Seeking recommendation for hammock sleeping pad

Zak

Zak

Legend
Forum Supporter
I recently got a Henssey Hammock (bottom entry) and am eager to try it out. I use an Exped sleeping pad for car camping and a Thermorest pad for backpacking. My guess is that both of those relatively thick and rigid pads would squirt out from underneath me in a hammock. I know there are some accomplished hammock campers here. What is the best pad to use in a hammock (or do you forgo a pad entirely and use an underquilt instead)?

Thanks!
 
I have spent a few nights in a hammock in Central America, and I recommend something thicker and comfy that you can easily take out of the hammock and move to the spidery ground around midnight. Which seems to be how most of my nights hammock sleeping feel.

More seriously: most things taco up in the hammock, including humans, so maybe something that has the dual layers, the lower one stiffer to lessen the human taco experience, with a softer top for comfort once you are so tired you actually fall asleep? I strongly recommend learning to sleep as diagonal as you can, and stringing it as tight as possible.
 
Tallguy said:
I have spent a few nights in a hammock in Central America, and I recommend something thicker and comfy that you can easily take out of the hammock and move to the spidery ground around midnight. Which seems to be how most of my nights hammock sleeping feel.

More seriously: most things taco up in the hammock, including humans, so maybe something that has the dual layers, the lower one stiffer to lessen the human taco experience, with a softer top for comfort once you are so tired you actually fall asleep? I strongly recommend learning to sleep as diagonal as you can, and stringing it as tight as possible.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I should add that I have spent many nights sleeping in a hammock, just never in the winter or with a sleeping pad, and I have noticed that my sleeping bag gets pressed thin below me and thus provides little to no insulation on the bottom side.
 
OK, I'm rereading the "Hammocks" thread and should have just posted there instead of starting a new thread. Lots of great info there, including this:

Hammocks

@Cdnred this is my Resmed Airsense 9. Just the main unit with humidifier removed. Takes a specialty hose, which isn't that expensive, and with the 12V plug runs for a week off a 12V battery easily.
pnwflyfishing.com pnwflyfishing.com
 
Zak said:
I recently got a Henssey Hammock (bottom entry) and am eager to try it out. I use an Exped sleeping pad for car camping and a Thermorest pad for backpacking. My guess is that both of those relatively thick and rigid pads would squirt out from underneath me in a hammock. I know there are some accomplished hammock campers here. What is the best pad to use in a hammock (or do you forgo a pad entirely and use an underquilt instead)?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have the klymit insulated V hammock pad and like it for the most part.
It is kind of bulky/heavy and is a bit of a pain in the ass to inflate and deflate. Also there can be some condensation issues in the channels during colder weather.
It stays put and has good structure and coverage.
Overall it is a bit of a compromise. I'm sure an under quilt is a better tool, but the pad allows me to go to ground if necessary.

I actually have 2. The inflation valve cracked on the first one resulting in a slow leak. Klymit replaced it with no hassle. I treated it with aquaseal and it holds air again. You're more than welcome to test run one if you'd like.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zak
I'm thinking about a zpad or very flexible closed cell yoga mat type pad. I'm also wondering how I'll manage the pad with the bottom entry. Guess I'll find out!
 
Pads between a nylon hammock and nylon sleeping bag can slide around like skates on ice. The result can be waking up with cold spots underneath because the pad slipped out from underneath my sleeping bag and since all of the loft is compressed under me it gets COLD on the bottom of that hammock. A normal sleeping pad will even jumble up near my feet, interfering with movement and even compressing the top of the bag creating cold spots on the bottom and top of the sleeping bag that wake me up.

If you want or have to use a pad get one of of the winged pads like @Gary Knowels mentioned that is specifically designed for hammocks

Campmor: Your Quickest Link to the Outdoors

Explore the great outdoors with confidence, equipped with gear from Campmor - Your one-stop shop for all things camping and hiking. Find everything you need, from tents to backpacks, at unbeatable prices. Get ready for your next adventure with Campmor!
www.campmor.com www.campmor.com

But a separate down or synthetic fill top quilt with a footbox gently drapes over me, doesn't restrict movement and keeps me warm on top. A bottom quilt BENEATH the hammock wraps up the side that I sleep over and in, not on, so its full loft covers me and the top quilt
a full 180°+ around and above keeping me warmer than a mummy bag with a compressed bottom. I wear a Caprilene or similar poly... balaclava and a fleece cap as a nightcap because my top quilt doesn't have a hood. When I bought my set most top quilts did not. Quilts are also lighter, and waaaay more comfortable providing unrestricted movement and help a me get a restful night's sleep. It's a game changer, like sleeping on cloud ☁️. I keep the balaclava and a pair of dry thick wool socks or down socks and booties (I have two pairs of the old Frostline kit down socks and overbooties) packed inside the quilt so they'll always be there and ready to slip into. My Clark hammock has pockets below the hammock and above the bottom quilt so my insulating layers clothing is kept toasty warm by body heat, and they help keep me warm while sleeping over them, not on them. It's nice on a cold morning to reach into the pockets and pull out my nice & warm trousers, fleece or down sweater and jacket to put on.

The Clark Jungle Hammock's separate but integrated zip open bug net and "weathershield" combo hood also keep the inside of the hammock noticeably warmer on cold nights.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Zak
Zak said:
I'm thinking about a zpad or very flexible closed cell yoga mat type pad. I'm also wondering how I'll manage the pad with the bottom entry. Guess I'll find out!
Click to expand...
My last post for tonight... I don't quite get the bottom entry design, but they have remained very popular by fans that have figured them out. Hope it works for you!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zak
Brian Miller said:
My last post for tonight... I don't quite get the bottom entry design, but they have remained very popular by fans that have figured them out. Hope it works for you!
Click to expand...
Happy memories got the best of me and I cruised the hammock forum site and ran across this thread about a small company, 2QZQ that did-does do custom work on hammocks and other gear. I saw this about a zipper mod for a Hennessy
Dutch bought 2QZQ and in 2022 the original owner provides labor for them.
I don't see that Hennessy zipper mod on Dutch's 2QZQ page but they might be able to make your Henessey more versatile and remove its only real disadvantage yet retain its advantages as options if you want to invest some money.

BTW Dutch also bought Clark Jungle Hammocks, it's a great company in and for the Hammock Community.
dutchwaregear.com

Clark Outdoor Jungle Hammocks | Dutchware

If you're a serious backpacker, explorer, or military service member, shop DutchWare's Clark Outdoor collection for military-grade and jungle hammocks.
dutchwaregear.com dutchwaregear.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top