My Top Hammocking Tips and Hacks :: Get the most out of your Hammock Experience

[@butchtaylor5086]

I have been watching videos and reading books, recommendations, etc. for months in anticipation of buying and using a hammock when backpacking. To a large degree I have been confused about the huge variety of techniques and hardware involved in hanging the hammock and tarp - whoopee slings, dutchware, purrsig knots, etc. your hang in this video seems very simple and effective! If I can do what you demonstrated in this video, do I need more exotic techniques or equipment or is the basic sufficient? Just found your channel - love your work. Thank you, Butch

[@steves3760]

You said you don't like extra gear but cinch buckles with 15 foot straps are my go to. Along with Duch clips and other Dutchware gear make my hammock life easier. Maybe one day I'll make a video of it but I don't have a video personality so it would be dull. Hang on my friend. Love your videos.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I have done some videos with dutch clips and some different ones where I show cinch buckles. I know a lot of people really like the adjustability of them, no problems with that! Go with what works for you! Thanks!

[@danielkutcher5704]

Dutch has some very interesting hardware, and, though I don't own any of it because I have a fair knowledge of knots and regularly use them efficiently and effectively, I haven't pulled the trigger on anything, but the adjustable strap buckles are a sweet piece of engineering, which I always appreciate, and I might just have to try them out.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I'll be honest, I have a fair amount of Dutch "bling" laying around!

[@freethinker5225]

Hammocks in good weather are a no-Brainer. In colder it's still my go-to. I expect extra weight in cold weather anyway

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Hammocks are just a little easier for me!

[@freethinker5225]

@SpiguyverBackpacking1 yeah that too. I've slept on the ground in a tent for years and hated the hammock at first. Looked up some tips and tricks and now I don't wanna leave the damn thing every time we make camp

[@chrislrob]

And I'm just back from my first trip with the HangTime Hook. Love it!

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

It's a standard item in my backpack for every trip! Glad you liked it! Thanks!

[@Crimsonaut]

I particularly enjoyed you explaining the ideal taughtness of the Ridgeline in detail. This is something I have struggled to establish on my own. But I look forward to using your method as a guideline. 🙏🤘

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Happy to hear this was a help for you!

[@kathydomokos3265]

For me it seems to have been an evolution. Dutch stuff (a variety and liked/like all of it) and cinch buckles and straps. But along the way doing backpacking trips, I just keep whittling things down to the least possible number of ‘things’. It may not seem to be the simplest...until you get used to it. But I have ended up with the same suspension system you have now. Took me a few years, and you were the biggest reason I am there now. Thanks! I keep the other systems for use by folks that hammock camp with me and don’t have their own systems.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Right on! I know that there are some simple systems out there, but I think once you get used to it this system works great! Thanks for watching and for your feedback!

[@randypeterson4146]

Nice video...Another option on the hang time hook is to simply attach a wide rubber band from one corner to the other diagonally on your phone and just put it over the Ridgeline before you attach the other end to your phone...Super simple and no extra weight...If you want it to hang lower just purchase some pipe cleaners and twist a couple together and wrap one end around the Ridgeline and the other around the rubber band on the back of the phone..I use this all the time and just leave it in my Ridgeline organizer when not using it...

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I have seen people use this technique as well.

[@Occupuyourspine]

Real good info thanks mister 🤠 I am new at hammock this helped me plenty.

[@colinremmer2417]

I like the tip for using your finger & thumb to check the 30° angle as well as the tip of clipping your pack to the cord. Don't know why I never though to of that. Thanks

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Happy to help!

[@bubbajayy12345]

I have a hangtime hook it's freaking awesome had it a few years

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Hangtime hook is awesome!

[@chrislrob]

Nice. I've been using rings and carabiners for years, but I'm seriously thinking of trying the becket hitch. I usually hang my hammock on one of my anchor trees either by a carabiner hooked on my tree strap or the stub of a branch on a tree. Keeps it up off of the ground and harder for mice to reach. I don't hang my pack from the suspension because it usually weighs too much--I know, I've got a lot of work to do! LOL!

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Go for it. Try it out on an afternoon lounge before heading out into the woods with it, and see if you like it. It's all I've been using for years. Well, except when I'm testing other systems, but if I'm choosing my suspension, it's straps that I can use the Becket hitch with! Thanks!

[@yasinkhan9285]

Very informative ❤️

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Thank you!

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

I really like hanging in my Warbonnet XLC hammock!!

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Sweet, enjoy your hammock!

[@cedarbrake1309]

Great choice. That's what I started with and I love it. When you get the best it will make all your camps more enjoyable. 🇨🇱🇺🇸

[@Wondering_Fireball]

Thanks for sharing. Waiting on the hang time hook and the Banyon bridge hammock to become available. Just got my HG 12’ tarp with doors so it a waiting game for the rest of my hammock gear.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Man, that’s some of my favorite gear! The Banyan is awesome!

[@Motorep146]

A ton of great info. I’ve finally decided to leave SoCal and head back to S.C. so I’ll be transitioning to a hammock soon. I’ll be sure to keep this video in my favorites and refer back to it for the tips.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Awesome, and if you ever have any questions, just fire away!

[@thaddeusmikolajczyk9055]

Good tips

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Thanks!

[@freddonelson5505]

Great video ... plus I loved the background music!!

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I appreciate it!

[@DetraDearmas]

Ladies hair ties hold the phone just great! Awesome tips really enjoyed it!

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I have seen that done as well, or rubber bands. If you use them for something else, it can be a dual use item! Thanks!

[@snaponjohn100]

Great video, my friend. Thank you for all of your tips and tricks. God bless you. John

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

thanks!

[@LenserX]

I gotta get that hangtime hook. There were many times out on trail last year when I wished I had one.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Sweet, it comes in super handy. Thanks!

[@eliotroby]

in place of the hang time hook its also possible to use a large black clamping paper clip on your ridgeline to clip your phone - might not be the perfect angle but a lot cheaper. I also use office style clamping paper clips for hanging laundry while camping.

[@BradliusMaximus]

Only mentioning this because I saw you post in other comments that you were curious to hear people’s reactions. Jazz music is definitely an acquired taste and not one I care for FWIW. I’d take the Hans Zimmer type stuff over most other kinds of non-lyric type music any day, but no music choice you go with will please everyone. 🤷🏻‍♂️ As for your tips, I’ve seen the finger gun thing before. I try to use it and I also got one of those “hangles” from Dutch and yet I still seem to always manage to hang in such a way where my ridgeline is too tight and nearly guitar string tight when I’m laying in my hammock (DH sparrow). I don’t know if I’m consistently picking trees too far apart or what but it’s a frustration for sure. My straps are always head height or slightly higher. It definitely takes a fair amount of fiddling to get it to the point I can get comfortable. The issue I get the most is the side wall of the hammock putting pressure on my outer foot (right foot since I have a right lay hammock) that pushes it inwards if that makes sense. I often have to either find a way to sleep on my side without getting too much pressure on my “bottom” shoulder, or sleep in what I call the figure 4 position where my left leg is mostly straight and my right leg is bent and resting against my left calf to be comfortable. Never had a perfect sleep but it’s still way more comfortable than sleeping on some thin inflatable mat on the hard ground. F that. Definitely looking at trying a bridge hammock in the near future. I’ve laid in one and based on that experience I think I’d like it more than my GE. I just need Dutch to get the banyans back in stock; ideally offer a double layer option too. Edit: typo

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

If you can swing it, the bridge hammock really does help with a lot of the issues you, and a lot of others have with the gathered end hammocks. The foot thing and calf ridge are completely gone with the bridge. Thanks!

[@j3hikes444]

great tips on adjusting the ridgeline, many thanks

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Hope they help, I thought it was easier to show how I put it up, then kinda talk through the adjustments than show them. What do you think, did that work? Thanks!

[@j3hikes444]

@@SpiguyverBackpacking1 you bet it worked, i was making endless adjustments on both ends lol. with your method the fiddle factor has been cut. many thanks

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

AWESOME!!! So glad it was helpful!

[@alexwbanks70]

I have my ridgeline organizer right behind my hangtime hook and that's where I put my battery bank along with other things. Works out great. What are those straps you have?

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Perfect setup! Thanks!

[@ricardoneto7789]

Good tip Mark , thanks for sharing 😉👍👌

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Anytime, thanks for checking it out!

[@Team5TL]

I have a Sheltowee under quilt and I leave it attached to my hammock and it’s all packed into a bishop’s bag. One less step when I’m setting up.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Good deal. I have done this in the past as well, but there are a couple of small drawbacks with doing that. I like to shake my quilts after I pull them out of my pack in order to loft them again. It's not quite as easy, but can still be done, if you leave them attached. Either way, get out there and enjoy it!

[@soflanut]

I use an Ultrapod tripod with a phone attachment. It works good to hang my phone on the ridgeline.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Cool, I haven't seen that done! Thanks!

[@soflanut]

Check tree trunk all around for poison ivy. I found a perfect tree last weekend ran straps around forgot this step. Still scratching. 🤦‍♀️

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

That's a really good one that I don't think about since I have no reaction to poison ivy so I'm not all that careful to avoid it. Thanks!

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I think this may have been the only video that had music on it. It was something I tried, didn't like and haven't really done since!

[@Wondering_Fireball]

Wish I had one to enjoy.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Man, you're missing out!

[@Wondering_Fireball]

Spiguyver, nothing I can do about that until March according to Dutch. It won’t be available until then. That hurts! LOL

[@JeremiahStringer]

Great stuff bro

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Appreciate it!

[@OutdoorPastor]

What kind of webbing do you use? I use the antigravity gear mule tape, but your set up seems much easier.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I have used mule tape, but these specific ones are from Myerstech. You can find them on Facebook.

[@tarrevizsla9543]

That was quick! Thanks, this was exactly what I was thinking! Would the Beckett hitch work with an unmodified Ridge outdoors with the webbing loops instead of more typical continuous loops, or is there a chance it might make it more difficult?

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Yes, I have used it on all kinds of different setups, including the original Ridge hammock with the webbing straps. I think I show this on a trip video I did in the past. Thanks!

[@BohemianAdventurers]

You are way beyond my level on the hammock front!!

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Nah, just been doing it for a while. I put the tips out there to help everyone out, but I didn't learn it all on my own. I learned by doing, and seeing it done! Thanks for checking it out!

[@BohemianAdventurers]

@@SpiguyverBackpacking1 I just haven't dove into knots yet. I went the lazy route and got the cliche ENO Junglenest. Lol. It has convinced me that I'm a hammocker though!

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Sweet, welcome to hanging. For me it just comes down to sleeping better while out on the trail.

[@alexwbanks70]

What are those straps? Or what's the lightest one piece strap? I currently use the nylon ones from Dutch, but looking to go lighter while using the Becket hitch. Thanks

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

They are some lightweight straps from MyersTech. I believe they weigh in around 1.5g per foot.

[@danielkutcher5704]

Nice lounge music 👍😊 have you ever had the Beckett knot tighten up so much that it jammed? I used to use a heavy nylon strap attached to a carabiner with what might be described as a Windsor knot (like a necktie). To my knowledge, I was the only one to use that method, which was solid, and quickly adjustable with a reliably easy release. No drip issues, and I would tie up the slack as you did. The issue was that the webbing was heavy and absorbed water. I'm currently using a Hummingbird Hammock with the company's tree straps and whoopie slings. Very nice, but the hammock (single) is short and narrow and cannot use a ridgeline or it would be right in my face lying down. I make do with a pass through zipperless sleeping bag (old Golite, discontinued), and can add additional insulation under the top of the bag. My question is, what strap are you using? The whoopie sling system needs some extra room between trees to deploy, and sometimes I can't find the perfect pair. One tip that I would like to pass on is to avoid hanging under or from mature trees during a windstorm. Branches could come down and impale your tarp (or other more important things), and, lightning, we know, often makes contact with the tallest things in the forest. Thanks. 👍

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I wasn’t sure I wanted it in there, but figured I’d give it a go and see what the reaction was on it.

[@danielkutcher5704]

@@SpiguyverBackpacking1 I added to my post and would appreciate some feedback on it, if you could. Thanks, Mark.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I have had mule tape and some dyneema webbing lock in to the point I have had to wrap it around my foot and jump down to release it. Myerstech has some continuous loops that have an extra knot in them, they work really well for changing the angle of the knot to get it to release pretty easily. I also get my webbing from them. They are on Facebook if you are on there, MyersTech Hammock Lab. Check out some of the cool things they're doing with straps.

[@danielkutcher5704]

@@SpiguyverBackpacking1 Thanks again. I haven't thoroughly checked out their website, but they show some innovative solutions to avoiding knot issues.

[@-nepherim]

Good tips, thanks. Not sure we needed the pron musak though :)

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Thanks. I appreciate the input on the music. Wasn't sure I wanted to go with it or not. Figured I'd hear it if it wasn't something people wanted!

[@danielkutcher5704]

I appreciated it. It's a personal thing. When the background music is as comfortable as a good hammock hang, it's ok in my book! 😊

[@DannyRiskit]

Great tips

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Glad you like them! Thanks!

[@joeshepherd4990]

Would you hang it the same height if you were putting a underquilt on or would you go higher as it looks like it would be close to the floor

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I always hang it at a good sitting height. My UQ gets close to the ground but I've never had any issues with it. If you aren't comfortable with it so low, just raise both ends up a couple inches and it's fixed!

[@barondavis5692]

You make it look so easy. I got a chameleon 2 months ago, set it up between 2 trees. The ridge line was too tight and o couldn’t get it right. There aren’t 2 trees of the 40 on my property that are close enough. It’s been in the box since. Hgh😬

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

It's taken quite a bit of time to know how to get it just about perfect each time. I still do have challenges while I'm out backpacking! Especially when I'm tired.

[@derekbrigette]

Will the becket hitch work with Spectra cord?

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I guess that depends on what you're using it for.

[@derekbrigette]

@@SpiguyverBackpacking1Spectra glide line sold by hammock gear. Used as suspension between the tree straps and whipping. Thx for the quick response!

[@Pneumaticcannon]

Awesome video !! What material are you using for your tree straps ? Looking for something I can get in Australia ! :) Edit: oops this was answered on a other comment :) now to see if I can get something in Aus

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Sweet, glad you found the answer!

[@TheTrailDancer]

I love the Peanuts music!!! YES!!! Nice vid bro!

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Thank you, some like it, some don't! Figured it was worth playing around with on this one!

[@paulmoore8496]

What kind of straps are you using to hang your hammock?

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I have several different ones I use. As long as they are pretty flexible, they will work great. These ones are from MyersTech, but you can get lots of different ones. I started out using Dutch Kevlar Tree Huggers and attaching mule tape to them. Thanks!

[@thunderbeing5793]

Dang, I'll just use carabiners...lol 😆

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Do whatever works for you!

[@calcooper3597]

You could put sharpie marks on your tarp ridgeline and use it like a tape measure to check tree spacing.

[@chuckreuben3119]

You're a big guy. Do you ever do a double Becket Hitch? I'm 190lbs and I just feel more comfortable doing a double

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

No, I just go with the single one, give it a little tug and I have not had any issues to date. I say that and that pretty much guarantees I end up on my ass this weekend!

[@develentsai3215]

Goddamn! This is the 2nd easiest hammock knot that I ever seen! 😊 Another easiest knot is here:kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJfVp5-los57d7M

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Thanks! It's easy to use for sure!

[@Akkfbdui384hj]

When sitting that low to the ground, does your underquilt touch the ground?

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Not normally. If the tree is on the smaller side, occasionally it will bend in and get me closer than I want to be. If when you sit in the hammock you get lower than you want, raise both sides up a couple inches and try again. But normally it works great. Thanks!

[@MrJasonwoodrow]

As a recent user of hammocks, I really tried to listen to your tips, but the club music with a nature background was so distracting. Please consider leaving music for just the intro.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

I think this may have been the only video that had music on it. It was something I tried, didn't like and haven't really done since!

[@MrJasonwoodrow]

@@SpiguyverBackpacking1 Thank you for replying and for the info. I just used close captions on this vid. 🙂

[@mikethiel5994]

Good tips but I would leave the music out of the video

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Thanks, I agree!

[@ahilbilyredneksopinion]

Except fer filmin whut a person is doin, or if ya need gps, electronics should be illegal in the stix...lol.

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Appreciate the comment and respect the opinion.

[@blwnts313]

OMG 😍💋 💝💖❤️

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Thanks!