OR - Simply Light Designs Streamliner DL - Kurt Papke

My second shelter OR in response to the call.  The file is located here:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/test/OWNER%20REVIEWS/OR%20-%20SLD%20Streamliner/

or: http://tinyurl.com/lch4ywf

and the text is pasted below.
Simply Light Designs Streamliner DL Hammock
 Owner Review by Kurt Papke
January 23, 2015
 Tester Information  Name: Kurt Papke  Age: 61
  Gender: Male  Height: 6' 4" (193 cm)  Weight: 220 lb (100 kg)  Email
address: kwpapke at gmail dot com  City, State, Country: Tucson, Arizona USA
My backpacking venues have included a combination of Minnesota hikes where
I have lived most of my adult life, and Arizona trails, where I moved to
take a new job about five years ago.  I have always been a "comfort-weight"
backpacker, never counting grams, but still keeping my pack as light as
easily attained.  I have been a hammock camper for eight years, though I
still sleep on the ground when I must.
------------------------------
Product Information


  *Manufacturer*
 Simply Light Designs
  *Model*
 Streamliner DL
  *Year of manufacture*
 2014
  *MSRP*
 US $107.26 (as configured and accessorized)
  *Manufacturer website*
 http://www.simplylightdesigns.com/
  *Color*
 Digital Marpat Woodland Camo
Also available: Coyote Brown, Foliage Grey, Light Forest Green, Black,
Multicam, Firetruck Red, White
  *Weight*
 Listed: 14.5-15.5 oz (411-439 g), note that the weight will vary depending
on hammock length, fabric type, suspension and accessories selected
Measured weight:  16.4 oz (466 g) including all options (suspension,
ridgeline, organizer and stuff sack)
  *Weight rating*
 250 lbs (113 kg).  With quilts, clothing, etc. I probably approach the
weight rating, so this configuration is pretty optimal for me.
  *Dimensions*
 Listed: length = 11 ft (3.35 m), width = 50 in (127 cm)
Measured: length = 10.5 ft (3.20 m), width = 50 in (127 cm) at center
It was difficult to fully stretch out the hammock flat to measure the
length, as it was cut and sewn for a curved position.  I'm thinking the
difference between listed and measured length is within my measurement
error.
  *Material*s
 1.1 oz Ripstop nylon
Also available in 1.6 oz and 1.9 oz ripstop

Manufacturer's listed features include:

   - Double fabric layers for strength and to allow pad to be inserted
   between layers for warmth.
    - Catenary curve cuts to both the ends and sides for taut hang: lessens
   calf ridge and minimizes "walled in" effect.
   - Double rolled & sewn hem for durability.
    - Sewn channel at each end, wide enough to accommodate webbing
   suspensions - flexibility of suspension choice and replacement.
   - Pad openings between the layers for easy placement.
   - Many optional features.

This is my third hammock.  My first two units have integrated bugnets,
which I have found to be unnecessary in Arizona, so I wanted to eliminate
the extra weight.  As mentioned in my bio, I am a big guy and I was looking
to try out one of the longer hammocks that have arrived on the market since
my last acquisition.  I also wanted to try out some of the new suspension
ideas, such as a Whoopie Sling.

Simply Light Designs is an Idaho-based cottage industry player in the
backpacking gear world.  They have innovative designs, but allow an amazing
amount of customization in the ordered product.  My unit was ordered with
the following options:

   1. Streamliner DL model with catenary cut and double fabric layer.  I
   wanted the double-layered design as I occasionally use a sleeping pad
   beneath me for warmth, and a pad stays in place better in a double-layer
   hammock.
    2. 6 ft (183 cm) Whoopie Slings for easy adjustment of the suspension
   length.
    3. Adjustable ridgeline: allows tuning of the distance between the hang
   points, i.e. the amount of "sag" in the hammock.
    4. 1.1 oz fabric.
   5. 11 ft (3.35 m) length, this is a foot (0.3m) longer than my longest
   prior hammock.
   6. Black silnylon double-ended stuff sack.
   7. Mesh ridgeline organizer to hold a headlamp, book, watch, etc. within
   easy reach.

 Test Conditions *Some pictures of the Simply Light Streamliner DL on the
trail*






  For most of the last year I have used this hammock with a pair of
3-season Jacks-R-Better quilts: Mt Washington 3 underquilt, and a Sierra
Sniveler top quilt. I have also used it with a Thermarest pad combined with
a Multimat (see my review of the Multimat on BackpackGearTest.org).

This is a brief listing of backpacking trips and usage of the hammock:

*Date *
*Location *
*Trail *

*Under Insulation *
*Weather * *Altitude*
  January 11-12, 2014 Santa Catalina Mtns, near Tucson, Arizona

 Romero Canyon Quilt
 Sunny, 30-70 F
(-1-21 C)
 2600-5200 ft
(790-1580 m)   January 19-20, 2014

 Santa Catalina Mtns, near Tucson, Arizona Sutherland Trail Quilt
 Hazy, 40-65 F
(4-18 C)    2600-6600 ft
(790-2010 m)  February 7-9, 2014 Grand Canyon National Park Grandview Loop
 Pad
 Mix of sun and clouds, 25-60 F
(-4-16 C) 7300-3700 ft
(2220-1130 m)
  April 5-6, 2014
 Santa Catalina Mtns, near Tucson, Arizona Romero Canyon Quilt
 Sunny, 38-68 F
(3-20 C) 2600-4800 ft
(790-1460 m)  August 9-10, 2014

 Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona Samaniego Ridge Quilt
 55-75 F
(13-24 C)
Sunny, dry 7700-9100 ft
(2350-2770 m)  August 16-17, 2014
 Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona
 Romero Canyon Quilt
 65-95 F
(18-35 C)
Humid, overnight rainstorms 2600-4020 ft
(790-1225 m)
  October 16-19, 2014


 Gila Wilderness, near Glenwood New Mexico San Francisco Hot Spring and Box
Canyon Quilt
 Mixed rain showers and sun, 32-75 F
(0-24 C) 4600-7200 ft
(1400-2200 m)  November 13-14, 2014
 Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson Arizona
 Romero Canyon Quilt
 Sunny, 40-75 F
(4-24 C) 2800-4500 ft
(790-1370 m)
  December 7-9, 2014
 Saguaro National Park, Rincon Mountains, near Tucson Arizona
 Tanque Verde Ridge Quilt
 Hazy sun, 40-75 F
(4-24 C) 3120-7050 ft
(950-2150 m)
 January 24-25, 2015 Saguaro National Park, Rincon Mountains, near Tucson,
Arizona Italian Spring
 Quilt
 32-65 F
(0-18 C)
Very windy 4000-8560 ft
(1219-2609 m)
Outcomes and Experiences on the Trail

I have come to really enjoy and appreciate the simplicity and comfort of
this hammock over the last year.  I like being able to get in and out
without unzipping a bugnet.  The hammock is compact and lightweight in my
pack.  Setup is a breeze: just string up the tree straps, attach the
suspension loops, done. Of course attaching and tweaking the quilt setup is
a whole other kettle of fish, but that is not an attribute of the hammock.
Under-insulation setup with pads is trivial: just slide them into the
opening, adjust to the desired position.

The salient features of this hammock are the catenary cut and the length.
I have really enjoyed the extra length and cut of this hammock - it really
does take away the typical calf pressure that is often felt in a hammock
shelter.  The catenary cut does create *very* rigid sides.  This has
several implications:

   1. There is some pressure on the underside of the legs getting in and
   out of the hammock.
   2. Sleeping on the diagonal is not easy.   A slight diagonal lay is
   possible, but not to the extent feasible in a hammock without the catenary
   design.
   3. Sitting perpendicular to the hammock length is not comfortable.  This
   is not an issue for me as I rarely sit in my hammock.
   4. The view is fabulous.  I can see almost directly out to the sides,
   and if I need more of a view a little tug with my hand and I can look
   straight out to the side.

Other features of the Streamliner DL that can be found on many brands of
hammocks include:

   1. Adjustable ridgeline.  This is basically a ridgeline on a Prussic
   knot.  This has worked out nicely - I tuned it to my desired tension the
   first few outings, and have not touched it since.
   2. Whoopie Sling suspension: these make tuning the suspension length to
   accommodate various distances between trees a breeze.  The distance can
   also be adjusted by varying the attachment point to the tree straps, but it
   is nice to have this option.
   3. Ridgeline organizer.  This is basically a small pouch that rides on
   the ridgeline.  I have not been a big fan of the design of this organizer:
   it doesn't like to stay in place, the two attachment points slide together,
   and it is a little too small for my Kindle.

The only issue I have had with the hammock was on my last trip to Romero
canyon.  I was taking the hammock out of the stuff sack, and inadvertently
pulled on the Whoopie Sling adjustment and pulled the entire loop into the
cable.  There originally were beads attached to the loop to prevent this
from happening, but somewhere along the way I managed to shatter the beads
on both loops.

I contacted Simply Light Designs and described the issue and offered to buy
a new set of Whoopie Slings, but they were kind enough to send me a new
pair without charge.  This was above and beyond what I could expect in this
situation, so hats off to their customer service.
  Summary

My bottom line is I am a happy camper.  I intend to continue to use the
Streamliner DL as my go-to sleeping system for all backpacking trips in the
future where hammock camping is feasible.
 Good Things

   - Highly configurable at time of purchase.
   - Reasonably priced.
    - Reliable, durable.
   - Light weight in comparison to my tent and my other two hammocks.
   - Attractive: this is my first piece of camo gear, and I like it.
   - Flexibility: I like the ability to use a pad underneath.  For instance
   on my Grand Canyon trip I only used the hammock one night and slept on the
   ground the second night.
   - Comfortable: I like the leg support from the long hammock length.
   - I like the great view from the hammock.

Areas for potential improvement

   - More durable beads on the Whoopie Slings.
   - Larger ridgeline organizer that stays in place.
    - Perhaps tune the amount of the catenary cut to allow a more diagonal
   lay.  I understand some customers have asked the manufacturer to catenary
   cut only one side to allow a sitting position.