Clark Jungle Hammock

[Ezdoesit]

Hi Everyone,
I was just on the Clark Jungle Hammock site and was thinking of getting one,my bones doesn't like the ground anymore.I have been using a tarp for the past few years and really like it but thought about going to the Hammock to save me from sleeping on the ground.I am not interested in the Hennessey just the Clark.I am thinking of doing another thru-hike of the A.T. Any information you could pass along would be greatly appreciated and thank you for your time.
EZ

[MarkR]

I have had the Clark Ultra light since 2001. It has been a great hammock and almost all my hiking buddies have converted to hammocks. If you get the Clark get the larger fly that is offered for about $20 more and only one more ounce. With that said I will tell you that I only use it now when the bugs are out. I use a homemade hammock the rest of the time based on designs easily found with a google search. The main issue with hammock camping is staying warm as the tempertures drop. I have used the clark in the low 20's with a T shaped pad, 20 degree bag, camp clothes and stayed warm. I hate dealing with the pads, sleeping bag, and getting in the hammock at the same time so I now use my sleeping bags around my homemade hammock and have stayed warmer, less hassle, and saved the ounces over carring my clark with the netting and pads. To summarize the Clark is my favorite hammock when it warm enough for the bugs to be out but check out some ************** for speer style homemade hammocks and their methods of dealing with cooler weather.

[Just Jeff]

MarkR - what kind of bag do you use around your hammock? Do you have pics?

[MarkR]

I experimented with the Clark hammock and some older bags before getting a North Face Propel (Old Style 40 degree-16oz 90inch) that worked great with the Clark. I have used the Propel with a Primaloft sweater and pants to go about 30 degrees with no pads. I just bought the North Face Fission (Old Style 20 degree) and used it last week at about 30 degrees without any extra clothing. I have found these bags are shaped just about perfect to eliminate those cold spots and still be able to toss and turn. I realized that it would be easier, cheaper, & lighter to just make a hammock to match these bags for winter use, and used your's and Risk's website for examples. I will try to get some pics soon. To keep on subject these bags will interchange with my homemade and the Clark. The Clark has worked so well for me in the past I still use it as the standard to judge against when I make my homemade hammocks.

[Just Jeff]

Cool - I'm really interested in the pics to see how you handle the ends of the Clark. I assume you zip off the bug net and just let the end cap part hang down inside the bag?

Good to know about the TNF being the right shape, too.

[MarkR]

I put the bug net in a small stuff sack and let the foot end cap with the netting attached hang down. If I have any extra clothes I just stuff them in the end cap to fill the dead space. The head end actually can be used for a wind block still. Dealing with these though is one of the reasons I started using the homemade hammocks in the winter. I found that with the homemade hammock I do not lose as much use of the foot end on the sleeping bag due to the rope attaching behind the whipping instead of thru the sleeve on the Clark.

Ezdoesit, If you have not checked out the Tom Claytor Jungle Hammocks you might want to. Two of my friends have them and they work out great. The are the same basic design as the Clark. You can turn them upside down and not deal with the netting, they have a pad sleeve, and cost about a third of the Clark. If I were buying again I would consider this if I did not have the homemade hammock bug! It is one of the easiest hammocks to transition to the hanging side IMO! The pad sleeve eliminates one of the hassles of the Clark. I have seen different tarps used with these. One of my buddies uses a basic rectangle tarp and another a MaCcat tarp. I rarely use the tarp that came with the Clark but prefer a square tarp set up as a diamond usig only 2 stakes. The Clark standard tarp keeps you dry in the hammock but is not great for packing up in the rain etc.

[Ezdoesit]

MarkR,
Thanks for your replys.

[PBF Support]