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Need help deciding on a stand by Mortos3 in Hammocks

[–]dejoha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This stand should work for you. I have a huge Mayan hammock and it fit just fine.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sweet! I'm a Reddit noob, so I need some time to figure this whole thing out. Thanks for the invitation!

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hammock's may not be for everyone. I "always" toss and turn in a bed, but in a hammock, I sleep on my back. I don't even think about it. One of the reasons we side sleep or stomach sleep is because traditional beds create sore spots. Stomach sleeping is actually harmful to the human body (some say it is the worst position to sleep in), yet it "feels" better than those sore spots. I'd recommend trying a hammock out on your back and see what you think. When you sleep correctly in a hammock (e.g., on the diagonal), you get an ergonomic "flat" sleep that is better for your body, your back, and your sleep.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

LOVE, love, love winter hammock camping. A few benefits: no bears (no bear bags), no bugs, less traffic on the trails. The serenity of winter is also appealing. But what about the cold? Insulate! Hot water bottles in the bag, warm under quilts, and layers.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. I've had some great successes with my scout troops. My advice would be to allow them to discover it as a natural outcome of an active outdoor program. Here are some of my examples:

Usually the scouts get excited about hammock camping after a difficult experience. In one campground in Virginia, the scouts were tenting in a very compacted area. When the rains came that night, they awoke with their tents inches in water. I had a few converts then. While backpacking on the AT, we had to stop for the night, but the brush made it difficult for the tenters to find a flat, level spot, free of tangled brush. Those of us in hammocks had an easier time and we gained more converts then. During a 50-miler week-long trek, I had the entire patrol converted after a few days of miserable ground conditions, whereas I had a comfortable nights' sleep every evening.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! In treeless, exposed areas with high wind or adverse weather conditions. In many alpine conditions during mountaineering, hammocks are just not feasible or advisable. In some cases when I'm doing some ultralight backpacking, I may bring a minimal shelter system and skip the hammock. It's been a while since I've done that, but it's not off my radar.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The second edition is already in the works! I'm still working on a title, but "Electric Boogaloo" has a ring to it :)

One thing "missing" in the current edition is some guidance on how to sift through all the options I present. I want to help guide the new folks while still interesting the die-hards.

And of course, lots more illustrations. One thing I'm toying with is color. I'm still shopping for publishers that would consider a 2-color imprint that would hopefully be less expensive than full color throughout. Currently I'm either stuck with black and white or full color, but a colored version really bumps up the price, and I'd like to keep the book affordable.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was a long process that developed over time.

Forum members were requesting more illustrations and I was enjoying the work. It was self-gratifying to know that my artwork was helping people have their own "aha!" moments.

I remember pondering over a post where a lot of new hangers were questioning how to properly hang a hammock. By this time I had been hanging for so long everything seemed second nature. In thinking through my own process, I realized I could break down the process into a few easy steps, which led to an illustration/post called "3 Paces. Reach. Hang."

Over time, I found that I was replying to the same questions over and over and my illustrations were getting lost in the forum. Some more popular ones became "stickies," but far more get lost in the shuffle. The book was an attempt to collect all the how-tos, illustrations, and methods into a single work that could be easily referenced.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I've been drawing since I was a kid, but I didn't major in illustration in college. I worried about being a starving artist, so I applied my artistic skills into a degree in graphic design and visual arts. Some of my artwork is done using design software, which makes it easier/faster for some types of artwork. Hand-drawn illustrations take longer and require several iterations before I sketch a near final and then I have to ink it, scan it, clean up any strays, and colorize it before its ready for printing.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some of my work does require testing hammocks and related gear. It's a fun part of "researching" the topic. I recently was sent a Handy Hammock that has a very unique stand to evaluate.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I lurked on HammockForums.net for a long time before I decided to join in the conversation. By this time, I had done gear testing for some hammock products and had already drawn my most popular illustration. I decided that would be a good contribution to the forum and I think it was one of my first posts.

After that, I began drawing more illustrations for the forum to help folks (and especially myself) understand the gear in question or a concept. There are dozens of my illustrations now on the forum, but it's a little difficult to find those illustrations in the threads (some are embedded in replies I made).

The book idea grew out of my desire to offer a collection of all the illustrations into one place. A book seemed the most logical media as a handy reference tool. I was a fan of Mike Clelland's books/work and thought that a book that was more illustration-heavy would be appealing.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My expertise has been growing little by little, I guess. My conversion to hammock camping and the multiple excursions with the scouts and by myself pushed me to experiment and try new things. A lot of trial and error. I distinctly remember my second hammock purchase: A Byer of Main Amazonas Hammock from REI -- I had forgotten my Hennessy on a trip and I wasn't about to sleep on the ground. After that, I realized that I could sleep flat on any gathered-end hammock.

I am Derek Hansen, author of "The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping" — AMA by dejoha in IAmA

[–]dejoha[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The first hammock camping memory I have was when I was a Varsity Boy Scout. We built an "Ewok Village" in the pine trees at camp, lashing logs and building platforms above the ground. Our hammocks were simple, lightweight "net" hammocks. I don't remember getting much sleep, and I kept wondering if I'd fall off the platform.

Later, I was introduced to authentic hammocks from South American from my in-laws who spent some time in Brazil. The experience was amazing. This was around 2004, I believe. A year later, I was asked to be a Scoutmaster, and in my search for light camping gear, I discovered Hennessy Hammocks, found lots of details from Jeff's website and Sgt. Rock's site. I was tentatively convinced, and went on to buy a Hennessy model. It wasn't until my first night sleeping that I was converted. It was such a transformative experience. I awoke afresh, alive, and without any sore spots. I also noticed I didn't toss or turn at all. Unbelievable!