Looking For Camping Advice

[tjulianc]

Hoglaw,

Have you looked into the Warbonnet Blackbird hammock? Their double layer 1.7 oz hammock can hold up to 400 lbs, and has a built in no-see-um mosquito netting. They are extra, but they also have a tarp designed just for this hammock. I think the hammock and fly will run you in the 300+ dollar range. My buddy has one, and loves it. I don't know how well it will sleep two, but its worth looking in to. It will keep you off the gravel bars, which can be extra nice if floating rivers that are a bit more rugged like the Mulberry. It takes the same amount of time to set up his hammock as it does my tent. He has never had a problem finding trees to hang in either. Also a hammock takes up a lot less room in the canoe than does a tent and sleeping pads.

http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/blackbirds.php

[hoglaw]

I haven't. I've been told that two folks in a hammock doesn't work very well - that it brings new meaning to "attached at the hip." I could always try one out I guess. I love sleeping in a hammock when it's just me. You're dead on about it being lighter weight and taking up a lot less room, though I still carry a very thin sleeping pad to put in my hammock anyway. It seems to make it a little flatter.

[chambug]

Helpful advice as always. My girlfriend is 23, gorgeous, a former NCAA athlete, and loves to float, fish, and camp. She can paddle a canoe and can throw a baitcast reel with fewer brakes than most. I'd rather make a great thing a better thing. And I don't need any help in the latter department though about five less years under my belt would be nice.

I'm not sure how to take this. I imagine her side of the story would be something to the effect that her boyfriend saved the trip by jerry-rigging the air mattress on the fly with string, brute force, and a make-shift patch. It was 100 percent air tight for the rest of the night and the patch fell off while I was rolling it up the next morning. It's now in the landfill.

For those of you who had useful things to say, I really appreciate your input. I guess it's been a while since I looked into sleeping pads. When I used them in my younger backpacking days, it was pretty much a thermarest or nothing and they weren't all that great. I don't have any problem spending a few hundred bucks on two good sleeping pads if it's going to get the job done. I suppose the phrase "sleep together" could be taken in a different context, but I meant something other than two separate hammocks on two separate sets of trees. In remote places with animals and rednecks running around, she'd rather be next to me (which is just fine by me).

If you haven't done the hammock thing though, I'd really reccommend it. The one I have that chumbug made light of was about sixty bucks and it has a very fine mosquito net that keeps everything out. It doesn't have a rain fly incorporated, but it's not hard to fabricate one. I think they're super comfortable, and you can throw in a cheap sleeping pad to give it a little more structure.

It can be tough to find the right trees, and you're right about camping well off the water. Sometimes you have to get up in the woods a little. It makes campsite selection different. Not harder, just different. You can camp in spots that no one else does for sure.

I agree that beer and tequila can make the best of a bad situation (though it's scotch for me), but I have always been of the mindset that with the right gear, there's no reason to have a bad situation in the first place. I don't like to sacrifice if I don't have to.

Take it with a smile....I wrote it with one. When you've lived 3/4 of a century, a little humor makes the world a little more pleasant. I certainly meant no offense, or disparagement. Heck, I must admit you have found a wonder for a girlfriend, so do whatever you have to to deserve her. Regardless of camping facilities and gear, sounds to me like you have every reason to be a"Happy Camper"!

I'm still smiling!

[FishinCricket]

Take it with a smile....I wrote it with one. When you've lived 3/4 of a century, a little humor makes the world a little more pleasant. I certainly meant no offense, or disparagement. Heck, I must admit you have found a wonder for a girlfriend, so do whatever you have to to deserve her. Regardless of camping facilities and gear, sounds to me like you have every reason to be a"Happy Camper"!

I'm still smiling!

Well I ain't smiling anymore... I can tell when I'm not wanted on a thread... My sincerest apologies to piglawyer for making jokes on his super-cereal thread... :neener-neener:

[fishinwrench]

I have two responses, pick one (and only one):

Why mess with a good thing? Find someone else to sleep with!!

That's better advise than than it was given credit for.

girlfriend is 23, gorgeous, a former NCAA athlete, and loves to float, fish, and camp. She can paddle a canoe and can throw a baitcast reel with fewer brakes than most.

I've had several of those..... They are about as dependable as the average air mattress.

I'll give it 'til Christmas time, maybe a week or so afterwards. Any takers?

[kevthebassman]

I've been using an el-cheapo air mattress from Target for three years now, zero problems. But then, I take special care when selecting my campsites, and always go for the down-stream edge of gravel bars, where the sand gets washed to. Much more comfortable on the feet (and face!) when stumbling around half drunk. I also put down a heavy tarp before I put my tent down, and then a sort of half blanket, half tarp contraption inside the tent, then the air mattress.

I can buy ten $30 air mattresses for the price of some of these latest and greatest sleeping pads. Yes, it's bigger and bulkier, and at some point it's going to crap out on me, but they're cheap and very comfortable.

[junkman]

I haven't seen anyone mention a hammock that sleeps two. Amazon has them that sleep two and have a capacity of 440lbs. Also they are $23.00. Cheaper than a air mattress.

[RogerH]

So many Henny Youngmans we have in the forum!!! Lots of good ideas given. My suggestion with no funnies is examine your budget for this and how often you will use the equipment and let this be your guide to your purchase. You want comfort w/o extra cost.

Start with this for your sleeping arrangements:

My link

II think this replaces the product that I bought. Quality product and relatively low price. They will work on most gravel bars oon the streams you will be on, I think. Works on big Western rivers!

Next, in or under your sleeping protection (tent or fly), place the two together spreading a blanket or comforter over it and tucking in excess. Then using a set of full-size sheets (I think), make the bed. Add a light comforter and couple of pillows and you got your bed. Can change the sheets (think fleece or flannel during the cool/cold months) and add down comforter to help with lower temps if you get into them.