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. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 2/19/2004 5:16:05 PM Central Standard Time, ratten_at_uow.edu.au writes: > 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 don't really know. Mine has never seen more than 10 knots, tops. My Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight CD (will they please shorten this name) has seen gales and it's a very nice tent. At 170 USD and 3 pounds 12 ounces it is a great dollar and weight bargain. It's a lot hotter than the Hennessey, too, in the tropics. As a final thought, I think you'd find it easy to sand pitch it, but how you did it matters when the wind blows. Cheers, Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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