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The only book
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Devoted exclusively
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Everything you need to
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camping hammock
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"Before trying one of Ed's hammocks, I would never have believed that any hammock could be so comfortable."
Dr. Cato Holler, Fellow, Explorers Club; author, Caves of South Carolina; Director, Carolina Cave Survey; Marion, NC"Ed turned me on to hammock camping two years ago. I'll never go back to tents again."
Matthew 'Dark Star' Carter, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 1999; Louisville, KY"At first I was skeptical, but after the first night, I was sold."
Stacy 'MoJo' Hielger, Outfitter store manager; Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 2001; Baltimore, MD"I love this hammock...spend all my time in it even when not sleeping. It really is more comfortable than my bed. Thank you very much...back to hammock I go."
Ron 'Mudman' Grace, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 1999, hammock set up in cabin; Wilmont, NH"Each of the three hammocks has its' advantages and disadvantages, but yours is the clear overall winner. It sure is comfortable. It is obviously much more versatile with none of the drawbacks of (the other designs)."
David Risley (after testing camping hammocks from different manufactures); Springfield, IL
"Better than any night I've ever spent on the ground."
Karen 'Pog' Sousa (after her first night), editor The Long Distance Hiker, newsletter of the Appalachian Long Distance Hiker Association; Asheville, NC
"This book is AWESOME!! I especially enjoy your journal snippets of real-world situations..Bears, Snakes, Crowds for starters. Some of these stories make me really yearn to be back on the trail again...and now I want to be on the trail with a hammock!"
Greg 'G-Force' Scholz, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 2000"I thought your book is well written Ed. I cannot say how much I enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed the knowledge and ideas which I gained; and the quirky humor which you added at times (based on your many experiences and a few mishaps; those which allowed you to write the book you have today). As I read the book, it took me into my little "perfect utopia", bringing back memories that now allow me to scale these city walls and help rekindle my future hiking dreams."
Tim 'Sherpa' Johnson, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker 2001; NE York, NY"I absolutely love this hammock. The first night I slept in it I slept better than I usually do in shelters. Thanks Ed. It is a lot faster to set up and take down than my tent and of course I do not have to look for a flat smooth surface to set it up on. I was worried in the Shenandoah's when there were high winds accompanied by hail the size of marbles, but I stayed dry. That same night, a hiker using a different hammock with a smaller rain canopy retreated to the shelter from the wind driven rain. (At one place) I had to use it as a bivy and while it was not as nice as being in the trees, it kept the bugs off of me."
Chris Stevens, 2002 hiking East Continental Trail with a Speer Hammock; Murfreesboro, TNHi Ed,
"I enjoyed your book, it is very well written and contains a lot of good
info.....I read it twice. I'm convinced that you are right about the straps being preferable to rope."
Ron Bush; Harrison, TN"This hammock is a lot more comfortable than I thought it was going to be."
Hammock tester, Appalachian Trail Hiker Celebration Trail Days 2002; Damascus, VA
"Between the two hammocks,
I prefer the Speer for several reasons:
1) The Speer is very well made
2) I prefer the Speer's entry from the top
3) I prefer the long straps on the Speer...much easier to attach to the
trees and with greater length, I have more choice about where to camp
4) I like the fact that the Speer is not as stretchy...
5) And I prefer the Speer because with the tarp seperate from the hammock,
I can pack the hammock before taking down the tarp."
David Risley (after testing camping hammocks from different manufactures);
Springfield, IL
"The straps on your hammock are easy to attach securely
to trees. They don't damage trees. I prefer your way of entering a hammock.
It's nice to be able to remove the bugnet when it's not needed."
Maurice Ostrov, Appalachain Trail Thru-Hiker, 2002; Cambridge, MA
"This is just a quick note to say I enjoyed meeting
you {at the ALDHA2002 workshop on How To Make Your Own Hammock} and am
especially pleased that you shared with us some of the things you've learned
about hammocks."
David 'Pond Bird' Jordan, Appalachain Trail Thru-Hiker 2001; Murrayville,
GA
"I can't believe how comfortable it is!"
Hammock tester, Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association Gathering
2002; Athens, WV
"I think Ed Speer has found the best solution to
keeping warm in a simple hammock. The (loaner PeaPod) bag performed so
well, that today I ordered one of my own."
David 'Bear' Chinell; Sarasota, FL
"I finished the book last night in the hammock. Good
and useful is my main opinion. I will definately build a hammock from
the chapter on that subject, and the book is worth the price just for
that purpose. Using the directions, it took all of an hour to sear the
ends, hem the edges, sew the Velcro, tie the knots and sew the ends of
the straps. I REALLY like the method of attaching the hammock with wrapping
instead of knots!
I've been off delivering stuff and Marines all over the Med this last
week with a C141 aircrew. I was the envy of the loadmaster corps when
I rolled out my little bundle of a (homemade Speer) hammock and attached
it to the walls of the C141. Talk about comfortable!" See the hammock
at:
http://www.flyfisher-kayaks.com/ultralite/hammockc141.jpg
Rick 'Flyfisher' Allnutt; Beavercreek, OH
"I wanted to thank Ed publicly for the most excellent hammock kit.
I ordered it last week, it arrived today and I have read about a third
of the book so far. The kit is complete with everything you need except
for a sewing machine. The instructions are quite clear and even though
I am not an expert seamster (?) I don't think it will be hard at all to
make the hammock.
"The book is excellent and even if you don't want
to make your own, get the book. There is a ton of great information. Even
though I have owned another type of hammock and spent some time last year
using it, I still have learned a few new tricks. The one thing that impressed
me was the presentation of the book. I think I was expecting something
less than a professionally bound and printed text. The cover is very well
done and all of the illustrations in the book are clear and concise. Highly
recommended to anyone interested in hammock camping."
John Kennedy, Mobile, AL
"I just finished sewing a Speer hammock. Thanks so much for sharing
your method, Ed (I have your book). Incredibly easy project."
Debra Weisenstein, Wayland, MA
"I have now used the hammock I made as per the instructions in your book. Worked great! I even fell asleep for almost 2 hours the first time I tested it on my porch! I have now used in a short camping trip: I have never slept so well, I think I will never sleep on the ground again if I can avoid it. Thanks for sharing your experience with me (and all thers). This is my best shelter/sleeping system so far! Best regards" P-A. Asp, Sweden
Review of Speer Hammock 8.0A and the Big Agnes Zirkel Sleeping Bag by Douglas Durham, March 2003