Podcast: Download (Duration: 33:50 — 33.8MB)
Show Notes: Episode 096
Today on the First 40 Miles, our last family trip of the summer—and this trip did not disappoint! We’ll share the top 5 things we loved about our trip to the Oregon coast. Then on the SUMMIT Gear Review, we’ll share a hammock that’s light enough to throw in your day pack—and may even fit in your back pocket! Next, on the Backpack Hack of the Week, a simple hammock hack that will keep you cocooned and snug on your next hammock hang.
Opening
- Parameters of our last backpacking trip of the summer:
- Simple to plan
- Healthier food
- Coast trip
- Threemile Lake near the Oregon coast
Top 5 Things We Loved About This Trip
Hammocking with the whole family
- Our first trip Hammock camping trip was back in June with Jonathan from the Hang Your Own Hang Podcast
- This was our first family backpacking trip where everyone left the tents behind and everyone brought their own hammock
Success with solar
- Solar mystery charger…with no label
- Our mystery charger has twice the output of previous solar panels we’ve used
Fishing
- We’ve been learning a lot about tenkara fly fishing (which uses a telescoping rod, a line and a fly), researching it for an upcoming trip
- Even though we don’t have any tenkara rods, our 11 year old wanted to have a fishing experience, so we bought $4 worth of fishing stuff and tried “Hillbilly Tenkara” with a stick, some line, and a hook with a glitter worm.
A 180 degree turn on Poptarts, Snickers and cheesy mac
- We went stoveless, and tried to pick foods that were calorie dense and healthier
- Breakfast: Overnight oats, dried peaches,
- Lunch: WW tortillas + Justin’s Almond Butter packets and trail mix + tuna packet w/ mayo
- Dinner: Bulgar + canned smoked sardines w/ oil + crumbled cheddar cheese
- Snacks: Corn nuts + trail mix, dried bananas, sunflower seeds, energy bars, granola bars
- Much of our snacks were eaten on the 3 hour drive to Threemile Lake—so by the end of the trip, we were ready to head out and fuel up.
Beach access at ocean and a lake
- Lots of sand, so we were barefoot most of the time.
- At night fell asleep to the sound of the ocean
- Cooler trip (because Oregon coast doesn’t get very warm), but the warm sand felt great!
SUMMIT Gear Review: Hummingbird Hammock Single + Hammock
Structure
- Reserve parachute material
- The Single+ hammock is built with longer camping trips and taller people in mind–more comfortable
- 1500 lb Spectra Cord for the soft carabiners
- Military Spec Bonded Nylon Thread
- Does not come with tree straps–order those separately
Utility
- Holds 350 pounds
- The soft carabiners (included) are far stronger per ounce than a traditional carabiner and are impossible to cross load.
- Fabric is densely woven, but not completely waterproof
Mass
- Hummingbird Single + Weighs 7.6 oz (210 g)
- Add 2.1 ounces for the ultralight tree straps
- Dimension when packed (6 x 4 x 2 in) or (15 x 10 x 5 cm)
- Unpacked the hammock is 120 inches by 64 inches
- Weight rating: 350 lbs (158 kg)
Maintenance
- The fabric is not UV resistant—remember to pack up your hammock when not in use
- Wash in cool water, or spot clean as needed
- Dry completely before packing
Investment
Trial
- Brought it on our family trip
- Packed down smaller than all the other hammocks we have
- Loved the soft carabiners
- Lightweight, adjustable, easy to use, compact
- OpenSource: “Why would we want to give away designs for free? We believe ideas and designs should be shared so that others may benefit from them, be inspired to make something new, or contribute an idea that leads to a better or more useful product! Below you will find all of our design files and associated information for our current products as well as for products we are currently developing. So please use, modify and distribute them as you like in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.”
Backpack Hack of the Week™: Turning Your Hammock into a Cocoon
- Most hammocks come with an attached stuff sack that you can stuff your hammock into when you’re done using it. Most people use this little attached sack as a handy place to store your glasses, cell phone, headlamp, and battery charger. But it also has another awesome use.
- Put something heavy in pocket (sand or rocks) and throw the pocket over you. Makes a cocoon.
- Works best in double hammocks
Trail Wisdom
“I feel so independent now. I can get anywhere I want to. I have the few essentials I need, and the few other things I need or want I can derive from the land.”
–David Cooper