A hammock may come handy as a comfort-enhancing item in a camper/hiker's kit. A hammock is of either "fish net" type or "1 piece tent-fabric" type, which would be no burden in terms of weight and space. I would recommend the "1 piece tent-fabric" type as it offers better protection against wind and insects. Whether you encounter a sudden rain or an all-night cat'n'dog pourdown, a hammock may become handy as a quick-to-install above-the-ground personal shelter together with a poncho roof setup (also quick-installable). All you need is two suitable trees (please avoid coconut trees!) and a humble skill of knot-making. The hammock can effectively protect you from wet, sometimes soaking, ground caused by heavy rain and from night-hunting snakes, which might like to sneak into your tent seeking preys <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. In a fine breezy summer afternoon, a nap after lunch on a hammock will drive your tiredness away. In addition to its normal use, a hammock may serve as an emergency first-aid stretcher in case of injuries. Of course you can name several other uses of a hammock with your good imagination as well. Thanks for reading!

We disucssed hammocks and brands in another post a couple weeks ago.

I use a hammock alot in the bush mainly to avoid having to find good ground to sleep on. Central Brazil is a very steep and rocky place in the higher elevations and the lower forests are choked with undergrowth and the ground is littered with rotting debris covered with ants and assorted bugs.

I have found that a poncho does not give adequate cover for the rainy season here. I use a larger 2.5x3.5 meter plastic tarp to give a decent sized dry area under the hammock for cooking , changing etc. This makes a rather large but very comfortable shelter.

In heavy rain you have to shelter the cords of the hammock or they will turn into rain gutters and wet your back at night. I often use my poncho hood hole for this attaching the edges of the ponch to the tarp to seal off the side where the wind is blowig the rain in. I tie the hood right up to the tree covering the cords. A plastic bag threaded over the cords also works but can be sort of noisy if you use the crinkly kind of plastic. Mac

Ultralight Hammock Camping

Manufacturer's site

Come on, Tom !!! I recognized you ...... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
http://www.hennessyhammock.com/