ashenThe word hammock is derived from the Spanish word hamaca, it is a swinging clothed bed like structure made out of canvas, fabric or rope and is suspended from two points. It doesn’t exactly resemble adventure, rather used for relaxing in the summer. Recently a lot of “experienced” campers and outdoor travelers have been shifting from the traditional tents to the hammocks. Therefore it seems appropriate to present you adventure travelers with the Hennessy hammock review, which happens to be a top notch hammock in the industry. There are quite a few varieties that are popular among campers that we will review and you can choose the most matched product for your camping needs.
Hennessy Hammock Review- Expedition Series
The reason we kick off the Hennessy Hammock Review with the Expedition Series is because this is the legendary hammock that initiated the hammock camping revolution. Hennessy Hammock is a small family run company that focuses solely on the quality of the product and trusts the positive reviews of their happy customers. Let’s take a look at the specifications of the Expedition series and proceed for the review;
- Side entry with YKK Zipper with 2 double sliders.
- 70d high density nylon bottom
- 30D mosquito mesh
- Elastic “hold open” for mesh
- 70d polyester ripstop rain tarp
- 1500lb (680kg) test polyester ropes
- Complimentary webbing straps
- Weight: 2lb 12oz.
Best For The Average Traveler
There are two models to the Expedition series called the Classic and the Zip model. The Classic model is the one with the bottom entry and closes off under your body weight as soon as you enter. Therefore it is highly functional if the area you are camping is buzzing with mosquitoes or flies. You are safely secured inside by the sealed velcro. The side entrance with the two double sliders are found in the Zip model. You don’t need an insulation pad if you plan to use your sleeping bag in the Zip model hammock. Why? Because it has a double layer bottom to hold the Heat-Reflecting DoubleBubble Pad between the layers and for mosquito protection.
The design suits anyone up to 6ft and weighing 250lbs. And you don’t have to worry about any back or neck cramps when you sleep at night. The hammock is patented asymmetrically shaped and supports your knee and back while you sleep even if you sleep diagonally. The mosquito net not only keeps out the insects but also protects you from sudden gusts of wind. The 2000m waterproof rainfly can be adjusted according to the climate conditions and your needs. If the weather is clear you can take it off altogether. The setup is quite easy and there are plenty of tutorials all over Youtube. The given nylon webbing straps also support ropes too which means you have extension choices when setting this up.
Also there is a sliding mesh gear space on the ridgeline. And two threaded glove hooks for attaching something like a mini torch or a drink. Apart from this all hammocks contain an inside loop to which you can hook up a carabiner to attach your backpack and other accessories that are too heavy to hang from the ridgeline.
Hennessy Hammock Hyperlite Asym Zip Review
The Hennessy Hammock Asym Zip is widely popular among solo campers. If you are of the same solo travel breed keep reading!
Setting up is quite elementary and is not complicated. You can check out the Hennessy tutorial here. You don’t have to be a cadet or anything like that to learn the knot setups for these hammocks. The lashing method as Hennessy calls it is the easy and protective method to hang the hammock. And once you get in, you don’t want to get out, For the comfort you experience is unparalleled. Most campers experience back pains after sleeping on the ground while camping using tents. You can say goodbye to those pains with these hammocks.
Most of us tend to roll over and toss about while we sleep and that’s perfectly fine with the Hennessy hammock for you won’t get entangled or topple over. And the bug net zipper is pretty handy as we mentioned earlier to get in and out and with the mosquitoes being so close yet so far. The pouch that hangs from the ridgeline is pretty useful for stuffing your essentials. Most importantly the Hyperlite Asym Zip is super lightweight and extremely minimalistic, the best you could ask for in terms of lightweight camping gear. Because of the absence of additional gear and spare parts the weight is further lessened.
However there could be a slight inconvenience for some totally inexperienced users with the lashing technique. To reduce weight as much as possible, Hennessy eliminates carabiners to attach the straps to trees. Hence the lashing technique is used. Nevertheless you should get the hang of it after a few tries. It’s just a deviation from traditional camping.
Hennessy Hammock Deep Jungle Zip Review
- 3lbs 2oz / 1400 g not including free 4oz / 112 g webbing straps
- 5″ x 8″ x 12″ / 13 cm x 20 cm x 30 cm packed size
- Two layers of 30d Nylon66 with spectra reinforced ripstop
- 20d Polyester No-See-Um netting
- Heavy duty black double slider 8 YKK zipper
- Two 10 ft / 305 cm long, 1800 lb / 818 kg test spectra ropes with polyester cover suspending ropes
- 2″ / 5 cm wide x 42″/ 107 cm long polyester webbing straps
- 30d High Tenacity PU / Silicone coated Silnylon 66 ripstop rainfly fabric
- Adequate for 7′ tall and 300lbs person
For the Bigger Folks
The one made to meet the comforts of the well built campers. Suitable for any environment condition and weather condition. As you can see the build quality is strong and durable matched for anything out there in the wild. The permanently attached insect mesh unzips fully along one side to allow entry and exit to the hammock. Again as we mentioned above the fact that separates the Hennessy hammock from the rest is the preservation of the asymmetrical design. The ridge-line ensures an identically-shaped rig all the time. And your sleep is mostly diagonal to the ridgeline.
You get more space in the hammock through this shape with no body pains whatsoever. And you don’t have to worry about outside insects attacking you or getting in the hammock. Once entirely zipped it is impenetrable by insects. The webbing straps together with the suspending ropes made out of thick paracord can be used to tie the ends of the hammock to a tree and adjust the positions as you wish. There are two sliding anchors knotted to the suspending ropes and you can use this to clip the rainfly. You can adjust the tightness of the rainfly to the optimum by sliding these anchors.
The other corners of the fly are made to be tied off by guy-lines to objects like tree branches creating a triangular shade. And you are well covered once in the hammock. All of these accessories pack into a compact, breathable drawstring sack, which comes with setup instructions , definitely useful while you’re still new to hammock camping.
Selections To Be Aware
It would do better to be aware of a few criteria when ordering the Hennessy hammock, and customize it to suit your requirements.
There is an option for an insulation system with the Deep Jungle. Essentially this is a heat reflecting double bubble pad as mentioned in the website. And can be inserted between the two bottom layers of the fabric. It is a true fact that most places require some insulation at night, especially at higher altitudes. If you have ever slept on the ground you are well aware of how much body heat is lost to the surface. The same science applies even when in a hammock because of the cold air below you. Therefore unless you are travelling to a very warm climate region, you can consider this insulation system for extra $40.
You also get a variety of choices for the webbing straps. Select the standard 42″/106cm for trees , 72″/183cm , and 96″/243cm . You can replace the standard length with the other two longer versions for free of charge. The advantage you gain here by selecting the longer versions is the added flexibility not just in terms of length but diameter too. The 72 ” is 24″/61cm in diameter while the 96″ is 36″/91cm in diameter. Yes you will carry some extra weight but it is worth it when the rigging becomes easier.
There are a variety of rainfly models for you to select. You get the Explorer Ultralite Rainfly 30D Silnylon, Hex Rainfly 30D Silnylon and all the rest for 70D Silnylon and 70D Polyester. The Hex models feature six attach points instead of four. The 70D polyester are tougher and heavier too and all these are available in different colors like burnt orange, leaf green.
Checklist For Hammock camping
Something that you definitely have to be concerned about is anchors to tie the rainfly and other parts of the hammock. You want to make sure that the anchor you choose isn’t something that will blow away at the first gust of wind and ruin your hammock camping experience. A ground stake is a good option for something strong and solid.
Also learning to tie proper knots is a handy piece of knowledge to have. You need it when you are setting up the rainfly, both initially and when it slackens from time to time as you get in and out of the hammock. Height adjustment is the next factor to be sure about. You have to set the hammock in a way that it isn’t too low or too high. If it is too low you won’t be able to keep your travel gear inside, too high and there will be no protection from winds.
When entering or exiting the hammock make sure to completely unzip without doing it partially. Because you are subjecting the zip slider to a larger strain when undone only partially while entering or exiting. You are responsible for preserving the durability of the hammock.
This Hennessy Hammock Review should serve as a pretty comprehensive guide when you make your hammock selection for your next camping trip. If you want to lighten your backpack, upgrade from the old system and try something new, Hennessy is right around the corner waiting for you.
A Word On Hennessy
Tom Hennessy, has been sleeping in hammocks for over 60 years and experimenting with designs for over 40 years. Been camping since 12 years old, his love of the outdoors and of camping gear runs way back. He spent 6 years building many prototypes and beta-testing until he finally received the patent for his work. Since then Hennessy Hammock has been a well functioning company who focuses on nothing but delivering the best quality products for the outdoor adventurer.
