywhere in the forest, without carrying some much bigger camping chair... I also find hammock to be MUCH easier to set up than any of the tents i have owned...
Thank you - that’s a great idea - I’ve heard of people modifying sleeping bags in this way - makes sense and is a cheaper and lighter option. You can buy. Hammock cocoons - the same principle, but longer. 👍
@@simonablokeinthewoods I saw a video of those "pod system" sleeping bags the other day. Im not very tall, so at least some of the sleeping bags i have is long enough for me. Something i will recommend for people camping alone, is getting some video glasses. They have some pretty decent ones on ebay for $165 (Vision 800). It has android operating system, and bluetooth, so you can use a keyboard and mouse with it. I already got some old ones, but wanted something better... Im addicted to entertainment, and feel like something is missing on a camping trip if i dont have something like this. Dont like to just sit down and do nothing... Pretty sweet to be able to put up the hammock on my porch, and lay down and watch some videos too, or in bed :P
nicely set up sir.. guess you had to for this video really haha. I promised myself id try ham mocking again this year but I still havnt yet for fear of laying awake all night.
Haha - it was discovering the diagonal lay that changed the game for me - you can get almost horizontal and then roll over onto yer side - sort of! Cheers buddy - Hammock for Sweden me thinks!
You a Dinosaur❕ All I can do is turn this thing 0n, I ain't got a Clue What, Where, How-to, on anything else. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for a friend who set it up. Loved your video on these.
Very interesting and informative video...I think hooped bivvies' and small lightweight tents are also worth considering, but don't seem to be "fashionable" in the British bushcraft circles, unless its a 20lb + canvas teepee of tent...I've never tried sleeping in a hammock and I am not sure I could get comfortable being a side sleeper and somebody fairly who is a fairly restless sleeper. I do want to give it a go though because to me, they offer one major advantage, and that is elevation above ground living ticks. As a woodland deer stalker I am very aware of ticks and the potential for catching Lymes disease...In areas like Thetford Forest, there are very high populations of ticks and there is no way I would sleep on the ground other than in a tent with a built in ground sheet...
Thanks Peter! Interesting point about the ticks! I use a bivvy bag and recently got a hooped bivvy - I really like it - holds the heat well too, like a small tent. I’m always super careful to check Maggie after we’ve been for a walk in Thetford forest - like you said, tick city! Atb and happy new year!
Grate vid pal I only ground dwell my self would like a hammock just never got round to buying one enjoy it on the floor to much good to see your views on them both though atb 🖐🖐
Thanks! If you’ve got a setup you like, it’s probably not worth forking out all the money to change to a hammock system - the ground is comfy and you can use a fire! 🔥 cheers, Simon.
Your not as much of a dinosaur than I am. Very interesting Simon and I’ll still stick with my Quasar and Hilleberg tent if you don’t mind. The hammock does look comfortable and I’m sure it’s fine for 15 minuets but after that I’d like to toss and turn. It seems to me that if you do roll about you may well fall out of it. Plus I can easily use a pee bottle in my tent but can’t see me doing that within a hammock. However, I like to give it try but would need my tent as a refuge in case of tipping out. Am I just being a typical old school type of camper who doesn’t except new ways? You know what they say ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. Cheers Simon and happy bushcrafting. ⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️
Hahaha - cheers Mike! Not so much use up in the mountains either! It’s much more comfy than you’d think, I’ve never fallen out either! Oh, and as for the pee bottle, I’d never be without one, just as easy in the hammock, just requires a slightly different technique! Thanks Mike, Atb mate, Simon.
Good comparison Simon. I used to tent camp, and hike. But over the years my mobility has truly changed to be able to get on the ground and back up is extremely difficult. I've been considering hammock camping to get me back to doing what I liked to do. Your information gave me some good ideas. Keep the vids coming, and thanks for your time and effort. Have you come across techniques or devices that let a hammock to be strung in a tent? Naturally I would have to use a larger tent.
Great video as always, mate. I definitely want to try hammock camping but can't bring myself to shelling out on all the gear! Might keep an eye out on eBay for a secondhand setup 👍🏼
Yes, I know what you mean - kit is so expensive! You can do it on the cheap - look out for cheap Chinese hammocks if you don’t mind waiting for it to be shipped, or have a go at making one - they are basically just a big rectangle with a sleeve in each end - well stitched!! As for an underblanket, you can make one from a cheap sleeping bag. Not everybody takes to hammocks, so at least that way, you’ve not shelled out a fortune! Happy hanging! Simon.
Hi Simon, im completely new to hammocks etc, what is your view to the following... a hammock, sleeping bag, no underquilt but rather directly under the sleeping bag( IE not slung underneath the hammock ) is one of those "car windscreen reflective" thingies.....or even.....just a plain old Mylar blanket..........how do you think that might work?
Great video! I’m not a hammock camper, but my husband is, and I’ve been looking for a bivy for my his mummy bag, but can’t seem to find one with even decent reviews. Would you mind telling me which one you are using?
Great video Simon, I haven't tried hammock camping yet but can't wait to. My only concern is that there could be spots where there aren't any well spaced trees. Well, that and my fear of bears... I'd hate to wake up in the night and have a bear sniffing around under me. ;)
Yes, I can see how that would be unnerving haha! Luckily we don’t really have any predators or dangerous animals here - only humans! I’m sure you’ll find it comfortable Jason, I find lying slightly diagonally across the hammock allows you to get almost horizontal which is comfy for me. Happy hanging! Atb, Simon
Hi Si, great video.. I'm wood camping in a hammock this wk, o don't have an underblanket. I have a nice sleeping bag and was planning on using a matt for the time being. I have a foam Z Matt or a therma rest. Which would you recommend ? Kindest regards.
Last month I slept in a tent on a abandoned fortress on a island. The isseu was that it was sub zero temperature like minus 5 decrees celcius also we fell in tge water before. I had a thick matt and a tent and a good sleeping bag altho i was warm my feet where ice cold the whoke night is thay because my feet werent on the matt?
Could have been that, could have been a result of getting wet earlier or could have been a circulation thing - I suffer from cold feet and hands too! Next time take some of those disposable ‘hot hands’ heat pads with you, throw them in your sleeping bag before you go to bed (warms up the sleeping bag and you can then use them as heat pads for your feet. 👍
I sleep better on the ground, provided that it is flat. The huge plus of a hammock is you can make a flat bed where there is no convenient flat land to lay on. It matters not if its steep sloping, rocky, swampy etc as long as there are load-bearing trees. I recall 2 self-guided kayak camping tours of Norway's spectacular fjordland where in hindsight a hammock would have been REALLY useful. Plenty of forest for wild hammocking but almost no flat land anywhere; lots of near vertical cliff faces plunging straight down to the water, steep scree slopes, boulder fields and very few beaches. The only semi-flat land already had Norwegian homes, farms, roads and businesses on it and was unavailable for wild camping. In reality, you have the right to wild camp on the steep sloping, boulder strewn rock slides or swampy shit bits that nobody else wants to inhabit.
Thx for the video. I live where there is a lot of snow in the winter. Some times it gets slushy and ground camping is not an option.. but i do like both... trying to get the wife out more.. she has not been an out doors person till we got together 10yrs ago. she has never done the hammock thing. Im trying to brake her in and so far she has enjoyed everything I've shown her.... after watching videos she knows what to expect... soo thank you very much.. see you soon...
Cheers Steve, really glad she’s getting into it - a nice thing to share! 👍
Well this is the perfect comparison Simon . My mate uses a hammock , his snoring is testament to its comfort 😂😂. Definitely going to take the plunge, the DD Frontline looks the business 🇮🇪🇮🇪Atb Tony
Fair and balanced reasoning
Great information in this comparison. As an older camper, I have trouble standing up from the ground, so I have turned to a Draumr 3.0 hammock package. I can stand from a sitting position without aid and the Draumr provides both a sleeping and a chair-like option through its adjustment straps. I'll get a few more nights out of doors with it.
That sounds like a great system James - I think a lot of people could take a leaf out of your book! Happy hanging! Atb, Simon
As a stomach sleeper, I've always been relegated to the ground, as much as I have tried hammocking. I like lounging around in my hammock and I've tried to convert to side sleeping in it, to no avail. I'll fall asleep and then instinctively turn onto my stomach, break my back and wake up. I always end up going to ground under my hammock and tarp.
I found the Draumr 3.0 from Amok last year while it was at the end of a sale. Then, it went off sale and I couldn't afford it. Then, I could afford it and it was out-of-stock. I was depressed because I have wanted to try one of them for a year now. Then, the XL went on pre-sale and I jumped at it.
So, come April, I will finally have a hammock to accommodate my sleeping style (and the accompanying Fjol XL sleep pad) and I can stop carrying double equipment as I cross over the 50-year mark and am looking for lighter gear or gear which makes camping more comfortable for about the same weight. Everyone I have seen with one of these Amok Draumr series hammocks seems to love it. I am banking on becoming one of them. 👍
@@GrumpyGrunt woo, I just happened across your comment not 30 minutes(!) after unboxing my newly arrived Draumr XL, with the Fjøl and tarp. Can't wait to try it. It was both smaller and lighter than I expected. Now I just hope I can actually *sleep* in it :D
@@intermarer9145 Mine is still in it's packaging, waiting for this weekend to arrive (assuming I don't play hooky and sneak off Thursday night). I didn't get the tarp, but everything else is taunting me endlessly from across the room.
Enjoy your inaugural hang!
@@GrumpyGrunt I shall add to the taunting, "Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries!"
Bless 🤗 you boys are amazing 😍 sorting those lads out 🥰🥰🥰
Seriously though , really good and helpdul advice . 😁🙏♡ . I may not be doing this, but YOU NEVER KNOW !
This is one of the best videos I have seen on hammocks and tarps.
Hi. Like your style. Also like your attitude about older gear. Good job.
Lovely friendly video, beautiful photography touches, great editing! My comment, in England every square metre is owned, your best bet for wild camping is to stealth camp in small woodland, away from the edge, hammock camping comes into its own with plenty of trees and you are out of the worst of any weather. I run a twig stove from wild stoves - a mini camp fire that you pack up and go - safe to use and leaving no trace! Keep up the good work...
Thank you Steve! Yes, totally agree - i stealth camp frequently and in the summer, a hammock and tarp setup is my go-to. Like you, I’m also a big fan of the twig stoves and I have a few that I’ve accumulated over the years - like you said, great for ‘leave no trace’ stealth camping. 😁👍🔥
A hammock is about as stealth as using a bright red caravan !
Awesome presentation on the differences between hammock and ground dwelling. I will totally agree with you. Summer time brings out a lot of poisonous snakes in the Southern US
Luckily, we only have the adder to worry about here, I’d definitely be off the ground if I lived in your neck of the woods! 😁
I've set up in both and I loved it
An Honest, Fair Comparison On The Advantages Of Both Options. Awesome Video, As Usual.
I use a Hennessy Hammock for both, it can be set up as a bug free bivvy using hiking poles to support the Hex fly, just need to take a sleeping pad with you if you think you might be sleeping on the ground. Best of both worlds.
Cheers Brett, I’ve always been intrigued by the Hennessy hammocks - great that they can be used on the ground too. Thanks, Simon.
My DD TravelBivi's similar in that respect. No problem to carry my sleeping pad at all times just in case there's no suitable place to hang the hammock. Definitely the best of both worlds.
Great comparison videos. I'd like to try both. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
That was a great video.. many people pick one or the other and blab on about why their choice was superior.
I use both also and switch up every other time or so for variety. In winter I hammock camp also with a thicker under-quilt. I often will prefer hammocking in tick season. Both styles are great.
Thanks again for a clear description of the options.
Thanks Mike! It’s good to mix things up a bit,, I’d like to use my hammock more in the winter months, just need to upgrade my insulation a bit - I’ve now got a thicker u/q and I’m planning on making a down top quilt.
There are just so many options, I like to try out different systems as I come across them, nothing is perfect, but all are good! Atb, Simon
Great observations based on experience. Just trying a hammock. Have used tents, bivvies, tarps, or under the stars. As stated, each has its advantages.
As someone wanting to start out in doing this kinda stuff your videos have been a great inspiration. You give lots of unbiased info that really helps me decide what type of things I want to buy & work towards. I grew up doing the whole Cub & Scout thing but that was many, many years ago & looking forward to getting out & about very soon. Thank you.
Thanks Mike, really glad the videos have inspired you! I was in the cubs and scouts too - the start of a long journey for me!! 😁
Now ots 4yrs later, how are you finding it? Hammock camping, and staying in tents etc? Hope you're loving it. I'm so close to choosing a Hammock for the first time.
I used my dd frontline hammock as a ground setup. Its also a option 😁
Great work...you are terrific at demystifying the world of bushcraft. Thanks for the good work.
Thanks Carl! Glad you enjoyed it, Atb, Simon
Simon
I am a previous-tenter, now a hammock camper... this is one of( maybe THE ) best comparison I have watched.... balanced and fair
I appreciate that you read and respond you comments... so many u-tubers dont seem to bother.
New subscriber, looking forward to watching many more of your videos... how I havent found you before is a mystery to me!
Cheers
Thank you Gary and thanks for the sub! Hugely appreciated!
I can’t really decide which I prefer really - both comfy in their own right, I’ll still use both at different times if the year, although I’m working on a full winter hammock setup - watch this space! Haha! Atb, Simon
You are in the Summer Season trying out a winter hammock set up...and giving us your pro's and con's on each...nice! How "Brilliant!"
I was really just showing the hammock setup I use as a comparison to my ground setup - the season is irrelevant, it was for demonstration purposes.
I exclusively tent camp 'cause of a spinal condition which makes the famous hammock learning curve dangerous; if something went wrong, even a 1ft fall would abruptly end my trip - like legit not even waiting for dawn - & I'd be in my wheelchair scoffing Endone for a week. Of course, getting up + down from the ground sucks too, so I use a tent w. at least stooping room, a stretcher (you can get some fantastic UL ones w. convertible leg options), & a _very_ squishy pad.
I'm also (yay!) claustophobic, which is another critical mark against hammock-sleeping, for me; I just _really_ need that extra living space.
I love your videos, & I really appreciate that your friendly + chill attitude extended even into this one, wherein you resisted the temptation to make the same hammock-proselytising video every other bushcraft YTer seems to have. I don't what it is w. a lot of hammock campers, but they're the Militant Vegans[tm]* of the camping world. HYOH, except if you've never tried hammock-camping, apparently.
You would not believe the amount of people who have breezed right past my very good reasons to continue to try to change my mind about it, until "being convinced" started to feel like straight-up legit "being pressured".
Thanks for keeping it real, Simon, + for always remembering that no 1 thing will _ever_ work universally, no matter what it is. I remain a big fan, & continue to think of you as the British (+ more bushcrafty) Steve Wallis (& believe me, that is a compliment).
I hope it will amuse you to learn that I refer to you, to my husband (who does not camp, + so does not watch videos w. me) as Uncle Si; "Uncle Si has the most beautiful canoe," "Uncle Si has me reconsidering the humble roll-mat," "Uncle Si's convinced me to try to find a Lavuu!" ("What's a Lavuu?" "It's like a tipi." "Won't that be too cramped for you?" "...Oh, yeah. :-/") You're a minor celebrity in our house. ;-)
*No offense intended to any vegan reading this - I know several perfectly lovely ones - unless you're specifically the aggressive type (in which case, _all_ offense intended).
Loved the comparison video! My son and Grandson hammock camp with the Boy Scouts year round. Cold is no problem as they zip the side of a sleeping bag and place it around the hammock. They love it and the Grandson is about a year from getting his Eagle Scout. A close friend camps all over the Smokies and prefers a two man tent. Each his own, I guess!
I do both and it tends to be hammock in the summer and on the ground in the winter, mostly because on the ground you can create a bed base to improve insulation and add structure to the tarp to help block the wind. One advantage of the hammock is you don't need level ground, I've made good use of trees on fairly steep embankments, just don't get out the wrong side in the night for that comfort brake!
Hahaha - that’s a mistake you don’t want to make! That’s my reason for going to ground in the winter too - better protection and insulation. Cheers, Simon
Great comparison. I prefer hammock but use tent when I have to. Hammock is much better for my back and I think it's more enjoyable to slack with a good book in a hammock than in a tent during rainy days 😀
Oh, yes! I couldn’t agree more, a book, a nice breeze and the sound of the birds in the background - Bliss!! Cheers, Simon
I actually prefer a tent for my back believe it or not hammock makes my back hurts so much
I guess our backs are different. My back can not take the banana shape of a hammock.
Thanks Simon - all very informative - I personally prefer to swing, but heading down to meet my mate in Ely late November for a wild-camp and will be sleeping on the ground, hence packing foil-foam matt to insulate me from the cold damp earth
Thank you, I appreciate your videos, as a beginner I learn a lot about how to try out new things
My pleasure- glad you enjoyed it! 😁
Just like you I use both setups depending on the place I'm camping in. I do however love sleeping in my hammock I find it so much more comfortable.
Definitely with you there Jason! Although, it was discovering the diagonal lay that upped my comfort level! Atb mate, Simon
Nice comparison. In use my down top quilt for both my hammock and on the ground.
I've learned to bring along a bivvy bag when hammock camping as I bring a ground sheet so I can tarp camp if no good trees are found. Also bivvy bag in a hammock is a bonus if in windy stormy weather incase tarp blows off I'll be protected. I learned this from a youtuber but I forgot his name, but yes very bulky but better safe than sorry.
Nice one Simon . Some sensible points there . Haven't hammock camped overnight . Give it a go this summer hopefully. Take care 🏕👍
Awesome video. I like both, although I tend to gravitate towards ground dwelling; it is the versatility of the tarp that does it for me, to point that in a pinch you can wrap yourself in the tarp as an ad hoc bivy bag. Also, in my line of work how to camp is more determined by latitude/ecosystem; in the tropical rainforest I use the hammock exclusively, while in my current (Scandinavia) and previous posting (Greenland) it is ground/snow dwelling (there are also no trees in the arctic, but that is just a minor detail). Thanks for sharing Simon!
Thank you! Not much use for a hammock in the Arctic with no trees haha! I think if I were going to the tropics I’d take a hammock too - sanctuary from the insects!!
Cheers, Simon
I do prefer a hammock and if I know where I am going I will gear for that. If I am unsure of the camping area, I will bring along a sleeping pad for the ground and I can use it in place of the hammock in case I have to go to the ground. Great video!
Thanks, pretty much as I do. I like to hammock where I can, but always good to have a backup!
If one takes along an extra tarp for emergency groundsheet & trekking poles, one can get away with a hammock & tarp setup. Just use the hammock bivvy-style if no trees are available. The other components such as insulation remain the same.
Nice instructional film Simon, lots of info tidbits of the comparison of the 2 systems, I enjoyed your close up angled shots also, Thanks and ATB
Thanks Mark - glad you enjoyed it! Cheers, Simon
I have a bad back, so the banana shape you get in a hammock is a no for me. I have chosen to utilize a light tent (a Lanshan). The sleep system is like tarp camping, but the added inner mesh tent provide the protection from insects in the summer that a tarp don't. With two entrances, the tent can also be pretty airy, meaning it will not necessarily be very hot. By adjusting the trekking poles, the tent can also lift the outer tent up from the ground completely, allowing even more airflow.
Love the video. As an antique camper most of the cracks and snaps in the woods are my joints. I've been thinking of a hammock for awhile and you answered a lot of my questions. There are quite a few places I canoe-camp that dont have any clearings so finding a big area for a tent is sometimes quite frustrating. And just to give you a chuckle....when I go out for a few days in my canoe, when there are no portages, I have started carrying a 6ft x 2ft roll of memory foam. Hate getting out of bed in the morning though...lol.
That is genius! hope you get on with a hammock - I find them really comfy, but many don't!
Hammock for me, an uncomfortable night hanging it better than the most comfortable one on the ground. Diagonal lay enables side sleeping. Converted about 4 yrs ago
Yes, I’ve found the same with sleeping diagonally, to be honest, that revolutionised hammocking for me! Cheers, Simon
Do you find you can get a diagonal lay in the Frontline? Is it long enough for that? I'm Looking at getting a hammock and have been swayed by the advice of 'The marine' and 'Section Hiker' who both advocate the 4 foot rule, i.e hammock should be 4 foot longer than you, and wide so you can get a proper asymmetrical lay, This advise put me off the frontline and has made me go towards the sea to summit pro single which is 10 foot long. Love to hear any feedback from people who use the frontline and great video cheers.
I can speak for the frontline but it's achievable in the hornet which is similar. Need to have enough sag. If you run a ridgeline at 83% of the hammocks length you'll be there or there abouts
Simon I appreciate your Insight on hammock and ground camping I find them both enjoyable but I prefer Hammock Camping but if you do some research you can find things that take care of the hammock problem with hanging. They have things such as Madera stands or other folding type hammock stands I am currently building one out of two by twos that folds up and it will turn into a trailer that you can either pull behind you or a bicycle good luck in your future endeavors Simon God bless
Did you go through with the idea? If so, how'd it go?
Simon I sure enjoy your videos well thought out I have a broken back in two places and am 70 years old tested old but will be moving soon
Thanks Ed, I wish you a speedy recovery!
Nice break down of both systems. At heart I'm a ground dweller. I carry less things that way. I've tried hammock camping but always felt really vulnerable in one, I could never relax properly in it. But this was early on when I would go solo camping and was coming to terms with being out in the bush alone. If I tried it now I may react more positively to it. It's just MORE money to buy another system and I think the "boss" will be cross lol. Thanks for sharing, buddy. Take care.
Cheers Andy, yes, I know what you mean - kit costs a fortune! And I’m a sucker for it haha! The hammocks with built in mosi nets feel more enclosed, much more cocoon like! Atb mate, Simon
Nice video and a good comparison of two different systems, no preaching just good basic info, thanks.
Thanks Trev! All the best, Simon
I'm the same 🖒. Hammock in summer, ground shelter in winter with a fire 🔥. Nice kit fella 🖒
Cheers Rick! All the best, Simon
Hi Simon
I hammock camp all year round , but the weight of the gear you need does increase as does the money you need to spend especially on a down underquilt , never really enjoyed ground dwelling much , have managed to pitch a set up on one of the tors on Dartmoor, I have an underquilt protector spare if you want it , it gives you a few more degrees warmth and weighs nothing..let me know if you can use it ... later mate
Cheers matey! I know what you mean about down underquilts - I looked at getting one a while ago haha! Very generous offer of the u/q protector! A few more degrees makes all the difference - I’ve spent a few nights shivering in sub zero! Are you on messenger? Cheers buddy, Simon.
Simon, a bloke in the woods yep I’m on messenger dude it’s ginger scarff ..let me know where to send it..they really make a difference could get you into late autumn with the hammock
You are a star! Message inbound buddy.
A good comparison Simon. I hammock when I can and ground dwell when I need to. A hammock is so much more comfortable than any night on the ground, but I agree that it isn't nearly as versatile as a tarp and bivvy setup.
All the best,
Al
Cheers Al, yes, hammock for comfort, tarp for warmth! And the ground for those stealthy wildcamps! Atb, Simon
You are also restricted with the tarp with level ground. When hunting I can hammock camp on the side of a hill, where a level spot could be hours away. Hunt until dark. It's great
Ta for the vid. Really well thought through and put together.
For myself, I like both. Been a ground dweller for most of my life but allowed myself to be talked into investing in the tree dwelling lifestyle a few years back (I'm at that funny age when I just can't remember when: I'm into my beerties!) In honesty, for me at least, it's horses for courses: It's all about need and desire (I can stealth easily in both but prefer being on the ground. It's just easier!) And sometimes I just want to 'hang-about' and lounge (only a hammock enables this).
Weight is an issue (cos like you, and many others, I'm a gear whor..er, wasname, thingamebob...) And I gladly (ok, maybe not gladly) carry my comfort into the wilderness (ok, for those who also live in Blighty, you can stop laughing at that 'wilderness' word now). But then I have fiends who seem to be able to pack their entire kit into two rocket pockets and it weighs nowt. Again, horses for courses. And witchcraft.
I'm gonna shut up now cos this is a topic that can carry a lot of mileage between mates (and has done for years)
Take care, have fun, and no more of that dropping cameras in rivers as an excuse to go paddling!
;)
Hahaha - I wondered when that was going to crop up again!
I’m with you about carrying the extra weight for a bit of luxury sometimes- it can be worth it for that good nights sleep at the end of a long slog!
Cheers buddy, Simon
Nice video Simon. I have been using hammocks since 2000 and much prefer them, but you are reliant on trees in the right places. I like them too, as they are great for sleeping in steeply wooded valleys (you just have to remember which side to get out of during the night!). Thanks again for a great video.
Atb
Neil
Hahaha - Yes, I can imaging that might be an unexpected shock in the middle of the night! I’ve set up my hammock across a small stream before, as it was the only option available to me - needless to say I double and triple checked my suspension before getting my head down! Oh, and the sound of trickling water beneath you is worse than torture haha! Cheers, Simon
Awesome vid. Sub'd.
I've got the DD TravelBivi - basically like your Frontline but waterproof fabric. Not as breathable but designed to be used on the ground as a bivvy (using sticks/hiking poles to support the tarp) if required.
If the weather's wet, I'd prefer hammock over ground-camping - keep myself up away from the mud, water run-off etc.
Most my camping has been on the ground - tents, not tarps - hammock camping is new for me and I'm still experimenting with gear to refine my setup. It's certainly a lot more customisable than the average tent setup.
I’ve camped all my life. Once I discovered hammocks 12 years ago, I never looked back. Glad to be off the ground
Loving your videos, Simon.
I do both, too, though I have the DD Travel hammock which can also be used as a bugnet bivvy on the ground if there's no trees around. I also use a 25 inch wide Thermarest NeoAir Camper mattress, which actually does fold around you a little bit in the hammock, so I haven't had to buy an additional dedicated underblanket. There are advantages to being a cheap git!
Hahaha - nowt wrong with that! I like the travel hammock, great system. As you use your neoair in your hammock, you’ve always got a complete system that works as well hung or not - love it!
Thanks Stefan, Atb.
Only difference is, I like a bit of space when I'm sleeping on the ground, especially if on a multi-month bicycle tour so I can be bug free in the Summer and warm in the Winter (with my Kelly Kettle tent heater setup). So I take a three man tent with me - the Vango Halo 300. My hammock/bivvy setup is really just for short trips. I could do it on longer trips, I suppose, but the restrictive space tends to get old. On long trips I never get sick of my big tent. I could keep on 'til the sky falls in.
Great info! You are terrific at demystifying things. Thanks for sharing.
Hey simon.another great vid.good to see you out and about in the woodlands.
Cheers
Tim
Cheers Tim! Always nice to be in the trees! Atb, Simon
Awesome buddy… just brought a DD nest hammock, look forward to trying it out .. cheers Chris & Sam
Having the ability to sleep flat and dry irrespective of the ground is what I like, however needing two trees or items is somewhat restrictive. Hammocks just seem more comfortable to me.
I find them really comfy, but I know a lot of people don’t - DD do a hammock called the Travel hammock which has a waterproof base and can be set up as a bivvy for ground dwelling with the added bonus of the mosi net. A good system if you find yourself without trees! Atb, Simon
Great video Simon, I have a hammock set up and also use my Banshee tent but although I love the Banshee I love using the hammock set up more as I find it so comfortable although without the under blanket it does get very cold in the night even in summer. The ground set up using the tarp as a tent is also another good option as the tarps are so versatile. looking forward to your next vid ATB Chris.
Thanks Chris! Yes, the underblanket/pad is essential - I leaned the hard way after my first night hanging! Atb, Simon
Have a hammock and standard my bivybag as well...but go around with a walkingtrailer. After backpack whole my life this is my way to go since a few years
Thanks , now that sounds like the way to go! No more aching hips and shoulders! I’ll check them out, cheers! Simon
both nice setups, slowly I'm adding to my camping gear, I recently purchased a hammock and a separate bugnet and I have a DD 4x4 tarp that will give me the coverage I want plus I can use it for ground camping when it's not feasible to take a tent
Thanks Kaylynn! Good idea to use a big tarp - you then have a great big covered living area. Happy hanging! Simon
I have a hammock like that, when we went camping last time I took it with to test it out, I put a tarp over the top but to be honest I was so cold I ended up going back into the main tent at about 3am and haven’t used it since then.
Did you have any insulation under you? If not, then that is probably why you got so cold - a normal sleeping bag compresses under you and gives little to no insulation value - try it with a foam sleep mat under your sleeping bag or, better still, an underquilt. 👍
What season was it and how cold was it. I'm planning on camping without lower insulation in 13 degrees at night
Just to add that hammocks are amazingly good for anyone with any degree of back trouble. Honestly, try it. The diagonal lay keeps you level and you'll be up and about from the moment you wake.
As usual you have produced an excellent video. Informative and thought provoking. I enjoyed watching. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and perspectives.
Now, I am confident that in any sort of survival situation I certainly sleep in a hammock! I suppose that in a survival situation I would be so exhausted I could sleep on a rock after the efforts necessary to stay alive.
That said: All my life I have slept on my stomach. I have never had back problems nor have I had snoring or associated problems. For me it is simply my natural sleeping position.
As for “puncture” problems? It takes little work to clear the ground to avoid such.
As for a tarp? I carry a lightweight single person tent! ( 4.4 lbs including the rain fly...) Two poles; takes less than 5 minutes to pitch.
More that 60 % is netting and in dry weather it is cool and airy.
The tarp I carry is only used for cover when outside my tent. Only if and when necessary.
At any rate, thanks again for the video. Very well done, sir.
Cheers Walter! I’ve never been able to sleep comfortably on my stomach - I tend to roll over a few times before drifting off, including a spell on my stomach, but always end up on my side generally!
A tent is certainly the best protection, and sounds like you’ve got a good, lightweight one - the mesh saving weight as well a working well in the warmer months! Thanks Walter, Atb, Simon
It's a USA made survival blanket with a heat reflection on one side can also be used as a tarp come in green or orange cheers
Ah! Thanks John - sounds good!
Thanks for the video Simon I'm ground dweller just can't get comfy need to feel the terra ferrma under me the only thing I add to your system is a grabber blanket
Cheers John! I’m not sure what a grabber blanket is, but it sounds intriguing! Cheers, Simon.
Great video Simon I have both systems each great for different times
Cheers Vince! Atb, Simon
Very interesting video ,never tried hammock camping will give it a try.
Cheers Alan! It take a bit of getting used to, but it’s comfy! Atb, Simon
I enjoyed the vid very much, although i also prefer to sleep on the ground in the winter while using a hammock in the summer. I believe both methods have benefits.i have had a hammock since my youth and im middle age know, time flies by..lol thx for this info it was very informative, thx for sharing.
Nice setup. I have a similar setup, and I can adapt to whatever conditions I encounter. I am happy to hammock camp in winter, I just try to hang as protected as I can from the wind. Sleeping on the ground is a backup option, and I can pitch my tarp any number of ways, but my 62 year old body doesn't like ground sleeping much nowadays 😁.
Cheers Steve! Yes, I think that is the key to winter hammocking, finding a sheltered spot! Cheers, Simon
Simon, a bloke in the woods You might like to see my setup here on my YT channel 😀
ua-cam.com/video/66urS9jtiz4/v-deo.html
Hi Simon thanks for another informative and well presented video. Really enjoyable channel. Look forward to next video. Atb Pops.
Cheers Pops, glad you enjoyed it! Atb, Simon.
One way to keep an option is to use the Travel hammock, from DD hammocks like your Frontline, as this has a waterproof bottom so you can use it on the ground as well, keeping the bug net it comes with. Personally I never had a problem with geting cold in a hammock even in winter, my now almost 38 years old Fjällräven kip mat always did its job.
I turned to the hammock when I lived in the Pyrenees, where in the middle altitude ranges you often have two situations : either flat enough for a tent but muddy or not muddy but not enough flat space. As these parts are mostly wooded,and often very densely so, there's hardly ever a problem to string up a hammock but it's sometimes difficult to find room for a tent in the first place.
And of course a hammock is much better for a back as finicky as mine has become...
In a tarp setup such as yours for the ground option, the DD 4x4 m tarp which I chose offers me 1 meter's with on the ground, so no need for an extra groundcloth. Also, it's big enough to go over myself, a hammock and my canoe, which counts when you're bivying in places where this is not allowed and why I chose the multicam version. NB : in France navigation is not free save on "public domain" rivers, so the more discrete the better both day and night as landowners on the banks can forbid your the thouroughfare.
Last but not least, I find it enraging to be in a tent, hear an animal come by and not be able to see it as opening a zip would send it running.
So all this, as per usual, is personal and depends on the situations you encounter.
Thanks Johan! Good idea with the 4x4 tarp - huge covered area - great workspace too! Do you find the travel hammock causes condensation? I did consider it but that’s what put me off - or it it still breathable enough through the base? I do find my hammock incredibly comfy!
Lovely video, went a little HowToBasic with the chucking in the items 😂
British Bushcraft i was waiting for some eggs to come flying in!
Haha - Yep..... kit bomb! Cheers, Simon
Another top review Simon and a lot of good pointers too...Great stuff 👍
Cheers Robert! Atb mate, Simon
Simon, best tent/hammock comparison video I've seen, and I've watched several. Could you comment about prepping and eating food in one vs the other?
Thank you Darius! Eating and especially cooking is much easier when set up on the ground - you can have a fire and make the most of the warmth from when sleeping too! For hammock camping, I often pull my snake skins over the hammock when I’m not actually using it - during the day, you’ve then got note room under the tarp for working, eating etc. Cheers, Simon
I really wanted to like hammocking but im quite an active sleeper and sleep on my stomach alot which doesnt really work in the hammock for me unfortunately.
Im using a lightweight simple mesh tent with tarp these days which still gives me a good view out into the surroundings but also keeps away the famous nasty british slugs and midgys ofcourse.
Hope your keeping well Simon after your trip ,nice vid .Keep up the great work!
Thanks Sean! The trip seams a long time ago now haha, oh to be back!! Atb, Simon
Two important factors in selection: Terrain and season. In the desert of SW Texas I do not use a hammock, not a tree in sight. In the forests of NW New Jersey I do. Weather then being the other factor. Stoves and hammocks do not play well together. All good kit, when used properly.
I have to say your very quick setting up your camp
Hahaha - I had a large coffee before I started!! 😂
@@simonablokeinthewoods It must have been a very large coffee lol😎
I think the main concern from most people is the discomfort of laying on the ground. Especially on cheaper sleeping pads...
When it comes to weight, and hamock setup, i dont (currently) have a top- or under-quilt, and just take the rope to the hammock through the bottom of my sleeping bag, and use the sleeping bag around the hammock (which will avoid compressing the sleeping bag - but does not work with hammocks with an attatched moskito net). This makes it very easy to get in and out. Just lay down in the hammock, and pull the sleeping bag up around you (and tighten the top end a bit to avoid cold air to blow into the bottom side of it)...
You will need a somewhat wide sleeping bag if you plan on laying diagonally in the hammock, but even when i lay parallell with the hammock, and just have the hammock tied up a bit tighter than i would if i wanted a diagonal lay, i still feel that i lay MUCH more comfortable than in a tent (i just got my hammock recently, and have just tried it out for an hour or something, but not actually sleeping in it).
Just the hammock alone is perfect for daytrips, so i can rest comfortably anywhere in the forest, without carrying some much bigger camping chair... I also find hammock to be MUCH easier to set up than any of the tents i have owned...
Thank you - that’s a great idea - I’ve heard of people modifying sleeping bags in this way - makes sense and is a cheaper and lighter option. You can buy. Hammock cocoons - the same principle, but longer. 👍
@@simonablokeinthewoods I saw a video of those "pod system" sleeping bags the other day. Im not very tall, so at least some of the sleeping bags i have is long enough for me.
Something i will recommend for people camping alone, is getting some video glasses. They have some pretty decent ones on ebay for $165 (Vision 800). It has android operating system, and bluetooth, so you can use a keyboard and mouse with it. I already got some old ones, but wanted something better... Im addicted to entertainment, and feel like something is missing on a camping trip if i dont have something like this. Dont like to just sit down and do nothing... Pretty sweet to be able to put up the hammock on my porch, and lay down and watch some videos too, or in bed :P
Nice base camp for two different campers. Skillet
nicely set up sir.. guess you had to for this video really haha. I promised myself id try ham mocking again this year but I still havnt yet for fear of laying awake all night.
Haha - it was discovering the diagonal lay that changed the game for me - you can get almost horizontal and then roll over onto yer side - sort of! Cheers buddy - Hammock for Sweden me thinks!
I did try that but maybe I fidget too much haha... bivvy for Sweden ;)
another nice video THANKS
You a Dinosaur❕ All I can do is turn this thing 0n, I ain't got a Clue What, Where, How-to, on anything else. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for a friend who set it up. Loved your video on these.
Hahaha - well, I’m glad your friend set you up! Cheers buddy, Simon.
No mosquito or bug net? What about the creepy crawlers?
Interesting comparison, Simon! Cheers! :)
Thank you! Nothin’ beats swinging in a hammock! Atb, Simon
Very interesting and informative video...I think hooped bivvies' and small lightweight tents are also worth considering, but don't seem to be "fashionable" in the British bushcraft circles, unless its a 20lb + canvas teepee of tent...I've never tried sleeping in a hammock and I am not sure I could get comfortable being a side sleeper and somebody fairly who is a fairly restless sleeper. I do want to give it a go though because to me, they offer one major advantage, and that is elevation above ground living ticks. As a woodland deer stalker I am very aware of ticks and the potential for catching Lymes disease...In areas like Thetford Forest, there are very high populations of ticks and there is no way I would sleep on the ground other than in a tent with a built in ground sheet...
Thanks Peter! Interesting point about the ticks! I use a bivvy bag and recently got a hooped bivvy - I really like it - holds the heat well too, like a small tent. I’m always super careful to check Maggie after we’ve been for a walk in Thetford forest - like you said, tick city! Atb and happy new year!
Great review 👍🏻
Thanks for sharing
Thanks Michael! Cheers, Simon
Grate vid pal I only ground dwell my self would like a hammock just never got round to buying one enjoy it on the floor to much good to see your views on them both though atb 🖐🖐
Thanks! If you’ve got a setup you like, it’s probably not worth forking out all the money to change to a hammock system - the ground is comfy and you can use a fire! 🔥 cheers, Simon.
Lovely video. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! All the best, Simon
Great video sir thank you for all the time you put into this video
Nice one Simon I love me hamock a great video for the new wildcampers atvb jimmy 😎 😎
Cheers Jimmy! Atb mate, Simon
Your not as much of a dinosaur than I am. Very interesting Simon and I’ll still stick with my Quasar and Hilleberg tent if you don’t mind. The hammock does look comfortable and I’m sure it’s fine for 15 minuets but after that I’d like to toss and turn. It seems to me that if you do roll about you may well fall out of it. Plus I can easily use a pee bottle in my tent but can’t see me doing that within a hammock. However, I like to give it try but would need my tent as a refuge in case of tipping out. Am I just being a typical old school type of camper who doesn’t except new ways? You know what they say ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. Cheers Simon and happy bushcrafting. ⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️
Hahaha - cheers Mike! Not so much use up in the mountains either! It’s much more comfy than you’d think, I’ve never fallen out either! Oh, and as for the pee bottle, I’d never be without one, just as easy in the hammock, just requires a slightly different technique! Thanks Mike, Atb mate, Simon.
Pee bottle = Self replenished hot water bottle. ;o)
Just remember to do the top up tight...
Good comparison Simon. I used to tent camp, and hike. But over the years my mobility has truly changed to be able to get on the ground and back up is extremely difficult. I've been considering hammock camping to get me back to doing what I liked to do. Your information gave me some good ideas. Keep the vids coming, and thanks for your time and effort.
Have you come across techniques or devices that let a hammock to be strung in a tent? Naturally I would have to use a larger tent.
Ground dweller! Tried both.
Great video as always, mate. I definitely want to try hammock camping but can't bring myself to shelling out on all the gear! Might keep an eye out on eBay for a secondhand setup 👍🏼
Yes, I know what you mean - kit is so expensive! You can do it on the cheap - look out for cheap Chinese hammocks if you don’t mind waiting for it to be shipped, or have a go at making one - they are basically just a big rectangle with a sleeve in each end - well stitched!! As for an underblanket, you can make one from a cheap sleeping bag. Not everybody takes to hammocks, so at least that way, you’ve not shelled out a fortune! Happy hanging! Simon.
Hi Simon, im completely new to hammocks etc, what is your view to the following... a hammock, sleeping bag, no underquilt but rather directly under the sleeping bag( IE not slung underneath the hammock ) is one of those "car windscreen reflective" thingies.....or even.....just a plain old Mylar blanket..........how do you think that might work?
Sounds are great! Thanks!
Cheers Sami! Atb, Simon
Wonderfully done :-) Thank you for all of your time & efforts *
🤠👏👏👏⛺️ top quality, balanced content as always 🤠👍❗️
Thanks mate. 👍
Great video! I’m not a hammock camper, but my husband is, and I’ve been looking for a bivy for my his mummy bag, but can’t seem to find one with even decent reviews. Would you mind telling me which one you are using?
Great video Simon, I haven't tried hammock camping yet but can't wait to. My only concern is that there could be spots where there aren't any well spaced trees. Well, that and my fear of bears... I'd hate to wake up in the night and have a bear sniffing around under me. ;)
Yes, I can see how that would be unnerving haha! Luckily we don’t really have any predators or dangerous animals here - only humans! I’m sure you’ll find it comfortable Jason, I find lying slightly diagonally across the hammock allows you to get almost horizontal which is comfy for me. Happy hanging! Atb, Simon
Hi Si, great video.. I'm wood camping in a hammock this wk, o don't have an underblanket. I have a nice sleeping bag and was planning on using a matt for the time being. I have a foam Z Matt or a therma rest. Which would you recommend ? Kindest regards.
I do both, to me it's simple. In winter I'm on the ground as hammocks are cold and summer or if the ground is known to be on a slop I hammock
Cheers! My thoughts exactly, although I’m drawn to trying my hammock more in the colder months using better insulation. Atb, Simon
Last month I slept in a tent on a abandoned fortress on a island. The isseu was that it was sub zero temperature like minus 5 decrees celcius also we fell in tge water before. I had a thick matt and a tent and a good sleeping bag altho i was warm my feet where ice cold the whoke night is thay because my feet werent on the matt?
Could have been that, could have been a result of getting wet earlier or could have been a circulation thing - I suffer from cold feet and hands too! Next time take some of those disposable ‘hot hands’ heat pads with you, throw them in your sleeping bag before you go to bed (warms up the sleeping bag and you can then use them as heat pads for your feet. 👍
I sleep better on the ground, provided that it is flat. The huge plus of a hammock is you can make a flat bed where there is no convenient flat land to lay on. It matters not if its steep sloping, rocky, swampy etc as long as there are load-bearing trees.
I recall 2 self-guided kayak camping tours of Norway's spectacular fjordland where in hindsight a hammock would have been REALLY useful. Plenty of forest for wild hammocking but almost no flat land anywhere; lots of near vertical cliff faces plunging straight down to the water, steep scree slopes, boulder fields and very few beaches. The only semi-flat land already had Norwegian homes, farms, roads and businesses on it and was unavailable for wild camping. In reality, you have the right to wild camp on the steep sloping, boulder strewn rock slides or swampy shit bits that nobody else wants to inhabit.
Yes - a hammock would be the only option there!! 😂