Thread: Defender Minimalism

As I got older my camping transport options changed from foot/bike/canoe as a teenager to increasingly larger vehicles as I got older. This more than anything dictated what gear I took.

Yes the defender is simple but that huge shed on wheels can lug an awful lot of gear without breaking a sweat. So ironically getting a defender means my camping gear list keeps getting longer. I still like to travel light when the trip demands that approach but what's the point of going super light and ultra minimalist if you have a defender. An awning, a chair , a fridge full of food and beer, a swag, a Coleman petrol stove and light and a box of tools and spares along with some toys to occupy your time sounds like the perfect minimalist fender setup to me. I will save my gram counting and agonising over taking the extra Tshirt for my bushwalking and cycling trips.

Originally Posted by roverrescue

An asymmetric hammock is a very different beast to a string hammock you fell asleep at the beach in or a munted parachute?

Most comfortable camping setup I've ever experienced

Yes a sleeping bag is no good in the cold but the plus side is a down under quilt is 1/3 the size and weight of a sleeping bag and then all you need is a light microfibre blanket....

Light weight super compact can sleep in crocodile country feeling safe ish - certainly safe from other ground critters

For minimilistic camping until you try an asymmetric hammock you are in the dark!

S

You mean like the one in this link below? You lie diagonally across the hammock instead of along it.
Looks pretty comfortable. Could you string it between vehicles?


https://treegear.com.au/products/hen...ition-asym-zip


Interesting discussion here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hammocks/co...tric_hammocks/


This is a comparison of hammock types and ground camping:
http://andrewskurka.com/2012/hammock...em-comparison/


This asym Hammond hammock looks good:
http://hennessyhammock.com/products/...e-asym-classic


I think I feel a Christmas present coming on. It could live in the back of the Defender.

That's the ones DiscoMick
You can string em between anything! A tree and the bull bar is good for a roadside stop.
If you get a Hennesy or other lightweight get a pair of snake skins for them, perhaps a little more bulky when packed but setup and pack down is stupidly quick

I would also look at an under quilt - even on Cape York in winter I run one - as you are exposed to the air - I went with this one Incubator 20 - Hammock Gear
bit exe but bloody awesome and at under 600gm it is way more compact than a sleeping bag. In the morning Im toasty and warm as opposed to using a sleeping bag where you have a cold back.

So with a lightweight hammock and above under quilt you have full sleep kit for 1.5kg. All fits easily in a 30L day pack plus jumper plus cooker - I end up carrying as much barra gear as camping gear on a 3 day walk!

Hard to beat compared to say a tent/sleep mat and sleep bag.... end up needing a full pack.

S

This may well be a stupid question but hardly the first [or last] from me, how do hammocks go for sleeping on your side, is it a non issue or are they for 'back sleepers' only???

Back or side works well, belly sleepers might struggle.
the thing about asymmetrics is you don't sag like a beach hammock
I find side sleeping quite comfortable

I think the only two hesitations before trying would be claustrophobia or sleeping as a couple! Would need to be pretty athletic to couple up in a hammock!

Another very nice hammock feature is when camping / hiking lightweight you don't need to clear the ground and can string up bed over rocks/ water/ bull ants/ a taipan pit!
With snake skins they become the ultimate instant bed

s

Don't get me wrong, I'm liking the minimal nature of the tech hammock, but what's to stop you shifting in your sleep and waking up like a banana?

Originally Posted by roverrescue

That's the ones DiscoMick
You can string em between anything! A tree and the bull bar is good for a roadside stop.
If you get a Hennesy or other lightweight get a pair of snake skins for them, perhaps a little more bulky when packed but setup and pack down is stupidly quick

I would also look at an under quilt - even on Cape York in winter I run one - as you are exposed to the air - I went with this one Incubator 20 - Hammock Gear
bit exe but bloody awesome and at under 600gm it is way more compact than a sleeping bag. In the morning Im toasty and warm as opposed to using a sleeping bag where you have a cold back.

So with a lightweight hammock and above under quilt you have full sleep kit for 1.5kg. All fits easily in a 30L day pack plus jumper plus cooker - I end up carrying as much barra gear as camping gear on a 3 day walk!

Hard to beat compared to say a tent/sleep mat and sleep bag.... end up needing a full pack.

S

I'm actually seriously interested. I was looking at the Hennessy Ultralight. Thinking maybe a double bottom so a reflective sheet could be slid inside it for extra warmth. Maybe the larger flysheet for extra rain protection.
We already have excellent sleeping bags plus silk liners.
We're camping on Straddy this Christmas and I can see it slung between two trees, listening to the waves, maybe a beer in hand. Sounds great.


We do actually have a conventional hammock at home but its not asymmetrical and I don't like being curled up like a banana.
We have a camper trailer which the wife likes, but we also have stretchers and simple sleeping bags we have used under an awning in the desert.


In the Hennessy ads they have extra stuff for camping in the snow like insulation that straps around the underneath of the hammock, which we probably don't need here most of the year.
I see on the Hennessy site a video about how to turn the hammock into a camping chair just by unclipping one of the sides and folding it back double inside the hammock. Looks like a good idea. There is also another video about how to use the hammock as a ground tent if there are no trees handy, but it requires walking sticks or something similar at each end.


Am I right in thinking that sleeping asymmetrically (diagonally) means you don't have the issue of rolling around and waking up uncovered?
Why are the Snake Skins a good idea?
Do you think an underquilt is better than putting a pad inside a double bottom?
Did you buy yours locally or import from the US?
Appreciate your experienced advice.


These hammocks also look interesting and the costs are similar:


https://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/pr...gory/hammocks/

Don't get me wrong, I'm liking the minimal nature of the tech hammock, but what's to stop you shifting in your sleep and waking up like a banana?
MrLandy - Its magic like JLR selling hairdressers the auru of adventure with a badge...

But seriously I think they are just something you either try and love or try and hate or don't bother trying?

DiscoMick to answer your questions.
Snake Skins make setup/ packup stoopidly quick and easy. tie one end, tie other end, slide back skins tie out tarp sides go to sleep. Honestly it takes longer to get a tent out of a bag than to set them up with skins.
Underquilt because you are lying on stretched fabric, and suspended above the ground as the temp drops all your body heat goes south - literally. I tried using a mat under the hammock but it was annoying and hard to position YMMV. I then used the above linked underquilt and it was magically warm and cosy, because of the design you end up cocooned with down. Its a nice vibe. And as I said way lighter and more compact than a standard bag. I mostly hammock it in winter time on barra trips and use the quilt even though 2am temps are likely not below 10 Celsius.
Rolling Around As above you get pretty cosy cocooned and don't seem to roll around.

I imported all my stuff - but where I live there are no local suppliers - I have to pay for freight no matter what - Pretty much universally overseas suppliers can freight direct to me than freight from say Sydney or Brisbane. Not sure how it works but it does.
Also I did some searching but didn't find any good aussie hammock product manufacturers I would happily support local manufacturing.

Geez Im sounding like a fanboi arnt I

s