Returning from a nice spring 24h hang this weekend, I’d like to give you my impressions of the Exped Scout Hammock Combo. As we were also bringing a DD Frontline hammock and tarp, we were able to compare the two.
There is not too much information available on the Exped hammocks. I found a few videos and an unboxing thread, but that was about it. It seams that this field is clearly dominated by Hennessy and Warbonnet in the States, DD Hammocks from the UK and perhaps a few other smaller players. But as you can tell from the pictures within this post, the offering from Exped certainly is up to par with the competition.
Exped’s attention to detail
Let me start by saying the quality of the materials of the Exped hammock and tarp are top notch. I love the little details on the hammock and tarp that sets it apart from the competition. For example, the tarp already has the guylines attached, which are rolled up in little stuff sacks at each tie point on the underside of the tarp. This keeps everything tidy and makes it a breeze to handle the tarp. Another great detail is the flexible ridgeline to keep the moskito netting out of your face and at the same time to secure the tarp. This attention to detail is a trend with all Exped products. Very good stuff.
Hammock features
Reading up on hammocks there seem to be two big topics:
- hammock suspension
- bottom insulation
The one thing everybody uses for suspension apparently is the Whoopie Sling. Now, I’d love to use a Whoopie Sling myself one day, the cute name alone makes me want to purchase, but I have to admit I haven’t quite understood the concept yet. The whole hammock topic can get rather complex fast if you start reading the forums and sites.. If you enjoy tinkering around with things, though, hammock camping might just be something for you.
If you want to know more about hammocks and hammock camping I suggest checking out the Hammock Forums and especially Shug’s videos for beginners (very funny and informative).
The Exped hammock has a rather nifty suspension system as it is self-arresting. Exped calls them slit cords. You just sling the cords around the tree and then feed it through a couple of the slits and end with a figure 8 knot to secure it from slipping through. Very easy to setup and take down again. (I believe one of the benefits of using Whoopie Slings is that you can adjust the tension of your hammock without having to remove and re-tie the endpoints again. That, of course, is quite handy).
Regarding the bottom insulation–and you do need something under your butt or you will get rather cold very fast–the way professional hangers do, is use an underquilt. This is a quilt which is tied to your suspension systems and hangs underneath your hammock. This will provide warmth however you move around in your hammock.
However, if you don’t have an underquilt–I don’t–you can also just use any old sleeping pad, like an evazote mat or an inflatable Therm-a-Rest. Both the DD Frontline and the Exped Scout hammock have a double floor where you can put a sleeping mat which which will then stay in place – mostly.
Both hammocks have little pockets inside to hold your glasses or torch during the night, although the Exped Scout has large mesh panels which I find easier to use. Again both hammocks feature a nice moskito mesh netting that can be tied to the tarp’s ridge line to hold it of your face (the Exped Scout Hammock comes with a ridge line, the DD Frontline you have to set up yourself). Additionally you can put poles or branches through fabric sleeves to keep the net from your body. The Frontline hammock has zippers on each side, the Exped Scout hammock only on one side. If there are no mosquitos you can flip the hammock over and lay on the other side (same with the DD Frontline).
The tarp
The measurements of the tarp seem a bit small or oddly shaped, both on paper and when you have a look at the product pictures. It’s longer than is wide at 3,50m length and 1,50m width. I believe the size of the tarp is adequate but it will probably come down to personal preference. The coverage is good, I stayed dry during a rain spell without changing my tarp configuration from what you can see in the pictures. You can also lock the tarp down in storm mode by lowering the ridgeline a bit and then peg the sides of the tarp close to the ground. This way you are pretty cocooned and should be protected even during windy conditions and side-driven rain.
Of course, the DD tarp with it’s 3x3m coverage area is a palace in comparison and will provide more living space underneath and around the hammock.
The Exped Scout Hammock Combo weighs about 1.7Kg and retails for €120. Overall I really like this combo. While my partner prefers the larger tarp of the DD Frontline hammock, I like the details Exped put into it’s product.
Go ultralight
Exped also sells a UL version that nets little more than 1kg and sells for €180. While €180 is nothing to sneeze at, a weight of 1kg for this hammock and tarp combo is certainly an attractive alternative to an ultralight shelter.
Philip at Sectionhiker.com has an excellent article called Hennessy Hammocks: A Beginner’s Guide. He concludes that hammocks can be fun in a variety of conditions (uneven ground, difficult terrain, stealth camping, low impact camps). I agree and that’s part of the fun with hammocks. You can set up your shelter almost everywhere, just find two trees that are a couple of meters apart and you are ready to go. You don’t have to worry about finding a flat surface, bugs or little rocks and stuff that can puncture your mattress or floor. Kinda neat!
