Help me figure out camping... in Africa?
January 21, 2015 11:52 AM Subscribe
Can you help me figure out whether a tent + mattress or a camping hammock would be best for camping out in Togo for 3 weeks?
I'm going to Togo for 3 weeks in February - it's a service/volunteer trip, and I'm super excited! I'll be camping for the entire 3 weeks on a patch of land that is being developed as an ecovillage, but most of the infrastructure is not yet in place. I'll also be going on some overnight hiking/camping excursions, so whatever I bring will need to be relatively easy for me to put up and take down by myself. It will probably be in the low 90s in the daytime and mid-70s at night, with a chance of thunderstorms.
My main concerns are sleeping relatively comfortably and having some privacy. I'm a woman, early 40s, and a side sleeper. Given these parameters, should I buy a camping hammock (+ extra-large rainfly for privacy?), and if so, which one? Some hammocks claim to be fine for side sleepers, but other reviewers disagree. I like the idea of the hammock because it's lightweight - but only if it really will be comfortable! I've looked at Hennessy, ENO, Warbonnet, Lawson, and Trek Light hammocks, and it's really hard to tell what's marketing and what's truth.
Or should I bring my tent, get a good self-inflating mattress, and hope my hips can take it and I can sleep? If you think a tent is the way to go and you have a comfortable (but light!) camping mattress to recommend, I'm all ears. I've also considered getting a cot, but not sure it would be worth the two pounds in my pack...
Budget is $250 or so. Thanks!
I'm going to Togo for 3 weeks in February - it's a service/volunteer trip, and I'm super excited! I'll be camping for the entire 3 weeks on a patch of land that is being developed as an ecovillage, but most of the infrastructure is not yet in place. I'll also be going on some overnight hiking/camping excursions, so whatever I bring will need to be relatively easy for me to put up and take down by myself. It will probably be in the low 90s in the daytime and mid-70s at night, with a chance of thunderstorms.
My main concerns are sleeping relatively comfortably and having some privacy. I'm a woman, early 40s, and a side sleeper. Given these parameters, should I buy a camping hammock (+ extra-large rainfly for privacy?), and if so, which one? Some hammocks claim to be fine for side sleepers, but other reviewers disagree. I like the idea of the hammock because it's lightweight - but only if it really will be comfortable! I've looked at Hennessy, ENO, Warbonnet, Lawson, and Trek Light hammocks, and it's really hard to tell what's marketing and what's truth.
Or should I bring my tent, get a good self-inflating mattress, and hope my hips can take it and I can sleep? If you think a tent is the way to go and you have a comfortable (but light!) camping mattress to recommend, I'm all ears. I've also considered getting a cot, but not sure it would be worth the two pounds in my pack...
Budget is $250 or so. Thanks!
Personally, based on past experience, I would do a hammock with mosquito netting and a rainfly. Trust me, you want to stay OFF the ground.
But since I've never been to Togo, I would contact the people on the ground at the ecovillage, they will have the best information.
posted by Maude_the_destroyer at 12:43 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
But since I've never been to Togo, I would contact the people on the ground at the ecovillage, they will have the best information.
posted by Maude_the_destroyer at 12:43 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The trick to side-sleeping in a hammock is to lie diagonally (i.e not totally in-line with the suspension points). I don't know Togo's climate but in the Amazon a hammock was much the more comfortable option. Mosquito nets are easy to fit and use; I've never used a rainfly.
posted by anadem at 12:49 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by anadem at 12:49 PM on January 21, 2015
Best answer: Hammocks require two trees (or posts, etc) that are both strong enough and the right distance apart. Are you sure the site is suited for that?
posted by Dip Flash at 1:19 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Dip Flash at 1:19 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You also need to consider how isolated you will be. If you are visiting a remote but populated area (especially as someone who may not look local), you will be the subject of a lot of attention, especially from inquisitive kids. Sleeping in a tent may be preferable to sleeping relatively exposed in a hammock because it will give you a little bit of privacy.
posted by ChuraChura at 5:17 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ChuraChura at 5:17 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Sleeping in a tent will, I agree, give you some privacy and shield you from the weather and from lots of critters. Trees or posts to hang up your hammock may not be present. But do make sure that your tent has plenty of (netted!) ventilating panels, opposite each other. Because I've been to Togo, and the nights may be hot.
A good light camping mattress: check out Thermarest, 2 inches thick, women's models (they offer more support in the hip area). Doesn't need to be full length.
I've never tried hammocks. I have slept in African countries under just a mosquito net (strung up from a single point), on a tarp with the net tucked in underneath. That works and allows the breeze to cool you off, but again, no privacy (I was not alone so that was not as big of a problem).
Get up and roll up your mosquito net as soon as the sun comes, if it's impregnated (which I recommend). The sun breaks down the poison.
Tip: bring a silk sleeping bag. It's light enough not to make you too hot, but gives you the feeling of being covered, and it's really quick and easy to wash and dry. Light-weight, too. If it's big (for two persons) you can probably dress and undress inside it.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:57 AM on January 22, 2015
A good light camping mattress: check out Thermarest, 2 inches thick, women's models (they offer more support in the hip area). Doesn't need to be full length.
I've never tried hammocks. I have slept in African countries under just a mosquito net (strung up from a single point), on a tarp with the net tucked in underneath. That works and allows the breeze to cool you off, but again, no privacy (I was not alone so that was not as big of a problem).
Get up and roll up your mosquito net as soon as the sun comes, if it's impregnated (which I recommend). The sun breaks down the poison.
Tip: bring a silk sleeping bag. It's light enough not to make you too hot, but gives you the feeling of being covered, and it's really quick and easy to wash and dry. Light-weight, too. If it's big (for two persons) you can probably dress and undress inside it.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:57 AM on January 22, 2015
Best answer: Wow! volunteering in Togo sounds exciting! Is that a WOOF place? I'd love to go to Africa someday. Effectually I will get there.
I'm a traveler and my house is a Hennessy hammock (standard, asymmetric, bottom entry). I'm a side sleeper as well and it's very comfortable for me. Sometimes I even roll and sleep belly down for part of the night (which most people say you can't do on a hammock). It has extra fabric so that it's even easier and more comfortable to lay diagonally and two strings on that extra fabric to keep it off your face and make it a bit wider. Right now I have the option of sleeping on a bed and I'm not taking it.
Re: mosquitos. There's lots of mosquitos here too. The HH has a mosquito net and with the bottom entry model there is no way a mosquito is going in there in the second and a half it takes you to get in. They can still bite you from underneath, through the fabric, but I solved that by putting a bedsheet under my body. That's thick enough that the mosquitos can't bite you and thin enough to be cool in 70-80 degrees nights (and almost 100 during the afternoon when I take a nap). The silk sleeping bag Too-Ticky suggested would do the same thing.
Re: rain and privacy. It comes with a rainfly. The rainfly is waterproof, I've slept though heavy downpours without a single drop falling on me (and without having to dig a canal around the hammock). If you tie the two corners to stakes on the ground you will be covered from view.
Re: right distance between trees. I don't use the included straps. I changed that for two climbing rated carabiners and eno straps (not the first model, the newer one with orange stripes, it's reinforced). The eno straps have several hoops to put the carabiners through, and they're very long, so you can even use trees that are quite far apart.
Re: put up and take down time. I also bought snakeskins for my hammock. One pair takes in the hammock and the easily. I just roll the sides of the rainfly onto the hammock very loosely and pull the snakeskins over it (you'll figure out the best way after the first three or for times). With that, the carabiners (to which the hammock is always tied) and the straps it takes me less than three minutes to put it up or take it down. The first time in a new place takes a bit more while you figure out which hoop on the straps to use for that distance.
All of that costed about $200 and is lighter than any tent I've ever owned. With these temperatures the breeze blowing below the hammock is a blessing. You can't get that with a tent.
I tried to present you with my experience in the most objective way I could, but I freaking love my hammock! And no, I'm not related not involved with Hennessy Hammocks nor any other manufacturer in any way other than as a very satisfied customer. From what I've researched before buying my HH I would recommend them over other brands (duh, I bought and HH and not something else). For me it was the best price value relationship (and quite inexpensive). The warbonnet can be as good but it's quite more expensive.
All the best for you in this trip!
posted by Promethea at 3:48 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm a traveler and my house is a Hennessy hammock (standard, asymmetric, bottom entry). I'm a side sleeper as well and it's very comfortable for me. Sometimes I even roll and sleep belly down for part of the night (which most people say you can't do on a hammock). It has extra fabric so that it's even easier and more comfortable to lay diagonally and two strings on that extra fabric to keep it off your face and make it a bit wider. Right now I have the option of sleeping on a bed and I'm not taking it.
Re: mosquitos. There's lots of mosquitos here too. The HH has a mosquito net and with the bottom entry model there is no way a mosquito is going in there in the second and a half it takes you to get in. They can still bite you from underneath, through the fabric, but I solved that by putting a bedsheet under my body. That's thick enough that the mosquitos can't bite you and thin enough to be cool in 70-80 degrees nights (and almost 100 during the afternoon when I take a nap). The silk sleeping bag Too-Ticky suggested would do the same thing.
Re: rain and privacy. It comes with a rainfly. The rainfly is waterproof, I've slept though heavy downpours without a single drop falling on me (and without having to dig a canal around the hammock). If you tie the two corners to stakes on the ground you will be covered from view.
Re: right distance between trees. I don't use the included straps. I changed that for two climbing rated carabiners and eno straps (not the first model, the newer one with orange stripes, it's reinforced). The eno straps have several hoops to put the carabiners through, and they're very long, so you can even use trees that are quite far apart.
Re: put up and take down time. I also bought snakeskins for my hammock. One pair takes in the hammock and the easily. I just roll the sides of the rainfly onto the hammock very loosely and pull the snakeskins over it (you'll figure out the best way after the first three or for times). With that, the carabiners (to which the hammock is always tied) and the straps it takes me less than three minutes to put it up or take it down. The first time in a new place takes a bit more while you figure out which hoop on the straps to use for that distance.
All of that costed about $200 and is lighter than any tent I've ever owned. With these temperatures the breeze blowing below the hammock is a blessing. You can't get that with a tent.
I tried to present you with my experience in the most objective way I could, but I freaking love my hammock! And no, I'm not related not involved with Hennessy Hammocks nor any other manufacturer in any way other than as a very satisfied customer. From what I've researched before buying my HH I would recommend them over other brands (duh, I bought and HH and not something else). For me it was the best price value relationship (and quite inexpensive). The warbonnet can be as good but it's quite more expensive.
All the best for you in this trip!
posted by Promethea at 3:48 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Hennesey hammocks are great for side sleeping and I love them for lots of reasons, but I find them stifling in humid, tropical heat like Togo, especially if you have the rain fly on. I would get a superlite tent that's mostly netting to maximize ventilation, and a good air mattress from REI. You can probably snag a blanket or something in the market to put underneath as a pad if you need it. If you set up your rain fly as a shade cloth (up above the ten instead of strapped on it), it will keep you cooler. I doubt you will see much actual rain when you're there.
Have fun! I think I know the project you're talking about -- they're a great crew :)
posted by ananci at 2:16 PM on January 23, 2015
Have fun! I think I know the project you're talking about -- they're a great crew :)
posted by ananci at 2:16 PM on January 23, 2015
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posted by boots at 12:10 PM on January 21, 2015