Warbonnet Ridgerunner Hammock Evaluate: A Bridge to the Greatest On-Path Sleep I’ve Ever Had

My again isn’t “constructed totally different,” it’s constructed all wonky. The Warbonnet Ridgerunner and I’ve that in widespread. Therefore, why I’m a hammock man: It took time to discover ways to obtain the proper dangle, besides, I’ve but to discover a sleeping pad that does in addition to a correctly hung hammock at permitting my again and me to really feel like we’re, in actual fact, nonetheless beneath 30.

Nonetheless, even with a choice for consolation and no points with carrying further weight, I nonetheless thought-about bridge hammocks — these with spreader bars for a flatter lay — the purview of backyards, automobile camps, and seashores. I believed the outdated chorus: They’re a contact extra comfy, however unfit sufficient on the path.

Till that’s, I slept in Warbonnet’s up to date Ridgerunner Hammock. After testing it alongside a number of hammocks not too long ago, I can comfortably proclaim: The outdated chorus is lifeless; lengthy reside the bridge. Whether or not lengthy path or quick, I’m Working with the Ridge. Sure, bars carry bonus ounces, however royal sleep is price it.

Briefly: With reasonable weight, built-in storage, a much less synthetic-feeling cloth than most of its friends, double-layer choices that permit for extra flexibility in insulation technique, and essentially the most comfy lay I’ve had between two timber — Warbonnet’s Ridgerunner compromises on little. It’s largest handicap? A low-capacity cap that most likely isn’t what you assume.

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Warbonnet Ridgerunner Hammock Evaluate

The Battle O’er Bridges

We’re in a bizarre meta time for mountain climbing and backpacking. On one hand, something ultralight is as fashionable as ever. A few of the most heavy-duty pack producers are even delving into UL territory. Working vest-style suspensions are slowly taking on the backpacking panorama.

Alternatively, in 2024, for a lot of, it may be fairly laborious to justify the excessive price of low-weight gear. It’s more and more widespread to listen to reviewers shruggingly admit that a variety of ultralight gear isn’t that comfy, and advise worrying much less about your base weight.

But, relating to hammocks, the sensation continues to be so typically, “You’ll be able to go backpacking with a gathered-end hammock, however bridge hammocks aren’t well worth the path weight.” There are various issues with that pondering.

Additional weight is further weight, and there’s no denying that the 12 ounces of the Ridgerunner’s spreader bars is a noticeable little bit of heft. Nevertheless it’s not further.

To attain a flat lay, gather-end hammocks require lengthy, large cuts of material. Even hammocks like Hennessy’s, which famously use an uneven construct for a flatter lay with much less cloth, nonetheless routinely use cuts of material which might be round 10 toes lengthy and 5 toes large. In the meantime, even beneath pressure, the Ridgerunner’s cloth is available in at beneath 7 toes lengthy, and properly beneath 3 toes large at its widest part.

In a single-layered configuration, the material financial savings alone aren’t sufficient to offset the bars’ weight. Nonetheless, pit the double-layered model of the Ridgerunner towards different four-season, double-layered hammocks, and it shortly finds itself in the identical weight class. The size of the underquilt, too, save between an ounce and three on cloth and filling.

Put in perspective: Combining a double-layered Ridgerunner with a full 20-degree underquilt and the heaviest model of Warbonnet’s heaviest Cloudfly tarp would depart me with a shelter I’d really feel loads assured utilizing in most locations for all 4 seasons — for beneath 4.5 lbs.

In every week, I’ll be hitting the path with a NEMO Dragonfly and a Tensor pad — a combo nobody would name heavy. A lot like to NEMO. They’ll save me an entire 0.7 kilos. However I’m positive I’ll miss the deeper sleep and heavier pockets that I had on the ridge between two timber.

Suspension Alternatives

The Ridgerunner, like all Warbonnet hammocks, presents three suspension options. Those I examined, on the simplest and heaviest finish of the spectrum, had been the combo of buckles and 12-foot webbing straps.

Warbonnet’s buckle-and-cinch system is among the many greatest. In any respect of 8.45 ounces, it’s light-weight. The webbing and buckles not often get twisted. Even in case you overtighten the straps (which will be simpler to do with a bridge hammock), the buckles have a loop you possibly can pull to simply disengage them. (And sure, gram-counters, you possibly can drop the included carabiners to avoid wasting 1.75 ounces and add 30-60 seconds to your setup time.)

For many who need a longer, lighter (per foot), and bushcraftier setup, Warbonnet additionally presents straps that may dangle the hammock with a Becket hitch, sans {hardware}.

On the ultralight finish of the spectrum are Warbonnet’s 6-foot UHMWPE whoopie slings — weighing in, even with a fish hook for attaching them, at beneath 2.5 ounces. Whereas I didn’t use Warbonnet’s particularly, I did use the Ridgerunner with one of many half-dozen whoopies I had round. Nearly universally, they provide the least span, midde-of-the-pack adjustment ease, the bottom weight, and a built-in drip line for diverting rain.

Easy Setup

The Ridgerunner was a reminder of how simple setup will be. There is no such thing as a ridgeline to work round. As a substitute, there’s a threshold. Tighten the straps sufficient, and the spreader bars present all the strain you want for a flat lay. In follow, this meant that whereas I sometimes dangle straps for gather-end hammocks at round 30 levels, with the Ridgerunner, my straps had round a 20-degree dangle.

This made just a few variations. With gathered-end hammocks, there may be at all times some fine-tuning: Dangle it. Sit in it. Issues stretch. Regulate the suspension peak and pressure. Sit in it once more. Regulate it once more.

Being a bridge, the Ridgerunner stretches and sags much less with weight in it. I might place it decrease after I wanted to stack hammocks. After I wanted to span far timber, I didn’t should set my suspension at a peak that made me surprise if this is able to be doable for the vertically challenged.

I discovered that the financial savings in fine-tuning time outweighed the 20-30 seconds it took me to arrange the spreader bars. Warbonnet additionally presents a kit to transform some trekking poles into spreader bars — all however negating the load tax of a bridge hammock, on the expense of some further minutes of setup. (Though, it’s price noting that that is an merchandise much less typically in inventory.)

Notably, older variations of the Ridgerunner had {hardware} for the spreader bars to fit into. Now they slot right into a loop on the suspension. And as soon as, on the finish of a weary day, I simply slotted the bars into the loop slightly below, on the hammock itself, as a substitute of the suspension, by chance. One thing that, carried out just a few extra occasions, might harm the stitching.

For these coming from gathered-end hammocks, there are just a few different peculiarities: Extra pressure and fewer sag imply that it’s far more noticeable in case you dangle the pinnacle finish decrease than the foot. Likewise, the proper chair peak is a bit decrease to the bottom.

The temptation to tighten the suspension extra could make changes harder with a whoopie sling. Additionally, on a windy day, leaving the spreader bars in and the hammock unoccupied, is a recipe for coming again to a hammock extra twisted than my humorousness.

Even so, I routinely discovered the Ridgerunner to be among the many quickest to dial in hammocks I’ve used. This was all of the extra true as soon as I factored within the underquilt. Smaller than a gathered-end quilt, it was faster to stow.

For setup, I solely wanted to clip into every nook of the hammock. No want to regulate a bunch of straps or fiddle with its sag to get it excellent.

Premium Leisure — Conservative Cap

I’ve over half a dozen hammocks I shall be promoting a number of to get one other Ridgerunner. It’s that rattling comfy.

My solely unhealthy night time’s sleep was a weary night the place I did every little thing incorrect: I hung the pinnacle finish too low, didn’t pressure the suspension sufficient, and put the poles into the incorrect gap. The morning noticed my again and me at it once more, feeling older than my age.

Each different given night time, nevertheless, the Ridgerunner was not solely essentially the most comfy hammock I’ve ever slept on, but it surely was additionally the primary the place I might sleep your entire night time on my aspect. After all, amid all of the consolation, there have been two elephants within the room.

Bridge hammocks really feel extra susceptible to tipping than gathered-end hammocks. The identical is true for Ridgerunner. Even so, with the suspension taut and no gear in its saddlebags to counterbalance me, I might nonetheless lean out of the hammock and safely choose stuff up on the bottom. Even grooving alongside to my tunes, I used to be miles from tipping.

Max Occupancy Restrict

The opposite consolation cap is extra notable. Warbonnet’s beneficial most occupancy weight for the double-layered model I examined is 250 kilos. Nonetheless, it is a consolation cap, not a security restrict. Talking as somebody who grabbed some further weight simply to check the Ridgerunner out with 275 kilos in it, no a part of this development is failing round that weight.

The limiting issue right here is the shoulders. Given the strain spreading the hammock aside, there may be reinforcement alongside the edges of the hammock. These large and heavy sufficient may have the material wrapping round their shoulders with the strain of a touch-too-narrow jacket.

I’m solely 200 kilos. Nonetheless, with shoulders round 19 inches large and a 44-inch chest, I’ve simply sufficient muscle piled awkwardly onto an in any other case skinny body to approximate a comparatively broad torso. Whereas the Ridgerunner was by no means uncomfortable, if my shoulders had been an inch or two wider, I had been a bit heavier, and I slept flat on my again, it may not be my go-to.

Fingers crossed that Warbonnet ultimately decides to supply an XL model of the Ridgerunner. Till then, whereas weight is an honest indicator, I might say that in case you’re tall, and anybody has ever in contrast your shoulders to barn doorways, buy with warning.

Storage Galore

I’m greater than a little bit of a storage hound. I like compartmentalization. I spend hours optimizing my packing — to avoid wasting all of some seconds. So, the Ridgerunner was proper up my alley.

Between two large aspect saddlebags and a large overhead pocket, I’d estimate that the Ridgerunmer presents 24-30 L of built-in storage capability. For somebody who usually obsessed over having all of my gear hung up and off the bottom, merely with the ability to attain right into a pocket and get no matter I wanted with out ever having to get out of my hammock in the midst of the night time, was a godsend.

Then I began tinkering. I usually toss a small shock wire cargo web on the entrance of any pack with loops or daisy chains. I discovered that suspending that web or my pack’s rainfly throughout the unfold ends of the cut up suspension gave me one more pocket to carry gear.

As somebody who typically makes use of pods, dry baggage, or cubes to compartmentalize gear, I beloved with the ability to clip numerous baggage onto the discovered corners of the hammock and preserve each piece of substances compartmentalized, dry, and shut by.

Mentioned storage does include some limitations. The varied pockets are handy. They’re not shut sufficient to maintain your water or filter from getting frozen in chilly sufficient climate.

Likewise, with no ridgeline — except you add ridgeline — there isn’t a overhead storage. So, in case you like to hold your headlamp overhead for a light-weight, or watch a film hands-free in your cellphone at camp, you’ll should get a bit inventive.

Warbonnet Weatherizing

The double-layered Ridgerunner is a positive four-season platform, with some exceptions. With a bit work, most underquilts can work with most gathered-end hammocks. Save for asymmetrical hammocks, there’s widespread compatibility.

With a bridge hammock just like the Riderunner, that’s tougher to do. For essentially the most half, the choices are its native Lynx underquilt or bust.

The Lynx is incredible. Having to cowl much less cloth, the 20-degree model I examined simply compressed right down to about 5-6 L. It boasts the best setup of any underquilt I’ve ever used. It is available in 40-, 20-, and 0-degree (Fahrenheit) choices.

With the full-length model beginning at $230 and the torso-length variations beginning at $200, it’s additionally par for the course price-wise, for cottage gear. Nonetheless, this does imply that there aren’t any good finances options or non-down-under quilts for these with allergic reactions.

Sleeping Pad Compatability and Bug Netting

Thankfully, the double-layered model of the Ridgerunner presents a slot to slip a sleeping pad into. Each double-layered hammock presents this, and with a bridge, it’s really comfy. Pairing a NEMO Switchback with a 20-degree Lynx, I used to be loads heat in single digits — albeit a bit irritated with how a lot the slim pad shifted round. With a wider pad, like my 25-inch Near Zero Feather, I wouldn’t hesitate to hold properly into the negatives, even with a 20-degree quilt.

In bug season, chances are you’ll discover some annoyances. The Ridgerunner’s bug web is well-engineered, with inner grommets for a gear/sag-prevention line. On the surface of both finish is an elastic that you could clip to the place the cut up suspension traces converge.

This lofts the web off your face, but it surely’s nonetheless considerably claustrophobic. Likewise, tensioning the shock cords sufficient to get the web excessive above, makes working the zipper tough. Thankfully, in case you’re prepared to throw a ridgeline into your setup, you’ll have loads of area and a better time getting out and in, by merely clipping the web onto the road.

Being shorter than most hammocks makes it simple to suit the Ridgerunner and all of your gear beneath even the smallest tarp. The tradeoff: Pitch mentioned tarp at a steep angle, and the spreader bars will most likely hit the edges. Likewise, most tarps with doorways lower than 12 toes lengthy received’t be capable of cinch across the Ridgerunner’s cut up suspension traces with out them rubbing towards mentioned tarp.

Warbonnet Ridgerunner Hammock: Conclusion

As somebody who’s been a gathered-end man for years, there have been the little issues I needed to study.

I left the Ridgerunner setup within the wind whereas I gathered firewood, returning to discover a makeshift kite. Resolution: Drop a bottle in both saddlebag or pull the poles.

I went on a hike with my camp totally arrange and got here again to my quilt coated in frost. With a gathered-end hammock (that hadn’t been staked out) the frost wouldn’t been confined to the surface of the hammock. Laying within the open of a bridge hammock, every little thing noticed a light-weight kiss of ice. Resolution: pull the poles.

As heat because the underquilt was, it was solely beneath me on a bridge hammock, not wrapped round my sides. Resolution: tuck my high quilt a bit tighter round my shoulder, or go for a sleeping bag.

With my normal tarp, the doorways could be unfold by the cut up suspension. Resolution: Pull them out additional or arrange broadside to the wind.

There have been little methods to study. But, even with half a dozen different hammocks I’ve mendacity round, each I’ve vastly extra expertise with, none of them have seen the sunshine of day since I began utilizing the Ridgerunner.

This hammock prices greater than a Hennessy however is about the identical as most different cottage hammocks. It integrates an unlimited quantity of storage. And it units up sooner. By a rustic mile, it’s the most effective I’ve slept within the woods. Counting grams is lifeless. Lengthy reside sleeping like a king.