Any folks out there in the AQ world hammock backpacking? I'm interested in anyone tips and tricks of the trade when it comes sleeping in a hammock.

I'm interested any getting one currently I'm looking at the Expedition Asym Classic from Hennessey Hammock.

I don't personally but several of my friends do and they swear by their eagles nest hammocks. Not that I could afford one but they love all the attachements like a rainfly and mosquitoe netting.

Mountain Calla Lily

tips and tricks of the trade when it comes sleeping in a hammock.

INSULATION!!! Even on a reasonably "warm" night you need to protect against air movement stealing your body heat. Your sleeping bag's insulation that you are squishing beneath you will retain ZERO heat.

http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingWarm.html

Check out this link in regards to the "keeping warm" problem. It's easily doable, but needs a different mind set than "on the ground" camping.

For me.......I've done both. I wake up with a stiff neck after sleeping in a hammock. I seem to fight against a slight side pressure on my head when sleeping diagonally in a hammock so as to lay "flatter". I don't like to try to string my hammock super tight in order to try and achieve the same thing. Also I've found that I can go MUCH lighter weight for my gear when sleeping on the ground. I'm more comfortable also. I still enjoy stringing a hammock for a nap or reading or just "swinging in the breeze", but if I'm backpacking.....I'm much happier sleeping on the ground. I do have many friends that prefer hammocks so give it a fair test.

Y~K b

Never used one myself, but I've seen a few and have always worried that a driving rain with high winds would leave you drenched. Also, I don't know where you hike, but I've been able to set up my tent in tiny places in high-ish New England terrain that it would be impossible to put a hammock simply based on tree height, tree strength, or the amount of dead fir/pine/spruce limbs jutting into space.

I've seen a few and have always worried that a driving rain with high winds

I mostly camp in Oregon.....RAIN or shine (and we get a LOT of rain at times). At the Coast, in the Mountains and Foothills, and in the Valleys and Deserts. Wind and rain, and even snow can be handled.....you just have to think about your situation and prepare for the possibilities. I've camped with folks that didn't have an adequate tent for the rain. (Why do some companies make a tent that leaks when "Brand New?) There can be times when it's difficult to find suitable trees......but there can also be times where it's difficult to find ground suitable to pitch a tent or tarp....or just lay out in the open. You just need to be flexible in deciding where you are going to sleep for the night. I've seen folks lay out their hammocks on the ground with trekking poles at the ends to elevate the ends along with their rain tarp when they were above tree line.

No matter what form your bedroom may take when camping.....you need to consider what the requirements may be and be ready to handle situations as they are dealt to you.

Y~K b

trekking poles at the ends to elevate the ends along with their rain tarp

Paddles work well too.
I have been in spots at the right side coast where my boat was in one spot and I was a short distance away in the only other spot open enough to set a bivy (sp?) sack and tarp with the two halves of a paddle.

my boat was in one spot and I was a short distance away in the only other spot open enough to set a bivy (sp?) sack and tarp with the two halves of a paddle.

YES!!!

Well, I haven't been kayaking over on that "right" side .......but I've used my paddle in the same way MANY times. It works great as a tarp support. Always try to use all your gear in more than one way. Then you don't need to take twice as much stuff!

Y~K b