Just Jeff's Outdoors Page

"Going to the woods is going home, for I suppose we came from the woods originally." ~John Muir

Hammock Sock

The Hammock Sock is meant to be a windblock for cold weather, and to catch all of the moisture on very foggy mornings so my underquilt doesn’t get wet. It’s made from 1.9oz (I think) DWR Ripstop Nylon from the $1/yd Walmart bin. It is fitted to the foot end and has a drawstring at the head end. When not in use, it can be stored in the foot-end Python Skin. To deploy, just sit in the hammock, pull the Sock out of the Skin, and slide it over you. It stuffs to the size of a softball.

Background

One day I set up my hammock in the backyard, intending to sleep in it that night. I dorked around the house for a while, then went out to climb in the hammock after dark. Since I like to look at the stars while I fall asleep and wasn't expecting any rain, I didn't put up my tarp...but I didn't think about the dew point! The sky was completely clear, a blanket of stars, and my hammock and quilts were soaking wet! I immediately started to think of ways I could sleep without my tarp and not worry about dew wetting my shelter...and more importantly, the rolling fog we often get here in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

Thinking of what covers would work best brought to mind Risk's TravelPod and how I could create one of my own. I didn't want to use zippers or velcro to save weight, bulk and complexity, so I decided on a sock-type of DWR cover that would slide over the hammock. With the seam along the bottom, the Hammock Sock would provide a bit of protection against water...dew, fog, very light unexpected drizzle, etc. It also provides a good windblock and keeps my feet warmer. (I had gotten cold feet before while hammocking...I think it was caused by the wind blowing over the quilt on my feet more than over other parts of my body. The Sock helped this a bit.) You could also put WindBumpers along the sides to create even more insulation.

Hammock Sock Version 1

Hammock Sock Version 2

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