Did anyone see the new Chrysalis Hammock by Eureka at the sportmans show?? It is similar to the Hennesy, but you get in it from the sides, like a conventional hammock, unlike the Hennesy, where you enter it from the bottom. The mesh and fly are one piece, so if can't just sleep under the mesh and look at the stars, which would be a disadvantage I think. What I liked the most was how comfortable it was, unlike other hammocks, you lie in almost a straight line, not sagging like a banana, which is hard on the back. If felt like I was lying on a cot. There is also somewhat of a pocket at both ends for putting small gear. This is a new product, to be released in Canada in April. Did anyone else get a chance to look at this thing? commments?
Skeeter

As a very happy Hennessy Hammock owner this topic got my attention and I wanted to see just what this new hammock looked like.

Ta-Da!!!



Jim

http://www.algonquintrips.blogspot.com

Hmm

"mesh and fly are one piece"

meaning you cannot separate them or look between them at either sides of the hammock? I really liked being able to look outside the hammock without getting out. pulling down on the side of the hammock, bringing the mesh just under the fly, would allow me to see the going-ons of the campsite.

as an aside, i really like the idea of sleeping without the fly on my hennessy one day. assuming some people here have done this, how have you factored in the possibility of rain? did you just figure that if it started raining in the middle of the night, you'd get up and put the fly on?

I tried out this hammock last spring before it was on the market (I paddled with Jim Stevens from Eureka into Dickson and he was trying it out then). I liked it. It was too cold to use in early spring (I had to use a think mattress under me) but it was great due to being able to sleep without it sagging like a regular hammock. It's not for everyone though. But if you're looking for a light-weight tent idea, it's great.

Kevin Callan

Looks like some interesting new features, though I wouldn't call it lightweight. I see one website has its weight listed at 4lbs 15oz...ouch, Ill stick with my hennessy hammock. I picked up a hyperlight and it weighs in at 1lb 10oz.

Side pull up so you can look out, but not fully open. It did seem a bit claustrophic when I tried it, but it was very comfortable. They even tout that you can easily sleep on your side, which isn;'t so comfortable with a regular hammock
question to Henessy Hammock owners: is the Hennesy more comfortable than the regular hammock?
Is it difficult to get in and settled, the Chrysalis was easy to enter from the side, from the bottom entry Henessy?? It seems like it would be awkward to get in and get settled. How thick a mattress pad do you use on Spring trips?
Thanks
Skeeter, somewhere near Owen Sound

A lot of what I do camping isn't "convenient", so the awkwardness is kind of overlooked. There's a bit of technique in getting your sleeping pad under you and sleeping bag on top and positioned properly. I use a Thermarest Prolite 4. Earliest I used it was May 24 weekend, I believe, and I was fine. I'll give it a whirl mid to late April this year though.

I don't find it "arcs" as much as people claim. If you lie diagonally across the hammock, it tightens out in such a way that the arc is less severe than a typical hammock. Not sure of the health benefits/deficits of this but I tell you, I feel GREAT waking up in the Hennessy. No matter what, when i wake up in a tent I feel like i've been sleeping on the ground, stiff and such

Yes, the Hennessey is more comfortable than a "regular" hammock. Although the term regular is too vague but I know based on my experiences with other traditional porch-type hammocks that the Hennessey is better support-wise.

As far as the entering from the bottom goes, I think it's a fantastic approach that is really quite simple. I use a self-inflating thermarest (3/4" or 1" thick) under my bag in my Hennessey and it keeps me cozy. There really is no comparison between tents and hammocks...the way you feel in the morning after sleeping on the ground rarely brings the word "refreshed" to mind but that is the word I would use after a night swinging under the stars.

Also, it's more compact and lightweight and, with a little practice, is a breeze to setup. No more time-consuming than setting up a tent with the groundcloth, etc.

Hmmm

We had the Hennessys and I didn't like the fact that I couldn't move.

I toss and turn when I sleep and like to switch from side to stomach.
So that eneded that for me.

But if this has a flatter sleeping surface then I'd like to try one.

The thing I loved about the Hennessy is the fact that you can adjust the fly so you can catch a breeze or have it ready when your sleeping under the stars in case of rain.

Is this one designed to sleep flatter ?? And are there any options for it.

Thanx MikeL

I picked up a couple of Hennessey hammocks when they had the sale over the holidays but have yet to try it out. I was wondering if it was necessary to use a pad and if so why? Is it just for cold weather? I was planning on saving the bulk and weight of a pad this summer, or is that not a good idea?

Any opinions? Thanks,
S.

for me, it was hard to understand why people would use a pad before i tried it. basically your back compresses your sleeping bag against the hammock, and you lose the insulating value. imagine sleeping up against the tent wall all night. you feel the wind, maybe some condensation, etc. it's the same thing in the hammock. i only used mine from May-August and on the July long weekend I could still wake up in the middle of the night from a cold back if I'd somehow rolled off my thermarest.

Thanks for the quick reply Bryce. I guess I'll have to look into new pads. I've got some from crappy tire that we've used for several years. But I find them too bulky, they roll up into a log shape but it's too big to go in a pack and I'm always struggling with how to pack/carry them while protecting them, especially when I'm carrying three of them.

I know people like to "discuss" their gear choices, so what's out there? I'd like something that will go into my pack. Are there models that can fold up more? With the hammocks and new gear I'm trying to get down to one pack.

I've seen recommendations for sleeping bag/pad combos where the pad fits into the bag, how small do they pack up?

Thanks again,
S.

Well, I'll keep my Hennessy. It weighs a lot less and with my down underquilt I've used it in temps under 0 degrees. It's a lot more versatile too and sleeping on the diagonal gets me pretty flat. Oh and I'm a tosser and turner and have no problems doing so in the hennessy.

I had mine modified with a zipper put in the bugnet so I can top enter/exit or bottom enter/exit. Best piece of gear I have.

Dale

I really like the idea of a hammock. But I just can't seem to get that bear burrito picture out of my silly brain. If I could get myself around that I would most definitely own one of these gems. They're super light and incredibly comfortable. Maybe one day I grow out of my extremely healthy respect for Yogi, but for now I'm sticking with the Tarn II.

Cheers
Shawn

SmedleyCo,
I find the pad a pretty simple luxury and I even have a fairly large one. I think you'd probably enjoy the smaller sized ones (far more suitable when temps are just "cool" at night as opposed to downright "cold") made by thermarest:

http://www.thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=42&cID=1

These pack down to 11"X4" (28X10cm or a little larger than a 1L water bottle) but are a little pricey for my taste at US$80 or 100 a pop. There might be some knockoff brand or even a slightly used one would save a few bucks. I would like to own one of the smaller ones but the space I recouperated in the pack when I switched to Hennessey has given me a little more breathing room in the pack.

When you say you're trying to get down to one pack, is that per person or per couple and for how long of a duration? If it's getting down to one pack per couple on a 5 day trip, I'd say that's an admirable goal but one that may never be achieved! Three people per pack as a goal and I'd say you're downright nuts!

I have no experience with the bag combos.

I also use a Prolite 4. I don't know how people use the 3/4 length, but to each their own. If you can manage it, that's a little weight off your back!

I manage to stuff my sleeping bag + pad + mini-pillow in my sleeping bag compartment on my hiking backpack. i think they're relatively standard in size, so if you have a hiking pack with a sleeping bag compartment (typically on the bottom), you can gauge how i pack. the prolite 4 rolles up to, i'd say, the size of a football. At most that length, but entirely cylindrical.

I can't say the Prolite is the most comfortable alternative to sleeping on the ground. certainly less discomforting, but not actually comfortable. I'm yet to find a light, warm and comfortable alternative to sleeping on the ground -- at the end of the day, i still feel like i slept on the ground or slightly above it, if that makes sense. That's why I love the hennessy so much -- you don't get that backache.

I have a Hennessey Safari Deluxe hammock... and while it's heavier than the ultralights, it sure is lighter than my tent! Those who were at the Kingscote Lake gathering last August would be able to relate just how comfortable the hammock is to ME, as I pass out within minutes of laying down in it... even when I just meant to lay down for a few minutes. LOL

I LOVE my Hennessey...

The mesh/fly action is a killer for me. If I can't stare at the sky, I'm not interested.

Just popped in to say that I love my Hennesey. Sleeping on the ground just wasn't working for me anymore. Almost gave up camping until I found the Hennesy.

Thanks for the helpful information. I'll have to put a new, smaller thermarest on my solo list. I'm in the process of gearing up for my first solo trip, hopefully this summer if the canoe gets finished.

Over the years I have been stripping extra gear from my trips and replacing items with lighter items. I think a thermarest and a new stove are about the last of the items to get replaced. I look back on my first few trips and shake my head - who would take all that heavy stuff into Algonquin.

Thanks for the input.
S.

The more and more I read about the Hennessy Hammocks the more I want get one instead of a new tent. As I get older and my back becomes stiffer the comfort of a hammock would be something to look forward too. I have a big Keri Hammock that I snooze in i while tripping so if it's anything like that then I think I'm sold.

see, that's one thing i'd like some sort of "professional" advice about.

i would agree with anyone who says that the hammock is less likely to cause you to wake up with a stiff feeling in your back in comparison to a tent. but what of the inevitable (though possibly slight) arch that you're forced to sleep through in a Hennessy? does it cause any concern for people's backs, young or old?

Bryce,

I can't give professional advice as I'm not a back surgeon but I can give personal advice from someone who has minor back problems...my back feels much better in the morning after a hammock than after a night in a tent. As far as the arch goes, I find it a very natural position where you are cradled in a comfortable posture and well supported over the length of your body.

Now, we'll wait for some of the brain surgeons that weigh in every now and then to offer their input!

Bryce -- I very often have lower back problems. I had a very bad bout of Sciatica last November that had me living prone on my living room floor for 2 solid weeks -- there is not an ounce of sarcasm or exaggeration in that, I literally could not move.

When waking up in the morning I often have to sit up slowly just to avoid throwing my back out. Imagine what sleeping in a tent, on the ground, on nothing but a thin thermarest does to my back. Well, since I got my Hennessey and have used it many times, my back feels like I'm 10 yrs old again everytime I get out of it. This sounds like a bad infomercial, but it couldn't be more truthful if I tried.