Customer Reviews

Grand Trunk Ultralight Hammock

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

The material quality is about what you would expect for the price. There are no carabiners included and it instead comes with hooks. That being said it is more comfortable than far more expensive ones. Ditch the hooks, use carabiners. These hammocks do not pinch you inward making it very comfortable.

A tip to you campers, use just one line between points (utilize a prusik knot for tension) and let the hammock drape from that single rope. You can now use that same line for your rain fly or your mosquito netting. You save on weight and you don't have to cut your rope.

I uploaded video to a popular website (wink) of the hammock and how to use the single line method with a mosquito net! I tried posting the links but Amazon deleted them. Search under "Grand Trunk Ultra Light Hammock" and you should be able to find 3 of them.

If it came with carabiners I would have given 5 stars.

My original review when owning this for a couple of days (I gave it 5 stars) 8/2010: I love this! I didn't even realize it came with the ropes when I purchased it. They make this fully adjustable for various spaces. The instructions for using the ropes are very easy to understand, and I had this up in under a minute. Fabric is cool and breathable, and so easy to wrap up into the attached bag. This is just as good as another brand I had that was double this price! It comfortably supported my husband who is 175 lbs. Ordering another one today and I plan to give many as gifts.

***Update, 5/2011: I purchased 2 of these. After only owning one for 7 months, it split right down the middle, dropping me to the ground. No, I'm not fat, didn't have anything sharp in my pocket, and wasn't using it incorrectly. I contacted the manufacturer who wanted me to pay to ship it back to them so they could mail me a replacement. I didn't feel like paying $6.00+ to ship an item that was only $16 to begin with, so I just took it as a loss, and used my second one cautiously. Yesterday, the second one I own (which is now 10 months old) just did the exact same thing and split right down the middle as the first! This is VERY thin, and there's just no way that it can withstand multiple uses over a long period of time. Invest in one that is thicker. So disappointed because I LOVED it at first. Guess you get what you pay for. Be careful!!

***Update, 6/29/2011: After both of mine ripped, I contacted the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I felt like maybe there was an issue with the manufacturing and wanted to make sure no one else would get hurt. They sent my report to Grand Trunk, and I received a call from their office. The guy I spoke to was extremely friendly and apologetic. He ensured me that it wasn't a common issue, but that they have had other complaints over the years. Because the material is so thin, it doesn't take much to puncture it, thus causing it to possibly rip. I mean, it's less than $20, so I get that. He wanted to make it right, and sent me a replacement right away, but gave me the model that's thicker and more durable. Fantastic customer service. I'd go ahead and just purchase the thicker hammock made for 400 pounds. The company is great, and I'll certainly continue to purchase from them after they did what was necessary to make me a happy customer again.

This is a great product if you are curious about this style of hammock and are skeptical still because you don't know if you will like it. My buddy has a high quality kind of the same style that he takes on every backpacking trip he goes on, that way he does not need to pack a sleeping mat or tent (he also has a rain fly for his that he purchased separately). I never tried his out but liked the idea so much that I searched for one of the cheapest hammocks of this style and this is the one I found. I actually love it, but the ropes it came with are not too practical because they are quite short which limits the versatility of where to put it up, but you can get any other length of rope for pretty cheap almost anywhere that will make this much more versatile.

The first time I used it I set it up at a children's park in between the play structures while my brother had baseball practice. I just wanted to test it by laying in it and reading a book, but when I sat in it something popped and it fell slightly. It ended up being because of the way the construction of the hook is attached to the hammock. I am 6'2" and 145lbs (so I doubt it will hold 300lbs comfortably but I could be wrong). When this happened it didn't break, but it frayed the rope attached to the hammock a little bit. Since then I have yet to have a problem. It IS pretty comfortable and I actually carry it with me in my school backpack when attending college, that way I can kick back and relax or study outside whenever the weather permits it.

I would recommend this item, like I said, to anyone who is skeptical about this style and doesn't want to invest in an expensive one. I hope this was helpful to you, the other reviews were for me...

I absolutely love these hammocks. I bought one for my fiancé and one for myself and we put them up immediately to start lounging. We then brought them camping with us and everyone that went with us (11 other people) had to have their turn in the hammock. I even had a few friends swinging in them. They are strong, dry fast (it rained on them) and are very comfortable. My fiancé took a two hour nap in one and I took I fell asleep while listening to friends in the other. The fact that the stuff sack is attached is very helpful. We did not have any problem with the hammock and had people weighing at least 180-190 lbs sat in it and apparently others had problems with the ropes but we didn't . I highly recommend these.

i dont care what any of the other reviews said cause im 230 lbs and i took this fine little diddy with me on a four day hike/fishing/camping trip in the catskills and it held up to my fat ass and believe me im not a gentle guy i figure it was under 20 bucks if it breaks it breaks and to no avail it held up perfectly fine! it was more than fine this thing is so comfortable you can lay any which way once you get your balance down its great you can wrap yourself up like a cocoon and keep the bugs or breeze out or even if you gotta pick your nose and there are alot of people around. i love this hammock and would suggest it to anyone under the 250 lbs rating of course

This really is a terrific hammock and is a steal at the price they are going for. I've been using mine for months and below are some points based on my experience with it so far:

Quality: This hammock is extremely lightweight and not built as tough as some others out there. While very light, the material seems to be of good quality and has held up well so far. They've really given you a lot of material, as I can nearly wrap myself up in it, burrito-style, when lying in it. (Reviewer is 6'2" and 185 lbs. for reference) The edges are nicely finished and the ends are nicely and securely bound. When lying in it, there do seem to be points at which the fabric is more stressed than others, but I can't find any rips or tears in the fabric or at the stitching after much use. The hammock comes with a set of knotted cord to use for suspension between points. They could be a bit longer to suit me, but have performed just fine. Despite the relatively narrow gauge cord, they are high quality and have not abraded or stretched unusually. The hammock comes with 'S' hooks rather than carabiners, but they work well.

Lightweight: As I mentioned, this is one light hammock. It may not matter if you're using it in your back yard, but this baby is a real weight-saver if you are packing it in on your back. It packs to nearly nothing in terms of size, and in terms of size and weight it amounts to about the same as three pairs of hiking socks. It is hard to beat for a minimalist trip to the back country in fair weather. Should it get wet, or after you wash it, it dries super quick, providing a bit of sun...

Comfort: There really is nothing like the slumber you get gently swaying in a hammock. The only thing I can compare it to is the sleep one gets on a gently rocking boat. This particular hammock is very comfortable, with just the right amount of give and plenty of size to change positions and stretch out.

Durability: So far, so good. Though I've used it frequently, I've also used it very gently: No shoes, no keys in the back pocket, no dropping in it cannonball-style. Even gently lowering myself in, a couple of times I've heard stress 'pops' where the fabric gathers at the ends as it takes my weight, though I've not detected any damage. The S hooks have worn well, and I have been very impressed with the suspension cords that came with it. The cord hasn't stretched as far as I can tell, and despite the relatively small diameter, they have shown only minimal abrasion wear due to tree bark, posts, etc. With careful use, this baby has treated me right for a long time.

Value: This one is huge. A quality hammock, S hooks, stuff bag (attached to the hammock so it won't get lost), AND a set of knotted suspension cords all for a little more than a large pizza with two toppings?? Are you kidding me?! (OK, so there may be some regional differences on the price of the aforementioned pizza. Still!) I would have expected - and been happy with - well under the use I've already had out of this, and it's still going. Massive value here, especially when you consider that you could get two or three of these for the price of some other hammocks...

Other thoughts: I love this hammock, I would buy it again in a second, and I can totally recommend it. However... Keep in mind this is a lightweight - stop, read ULTRAlight - hammock. I've used it much, though gently, and it has worked great. Ultimately, I would not expect it to last as long as something a bit heavier. Now, this may or may not matter depending on your use, how much you weigh, how often you use it, etc. Personally, I would think twice about relying on this as my only source of accommodation for an extended trip in the back country - I'd want either a slightly heavier hammock or a back up in addition. Mind you, mine has yet to fail.

People have asked me about upgrading to carabiners. Frankly, I think they are superfluous for this purpose as the S hooks are perfectly good and secure, and it's the fabric that will give long before the S hooks. Still, if you've already got them, then go for it.

For the quality and price, this one just can't be beat. Get it, kick back, and relax. Heartily recommended at five stars.

Bargain hammock for day hiking. Decent fabric. Useable as is out of the box, but if you get into enjoying 'hammocking' you'll want to replace the ropes and S-hooks provided with good carabiners, longer ropes to allow you to tie up to larger trees/further apart, and tree straps.

This is a good cheap choice for casually tossing into your day pack for a midday break on a long day hike, a car camping weekend, or a backyard. Packs down to about softball size.

For serious hammock camping, you'll want a different model with sewn in mosquito netting, a rain fly, etc. Google 'hammock forum' for a nonprofit site with tons of great hammocking info.

I just want to say that I was going to get the ENO hammock and shell out $50 for the name. I am so glad I did not! This thing is great, packs down tiny, you could throw this in any day pack and boom you have a place to chill and relax. I just got back from San Juan and my wife and I used this on the beach in the palm trees. You cannot beat this price and the construction is top notch...buy this hammock!

We travel to south america frequently to source top grade cacaos. Last month went on a trek to columbian/venezuelan border in the jungles looking for porcelana as well as coastal mountains off the caribean for a week.

Bought two of these and a regular travel hammock for my brother, cousin and myself. At first my cousin 220lb was reluctant to get in as he thought it wouldn't hold him, we tied it low to the ground around 1 inch clearance in case it didn't hold he wouldn't get hurt. after he zipped himself in, he was out cold in about 5minutes and slept through the night no worries held up great for 5 days.

Was worried the nylon would be hot, it's not, very breathable to lay on and top net lets breeze come through.

I love these things, easy to use, has tie on rope, hooks, travel pouch, plus saves you from having to douse yourself with deet.

recommend netted for anyone camping where there might be mosquitos and the open top for anyone going to beach and want to lay around.

Also get some extra rope if you are tying to trees as the ones included are perfect for standard hammock notches but dont quite make it if you have to rig something to tree trunks.

I bought this hammock based on the value. I weigh only 180 lbs and used this hammock only twice. The second time i was suspended above rocks on top of blood mountain Ga, when it split horizontally right in half dropping me on to the rocks which to say the least did not feel good.. Just pony up and buy an ENO product put it right there in your search bar. You'll be glad you did.