Light hammock setup tips?

[stargazer_1987]

Getting ready for a section hike next spring and testing out hammock gear. I've been using a used ENO SingleNest with a basic underquilt. It's comfortable, but a bit heavy for long hikes.

I swapped the old straps for lighter Dyneema ones, which helped. Now I'm thinking about switching to something like the Grand Trunk Nano 7 or the Hummingbird Single+ to save more weight. Any tips for keeping hammock setups light but still comfy would be great!

 

[cougarmeat]

stargazer_1987, one major benefit of a hammock over a tent (and certainly not the only advantage) is comfort.

You haven't mentioned your size/weight, and those metrics factor into how light you can go. There is a reason the majority of camping hammocks are 11 ft. long. I am really short. I can get by with a smaller hammock, and a ¾-length underquilt is almost full-length for me.

My concern, when you mention a Nano 7 (a hammock I use for day hikes), is that you may be compromising sleep comfort.

But I'm really "old school". I hiked the Oregon PCT in boots that weighed as much as an Ultra-liter's base pack. So I'm not worried about a few extra ounces. If I were planning 30-mile days or attempting some speed run, that would be different. But that's not why I go to the forest or the sea.

That said, because I collect hammocks for demo purposes, I do own a Dutchware Cloud 71. It's 11 ft long and specs out at 4.7oz (netless), with a 200 lb capacity. Because of it's delicate nature (true of most lighter weight fabrics) I would NOT use it on any long-term, multi-day hike (unless I had a Plan-B option).

 

[MWR10]

A silnylon tarp is typically way lighter than your standard rain flies. If you can, try to cut down on extra stuff like the ridgeline organizer or those extra carabiners. It'll make things so much easier.

 

[CampBas1cs]

Getting ready for a section hike next spring and testing out hammock gear. I've been using a used ENO SingleNest with a basic underquilt. It's comfortable, but a bit heavy for long hikes.

I swapped the old straps for lighter Dyneema ones, which helped. Now I'm thinking about switching to something like the Grand Trunk Nano 7 or the Hummingbird Single+ to save more weight. Any tips for keeping hammock setups light but still comfy would be great!

Going with a lighter hammock like the Grand Trunk Nano 7 or the Hummingbird Single+ seems like a logical step.
You'll drop a significant amount of weight there, but just be aware that those ultralight materials can feel a bit different and might not have the same durability as the ENO nylon, so take a little extra care with them!
For max comfort and low weight, the biggest savings after the hammock itself come from your suspension and insulation.
You might want to consider a lighter suspension system like whoopie slings or a continuous loop system to replace your straps.
You've already got an underquilt for insulation, which is key, but you can also check out quilts with higher fill power down to go even lighter.
They're more expensive, but the warmth-to-weight ratio is unmatched!
A really dialed-in tarp can also save you a few ounces, so look at something made from silpoly or Dyneema Composite Fabric if you want to go all out!

 

[cougarmeat]

A SilPoly tarp is way lighter than a SilNylon, and it doesn't stretch as much when wet.

We all have our fair opinions, and for me, comfort is a higher priority than a few ounces.

The Grand Trunk Nano 7 specs out at 9 ft long. At the usual hang distance of 83% of the length, that means, when hung, it would be 7.5 ft end to end. Remember, those ends taper to a point. So if you are near 6 ft, there can be a bit of shoulder squeeze with your diagonal position.