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Review of Warbonnet Blackbird Double Layer Hammock w/ Superfly Tarp

It's easy to pitch a Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock anywhere you have two trees, even if its not a perfectly flat campsite.
It’s easy to pitch a Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock anywhere you have two trees, even if it’s not a perfectly flat campsite.

The Warbonnet Blackbird is a backpacking hammock tricked out for multi-day trips where comfort and convenience trump the simplicity of a simple sling hammock. Complete with built-in bug netting, a ridgeline, and extra storage, the Warbonnet Blackbird is an exceptionally comfortable hammock that can adapted for a wide range of weather conditions in forested terrain.

Available with a single layer or double layer bottom (which has a sleeve to hold an insulating sleeping pad), the Blackbird is gathered-end hammock, meaning that the ends of the sling are bunched together or “gathered,” attached to a suspension system, and hung between two trees. While this produces a curved shape, the Warbonnet has a special foot box that allows you to stretch your legs out flat, providing a flat lay which back sleepers and side sleepers will find comfortable to sleep on.

Interior footbox in Warbonnet Blackbird makes it possible to stretch your legs without hyperextending your knees.
Interior foot box in Warbonnet Blackbird makes it possible to stretch your legs without hyperextending your knees.

Transitioning from Ground Shelters to Hammocks

If you’ve been spoiled by lightweight shelters weighing two pounds or less, transitioning to a backpacking hammock like the Warbonnet Blackbird (a tarp is also required) will be a bit of a shock since backpacking hammock systems are not inexpensive and they’re not terribly lightweight.

While you can try to stretch your existing gear by using a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad to insulate hammocks in cooler weather, you’ll soon come the realization that the lightest weight and most versatile insulation components are a down sleeping quilt called a top quilt, and an underquilt to keep your back warm.

For example:

ItemPriceWeight
Warbonnet Blackbird Single Layer Hammock (1.1)$17021 ounces
Warbonnet Superfly 11' x 10' Tarp$14015 ounces
Hammock Gear Burrow 20 Top Qult$26419 ounces
Hammock Gear Incubator 20 Underquilt$24922 ounces
Total$82377 ounces (4.82 pounds)

While you can trim your insulation weight and expense by camping in a warmer temperature range, a hammock based backpacking system is going to be more expensive and heavier than one where you sleep on the ground.

In the event of rain, you can pitch your tarp before you hang the inner hammock to keep it dry, unlike the inner tent on most double-walled tents
In the event of rain, you can pitch your tarp before you hang the inner hammock to keep it dry, unlike the inner tent on most double-walled tents which will be soaked by the time you finish pitching the rain fly.

Advantages of Hammocks over Ground Shelters

Despite the cost and added weight of hammock shelter and sleep systems, there are very real advantages to sleeping in hammocks over ground-based shelters.

  1. You can sleep just about anywhere as long as they’re two stout trees nearby that you can hang the hammock and tarp from. Wet ground, crappy tent sites, and wooden platforms cease to be a concern because you’re “above it all.”
  2. You can pitch your hammock in the rain after setting up your tarp to keep it dry.
  3. You can avoid crowded camp sites or shelters if you want a little privacy and prefer to sleep by yourself.
  4. You have a much lower impact on the environment than tent camping, making it possible to stealth camp when you feel like stopping for the night, without leaving much of a trace.

In my book, a good night’s sleep “outweighs” the importance of carrying an ultralight base weight, especially on multi-day or multi-week backpacking trips where I need good sleep to help my body recover from the exertions of the previous day.

The Blackbird is shaped like a sling with noseemum netting stretched over it that hags from a ridgeline. Side pockets, called saddlebags, let you store essentials in the hammock interior.
The Blackbird is shaped like a sling with noseemum netting stretched over it that hags from a ridgeline. A side pocket lets you store essentials in the hammock interior.

Superior Comfort

The Warbonnet Blackbird is the most comfortable gathered end backpacking hammock you can buy. In addition to the added foot box, the Blackbird has an exterior side pocket where you can stash gear at night, freeing up more interior space for you to occupy. Located at the head end of the hammock, the pocket is large enough to fit a pair of shoes, a water bottle, a head lamp or other small accessories you want to keep close.

The inner sleeping compartment is covered with bug netting strung over a center ridgeline. Entry is from the side through a long two-way zipper, which makes it easy to swing your legs out when you want to exit. The netting can also be rolled out-of-the-way when not needed. Guy lines are located on both sides of the head end of the hammock and can be staked out to provide more interior space, although they’re not required for use.

The double layer hammock has an internal sleeve which can hold a foam or inflatable pad for more back insulation.
A double layer hammock has an internal sleeve which can hold a foam or inflatable pad for more back insulation.

The Blackbird is available with a single layer or double layer bottom, which creates an interior shelf that you can insert of foam is inflatable sleeping pad into to insulate your back at night. Back insulation is needed, even in summer. to block heat loss and prevent what is known as CBS, cold butt syndrome.

If you get a Blackbird with a single layer bottom, you will want to sleep with a foam pad inside the hammock, which can be awkward, or use some sort of exterior underquilt. Warbonnet sells full length underquilts for cold weather, and well as torso length models, which are popular for warmer temperatures when less leg insulation is required. In addition to a better weight to warmth ration, the biggest advantage of an underquilt over a foam pad is its compressibility and packability.

The Warbonnet Blackbird is suspended from a tree using a simple webbing strap tree hugger style suspension system, secured with a carabiner.
The Warbonnet Blackbird is suspended from a tree using a simple webbing strap tree hugger style suspension system, secured with a carabiner. Lighter weight options are also available.

Suspension

Warbonnet Hammocks are available with several different suspension options. My double layer Blackbird uses the standard tree hugging webbing straps, a carabiner, and buckle based system that the company offers, although lighter weight whoopie sling or line-based options are also available. Once secured to two trees, you tighten the webbing straps by pulling them through a simple buckle system  to tighten the webbing straps so they hang at a 30 degree angle.

To tighten the webbing, simply pull it through a pair of metal toggles which lock it into position.
To tighten the webbing, simply pull it through a pair of metal toggles which lock it into position.

Warbonnet has a good video on their site that illustrates the webbing suspension system and the other lighter weight options you can select when you purchase a hammock. I bought my double layer Blackbird used and decided to keep the webbing strap system it came with for simplicity. If I were buying a new Blackbird from Warbonnet, I’d probably opt for the Whoppie sling suspension because it’s slightly easier to adjust.

The Warbonnet Superfly Tarp has two doors at each end which help block wind and blowing rain.
The Warbonnet Superfly Tarp has two doors at each end which help block wind and blowing rain.

Tarps

Warbonnet sells a number of tarps, some large and some a good deal smaller, that can be used to provide rain and dew protection for the Blackbird. I opted for the Warbonnet Superfly, which is 11 by 10 feet in size, and includes a pair of end doors which are useful for blocking wind or rain. Made with 1.1 oz/30D silnylon, the Superfly is best thought of as a 4 season tarp given the amount of coverage it provides. Seam sealing of the tarp ridgeline is not required given the way it’s sewn, which is a nice feature.

The Warbonnet Blackbird at a very stealthy campsite in the Wild River Wilderness
The Warbonnet Superfly Tarp at a stealthy camp site in the Wild River Wilderness

While the Superfly can be pitched in a classic A-frame style, it’s also easy to prop up one side with trekking poles to provide better air flow and a better view. All of the perimeter guy out points on the Superfly have plastic buckles, making it easy to slide them over your trekking pole tips for this purpose.

All perimeter guy out points have plastic buckles.
All perimeter guy out points have plastic buckles.

My only real complaint about the Superfly doesn’t have to do with the product, but how the product is sold to consumers. I think Warbonnet should pre-package its tarps with a pre-configured, out-of-the-box suspension system attached to the Superfly. This would help people new to hammocks overcome the hurdle of figuring out whether they want a continuous ridgeline setup or not and how to configure and use one. Customers would still be able to buy a “naked tarp” as well, if they have the know-how to roll their own suspensions.

Ease of Setup

Setting up a Warbonnet Hammock is easy with just a little practice, since you can hang it between two trees 13′ to 20′ apart without having to worry much about finding a flat campsite free of roots and rocks. Simply secure the webbing straps around a tree, hang the hammock, and adjust the tension of the straps as needed.

Hanging a tarp is also simple, but only if you’ve figured out how to configure a continuous ridgeline or a split line suspension, a skill that can be intimidating for people who’ve only used tents in the past. Once mastered however, hanging a hammock shelter system and taking one down is quite fast, even in the pouring rain (see also Hammocks: Continuous Ridgelines or Not?)

Hanging out in a Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock
Hanging out in a Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock

Recommendation

The Warbonnet Blackbird is an ideal shelter system for camping in terrain that has a lot of trees, but few good ground sites for a conventional tent. Good for both back sleepers and side sleepers, the Blackbird has a built-in foot box that lets people lay nearly flat inside the hammock and an internal storage shelf and side guy outs that help ensure plenty of interior space.

However, choosing between buying a single layer or a double layer hammock bottom can be a tricky choice. If you’re already set on using an underquilt for external insulation, I recommend you get the single layer hammock. But if you want to use a lower cost sleeping pad or one you already own for back insulation, a double layer hammock is the way to go.

The Superfly Tarp is quite large,providing good coverage and extra space for hanging out in bad weather.
The Superfly Tarp is quite large,providing good coverage and extra space for hanging out in bad weather.

Whichever option you choose, there’s no denying that hammocks like the Blackbird provide a superior sleep and camping experience in forested terrain that lacks good tent pitches. If you’re a backpacker and find yourself faced with such conditions often, the Warbonnet Blackbird will transform your camping and sleeping experience forever. Highly recommended!

Likes

  • Comfortable for back sleepers and side sleepers
  • Excellent build quality and customer service
  • Storage shelf is a must-have feature. Just awesome.
  • Easy to set up at night and tear down the following morning.
  • Hammock will stay dry in the pouring rain when pitched under a tarp

Dislikes

  • Tarp does not include a suspension system or stakes. Prevents hammock newbies having a complete shelter right away.
  • Relatively heavy and bulky compared to a ground-based shelter

Disclosure: The author purchased the product reviewed here with his own funds. The author also wishes to thank Kris Payer, Louis Brooks, and Tom Murphy for generously loaning their Warbonnet and JRB hammocks for me to try this summer.

48 comments

  1. Love my Warbonnet Blackbird Double Layer Hammock w/ Superfly Tarp. Started hiking the AT at Springer last year with a tent after 3 days sent for my hammock. I was finally able to get a good night’s sleep in my Blackbird. Setup of the hammock and Superfly was quicker and easier than using a tent. On rainy days my hiking companions and I used the Superfly for shelter and cooking. We were able to camp in places where a tent could not setup

    For comfort, ease of setup and versatility the Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock w/ Superfly Tarp in my opinion cannot be beat!

  2. This particular set-up may be a little heavy, but there are definitely lighter ways to hammock. I think my combined shelter/sleep system is in the 57oz ballpark in summer and 65 in spring and fall. I can even use it in winter if I add an extra CCF pad. Carrying this set-up, my base pack weight falls into the 7-12lb range depending on the season and my mood. In my opinion, that is still a viable ultralight option.

    • Yeah – this is a bit heavy. I was out this weekend with a Neoair Xlite which brings the weight down about 8 ounces. The weights shown above are sort of worst-case for hiking on April on the AT south of the Mason Dixon line. The problem I’ve found with carrying foam is that it is so bulky and doesn’t pack well.

      Mind you, I don’t mind the weight that much, since the hammock is so comfortable and it’s so easy to find decent sites to pitch it.

  3. Ways I cut weight:\

    suspension -whoopie with improved(Edwards) soft shackle suspension – no metal

    Warbonnet sock – means a smaller tarp will work for the worst conditions, less insulation required and more comfortable in freezing weather.

    Small cuben tarp

    Down underquilt is lighter and a lot more comfortable than a sleeping pad and no condensation on your back.

    A single layer hammock

    • Been looking at the Warbonnet sock, but it’s kind of confusing figuring out which model is compatible with the blackbird on their store. How does it compare to the sock sold by Dutchware?

      • I prefer the DutchWare sock design. No zippers, instead it just pulls over you and cinches down. It’s also cheaper ($55-65 vs $85) and lighter (7.7-9.4oz) depending on summer or winter model. The DutchWare version is also vented to alleviate condensation.

        • I am also a big fan of the Dutchware sock, but wanted to mention one big advantage that the Warbonnet Traveler sock has, for comparison.

          The Dutch sock has two ways that can be hung, the Warbonnet instead has a zipper that allows for a wide range of adjustment.

          Just one example was when I went to sleep in early December with my sock totally unzipped as it wasn’t that cold out at the time. As the night went on the temps dropped to below 20 deg f and the wind picked up to 30 knots.

          I was able to adjust the amount of opening as the storm picked up and in the end has it all zipped up except about 12″ above my head to vent moisture. I’ve had other situations where I was really glad I had that kind of flexibility.

          Something to consider.

    • I use a Warbonnet Traveler Hammock with a DutchWare Whoopie Hook suspension (minus the Dutch Clips). My tarp is a Hammock Gear Cuben Hex Tarp, which I’ve rigged with a CRL, soft shackles, a Dutch Hook, and a DutchWare Wasp. I use a warbonnet Yeti UQ, which I then supplement with a little CCF in early spring/late fall. I’ll probably add a sock into the mix this winter.

      There are probably lighter ways to go, but this isn’t too bad. Most importantly for me, it packs up easily and pitches very quickly (under 4 minutes if I’m properly motivated, ie it’s raining).

  4. I went from a Six Moon Lunar Duo to a Warbonnet Blackbird. I have a dual layer with whoopie slings. The hammock is more comfortable. I was already using a down quilt in the tent. I still don’t have an underquilt but it will be my next purchase.

  5. For three season hiking, you can trim quite a bit of weight from this outfit quit a bit. The Superfly, while a great tarp, has doors that are unnecessary for three season use. I have a Mamajamba (the same tarp without the doors) and save 5 ounces. Another big savings is the underquilt. The Warbonnet Three Season Yeti weighs in at 12 ounces, versus 22 ounces for the full length Incubator. In cooler weather, you need a pad for your legs but, since my pack is a Gossamer Gear Gorilla with a removable back panel sized perfectly (goes inside the top quilt), there is no extra weight I need carry. For non buggy conditions, the bug net is removable and weighs (I think) 10 ounces. You can ditch the biners, just thread the straps through the loops around the tree, I take the straps off the hammock anyway to prevent pine sap from getting allover. Add all this up and a hammock is comparable to even the lightest tarp-tent single person options.

  6. Great review, and and although you’ll find ways to get lighter some (notably a Cuben fiber tarp – – notice I didn’t say “cheaper”) I think you are correct that hammocks are generally going to be heavier than other shelters. However, for me at least getting a good nights sleep is worth the trade off. Another tip – for folks that are 6′ or greater they’ll want to take a look at an 11′ hammock – that extra length will make a big difference in comfort.

  7. A CF tarp really does help with the weight. Mine from Hammock Gear (11×8) is 4.5 ozs which is a savings of 10 ozs compared to my silnylon tarp of the same size. A lot of people go with whoopie slings but I like the simplicity of the sling & buckle. If you eliminate the carabiners and trim the length on the straps you can get them almost the same as whoopies. This should get you into the range of a SW shelter. (Given at about twice the price)

    I keep wondering if you could incorporate the tarp into the hammock to save weight. Sort of like a hanging bivy bag. Or maybe a CF sock to keep weight down. You should be able to use a sock and 20 deg UQ & TQ well down into single digits. I have used my 40 deg TQ & UQ down below 20 with a sock but it adds a full pound to the setup so I don’t use it much.

    Glad to see we have made a convert out of you. Once you start hanging it is tough to go back to ground.

    –louis

    • The inertia has already shifted…great nights sleep, almost anywhere without spending a lot of time looking for the perfect site.I think it really helps that the Blackbird is so comfortable compares to my old HH, which was a lot less so.

      • Can you elaborate on the HH vs the WB hammock comfort for a side sleeper ?

        • Both hammocks let you sleep diagonally so you can sleep on your side although it’s not an entirely flat lay. The war bonnet has more interior room for gear storage which is very nice.

          While I am a side sleeper at home, I tend to sleep more on my back in my hammock because it’s so comfortable. It’s sort of a cross between back sleeping and side sleeping because I have the freedom to rotate in the hammock, unlike a bed which only has a horizontal surface.

          I thought I would hate it but I gave it a go anyway and really like it. I even tried bridge hammocks which provide a very flat lay and still like the regular blackbird much better, although I could have bought the Warbonnet Ridgerunner and been quite happy as well.

  8. I have a XLT with all Dutch gear and UQ and TQ is all UGQ I have been sleeping on the ground in the woods for 40 years. I would wake 5 to 10 times a night . Not with this baby a couple nights getting used to the lay and I now have to worry about over sleeping. I am talking about 12 ,14 hrs with just a bathroom break in middle of the night.
    If you can not get used to the gathered ends hammocks they have the bridge hammocks .And weight is no problem,anyone that has been on the trail for 40 years has carried a 9lb tent. I set up in 3 min. T he seat you have is nothing better then your recliner at home , Sit in lay back and rock.

  9. I was just out backpacking this past weekend with my local Meetup group, and the hammock envy was strong out there, especially when the rain started. As everyone else was dealing with pooling water and getting soaked, I was just listening to my audio book with my feet up.

    The other envy point I also find is that once we get into camp, I have my hammock set up and I’m chilling in it while everyone else is still messing around. It’s so nice to be able to really relax in such a comfortable fashion after your feet have been taking a beating all day long.

    If you’re solo, one of the great things about the hammock is that when you’re taking a rest, you can do it in style. Since the hammock goes up and down so quickly, you can really enjoy a good break in the middle of the day, pretty much anywhere.

  10. At that price I hope it carries itself to the Campsite, sets itself up and cooks dinner…Outrageous,, not happening ever from this household…I get a Jungle Hammock on Amazon.com for a heck of a lot less, used to sleep in them in the Miliatry and would recommend them over this thing… My 12×16 Eurkea Cabin Tent for 4 season use only cost $499.00.

  11. Can a person lay flatter in an XLC than the regular blackbird. I’m 5’10” but willing to get the XLC.

  12. I couldnt agree more on hammocks. Have many and always playing with different configurations. Don’t think I will ever feel it’s perfect but it is pretty darn good. Glad to see you getting some hang time.

  13. It looks like you got one of the last generation of WBBB hammocks. The new ones replace the side panels with mesh instead of fabric. The open feeling that the mesh gives is what brought me back to Warbonnet. A few things to note, LOOK UP! It is camping 101 but widow makers are real and people need to look up before they hang. Porch mode is a thing of beauty, people need to try it out to truly appreciate a hammock. Being able to look out around you as you hang in comfort is reason enough for a hammock. Tarp stowage, snake skins are great for keeping the tarp stored above you in case its needed. You can still go to sleep while star gazing but have the tarp above you in case its needed for quick deployment.

  14. I am 6′ 1″ tall, is the regular Warbonnet blackbird good enough? Will the XLC make that much difference?

      • I got the regular WBB 1.7 double layer and am looking for some advice. I’m feeling the tension under my knee and am looking for the correct ways to help remove that. On the warbonnet videos he indicates being able to bend the ridge line with your hand easily. I’ve gotten it to bend some but never as much as it appears in the video. I’m guessing this is contributing to some of the tension under the knee. Perhaps I should return it and go for the xlc after all?

        What temperatures to you start to get uncomfortable without insulation underneath you? I don’t think I’m ready to purchase an under quilt, is there a good type of alternative?

        Thank you,

        • Perhaps. A lot of people feel the calf/knee ridge. Try putting some clothing under your knee.

          Most people feel cool at 70 degrees. Put a foam sleeping pad underneath you, like a Thermarest zlite

    • I’d suggest the XLC. I’m 6′ 1 3/4″ and the XLC is excellent. For the reviewer down below – your angle of your hanging ropes are too low if you can’t torque the ridge line a little. I can usually bend mine a little. If your trees are real far apart the next you have to go pretty high with your tree straps.

  15. for those considering moving off the ground and into comfort, you can come close, if not equal the weight of the lightest-yet-comfortable ground setups. THE THING IS – it is difficult to quantify the comfort differential in poundage. put another way – a hammock is extremely comfortable, so what kind of ground pad would approximate the experience?

    i would recommend a full length underquilt as opposed to the partials. why? its just less hassle AND it is full body warmth in a single micro-climate. say goodbye to a stiff body in the morning.

    get a single layer hammock, some webbing, whoopies, quilts, and life on the trail will be considerably better.

    • Devil’s advocate here: just don’t underestimate the amount of fiddling needed to get your underquilt to fit right. Factor in a few nights a cold butt syndrome until you start to understand how to suspend it properly under your quilt. Bring a foam or inflatable pad with you on those nights as backup until you can wean yourself off of them. I’d also advise you invest in an overcover for when the wind blows all the heat out of your underquilt. Lots of fiddling and extra gear to make it all work in colder weather. Or you could just buy a cheap tent and sleep on an insulated sleeping pad. Less comfortable but a lot less hassle. You decide.

  16. Whats the opinion for the Blackbird on being comfortably suitable for two people? Have read so many reviews but none for using them as double occupancy. Between my husband and I, the total weight would be 300lbs, love to hear your opinions!

  17. I think the Blackbird is a great hammock, and is absolutely worth consideration for people looking to get into hammocking, but saying it’s “the most comfortable gathered end hammock you can buy” just isn’t accurate. It’s certainly among them, but plenty of people find better comfort in other hammocks (dreamhammock, switchbacks, owls, etc), including the Blackbird’s big brother, the XLC.

    That being said… if I’m recommending a comfortable, fully-featured, semi-affordable hammock to a first timer, the Blackbird/XLC is my first choice.

  18. Thanks for the great info on this blog! I’m interested in a hammock setup, looking at the Hennessy Hyperlite and the Warbonnet Blackbird. I’d like something lightweight for backpacking, they both seem to be in about the same weight range. I like the extra features of the Blackbird (storage shelf), and the standard (Edge) tarp is bigger, but there is a demo Hyperlite on sale on the Hennessy website, and the Hyperlite includes items like guy line, whereas with the Blackbird, you have to purchase separately (also carabiners). The Blackbird does offer a rebate (or free carabiners) with purchase of hammock/tarp (more with hammock/tarp/quilt). I want to get an underquilt as well, and possibly a topquilt at some point also. Do you recommend the Warbonnet quilts? I also like the Loco Libre Habanero. What about the Y-shape stakes and Dutchware hardware? There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle!

    • Warbonnet, Loco Libre, Hammock gear – they all make good stuff. I favor Loco Libre myself, but they have all have lots of happy customers.

      There are a lot of pieces. I would recommend carrying an assortment of stakes instead of the same type – its easier to mix and match for different soil conditions. I have all dutchwear hardware. Great stuff.

      Both the Hennessy and Warbonnets are jungle hammocks, with nets. That’s ultimately the important thing. Get a side zip though, and not the Hennessy classic.

      • What do you think about mixing/matching items, say a Hennessy hammock with Warbonnet tarp and Loco Libre quilt? Hennessy Hyperlite has a side zip, don’t like the bottom entry either. Do you see much advantage of the Blackbird vs. Hyperlite? Any other recommendations?

      • I used a hyoerlite a long time ago. Prefer the warbonnet for the shelf. It is very convenient. I also have whoops, although straps and cinch buckles are easier. Mixing and matching is normal with hammocks. That’s what people do. If you can afford it, get best of breed for all of your components. As for Dutchware, you can spend a LOT of money trying his things. I actually prefer the Warbonnet carabiners for instance (very easy and foolproof to use). I have a fixed line on my tarp, not a continuous suspension. My advice would be to get the basics from one source to start and incrementally replace items as you get more experience and better understand your preferences.

      • Hi again, so I am leaning toward the Blackbird hammock, Edge tarp, and Loco Libre Habanero underquilt to start with…may invest in a topquilt and maybe the Superfly tarp at a later date. I’m also interested in the Dutchware hammock Sock for additional warmth in shoulder seasons (not ready for winter hanging yet!). I’m trying to figure out what accessories I need with the Edge tarp, as it doesn’t appear to come with guyline or hardware…I like the Flyz, Stingerz and Lawson reflective cord from Dutchware, do you recommend those or something else? Anything else I need to go with the tarp or hammock? Thanks for your help with this, sorry to keep bugging you!

      • I use stingerz on both ends of my tarp. I use tarp worms for the guy outs with elastic tarp tensioners between the fly and lawson glowire guylines. Dutch sells these as a packet. They’re very good for keeping a silnylon tarp stratched taught at night. For stakes, I use MSR Needle stakes, which work *really* well with the glowire. https://amzn.to/2eisIgM

      • Ok thanks, will get the needle stakes and tarpworms with shock cord attached. You prefer the Stingerz to the Flyz? They are lighter… How do you attach the tarp ridgeline with Stingerz to the tree? Knots, or is there more hardware for that? Same for the line to the tarp?

        Do you recommend using the cuben sleeve for Silnylon tarps?

  19. Watch Dutches StingerZ video. It is the hardware, No knots.
    Yes to the cuben sleeve.

  20. Just purchased the:
    1.) Warbonnet Blackbird Double layer 1.7 XLC /added (Winter Cover-since it’s a first time buy or no dice later.)
    2.) x2 Warbonnet Carabiners
    3.) Winter Wooki XL Brown Underquilt – 0 degree with an extra ounce of stuffing added in. (Naming it SubZero)
    4.) SuperFly Tarp

    I will most likely get a continuous ridgeline for my tarp. I may buy a Mamba top quilt later down the line. I would like to have gotten a Cuben tarp but that is outside of my price range.

  21. I hate figuring out the difference in weights between various set ups. Just too many parts and pieces left out. The top quilt and under quilt weights though ought to be compared to a sleeping bag and pad combo. Sleeping bags can be heavy. Certainly heavier than the two quilts are normally.

  22. I’d recommend checking out Hammock gear underquilts and Shugs video on how to adjust them. They have top and bottom adjustments that keep the quilt up high for better comfort. They also grip the ends tightly to not allow any air spaces at the ends.

  23. Thanks for a thorough review.
    I have this system as tested. I think the tarp isn’t bulky at all. It’s soft and only about the size of a 16oz bottle. At just under 5 lbs, what tent, ground mattress, sleeping bag combo are you comparing this to, to say that it’s much heavier? The average lightweight tent is around 2-2.5 lbs in the same price range, comparable sleeping bag @2lbs, and insulated inflating mattress (unless you’re really hard core and can sleep on a closed cell pad) 1-1.5 lbs. That’s 5-6+ pounds for a reasonable tent combo. Neither system is ideal 100% of the time, but for comfort, ease of set up and take down, livable space, and all of these things in rainy weather, I’ll choose my hammock and tarp combo.

    • Therein lay the problem, Scott. It’s about the whole shelter/sleep system. Yet I’ve not found it presented that way on popular outdoor blogs. Think of the shelter-sleep system as a complete unit. One can change out sleeping bags and quilts, underquilts and sleep pads, bug net & rain fly or tent, sleeping bag or top quilt. What matters is the comfort-weight ratio, and that is a very personal subjective value. I have nothing but good to say about either setup, but I have no physiological issues to deal with. However, many years ago I had a lot of back issues (eventually resolved by physio therapy) and very sympathetic to those with such issues that prevent getting a decent night’s sleep. As Phil said, go with what makes you comfortable

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