Hammocks

[Richard]

Here are three styles.

This one is a bit pricey for me but its an excellent cot.
https://www.mountainsports.com/msmain.a ... ail=086275" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is the cot I have the most of and I really like it. The big problem with most military style cots is putting them together. It takes a pry bar to put on the end bar. Rio has a velcro adjustment that eliminates that problem
http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Adventure-Mil ... 513&sr=1-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This would be my pick if height is not important. I have a similar one but decided I liked a taller cot.
http://www.amazon.com/Byer-Maine-Allaga ... m_dbs_sg_5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[okieboater]

I have had a roll a cot wide version for some time 5 or 6 years at least.

Used the dickens out of this cot and it still looks and works like new.

These cots are made in the USA out of USA materials. Fabric is heavy duty plastic mesh that will dry in a flash. Legs are reinforced aluminum tubes that so far have been bomber for me.

Like Partner Steel products buy one of the Roll a Cots and that is the last cot you will probably need to buy.

[KatieOBatey]

I love my ENO's I have two, a double and a single. They are super light, can carry them just about anywhere. Comfy. You can throw them in the washer if they get too gross. The new designs are super cool too. They are built in with a sleeping bag and everything. I wouldn't trade mine for the world.

[Randy Dodson]

for car camping or river camping out of a canoe or raft, I've been in love with my roll-a-cot for about 20 years.


Lately though, I have been pondering an ENO hammock.

[Richard]

Lately though, I have been pondering an ENO hammock.

First, determine the ideal distance between trees
Second, use that measurement and plant two trees
Third, buy a cot and use it for 20 years until the trees get big enough
Forth, try out your 20 year old new hammock
ZZZzzzzZZZzzzZzzzZZ

[okieboater]

Buy a Jacks Plastic 4 inch paco pad
and
you will not need a cot or a hammock

[fryingsquirrel]

Buy a Jacks Plastic 4 inch paco pad
and
you will not need a cot or a hammock

Also, if you lose your boat to an overnight river rise, the Paco Pad can be paddled down-river in an emergency!

[RomanLA]

I forgot my hammock and picked up one of these at Pack Rat for the Middle Fork of the Salmon. It was $20 and came with ropes...similar use to ENO slap straps. I bought some tubular webbing and biners to use instead. I loved it for sleeping out on a clear night. I just threw my sleeping pad and bag in it and it was great. Anyway, it would be a cheap way to see how you like sleeping in a hammock. I will definitely be using it overnight out of my boat in the future.
Grand Trunk Ultralight Travel Hammock

p.s. Only difference I noticed between it and my nicer hammock was that it didn't seem to come up as far around me on the sides...I'm a big guy though...used every bit of that 250lb rating! lol

[okieboater]

Flying Squirrel,

Your comment on rising rivers has a lot of truth in it.

My first Grand Canyon float was in august. That was before I found Paco Pads but I did have the thickest thermarest available at the time. This was also a trip when the GC tides came and went depending on where you happened to camp. Up on the beach it was pretty hot even at night. so hot that after the first night even the die hard tent folks started sleeping under the stars. Several of us would sleep down next to the river with feet towards the water. It was nice and cool and all we needed was a sheet for cover. If the water came up we had our feet exposed and the cold water would wake us. We would move up the bank a ways and sometimes had to move multiple times.

I was in a kayak and in the midday sun your head would be baking in the helmet while your butt was pretty cold from setting on the damp kayak seat.

[Deuce]

Buy a Jacks Plastic 4 inch paco pad
and
you will not need a cot or a hammock

Which is good, because you won't be able to afford one by the time you're done paying for the Jack's. :shock: As okieboater knows I just dropped a chunk of change on outfitting my raft. I'm being bombarded daily with boxes, one of which will contain an Aire Landing Pad, the poor man's Paco. Think I'm on the Fedex and UPS drivers' bad list. Now, if I can just get okieboater and Crane to come over Saturday and help me figure out how to put it all together.........

[okieboater]

Un boxing and assembling new boating gear is a treat.

I will be glad to help.

Rafting is more addictive than kayaking as far as gear.

Ask any rafter and my bet is they will tell you that buying the raft is the easy part, next comes all the camping gear, trailer, V8 trailer puller and the list goes on. Only good part is with a good thick paco pad you can easily and comfortably sleep anywhere you can find space and save some motel bills. Hope that Aire pad works for you. I have heard they work ok. Pacos are way expensive but everything is first class and totally american made. They last forever and require little maintenance. I was lucky to get mine before all the sky hi price increases.

Now looking forward to seeing that new raft and gear on the river!!!

[Deuce]

My girls have stuff going on Saturday that doesn't require my presence, which means I'll get to play with the new toys. Can't wait. Hope to splash 'er soon. Probably take advantage of the next long weekend coming up in February to do just that. I've read the same assessments of the Aire pad. If it doesn't get it done for me I'll pony up for a Paco once the dust has settled. The good news is I already have all the camping gear I need (wait, is that possible?) as well as a big tow vehicle and a trailer.

[okieboater]

None of us ever has enough boating, camping, hiking, climbing, fishing, bike etc etc gear.

Most likely what we need but not what you want!!!!

[texasannie52]

My two cents - I've been using a hennessy hammock for many years but only in warm weather... you don't need a pad then nor do you need much of a sleeping bag - rather the opposite. I have also tried the Eagles Nest. Both sleep well, the only thing I have found is that if it is cold, then you will freeze because your pad/sleeping bag will not stay in place. Another challenge can be finding two trees the appropriate distance apart. Other than that, I love my hammock.

[robkanraft]

Deuce, would like to hear a product eval on the Landing pad. I always wondered about them, to toss in the back of our vehicle. If you decide to upgrade, go with Jack's, not the "other" guys who market their pad as similar.

I'm really liking my roll-a-cot the more I use it, spent nine nights straight on it last summer. We used a six-man base camp tent for two folks so we had the room for cots. I like being off the ground, for my body it makes getting up in the morning easier. (seriously) In the tent, I could also jam all the excess gear underneith to keep organized.

My one issue with thicker river pads is they take up a lot of real estate in a small raft, and it seems like the roll cot might take less but I haven't drawn a permit yet to test that theory.

I also bought an Eno double nest a couple of years ago, and other than my back yard, have yet to camp where I could sling one. Someday!