You’ll need 6 basic elements for hammock camping:
– Hammock (Superior Hammock or StarLite Hammock)
– Suspension (Superior Suspension or Elite Sling)
– Insect Protection in most places/times (Full BugNet or Half BugNet)
– Bottom Insulation (Superior Hammock built-in, or Comforter snapped on StarLite)
– Top Insulation (Comforter and/or Cocoon)
– Rain Protection (Shelter Tarp, includes all ropes, stakes, bungees)
Our Ultimate Bundle includes every one of these, and you can choose the custom options like temp rating, length, ultralight upgrade etc.. You can of course substitute some of these items with other brands or items you already have, such as a sleeping bag or tarp. In this case, you can buy the individual components you need from us. But our gear is incredibly modular, so the more pieces you have from us, the more versatile gear you’ll have for many weather scenarios!
In most cases, no you probably won’t be too hot. Most people won’t feel too hot sleeping in a Superior Hammock up until the mid to high 70s. The down and fabrics are very breathable. And you can adjust the top layer depending on temps.
We generally advise choosing a temp rating roughly equal to the coldest temperatures you anticipate. Let’s say you expect to be camping down the 30s (Fahrenheit), then the 30F Superior or Comforter should be adequate. Or if you expect single digit temps, then get a 0F. Our temp ratings are very conservative and very much comfort rated rather than Survival rated. This is achieved with highly optimized designs (integrated UQ, Snap System, deep baffles) and we use more down than most other brands per temperature. Many users have reported even pushing the gear significantly below our official ratings. But we think having that extra temp margin is wise.
When selecting the color for the Superior Hammock and StarLite Hammock, the bottom/outside layer is always gray by default. The color you can select is the top/inside layer.
– The Superior Suspension System is longer (pair of 15ft straps), stronger, more easily adjusted, can connect via carabiner, and allows the Tandem Suspension option. The main downside is more weight (7oz total) and a bit more bulk. We recommend this option for all but the serious ultralight gram-weenies.
– The Elite Sling is shorter (pair of 12ft), lighter (2.7oz) which is great if you need the absolute lightest option. The adjustment is based on a ‘Whoopie Sling’ style rope adjustment.
Yes you can! It works great. You can split the double snap at the end. Then alternate each snap going down. The bungees hold a lot of the weight, and the snaps mainly just keep stuff in place.
No, the Full Bug Net uses up both zipper halves. However the Cocoon can be used in conjunction with the Half Bug Net.
This mainly comes down to height, shoulder width and personal preference. We sell about an equal number of each. Some find that an 11ft feels a bit wider and gets a better diagonal lay. While others, even up to 6ft tall get a great lay in a 10ft and would rather save the weight/cost and extra foot of tarp coverage. If over 6ft, we’d suggest the 11ft, or (remove) same you if you have broader shoulders. What’s great is that all the zipper and snap accessories will work on both length hammocks so you don’t need to worry about that.
The Superior and StarLite Hammock are essentially identical in every way except one: the Superior has a built-in underquilt. All other features and options are the same. Both have zippers and snaps that will pair with accessories. The advantages of the Superior are greater simplicity, quicker setup time, slight weight savings (compared to StarLite + Comforter) and slightly warmer. The only disadvantage of the Superior is the inability to vent the insulation. That’s where the StarLite comes in. On a hot day or night you can skip the insulation altogether. Or you can quickly snap on the Comforter, hook the bungees on the insulation and you’re ready to go!
Superior Hammock Pros:
– Simpler
– Quickest setup
– Lighter
– Least fuss factor
Superior Hammock Cons:
– No venting option
StarLite Hammock Pros:
– Ventable / removable underquilt in hot weather
– Can swap out underquilts
StarLite Hammock Cons:
– Slightly more fiddle-factor
– Slightly heavier
– Slightly less warmth optimized
Our typical lead time is 5–7 business days. Most orders are processed and shipped within this window. Once your order is on its way, you will receive a confirmation email with tracking information. Please note that these timelines are our best estimate and not absolutely guaranteed.
Yes it can. However, it’s not the most warmth-efficient solution. We created the Cocoon to create a top layer with a nice tight air seal and create a lot of warmth with minimal weight/bulk. The snaps are really intended as outside accessories such as the Comforter, Wind Protector and future products. The other issue with a Comforter zipped on top is that you would lose access to the zipper. Again, just get the amazing Cocoon as a top layer!
Yes! We have the ‘Corner Pocket’ style mesh pocket. Place it at the head end, or foot end or both. Additionally, our stuff sacks easily convert to ridgeline storage by clipping in the 2 mini-biners included.
– Standard: Uses heavier fabrics and 800 Fill Power down. On Hammocks, the top layer is 1.6oz Nylon, and the bottom layers are .9oz down proof nylon fabric. The Comforter and Cocoon also use .9oz down proof nylon. Weight rating for Standard Superior and StarLite Hammocks are 350lbs.
– Elite: Uses lighter fabrics and more efficient 950 Fill Power down. On the hammocks, the top layer is 1.2oz Nylon, and the bottom layers are .67oz down proof nylon fabric. The Comforter and Cocoon also use .67oz down proof nylon. Weight rating for Elite Superior and StarLite Hammocks are 250lbs.
This mainly comes down to height, shoulder width and personal preference. We sell about an equal number of each. Some find that an 11ft feels a bit wider and gets a better diagonal lay. While others, even up to 6ft tall get a great lay in a 10ft and would rather save the weight/cost and extra foot of tarp coverage. If over 6ft or broad-shouldered, we’d suggest the 11ft. What’s great is that all the zipper and snap accessories will work on both length hammocks so you don’t need to worry about that.
The Cocoon is an insulated top layer that zips on using the zipper system. It is much more open inside around the feet, allowing a great diagonal lay. It won’t hug around the legs as tight as a sleeping bag or top quilt giving full freedom of movement. This openness makes it great for milder weather (hence the 50F or 40F rating options) and incredibly warm and simple for stacking a top quilt (such as the Comforter) in winter. The Cocoon uses only half of the zipper, allowing our Half BugNet to be used on the other half of the zipper. The Cocoon cannot be used at the same time as the Full BugNet though, since that uses the full zipper. The Cocoon is a really nice accessory for the Superior system for a variety of situations.
The Ridgeline length is all about creating the desired sag angle. This is roughly measured as a ratio between the length of the hammock and the length of the ridgeline. Conventional hammock wisdom says to set the ridgeline at about an 83% ratio. For example, on a 10ft hammock (120 inches), this means a ridgeline length of about 100 inches (120 x 0.83 = 99.6). Because our ridgeline is adjustable, this allows you to experiment and find your preference.
Our recommended ratio is about 90% around 108 inches. (120 x 0.9 = 108). We suggest at least trying our default sag before experimenting with other options.
You can use a washing machine and dryer to clean your Superior Hammock and other Superior down products. The most important thing is not to use normal soaps or detergents that can damage the natural oils in the down. There are special down soaps for this. Or alternatively, wash without any soap. Here are the steps:
Pre-rinse without detergent.
Wash with cold water and gentle settings with extra rinse
Dry on low for 4 to 5 cycles with dryer balls or tennis balls to aid re-lofting.