I got to spend the weekend testing out the Hennessy Safari Deluxe Asym Zip Hammock (Big name, but it's a BIG hammock). I got a taste for hammocks a couple months ago, and had to do a full conversion from tent camping. If you get on the Hennessy website, you will find the Safari is their largest hammock. I like lots of room, and don't want to feel like I am in a coffin (somewhat like sleeping on a fishing boat).

I had several criteria that the hammock needed to meet in order to make me smile.

1) It had to hold LOTS of weight. No I am not huge. 220 lbs on this cougar-like frame is well within the 350 lb capacity of the Safari. 2) It had to be large enough, so I could sleep on my side (Hammockians call it side-sleeping, go figure), and easy to get in and out of.
3) I sure as hell didn't want to get wet with the torrential downpours we can get on the west coast. The monster fly that comes with the Safari sees to that, in perfect form. It's HUGE and
4) I didn't want to have to chew through some 6 bight, triple half hitch mega knot I tied, to get it home, once the camp was done.
5) As much as I hated winter camping, I have discovered snowshowing, and I am a photographer, so I can overlook the cold, as long as it is toasty at night.

All but one of my criteria were met. The knot thing. In order to attach one of these wonders to a tree, you need to wrap the supplied web straping around the tree, then tie the hammock`s lines through the loops at the end of each web strap. I knew this going in, when I got the hammock, because I had modifications in mind for it before it even arrived.

The first mod was to get rid of those darn knot problems. I used a spring loaded carabiner, and worked it through the loops at the end of each strap, after it has been wrapped around the tree. I then took two decending rings (these are robust aluminum rings for mountain climbing) put them on the carabiner, side by side and looped the line through. Super strong, non slipping, and best of all? No knots to chew through inthe morning.

NOTE: If you are looking to buy one of these hammocks, get the optional large web straps. The standard ones are only good for trees up to about 17 inches.

I had my wife make some extra ones that were even longer and found we needed them tethered together to wrap around the 30+" tree we wanted the hammock attached to. You can still do it with the standard, and even the large straps, but I had the option of custom made.

The second mod we did (although not really needed for function) was to tether a line above the hammock, on the outside, from one end to the other, so the fly could rest on it, should it go slack. I didn't want the fly draped over the bug netting, for fear of excessive condensation. The line I used was a piece of 550 paracord, with a small D-ring at each end. A knot would also work, but I had the D-rings. There are clips on the main lines, holding the unit to the tree, which are for the fly to clip onto, we used the clips for both the paracord and the fly. This works great and gives you some breathability. (not sure if I would do this in the winter, but we will see).

Another feature the Hennessy Hammock comes with is the 'Snake Skins'. These ingenious thin fabric tubes slide onto, and off the hammock for easy deployment and packing. You simply slide them up and the hammock now becomes a skinny 3 inch tube you can store. We found out how valuable this was when we started to set up ours. Just as we clipped the web straps / carabiners to the trees, it started to rain. I pulled one end of the hammock out of the bag, tied it on then pulled the other end out, all while never letting it hit the ground (I really hate sleeping in a wet spot). While still bundled in the snake skins, I threw the fly over it to protect it. I then clipped the ends of the fly to the lines, pegged the lines for the fly, and then un-sheathed the snake skins. The hammock dropped open, dry as a bone. Never could do that with a tent.

I was now free to break out my sleeping bag and sleeping pad, without fear of getting them wet. All this, while hiding under the enormous fly. At my first attempt at getting into the hammock I noticed it was a bit too low to the ground for my liking. If it is too low, it makes it difficult for us old guys to get out easily. With the carabiner / ring configuration all I had to do was pull the line's end and the hammock lifted higher off the ground. Well worth the mod.

Since we had suspected it would rain, I brought a tarp and we used that for a common dry area where we could sit, cook, chat and watch the loons on the lake. This worked well, although, the fly could do the same thing. We wanted to sit and lounge in comfort. Also, the snake skins acted like plugs on the lines where any rain water dripping down the lines from the trees were stopped by the skins. GENIUS. I furthered this by tying a piece of 6" paracord up the line away from the skin. The water followed the line down and dripped to the ground. Since there were tether lines for the fly and for the dampening of the hammock swing, we tied 6" pieces of bright yellow (should use the reflective guy line) paracord on the lines to make them easier to see in the dark. I hate tripping over, or getting clothes-lined by my guy lines.

Ok, on to the sleeping test. The hammock has a mesh bag inside the netting that you can store things in. It hangs on the main line over your head, and has the ability to slide up and down away from you. Since the hammock is so big I could slide it up well over my head and not risk bumping into it at night. I use this for my light, glasses, knife and bear spray (yes, bear spray, being at bite level I didn't want to be a pinata for the local bruins, so it had to be handy). I had some small carabiners and also clipped them onto the overhead line for a small battery powered lantern, to read by. The main line also was used to clip my sleeping bag stuff sack onto so I could store other essentials (my book, wallet, iphone, ipod, car keys etc etc), this, I slid all the way down to the other end of the hammock. My feet never touched it (I'm 6' 1"). I am sure, someone could even fashion a gun rack up there, with no fear of touching it by mistake at night. Laying in the hammock, I had a perfect view of the lake under the fly. You can raise or lower the sides of the fly should the wind pick up. There was only a slight wind so I left the sides up.

If you have bouts of motion sickness, you might want to use the elastic tethers on the main body of the unit, and peg them into the ground. This keeps the hammock from rocking back and forth all night. If you prefer to be gently rocked to sleep, leave them free. I tried it both ways and prefer it untethered. It also keeps you from getting tangled should you get up in the middle of the night. If you are planning on doing some wilderness binge drinking, tether them, or you might get the most severe case of the spins.

I had a light sleeping bag and only used it as a blanket. I was actually hot in it and had to keep taking it off, to cool off, throughout the night. I did notice cold spots when my back was off the sleeping pad. Having mosquitoes attack through the fabric was a concern, but I survived. It also might be a factor in the winter, but it wasn't so bad at 12 degrees C. Any colder and I might slide into the bag all the way. Or, get my -40C bag.

One of Hennessy's optional accessories is the Radiant Double Bubble Pad. I brought one along should I be cold but didn't need it. Denise improvised and used one of those metalic windshield heat screens for our truck, she bought at the dollar store for .....well .... a dollar. She raved about it (in a good way). If you are prone to getting cold, think about the Hennessy Supershelter. I am not sure if they have one that will fit the Safari, but I will beg them by email.

I can't say enough great things about the quality of sleep I get from these things. In tent camping, I absolutely hate air mattresses that lose their air at 4 am, only to have your hips grind into the only rock or root in 4 miles. I hate the foam pads that get compressed and do the same thing.

The gentle rocking put me to sleep in a matter of seconds. They are easy to move around in. You can sleep on your back, sides or even on your face (make sure you have a pad or the sketters might get your face, HAHA). Getting in and out, is easy. Just sitting in it, swinging back and forth was better than sitting on a stump. So a camp chair isn't needed.

Now the downside, if you can call it that.

1) If you are 'robust' you will be sleeping alone, these are not really made for 2 people weighing more than 350 total, but then, you don't get an elbow in the face, no marshmallow breathe either, so that could be a plus.
2) There isn't really any place inside to keep your pack. I am going to get another fly and use that as a ground sheet where I can put my shoes, and pack without fear of them getting wet from water running along the ground. The fly ways next to nothing and would be a great community area cover as well.
3) Yes we made mods, but they were more for our customization, you can do without, No absolutely. No one makes a hammock with all the things I like (but I'll be talking to Mr. Hennessy about that).
4) If you are shy and need to change your undies, you need to drop the fly. I was ok with this, it sure beats hoping around inside a tent trying to balance on one leg, with nothing solid to hold onto.
5) If you don't have trees, your screwed, unless you fabricate a pole system (check YouTube for that one)

Advantages

1) Fast dry set up
2) Sleep like a baby (I don't mean waking up every 2 hours crying, either).
3) Packing takes only a couple minutes.
4) At 2 - 3 lbs, its light for hiking.
5) Mega space inside
6) Its a bed, its a tent, its a chair, its a recliner, its a kitchen unit
7) Rocky or root strewn ground? No problem unless you trip on them at night.
8) Works on a steep incline

Suggestions

1) If you don't need the biggest hammock, check out the smaller ones. You can then have the option of getting the Supershelter for winter camping.
2) Go with the longest web straps. Hell, buy 2 sets. We used a total of 4 straps per hammock, but then, the trees were exceptionally large in diameter. For the record, you don't need the straps at all, but it saves chaffing your main hammock line.
3) Go with the aluminum carabiner / decending ring configuration. You will love it, and weight is minor.
4) Don't leave your food in your pack if it is: 1) in bear country, and 2) under your hammock. String it up in a tree with a bell on it
5) If you are going to bring a firearm into the hammock, make damned sure its unloaded. IMHO ... oh ... AND DONT FIRE IT INSIDE

Final Note:

Anyone want to buy a used tent?

Preppersaurus