Budget hammock camping...any advice?

[DougL3NC]

Before kids and marriage I travelled most of this country by dual-sport motorcycle and camped everywhere in about every condition known to man...fast-forward 17 years and I'm now a divorced single dad with 2 sons 14 and 16. They want to go on similar adventures, which really warms my heart, but my budget is NOT what it was in my single days that's for damn sure!

I've got us some decent hammocks, under quilts, rain flys, and sleeping bags...but I'm starting from scratch again and have 3 of us to plan for, not 1 like in my previous life. I do know we really won't be hiking things in very far (more than likely right out the back hatch), so high tech super light weight stuff isn't going to really be needed. I do have to fit everything in the back of a Ford Edge though.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[RR]

I'm a fan of Snugpak and Wise Owl brand gear.

The Snugpak cocoon is a great option for when the temps drop.

Snugpak | HAMMOCK COCOON

snugpakusa.com

I've done 17 degrees with the cocoon plus underquilt.

They also have their jungle blanket which is very much like an oversized woobie.

 

[chiefjason]

If you just need to boil water, meaning no real cooking, the canister stoves like the MSR pocket rocket are good.

I've switched to gravity water filters. I currently have one I built and a Sawyer. I have not put the Sawyer through it's paces yet though. Katadyn and Platypus have some good looking ones too.