Jungle Hammocks

[humint]

Has anyone ever used the jungle-style hammocks out in the field? Apparently, there's no need for a sleeping pad or a bug bar, as it's built right in.

I've read a little bit from US and other NATO troops, and they seem to like it.

Any good/bad points about getting one? That is, other than they cost about $150 CDN for a good one.

 

[Infanteer]

When's the last time you trained in a jungle?

 

[humint]

Last time I trained in the jungle? Wouldn't you like to know!??!  

"Jungle hammock" is just the name of the product.

It seems like a very useful product, and some soldiers from swear by it.

However, I just wanted to know whether anyone has ever used it, and whether it stands up to regular punishment.  

Although I'd use it in the field, my main reason for asking is that I want to use it for expedition hiking.

Product comments on this product are most welcome.

 

[CF_Lifer]

With a hammock, you have to be off the ground. I like keeping myself low to the ground. Low enough that you're gonna trip your fat @ss over me. Am I allowed to use that word? Also, Unless theres a bug net built into the hammock, you're gonna get eaten ALIVE. At least with the old hootch, you can close it up relatively tight, or attach a Hammock's bug net.
I know the British SAS use them in the jungle...but that seems to be the only place. Maybe it is a definitive piece of "Jungle" kit.

 

[Matt_Fisher]

If you're looking for one of the best jungle hammocks available, check out the Hennessy Hammock, www.hennessyhammock.com.   It's Canadian made and is used by a lot of military.   In their photo gallery they've got pics of it in use in Iraq, and one of my faves, is a Dutch tanker who's got the thing anchored on one side to his Leopard 2.

Here's what a member of 2 RCR had to say about it from a review on their website:
"Hey I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your brilliant design and awesome hammock!  I am a 9 year veteran of the Canadian armed forces (Infantry 2 RCR) and I have slept in your hammock for the past 6 weeks straight. A buddy of mine and I saw the hammock in my MEC catalogue and decided to risk the trouble we would be creating by using something so unorthodox for the field.

Luckily nobody really seemed to mind because of the task we were doing so we have spent the last six weeks "hangin' out." Let me tell you that it was worth every last penny.  We have since convinced another guy in the platoon to buy one and he is as impressed as we are. I find that line extremely useful for hanging things up like socks and even books and magazines while lounging about or getting a little sleep during lulls in the battle.

J. P."

 

[humint]

Thanks for the input. A couple of guys in my unit have 'em, and they really seem to like it -- so it looks like it's more than just an Argyll thing.

The bug bar is built in, and it also comes with the rain fly, so the $hitty weather doesn't get you. And, it comes in OD and woodland pattern, so no need to worry there.

As for it being tactical or not tactical, I've seen it strung low to the ground and attached with bungees to a hooch (which acts as the rain fly). So, when you lie in the hammock, the ground sheet pulls down with it to provide a low profile.

It may be worth a go.

 

[Danjanou]

I've tried one, and yes in the "jungle" ( backpacking through Central America) and can confirm they are a good piece of kit. Not sure how effective it would be in the cold mind, although there is enough room for am inner/outer sleeping bag etc.

Re how tactical they would be, as long as you slung it low to the ground it wouldn't take up much more room than your average hootchie. The trick is to keep it tight. Mind until you get used to it, getting out of it at night in a hurry might be a bit disconcerting.

 

[portcullisguy]

I have thought about acquiring a jungle hammock as well, and nearly did before our small unit exchange to Florida last month -- except we were told we'd be in shacks and not sleeping in the fiels (brought my hooch kit just in case ... half-shelter, bivvi, pegs & black bungee cord in a ready-to-go Ziploc).

Looking around at the terrain down there, had we been in the field I would DEFINITELY have wanted to sleep off the ground.  I would have attempted to set up as the SAS blokes seem to describe in all those books:  a hammock slung under a ground sheet to keep the rain off.

The bugs in Florida were a hassle during the day, we weren't in the woods at night but I imagine they would get pretty nasty.  And that doesn't even come close to the jungle areas the Brits train in (Belize and Brunei).  The odd scorpion and fiddle back sighting was enough to convince me that sleep is best done off the ground there.

Here in Canada, I don't see a need for hammocks, other than comfort and just being different.  But I believe they can be slung almosts as low as a regular hooch, and they shouldn't be too obvious in the thick brush.  Clearly a warm/hot weather option, only, though.

 

[Matt_Fisher]

I don't really see why everybody's putting such a huge emphasis on "staying low to the ground" for concealment purposes.  If the enemy has infiltrated your lines to the point where they're stumbling over your hooch, then you've got some serious problems.

If the enemy threat is that high, you're probably not going to be doing much sleeping other than a cat-nap in your fighting hole in a defensive line. 

Something like a hooch or a hammock is gonna be used in a "rear/admin" type area where you've got decent security established and the threat of enemy attack is low.

The only time that "hooch concealment" may be an issue is if you're in some sneaky-beaky unit (which makes up 0.02% of the military), like a pathfinder platoon or JTF-2 where you may be conducting ops in enemy controlled areas for an extended period of time.  For the rest of us folks (99.98%) in the military, how low a hooch is slung/hammock hung is not really a huge concern.

 

[Arctic Acorn]

I picked up a hammock from the French PX in Sarajevo for 10 Euros, and I love it. It's a simple one without a rain fly or a bug bar, but you can easily throw up a shelter half over it. It weighs nothing, and it takes up next to no space.

It's not too much use up here in Yellowknife (the bugs are too thick) but it's great just about everywhere else. You don't need to pack a sleeping pad, and sleeping a few inches off the ground means you'll keep dry (good for low-lying, boggy ground.) Just remember to bring the shelter half for rainy conditions.

The best reason for a hammock, in my opinion, is that it's a hell of a lot better for your back. If there's anyone out there reading this with back problems, give it a try.

No more rocks & roots  = happy troopie!

 

[portcullisguy]

Right, that seals it AA... I'm gonna find get me one.

You just reminded me how uncomfortable the rocky, tree-root-ridden ground was at Pet last summer for the milcon.  No reason why it will be different this year, and plus, it might actually rain this year and you're right... no sense sleeping on wet ground, even in a bivvy.

I have a bug bar already, CF issue, and so I don't think I'd look for a hammock with a built-in one or anything.

Thanks for the discussion lads, my mind's made up now.

 

[Arctic Acorn]

Just make sure you're section commander is okay with it. As far as I'm concerned, it's better to beg forgiveness than permission, but be prepared for your Master Corporal tell you that if no one else has one, and if it isn't CF issue, then you're SOL. With any luck, your unit is okay with non-issue kit in the field (another thread, I know...) 

 

[humint]

I've never understood the archaic mindset of "if it ain't issues, you ain't usin' it."

The number one priority should be getting the job done right. And, if using non-issue kit allows you to get the job done right and even better or faster than before, than I say go for it.

If you like high-speed, non-issue gear, you gotta check out the Argylls. We push the limits about acceptable kit, and I think we are better off for it -- not only in performance, but also morale and esprit-de-corps.

 

[Arctic Acorn]

Oh, I agree, but (as covered by another thread) it's all about what unit policy dictates. As a junior officer, I'd guess that you have a bit more...leeway... using non-issue stuff, but it's a different story for private soldiers. Personally, as far as I'm concerned, as long as it isn't too extreme, power to you.

When I was a private, I had all kinds of ideas about neat kit to bring into the field, but the WO would have none of it (The guy wouldn't even allow non-issue flashlights). I've been out of the unit lines awhile now working on full-time contracts, so I have no idea if it's still the same, but I'm about to finish my contact here and go back to the unit in a leadership position, so I'm hoping that I can see about relaxing things a little bit.

I do know the big argument against using hammocks with us was that you were supposed to hootch with your fireteam partner, and if you sleep in separate locations it causes problems, etc blah etc. I'm a combat support trade, so I know SFA about infantry bivouac etiquette, but it seemed like a crap excuse to me.

 

[humint]

I've run into the same type of all-issue guys myself, but they tend to be with other units (read: RHLI). >

I guess it takes time to figure out what gucci kit is worth it, and what's not. I don't have a lot of time in, so I tend to draw upon the experience of my senior NCOs, and they've been good about giving quality advice.

To be honest, I really don't think there is much of an argument against hammocks or any other non-issue item other than lame policy statements and SOPs. And, in an environment where boots on ground and real-life experience counts, I throw the old policy book and 1950s pams out the window and rule in favour of what works now in the real world.

This statement is not so much about jungle hammocks as it is about equipment and performance in general.

I guess we're getting a little off track here, but what the heck, it's Friday and I'm marking time until the end of the work-day.

 

[COBRA-6]

Right, that seals it AA... I'm gonna find get me one.

You just reminded me how uncomfortable the rocky, tree-root-ridden ground was at Pet last summer for the milcon. No reason why it will be different this year, and plus, it might actually rain this year and you're right... no sense sleeping on wet ground, even in a bivvy.

I have a bug bar already, CF issue, and so I don't think I'd look for a hammock with a built-in one or anything.

Thanks for the discussion lads, my mind's made up now.

So did you get one? What's your opinion? I have been giving these a serious look as well...
Cheers!

 

[I_Drive_Planes]

So did you get one? What's your opinion? I have been giving these a serious look as well...
Cheers!

http://www.mosquitohammock.com/  I don't own one, but the bottom one on the page looks good, camo too!  They say they designed it for the FFL, personally I just want to do some camping like the fellow who slung his under the wing of his airplane at the top of the page.

Planes