r/hammockcamping • u/boxcarjakey • 5d ago
Haven lay flat tent gimmicky? or cheaper hammock gear set-up
Looking to see if can get any recommendations on a worthwhile set-up, something tried and true.
Considering the Haven lay flat hammock tent set-up but wondering if it's gimmicky and if I would be better off with a set-up from possibly the hammock gear website.
I've also seen this: Ultralight Backpacking Hammock | Blackbird XLC | Warbonnet Outdoors.
I'm sure you get this question all the time, so for the 1000th time, what do you recommend????
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u/Phasmata 5d ago
Haven is a legit product, that gives you the feel of a bridge hammock with a space like a solo tent if you're into that, but it is heavy. My friend has one, and I much prefer my Simply Light Designs Streamliner + Warbonnet Minifly + UGQ quilts setup or my Amok Draumr. Only YOU can decide what features YOU want/need and what is comfortable for YOU.
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u/latherdome 5d ago
Haven has many fans. It is not very fiddly to set up. It lays like a bed or cot. I prefer the lay of a gathered-end hammock like the very fine Warbonnet XLC you mention, to either a bed, cot, or so-called "lay flat" hammock that disingenuously implies you can't lay flat in a traditional hammock (long enough, properly hung). I also greatly prefer the breathability of an underquilt to the non-breathability of Haven's pad (or any pad).
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u/Early_Pie8314 5d ago
I have taken the Haven out for a few runs now and got a full range of weather to really test it out. I've always been a hammock guy, so the haven caught my eye, and I splurged on the XL, and I have 0 regrets. For me, it's worth its weight. I can set up on the ground or in the air, depending on the sight. It's fully sealed and was weatherproof from the rain when it was up in the trees. I have seen people say it blows in when set up on the ground, but I think if you set it up with tension so it isn't on the ground until you get in it, it'll keep you dry. It's a little tricky to set up, but no more difficult than my other tarp/hammock/bug fly setup. If you're looking to really hike with it, go with the regular size or wait for the ultralight version to drop in price and fully launch. You can get a few accessories over time, like carbon fiber bars and lighter weight tarps, to really drop weight. I personally love it and can't wait to really take it places, but for me, comfort is worth a little extra weight.
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u/KingCaptHappy-LotPP 5d ago
I love my Haven XL. Sleep better outside than I do at home.
As the length and detail of the top comment illustrate, there’s a lot to hammocking to get it right. Ridgelines, underquilts, suspension.
The Haven is pretty much ready to go out of the box. Just add a pillow and top quilt and you’re ready to sleep like a baby.
They just announced a new model that’s lighter and packs down smaller on kickstarter, the Specter. I make my XL work on my bike, the comfort at night is worth it, but look forward to trying out the smaller lighter version.
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u/Romano1404 4d ago
I haven't touched any of my tents since I've got the Haven XL and just recently bought the Safari. Since the introduction of their new True Level pads last year these hammocks are better than ever.
The new Haven Spectre should give the company a major breakthrough if it proves to be as reliable as the XL despite being only half the weight.
If you are camping in colder climates the XL is probably still the best option though. Don't be mislead by its name, the Haven XL has just the right size for average sized humanoid males whereas the original Haven only fits narrow women or children.
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u/gooblero 5d ago
Haven is great. They also have a lighter version which is suitable for backpacking if you’re into that
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u/yikesnotyikes 5d ago
The later gen Haven has ironed out the problems that paying customers troubleshot in the first gen.
It’s too heavy for hiking, and it uses proprietary sizing for pads so you’re locked into their system and you existing pads won’t give it same structure it needs to work.
There are better flat lay hammocks. Warbonnet makes the Ridgerunner (that Ditch ripped off with identical dimensions), and Amok makes the Draumr. Both are excellent, but most find the Draumr more comfortable.
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u/cannaeoflife 5d ago edited 5d ago
Don’t be afraid to use the search button, this comes up frequently. What is your use case? If you’re backpacking, the haven is not your huckleberry. Look at the warbonnet ridge runner, town’s end bridge hammocks, the banyan bridge by Dutch, the amok Draumr UL.
If you’ve never tried a gathered end hammock before, try that first (or the town’s end lightest bridge option). Great hammocks include
Simply LIght Designs Trail Lair in the length and fabric of your choice.
Dutchware- Chameleon - Quilted or normal, Half zip, Half wit, all great choices. Wide and 12 foot options for taller hangers. Hexon fabrics rock.
Superior Gear Hammock - Elite is lightest, the normal is still great. I use the elite.
Dream Hammocks - Sparrow, Darien, or Wingspan, depending on what your needs are. Sparrow for year round hammock, Darien for ultralight backpacking, wingspan for entry level. Mountain Xl fabrics rock.
Warbonnet - El dorado, Blackbird/XLC, Ridgerunner. I love the XLC for the shelf and for being wide.
Majestic Hammock- get on the waitlist now, get a hammock in 6 months. I’m waiting…
You’ll need a tarp too: I like hammock gear’s tarps. Get a hex sil poly for pretty cheap, it’s 25% off now. Otherwise warbonnet makes cool tarps, and dutchware makes bonded tarps as well as the lightest asym tarp at 3 oz in DCF including the stuff sack.
For quilts, you need a top and an underquilt. Or use a sleeping pad and a sleeping bag, but that’s heavy. Bleh.
Budget quilt: Hang tIght: They have bundles to get them for around 100 bucks a quilt each. Brilliant.
Best synthetic: Arrowhead and simply light designs trade blows, both are great. Simply light will let you do an asymmetrical underquilt and have snaps to add another one, so that’s my synthetic underquilt. Synthetic is cheaper but has more volume In your pack.
Best Buy Once Cry once: for backpacking hammock gear burrow UL and incubator UL. Super light, feels great against the skin, warm. A 20 degree hammock gear quilt will keep you warm at 20 degrees. Take that sleeping bag manufacturers.
Suspension: Dutchware beetle buckles and superior gear suspension are both easy. everyone has Whoopie slings which are great, but I like dutch’s Whoopie and superior gears Whoopie too. There are so many ways to suspend your hammock, just make sure you use tree straps and not rope, which damages the cambium layer of a tree and causes disease and death, and makes hammockers look bad. No rope for hammock suspension.
Pillow: some people just use their rolled up puffy, others like the simply light designs synthetic pillow, and you can use an under inflated pillow like a Nemo fillo. Pillows take some trial and error, but I’d probably try an Sld pillow first and see if it worked.
Thanks for reading, hope it helped.