IR - Sky Bed Bug Free hammock - Brian Hartman

 Dear monitor,Below is my Initial Report for the Sky Bed Bug Free hammock.  Thanks in advance for your edits.
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/test/TESTS/IR%20-%20Sky%20Bed%20Bug%20Free%20hammock%20-%20Brian%20Hartman/
http://tinyurl.com/gmoqkf8
Best Regards,
Brian


INITIAL REPORT
    
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
 
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Manufacturer: Hammock Bliss
Year of Manufacture: 2016
Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE - "http://www.hammockbliss.com">>
MSRP: US $119.95
Listed Weight: 32 oz. (900 g)
Measured Weight: 33 oz. (935 g)
Unfolded Dimensions: 125 in (318 cm) x 53 in (135 cm)
Folded Dimensions: 11 in (28 cm) x 9 in (23 cm)
Weight Capacity: 350 lbs. (175 kg)
Color: Black
Warranty: 2 Years
The Sky Bed Bug Free hammock (hereafter called Sky Bed Bug Free or hammock) is a lightweight, single person, gathered end hammock that has built-in bug netting for mosquito-free camping.  It was designed by Hammock Bliss in Tucson, Arizona (AZ), a family run company that has been in business for over 25 years.  The company's product line includes almost a dozen hammocks and other accessories such as shelters, rain flies, sleep sacks, and tree straps.  The owner, Dov Frazer, prides himself on using the highest quality materials and offering excellent customer service.   The Sky Bed Bug Free is manufactured in Indonesia and features a two year warranty.
The Sky Bed Bug Free is made of ripstop nylon and features a patent pending asymmetric design that allows for a nearly flat sleeping surface when using an inflatable sleeping pad.  Of course the sleeping pad adds cushion and insulation as well.  A silver colored nylon sleeve, sewn into the inside of the hammock, holds the sleeping pad in place and prevents it from moving around.  The sleeve is made out of parachute nylon and is 20 in (50 cm) wide x 72 in (182 cm) long to accommodate a pad of similar size.
The bug netting is made of no-see-um mesh which has 2100 holes per square inch to keep out mosquitoes and other insects while still allowing air circulation.  The netting is permanently attached to the hammock on one side and has a full length zipper on the other.  The zipper makes entering and exiting the hammock very easy and it also allows for sitting in the hammock with the netting folded open.  The hammock features two interior mesh pockets for gear storage, measuring 6 in (15 cm) x 11 in (28 cm) each.  One of these pockets is located at the head end of the hammock while the other is located towards the foot end of the hammock.  Finally there are 6 interior loops that can be used for hanging all kinds of gear.
I received a set of 100 in (254 cm) long x 1.5 in (4 cm) wide polypropylene tree straps with the hammock.  These straps are normally ordered separately but since they came with the hammock and weigh so little at 5 oz. (143 g) per set, I plan to use them throughout testing and will comment on them as appropriate.  The straps have a 350 lbs. (175 kg) load capacity and are designed to extend the distance for hanging the hammock and protect the suspension ropes (and trees) from abrasion.
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INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
 
My initial impressions of the Sky Bed Bug Free were very positive.  It came in a small, lightweight stuff sack and when I first unpacked it, it felt sturdy and well made.  The body of the hammock is comprised of rip stop nylon which is reinforced with webbing along the structural seams for additional strength.  The stitching was even and appeared to be of high quality with no obvious imperfections or flaws.  The integrated bug netting looked like it could keep out the smallest of insects and it also appeared to be durable and tear resistant.  Having owned a hammock with drape-over netting that required me to crawl in and out from the bottom, I appreciate the full length zipper that is built into this hammock as it should allow for much easier entry and exit.
The Sky Bed Bug Free comes with its own suspension system, consisting of two 100 in (254 cm) lengths of 6mm (0.24 in) climbing rope, looped through the gathered ends of the hammock.   Although the rope's load rating is not specified, I suspect it is at least three times the 350 lbs. (175 kg) limit of the hammock.  The rope is doubled up as it extends out from the hammock approximately 40 in (102 cm) and then knotted at the end.
Hammock Bliss has devised a clever system to suspend the bug netting above the hammock.  Rather than running a single cord from tree to tree, their system consists of two 100 in (254 cm) lengths of cord which are located in small pockets 24 in (61 cm) in from either end of the hammock.  To secure the netting, simply take the loose end of each cord out of the pockets and tie it to a tree.  Of note is that the Sky Bed Bug Free does not have a structural ridgeline so I'll probably add one later on.
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READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
 
Small hang tags were included with both the hammock and tree straps when they arrived.  The tags provided useful information regarding the hammock and straps including product specs and set up instructions.
Regarding care and cleaning of the Sky Bed Bug Free, Hammock Bliss simply states that it is machine washable and dryable with a mild detergent.  Of course the hammock can also be hand washed using the same type of detergent.
Hammock Bliss guarantees all of their products for 2 years from the original sales date.  One other thing mentioned by Hammock Bliss in their literature is that UV rays can cause the hammock to fade and weaken over time, which is of course true for most items left in the sun.  They therefore recommend using Sun Shields (think Snake skins) to protect the fabric or simply take the hammock down and store it indoors when not in use.
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TRYING IT OUT
 
My first time setting up the Sky Bed Bug Free hammock was a breeze.  For my initial test I went straight to my backyard where I have two large trees that are the perfect distance apart for hammocking.  Tying the hammock to the trees was quite simple and took no more than a few minutes with the included tree straps.  It took an addition minute for me to adjust for the proper tension and then I was ready to climb in.   Getting into the Sky Bed was very easy and once in I had no problems positioning myself  diagonally to take advantage of the hammock's asymmetric design.  Once settled in I laid there for 10 minutes or so and watched the clouds roll by before getting out to take photos for this report.  The experience was wonderful and I'm very excited about taking this hammock on the trail for testing.
 
SUMMARY
 
The Sky Bed Bug Free appears to be a great  hammock and I look forward to getting it into the Field for some serious testing.  Among other things I look forward to trying it with an inflatable sleeping pad, seeing how well it protects against mosquitos and evaluating its long term durability.
This concludes my Initial Report.  Please come back in two months for my Field Report.  In the meantime I  would like to thank Hammock Bliss and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this hammock.
 
 
 
This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.
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