Gear Help

[u/Guilty-Equipment7409]

Very new to this hammock thing. Need the ultimate hammock setup for camping on a Michigan lake cove in July. No mosquitos allowed and need to be covered in case of rain. Not sure if there will be trees. Also a side sleeper if it helps. Main thing is I just want to be comfortable sleep at night and be able to transition into lazy during the day.

Any help would be much appreciated. Even Ai is all over the place. Some recommend a warbonnet and another suggested a haven?

[u/everybody_else]

Honestly, it can be worth it to get cheap gear on Amazon for your first setup, particularly for summer camping. Because you are summer camping, insulation is less important, so shell out the most money for your hammock rather than your quilts. Get your hammock from a cottage vendor like Dream Hammock, Dutchware, Haven, Warbonnet, Hammock Gear, etc. I recommend a hammock with an integrated bugnet, but some people prefer separate bugnets. If you go for a separate bugnet, just get a cheap one on Amazon for now.

Then get a cheap square underquilt with cinch cords and a basic tarp from amazon, brands like Wise Owl or One Wind. For your topquilt, you can use any old sleeping bag. If you're drive-up camping, just bring some blankets.

For your suspension, regular Eno loop chain type straps are perfectly sufficient as long as weight isn't an issue. If you want to learn some knots, you can use regular nylon webbing. Get whatever hammock stand tickles your fancy, they all have pluses and minuses. If you plan on exclusively using the stand, you don't need straps.

Have fun, and welcome to the great outdoors.