National Hammock Day was July 22nd and Grand Trunk provided me with a Parachute Nylon Double Hammock to field test. Assisting me was my daughter, who is my trusty sidekick and gear reviewer on all things fun. She was tasked with the testing comfort and swing-ability features.
The Grand Trunk Parachute Nylon Double Hammock is very lightweight at 20 oz. and it is immediately apparent that this will fit easily inside or outside of a backpack. After searching through one of our local parks in Long Beach, I found a perfect location between two trees roughly 10 feet apart. One thing I noticed is that in order to achieve a good balance and to level the hammock well, the trees (or any sturdy anchor point) need to be around 12 feet and no more.
The directions in the bag are very simple and to the point. Wrap the rope around an anchor point (in my case – a tree), tie a knot (or you can do this beforehand and tie a few knots evenly spaced along the rope), and clip in one hook (carabiner) to the desired location. Do the same on the other end and you are ready for some relaxing! It is much easier, and practical, to do one anchor point at a time and then go back and adjust if you need to. Set-up took a total time of less than two minutes and that includes taking time to read the instructions.
When I field test gear I am usually pretty hard on it and because I want to see what it’s capable of for all of you. One of the great things about the Double Hammock from Grand Trunk is that it has a 400# capacity. This allows me to rest in the hammock with my wife or with my daughter. I also sat in it with some force and then began swing a bit. My daughter and I might be just under 300#, but there was no give to the hammock. My four year-old daughter eagerly anticipates when she can help with a review and this one took the cake. She begged me to climb on in and once she did I asked what she thought. She just wanted to lay there and relax. Basically, she wanted it all to herself so I could swing her a bit.
After a brief swing, my daughter surprised me with a great little tip for all of you. The pouch that holds the hammock is attached to the center of the hammock to one side. I didn’t want to have my keys or any other sharp object poke the hammock, so I handed them off to her to hold. She walked around the hammock and immediately deposited them in the pouch! As you are resting, you can empty your pockets into the pouch and reduce the risk of poking through or making your snooze less than desirable. Great tip, Riley!
The comfort level and ease of use of the hammock erased any skepticism I had. This hammock is not only built for comfort, it is also very strong and made with quality materials; High-strength, mildew-resistant with triple-stitched seams and nautical-grade hanging carabiners. I was able to rest, get comfortable and enjoy a nice breeze while listening to the sounds of the park. I could have very easily fallen asleep and had a wonderful snooze.
My wife, who normally wouldn’t give a second thought to my gear reviews, couldn’t wait to try the hammock out. She lay down in it for a while and to be honest she didn’t want to get out either! Her exact words, ‘This is AWESOME!’ She was very impressed and surprised at the support and comfort. It receives a spouse Two Thumbs Up!
Taking the hammock down was incredibly easy. It packs quickly and efficiently back into the pouch with little effort. I thought it might be difficult (think about packing a tent up at the end of a camping trip), but I was wrong. I packed it up as quickly as I set it up and was thrilled. The product is very well made and you can tell a good deal of thought went into the design.
The Grand Trunk Double Hammock retails for $64.99 from their website and I believe that is more than reasonable. If you are planning on hiking into the backcountry, or just taking the family out for a picnic, leave the sleeping on the ground to the critters and enjoy the luxury of of resting in a Grand Trunk Parachute Nylon Double Hammock.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Parachute Nylon Double Hammock for free from Grand Trunk as coordinated by Deep Creek PR an Outdoor Industry Public Relations Company in consideration for review publication.
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