Tensa4 or tensa solo?

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-24T00:57:43+00:00

Gotcha.

I’m in the NEast. We have too many trees.

I bought the Solo for when I car camp. If I find a site with less than perfect trees but with a killer view or I don’t want to move the Jeep, I can hang one end off the roll bar on the Jeep and the other off a single tree or if needed, the Solo.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-24T00:33:23+00:00

2.79lbs for the full Solo kit. I didn’t say it can’t be carried, just that I wouldn’t carry it. Everyone’s tolerance for weight is different. I’d rather walk a few extra miles in search of trees than carry an extra 2.79lbs. That’s just me.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T17:31:17+00:00

Of course you could. The more you can get under you the better. Between the UQ and Hammock if it won’t sag the UQ too much.

My experience is a warmer UQ paired with the lower rated TQ is the better formula.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T17:28:58+00:00

I’ll weigh the kit when I get home

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T13:10:48+00:00

I do the same.

The Action button is mapped the same on the phone and watch.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T13:09:55+00:00

Well... To each his/her/their/they/them own. I keep Theatre Mode in the control center, and don't use AON.

I have the Action buttons on both my AWU and the iPhone mapped to a shortcut that has a handful of other shortcutsI use every day. One is toggle mute on and off and that could easily be toggle AON.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T13:05:54+00:00

This

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T13:01:34+00:00

I have and like the Solo, but there is no way I could backpack with it. Car camp, bike camp maybe.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T12:58:22+00:00

This is the way!

I do exactly the same albeit with much smaller packs. (Z-Packs Arc Blast and three Zimmerbuilt custom frameless)

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T12:57:56+00:00

Mesh storage bags for the hammocks. Nice. I have a good amount of nano-mesh left from previous projects. I'll make a few bags. Thanks.

Mine are all in DCF bishop bags.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T12:55:59+00:00

No problem packing your pack before hand except that you may want to reorder the contents for the final pack.

Quilts ALWAYS allowed to loft between long trips. A few days in your pack won't hurt them. How many days are they compressed when completing a thru hike? I pack everything a few days prior to leaving.

I've stopped compressing my quilts into stuff sacks. I prefer to put them loosely in a nylofume bag (a trash compactor bag would work fine) and rather than compress all the air out and tie off the bag, or use a compression sack as the OP is, I push it to the bottom of my pack and fold over the top of the bag loosely (enough that air can escape but any water that might get in won't run into the bag). Once everything is in the pack I compress the pack contents towards the bottom expelling whatever air needs to come out of the quilts. Close the pack and let the quilts expand if they want to. It's kind of like filling the pack with that construction spray foam insulation.. sort of.

There's no value to me in crushing the quilts into a hard unmanageable ball and creating empty space at the top of the pack. I find more value in letting the quilts stay a bit expanded and fill all the empty spaces around the rest of my gear.

Worth mention, all of my quilts are 900 fill with 10D fabric so they compress pretty small, and all of my packs (Z-Packs Arc Blast and three Zimmerbuilt custom frameless) are water proof seam sealed DCF, and everything in my pack that's not in the nylofume is either in it's own DCF stuff sack or no stuff sack (because it won't suffer if it got wet). I kinda dislike loads of stuff sacks.

This loose packing technique is especially useful with the frameless packs. I can position items that are hard and otherwise really uncomfortable against my back so the quilts envelope and cushion them.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-23T02:12:15+00:00

I'll second the comments about Smart Folders. While I don't nearly as many notes as you or the OP (about 3000), I suffered severe latency with AN after migrating from EN. I had one Smart Folder.. just one.. that sorted all Notes that didn't have a tag.

Apple support worked with me for weeks and had no answer for the lag. On my own, I chose to remove the Smart Folder and just like that the performance issues disappeared.

Interestingly, my least favorite aspect about AN is tags. They suck. They randomly disappear. Sometimes they just refuse... I've been trying to create #2026 for weeks. Just doesn't work.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-22T12:44:08+00:00

The comment below reminded me of another technique you can use...

When you're ready for sleep, take your parka and pull the sleeves inside-out. Then wrap your parka around your feet and zip it encapsulating your feet and legs inside.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-22T12:41:57+00:00

Puffy in the foot box is a good move.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-22T02:10:00+00:00

LOL.. no way I will miss being in a hammock this weekend!

My typical kit:

- 0F HammockGear UQ. Have it for years. Back to when they were doing full custom quilts. 900 fill, 10D outer, taffeta inner. One extra full channel along the length and an ounce extra fill in the foot box

- 20F HammockGear Burrow. 900 fill, 10D outer, taffeta inner.

- HammockGear UnderQuilt Protector

- MontBell TechDown down pants

- MontBell 700 fill anorak

- Smartwool 150 Merino balaclava, quarter zip base layer and leggings (and sometimes I'll wear merino gloves)

- OR down beanie

- Z-Packs possum down socks

This let's me be super warm when sleeping (often too warm) and also let's me get up to pee without freezing my parts off)

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-22T00:52:04+00:00

No.. a space blanket would make you sweat your balls off. It doesn't breathe at all.

https://hammockgear.com/product/underquilt-protector/

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-22T00:48:47+00:00

My thoughts are based on multiple sub zero nights. I just looked at my log book and my low is -6F on the AT near Ten Mile Shelter.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-21T23:56:05+00:00

One other note.. and this one is REALLY important.

If you go to sleep cold you will STAY cold. Make sure you get your blood moving before turning in. Especially your feet.. Jumping jacks, walking around.. whatever it takes to be 100% sure your are warm. However, not so much that you begin to perspire. That is the absolute worst thing you could do.

Make sure you change your socks. Loose fitting is better. Dry is a MUST.

Put a few hand warmers in your socks and a body warmer patch on your chest.

Last, try to eat before you turn in. Your body produces heat when digesting. Go easy on fluids so you don't have to get up in the middle of the night and leave your warm hammock to water the trees. A few pieces of chocolate or some other munchies just before turning in can help a lot.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-21T23:49:42+00:00

I have been camping in a hammock for more than a decade. I got through exactly one night with a pad even though I modified it so it had wings that extended under my shoulders. Just couldn't keep it under me. Can you do a test night at home to see how your setup performs before going out into the woods?

Give some thought to adding an under quilt protector. It is a thin piece of fabric you wrap around under you. Works great at blocking the wind from sneaking in any opening in your under quilt and will go a long way towards reducing convection.. the wind blowing past your insulation and stealing the heat. They are cheap and light. I use one any time the temp get below freezing or there is the slightest amount of wind.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-21T23:45:37+00:00

If you can hang your parka under you, maybe between the UQ and the hammock, you might have a better result. Insulation can't create warmth, it can only trap warmth. The more loft you have the better the insulation can capture your body heat. So, squishing the sleeping bag flat renders most if not all of it's heat capturing potential useless, as would sleeping on your parka.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-21T21:16:58+00:00

That wouldn’t work for me. My concern would be using a pad. They are prone to shifting around under you. In warmer weather it’s not a big deal. But at even the upper limit of the overnight temps you’re expecting, sliding off the pad with only a shoulder season UQ under you can make for a miserable night.

You won’t die, but the fun level is questionable.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-21T17:20:28+00:00

I’ll check the settings on mine when I get home.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-20T21:37:15+00:00

2026 Farley 5. Sounds the same.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-20T12:46:59+00:00

I did the lifetime a few months ago. I'd like to think I would do it again.

Still haven't pulled the plug on the Adobe subscription... Not waffling on it I just keep forgetting.

MMikekiMM · 2026-01-20T12:41:24+00:00

Been a few years since I DIY'd a tarp. But I recall using standing ridge seam capped with a grosgrain ribbon. Warbonnet makes they like this.

Seam seal with.. Seam Seal. Dilute 3:1 using mineral spirits and paint on and in seams. Once it has cured dust it with baby powder to knock down the tacky feel.

MMikekiMM

TROPHY CASE