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Heard a couple at the trailhead say they ditched their tent for a hammock system
I was packing up at the trailhead near Mount Hood last weekend when I overheard two hikers talking. One said they had not used a tent in over a year, just a hammock with a tarp and an underquilt. They claimed it cut their pack weight by almost 8 pounds and was way more comfortable. I've always been a tent person, but that weight saving is huge. Has anyone here made a full switch and what's the real downside in colder weather?
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gavinb976mo ago
Honestly, how cold has it gotten for you with that setup? I was a die-hard tent guy for years, thought hammocks were just for summer naps. Then I borrowed a friend's rig with a good underquilt on a fall trip. Woke up without that deep ground chill for the first time ever. The comfort is real, but you're right to worry about site options. I still pack a light tent if I'm going above the tree line.
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craig.john6mo ago
That's the sound of someone who hasn't tried to find two good trees in a high alpine meadow at dusk. Sure, you save weight until you're sleeping on the cold ground because the only thing around is shrubs. The underquilt is a game changer for warmth, but you become a real picky customer when it comes to real estate. It's a great system if your whole trip is in a thick forest.
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