Hennessy HammockExplorer Deluxe Zip

Loving this hammock setup for back country camping and tripping. I used to really be on the fence about moving on from my tent, but I finally decided to go for it and WOW.I usually sleep pretty well on trip, waking up periodically through the night because I've rolled off my sleeping pad or just for general repositioning, etc... but the first time trying this hammock, I slept completely through the night for the FIRST. TIME. EVER. on a recent back country trip. They asymmetrical design is perfect for side sleeping, which I was definitely skeptical about at first. I don't know what kind of sorcery went into designing this thing but the only way you can't really sleep in it, is on your stomach.A few PROs:1. Set up. The time it takes to set up and tear down once you get the hang of it is laughable compared to tents. It takes literally 3 minutes MAX once you know what you're doing and know what you like for set up.2. Weight. I opted for the Explorer XL becuase even though I'm not a big guy, I still like a lot of space and it's still lighter than any tent setup I've used.3. Versatility. You can set it up over uneven ground, expanding your options for sleeping area when on trip in forested wilderness contexts.4. Comfort. Like I said, it's the most comfortable sleep I've EVER had on trip. Period. Anyone who has ever had a poor sleeping experience on trip can tell you it's often "make or break" when it comes to how enjoyable the trip was. Sleep is a MUST.5. In-hammock storage. There is a versitile guy line setup with mesh pockets and clips that you can use to store a phone, portable battery, small water bottle (I use a Lifestraw), headlamp, etc... Really practical and REALLY sturdy.6. Durability. I have only used it on one trip, but if you're a seasoned tripper, you can usually get a sense for durable gear even after limited use. As long as you use it as intended, I'm sure it'll last a long time.A few Cons (more just things to get used to).1. Getting in and out. It can be cumbersome at first to get used to getting in and out of the hammock and then getting into your sleeping bag/using an in-hammock sleeping pad. Personally, I figured out a good system for myself pretty quick, but I can see how it would be annoying for some.2. Limited in-hammock storage. You'll need to store your pack either under your hammock or under a tarp somewhere outside of the hammock. To those who are used to tents, this will probably be the most annoying change in routine/overall setup.3. Cold nights are COLD. On my recent trip, it got down to just about freezing at night and even with a sleeping bag rated for that temp, the wind on your back is brutal. Using a sleeping pad can help mitigate this. With tents, I find you're at least a few degrees warmer inside than outside as the ambient temp rises with body heat. This just doesn't happen with hammocks, so expect to sleep colder than in a tent.

I recently purchased the Hennessy Explorer zip hammock. I grew up camping, I spent many a night on the ground in the Marine Corps and it never seemed to bother me. As I've gotten older I still love to get outdoors, but I find that it doesn't love me so much. Even with the deluxe camp version of the Thermarest I would wake up and feel like I'd gone ten rounds with George Foreman. My back, hips and shoulders would hurt, and I'd be tired.At a recent Order of the Arrow event I was introduced to the Hennessy hammocks. I bought one because I knew I could return it to Amazon if I didn't like it, but I was hoping for relief. When the hammock arrived, I was impressed with what appeared to be top notch construction and materials. I set it up in our yard for practice and just to try it out. Setup was easy and fairly straight forward.The first campout I took it on, I also took a tent just in case. There is a learning curve to sleeping in this hammock and I can't say that I got MORE sleep in the hammock than I get in a tent, but when I got out of bed in the morning there were no aches and pains!I've since spent 5 more nights in the hammock, and every one has been better than the last, and they ALL have been better than a night in a tent. I still sometimes feel a little claustrophobic, and I am primarily a side sleeper so I do sometimes wish I could comfortably sleep that way fully. I often sleep in kind of a half side/half back position which works for me almost as well. Stomach sleepers, other than those with Chinese acrobat-like flexibility, I don't think a hammock is for you...I use my Thermarest underneath for insulation and when paired with a Wiggy's Ultra Light sleeping bag, I have been warm and cozy even when the temperature dips into the low to mid 30's (Fahrenheit). The only complaint I have is that the thermarest isn't quite wide enough and I have sometimes woken up with a cold shoulder where I slip off of it, but of course that has nothing to do with the hammock... I think I'll buy the reflective insulation that Hennessy sells because it's wider at the shoulders than the Thermarest.I would definitely suggest purchasing the snake skins, and I also replaced the tie-out lines on the fly (these were cheap and seemed to snag everything) with some of the MSR reflective line.The only other things I don't like have nothing to do with THIS hammock, but seem to be a weakness of hammocks in general are the lack of storage space, and the lack of privacy. I deal with the storage space by bringing either a smallish tarp or a small one-man tent for my gear to keep the rain/dew off. Both of these solutions diminish the appeal of hammock camping by increasing the weight, size and the time it takes to setup camp. Privacy when you are in the hammock isn't the problem, trying to get dressed while laying in a hammock is NOT easy, but climbing out of the hammock to get dressed is not always advisable...The bottom line is that this is a great product with a learning curve that offers all the benefits and suffers most of the drawbacks of it's nature as a hammock. None of the drawbacks is a fatal flaw IMO, they just require that you adapt to deal with them. The benefits certainly outweigh the drawbacks for me.Update: 22 Aug 2013I have now spent an entire 8 days straight camping and a few more over nighters with this hammock and I've learned a few more things. I THINK I might like a bridge hammock like Jacks R Better sells but I'm not sure since I don't own one. I find that my knees sometimes hurt from being slightly over extended. Rather than buy one, I am seriously considering making my own. Hammockforums dot net has a TON of great information on hammock camping including DIY hammocks. I would HIGHLY recommend spending some time over there before pulling the trigger on a hammock.None of this has fundamentally altered my opinion of this hammock though. It's still a great product and for me it's vastly superior to sleeping in a tent. It's just not quite...ideal for me and I'm enough of a tinkerer to think that I may just be able to build my own hammock nirvana.

This gives me a great night sleep. Although more expensive than some models, I feel the excellent design, material quality and small details are well worth it.

Brilliant and I'm not easily pleased!

I have been hammock camping since the 90s using military surplus hammocks and the faithful blue tarps. But while prepping for a 3000 mile motorcycle trip, I thought I would look into what's available in modern hammocks. Big surprise. There's a lot of people hanging from the trees these days and they're hanging in some really great hammocks. From my research, Hennessy is about the best, so I bought one. Absolutely awesome! I camped my way up Hwy 1/101 along the west coast until it started to get too cold, cut across along the Columbia River Gorge to the 395 and back down to San Diego. Slept like a baby every night. I did have a pad, a heavy duty sleeping bag, thermal socks and a watch cap for the really cold nights but most mornings I would pop out and be surprised at how cold it was and I would only be in a pair of jeans. But the comfort is the big deal. Even after a long day on the bike, I would be refreshed and ready the next morning with no stiffness or kinks to work out before starting off again. The bug screen can be a nuisance when not needed but not major. I hung the fly separately so I could get it higher for a better view from the hammock and so I could stand up under it when I crawled out in the mornings. Hennessy has provided clips to attach the fly to the hammock cords which is a great idea and would be useful in bad weather but I didn't have that experience and just wanted it there to keep the dew and whatever else fell from the trees off of me and the hammock. If you've never camped in a hammock, you are missing one of the great camping experiences. I love waking up in the morning, just lying in my sling and watching the forest come to life again. Woke up once while camping on the Dosewallips River in Washington state and found myself surrounded by a herd of elk. Too f*****g cool. Anyway, the old surplus hammock has a new home in the back yard and the Hennessy is in the pack and ready for the next trip in the spring. I've found that many people are into serious cold weather hanging but it's something you need to look into before giving it a shot. There are some equipment variations that make the whole thing doable. Later.