[Paddlewise] Hennessy v Tent [ Thanks ]

Thanks Rob and Jim for your useful replies. Thinking over the issues a
little more it seems to me that the climate and weather range in the
'operations area' would be a critical factor in one's choice of a hammock,
and/or bivy over a tent.
For example,  the Microlight tent I use is made in NZ, for NZ conditions,
[well, it was once made in NZ!] even though they do sell here in Australia
and probably elsewhere.
As such the MacPac is ideal for relatively low temperature high rainfall
forest and snow ranges.  The trade-off is that it probably does not breathe
as well as a tent made for the semi tropics and tropics.
But even this tent is arguably more useful over a wider range of ground and
weather conditions than a hammock.
This would become  a critical factor on a trip into 'unknown territory',
where you could not be certain of the suitability of a haul out spot or
camping spot  for pitching a hammock.
I was intrigued by  the idea of pitching the Hennessy on the ground which
ostensibly makes it  nice and versatile.  I repeat, I do not have qualms
about the design and build of the Hennessy,  but how well would it stand up
to a decent gale?
I can vouch for the Microlight in a full gale.  I was caught out at high
altitude in the thing on an exposed mountain slope.  The overnight gale
absolutely flattened this single hoop tent time and again but it stayed
intact.  Not even a torn seam, line or bent pole.   New respect for a design
which absorbed the force of the gale, and bounced back for more...
I like the idea of a Hennessy with the back-up of a bad weather tent.  It
would not be fun having to sit out several days of gale with no more cover
than a hammock, however comfortable. The same goes for a bivy.   Great for
fast set-ups at the end of a long day, but no flexibility in use, and
limited redundancy in safety.

Cheers,  Peter Rattenbury
Australia.
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