Originally Posted by That Java Guy
Hennessy Hammock - Expedition model
Tester - Dan
Age -- 30 years old
Height -- 5 feet 10 inches
Weight -- 193lbs
Use - during military exercises in and around Chiang Mai, Thailand and Fort Lewis, WA
Getting it - initial thoughts
I received the Hammock in the mail quite soon after ordering it from the folks at Hennessy. The package was a bit smaller than I had anticipated - which was a plus. Lighter usually being better in these situations. Opening it revealed a stuff sack with the Hammock and the rain fly inside. Being used to dealing with military gear, the camouflaged Expedition model hammock looked like it would fit right in. Construction appeared to be bullet proof, but not overdone to the point of excessive bulk. Not many moving parts either - great because I would be putting this up and taking it down at night.
Setup
Finding a place to set it up - initial setup - thoughts and feelings of its looks
I took the Expedition to some nearby woods to try it out. Instructions were stenciled onto the bag, and setup was really straightforward. The bag said 3 min setup, but it was more like 10 the 1st time. The nylon straps did a great job of preserving the trees I tied the hammock to. I varied the setup a bit from the instructions. When we make one-rope bridges at work, we use a transient tightening system. This worked excellent for the hammock. The way it worked was after fastening one end of the hammock to a tree, I tied a bite about 10 inches from where the rope came out of the hammock on the unsecured side and tie a bite or put a snap link in it. (picture in pictures file) I then ran the running end of the rope through the webbing that was around the other support tree and back through the bite or snap link. This allowed me to use the snap link as a pulley and cinch the hammock extremely tight.
If not for the straps I'd be hesitant to do this - I've seen huge gouges left in trees after river crossings. This time - there was not a mark on the tree. The side-lines on the hammock are great - and after securing them to some nearby scrub, the hammock really opened up. The rain fly was just as simple to set up. Simply hook it to fasteners that are already in place on the hammock's main support lines. Then slide the fasteners out until the fly is taunt. I then secured the side-lines on the fly to the same points as the side hammock lines - voila, instant shelter.
Getting in
Entrance into the Expedition is simple indeed. Just find the seam in the bottom of the hammock that is velcroed together, separate it, and enter headfirst. Sitting down and pulling your feet into it seemed to be the easiest way. I felt like I was being born in reverse. Once inside - it is really spacious. Other hammocks I've used before just come together and cocoon you in place, but the Expedition let me stretch out, roll on my side, and pretty much assume any position that I wanted.
Exiting the hammock, or being birthed as I think of it, is just the reverse. Find the Velcro seam, open it and drop out feet 1st. No problems at all. Getting into a sleeping bag and then inside the hammock can be done a couple of ways. You can sit in the entrance, pull your bag up around your legs and then stand, pulling the bag the rest of the way up your body, and then just sit back down, lay back and worm your way into position in the hammock. I was using a bag with a full-length zipper that had a bivy cover with a matching full-length zipper. I just laid the connected bags out inside the hammock, crawled in next to them and rolled on top/into the bags. Zip - and I was all snug and secure. My 1st night out with the bag I used the Army's SPEAR system (3 piece sleeping system. US GI issue features a black intermediate sleeping bag rated at -10 degrees, a green patrol sleeping bag rated at 30 degrees and the Govt. issue woodland camo gore-tex sleeping bag cover. When put together the system is rated at -50 degrees using various layers of the cold weather clothing system.) - The lightweight green bag and bivy cover. Temperatures only went down to the mid 40s, so I stayed quite comfortable in a set of silk weight underwear. I slept great in the Expedition, and did not want to get up, but work called. The interior hanging gear bag made an excellent place to put my watch. That way I had an alarm hanging right above my face J Mount and dismount - pack it up
Packing the hammock went even quicker than setup. A couple of folds and some rolls and it was put away. It fit right back into its stuff sack, which is more than I can say for some kit I've used - seems once you take certain things out of their stuff sacks - they never fit in them again.
Hot Weather
Arrive in Thailand HOT!!! Chiang Mai barracks.
I deployed to Thailand about a week later. Man - talk about hot!!! Getting off the plane in Bangkok at night was like walking into a wet oven. It was around 90 deg with about 1000% humidity J. We traveled to the North West part of the country, near the city of Chiang Mai. There we linked up with the Thai military, whom we would be teaching various classes to. Our accommodations were a bit on the sparse side. We were to stay on the 2nd floor of a large concrete box. One room for the 12 of us - occasional electricity to power the one ceiling fan, and a host of biting bugs. It took me all of 2 minutes to decide I was sleeping in my hammock. I pitched it on the 2nd floor porch, between two support columns and used a chair and a potted plant for the side support lines. I slept great - protected from the bugs with a gentle breeze blowing - while everyone else cooked in their room.
The next morning I awoke surrounded by a crowd of Thai soldiers. They thought the expedition was the bee's knees. Hammocks are very common but the Thais had never seen one like this - and offers to buy or trade began as soon as I emerged. Needles to say I was not letting this one go at any cost. I lived out of the Expedition on the porch of our barracks for 3 weeks, and then it was time to hit the woods. I accompanied a Thai Army patrol into the mountains of Pai for a week. They had their hammocks, and would build elaborate shelters with tarps and ponchos over them - held up with bamboo that they cut. They were moderately effective in the rain, but I felt almost guilty my Expedition went up so quick and was so effective. The Thais were eager to try the Hennessy out and reluctant to get out
Torrential rains hit us for 3 of the 7 days we spent out - I remained nice and dry in the Expedition, occasionally waking at night to the sounds of cursing Thais dumping collected water out of their shelters. To keep my gear dry, I built a small bamboo platform and placed my pack on it, beneath my hammock. I would keep my sleeping gear - basically a piece of parachute silk, in the hammock. When getting in, I'd sit in the hammock, take my boots off and leave them on top of the pack, and crawl inside to go to sleep. If I needed to get out, my boots were right under the opening for immediate access. In the dark set up and take down of the Expedition was a breeze also - no problems at all. Very quiet, which is a plus in my line of work. The fewer moving parts the better. While traveling around I was invited to spend the night inside a monastery - and told it would be quite all right if I put the Hammock up to sleep in. What a neat experience that was.
Weight was never an issue either. My pack is always heavy; being the team medic I not only carry a ton of military gear but also the greater majority of medical supplies. My ruck weighs on average 75 pounds. When moving into an area for long-term occupation, it is not uncommon for everyone on the team to have a ruck weighing over 100 pounds (much of which we dump at our campsite J ). Every ounce of weight we can shave off is greatly appreciated - and the 2.4 lb Hennessy Hammock shines in that area also.
After our mission was completed in Thailand we headed back to Washington State. A thorough cleaning of the hammock showed it to be in tiptop condition. It held up to mud, humidity and abuse much better that I expected. Only the slightest signs of wear were present.
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