Hennessy Hammock - Explorer Deluxe Zip XL

Easy and quick to set up. Great, comfortable hammock, kept dry in heavy rain. Best with a really good sleeping bag (like snug pack elite 5) especially in colder weather.

Brilliant and I'm not easily pleased!

This is a great bit of kit. Probably the comfiest nights sleep you'll get outdoors and very easy to set up once you've done it a few times. I'd really recommend it. Pro's - Well made, quick to set-up and take down, very comfy, net should keep the critters out, storage pockets inside/hanging clips from ridge line, nice to relax in. Con's - relatively large pack size, tarp is a bit too small (i changed mine), expensive (but quality). I would pack this specifically to go hammocking as it's a bit big to pack with everything else on the off-chance you may use it. And in winter you'll need some insulation under you (i just use a mat, but you can buy quilts and things). But I love it and am looking forward to getting out this summer and chilling out in it with a hip-flask of something potent.

NO IT IS NOT THE ARMY MODEL!

Loving this hammock setup for back country camping and tripping. I used to really be on the fence about moving on from my tent, but I finally decided to go for it and WOW. I usually sleep pretty well on trip, waking up periodically through the night because I've rolled off my sleeping pad or just for general repositioning, etc... but the first time trying this hammock, I slept completely through the night for the FIRST. TIME. EVER. on a recent back country trip. They asymmetrical design is perfect for side sleeping, which I was definitely skeptical about at first. I don't know what kind of sorcery went into designing this thing but the only way you can't really sleep in it, is on your stomach. A few PROs: 1. Set up. The time it takes to set up and tear down once you get the hang of it is laughable compared to tents. It takes literally 3 minutes MAX once you know what you're doing and know what you like for set up. 2. Weight. I opted for the Explorer XL becuase even though I'm not a big guy, I still like a lot of space and it's still lighter than any tent setup I've used. 3. Versatility. You can set it up over uneven ground, expanding your options for sleeping area when on trip in forested wilderness contexts. 4. Comfort. Like I said, it's the most comfortable sleep I've EVER had on trip. Period. Anyone who has ever had a poor sleeping experience on trip can tell you it's often "make or break" when it comes to how enjoyable the trip was. Sleep is a MUST. 5. In-hammock storage. There is a versitile guy line setup with mesh pockets and clips that you can use to store a phone, portable battery, small water bottle (I use a Lifestraw), headlamp, etc... Really practical and REALLY sturdy. 6. Durability. I have only used it on one trip, but if you're a seasoned tripper, you can usually get a sense for durable gear even after limited use. As long as you use it as intended, I'm sure it'll last a long time. A few Cons (more just things to get used to). 1. Getting in and out. It can be cumbersome at first to get used to getting in and out of the hammock and then getting into your sleeping bag/using an in-hammock sleeping pad. Personally, I figured out a good system for myself pretty quick, but I can see how it would be annoying for some. 2. Limited in-hammock storage. You'll need to store your pack either under your hammock or under a tarp somewhere outside of the hammock. To those who are used to tents, this will probably be the most annoying change in routine/overall setup. 3. Cold nights are COLD. On my recent trip, it got down to just about freezing at night and even with a sleeping bag rated for that temp, the wind on your back is brutal. Using a sleeping pad can help mitigate this. With tents, I find you're at least a few degrees warmer inside than outside as the ambient temp rises with body heat. This just doesn't happen with hammocks, so expect to sleep colder than in a tent.

I recently purchased the Hennessy Explorer zip hammock. I grew up camping, I spent many a night on the ground in the Marine Corps and it never seemed to bother me. As I've gotten older I still love to get outdoors, but I find that it doesn't love me so much. Even with the deluxe camp version of the Thermarest I would wake up and feel like I'd gone ten rounds with George Foreman. My back, hips and shoulders would hurt, and I'd be tired. At a recent Order of the Arrow event I was introduced to the Hennessy hammocks. I bought one because I knew I could return it to Amazon if I didn't like it, but I was hoping for relief. When the hammock arrived, I was impressed with what appeared to be top notch construction and materials. I set it up in our yard for practice and just to try it out. Setup was easy and fairly straight forward. The first campout I took it on, I also took a tent just in case. There is a learning curve to sleeping in this hammock and I can't say that I got MORE sleep in the hammock than I get in a tent, but when I got out of bed in the morning there were no aches and pains! I've since spent 5 more nights in the hammock, and every one has been better than the last, and they ALL have been better than a night in a tent. I still sometimes feel a little claustrophobic, and I am primarily a side sleeper so I do sometimes wish I could comfortably sleep that way fully. I often sleep in kind of a half side/half back position which works for me almost as well. Stomach sleepers, other than those with Chinese acrobat-like flexibility, I don't think a hammock is for you... I use my Thermarest underneath for insulation and when paired with a Wiggy's Ultra Light sleeping bag, I have been warm and cozy even when the temperature dips into the low to mid 30's (Fahrenheit). The only complaint I have is that the thermarest isn't quite wide enough and I have sometimes woken up with a cold shoulder where I slip off of it, but of course that has nothing to do with the hammock... I think I'll buy the reflective insulation that Hennessy sells because it's wider at the shoulders than the Thermarest. I would definitely suggest purchasing the snake skins, and I also replaced the tie-out lines on the fly (these were cheap and seemed to snag everything) with some of the MSR reflective line. The only other things I don't like have nothing to do with THIS hammock, but seem to be a weakness of hammocks in general are the lack of storage space, and the lack of privacy. I deal with the storage space by bringing either a smallish tarp or a small one-man tent for my gear to keep the rain/dew off. Both of these solutions diminish the appeal of hammock camping by increasing the weight, size and the time it takes to setup camp. Privacy when you are in the hammock isn't the problem, trying to get dressed while laying in a hammock is NOT easy, but climbing out of the hammock to get dressed is not always advisable... The bottom line is that this is a great product with a learning curve that offers all the benefits and suffers most of the drawbacks of it's nature as a hammock. None of the drawbacks is a fatal flaw IMO, they just require that you adapt to deal with them. The benefits certainly outweigh the drawbacks for me. Update: 22 Aug 2013 I have now spent an entire 8 days straight camping and a few more over nighters with this hammock and I've learned a few more things. I THINK I might like a bridge hammock like Jacks R Better sells but I'm not sure since I don't own one. I find that my knees sometimes hurt from being slightly over extended. Rather than buy one, I am seriously considering making my own. Hammockforums dot net has a TON of great information on hammock camping including DIY hammocks. I would HIGHLY recommend spending some time over there before pulling the trigger on a hammock. None of this has fundamentally altered my opinion of this hammock though. It's still a great product and for me it's vastly superior to sleeping in a tent. It's just not quite...ideal for me and I'm enough of a tinkerer to think that I may just be able to build my own hammock nirvana.

This gives me a great night sleep. Although more expensive than some models, I feel the excellent design, material quality and small details are well worth it.

8.5 hours of comfortable, uninterrupted sleep the very first night. This is it, this is the hammock camping solution you are likely looking for. It does everything it says it does and does it very well. For the best experience I highly recommend 3 modifications to the default setup: 1. Get two snakeskins. One for the hammock and another for the tarp. This way, you can easily deploy your rainfly at a moments notice in the case of inclement weather, then you can leisurely setup the hammock while remaining dry. The snakeskins make setup/teardown an absolute breeze. 2. Grab the hex tarp. The asym is cool and functional for some scenarios but if you want that "all in one" hammock camping solution you are going to want the coverage the hex provides. Not to mention the rope pockets built in the tarp to keep everything tidy, VERY nice feature. 3. Attach carabiners to the either end of the hammock, either directly to the loop (requires removal of the factory wrapping) or knot them to the existing rope. Then purchase an inexpensive set of tree straps with multiple loops for near unlimited configurations. I feel I have put together the ultimate "do it all" hammock camping solution and it wouldn't have been possible without the excellent products Hennessy has made here. This will radically change the way you think about camping, I guarantee it.

I was generally happy with this. I had a Vietnam era jungle hammock before and thought this one would be inferior, but each of them have their strong points. A year later I've only used it a few times, but I'm still happy. It got caught in a rain storm (seriously heavy rain) and everything stayed dry in the hammock. The only thing I would change in the design is to go back to the design I had in the old hammock, which is a bar at each end to make it "wider" (and therefore seem roomier when you are in it). Somehow this seems more comfortable. However, the trade off is how quickly you can take it down with the snake skins. I'm a 6'2" 300LB guy and the hammock has held up. It does stretch quite a bit the first time I get in, and I might work with some karabiners to see if that helps.