Backside Line
The Dream Darien is the lightest hammock for individuals who nonetheless need top-notch consolation and are prepared to sacrifice a number of options for that objective. The standard is great throughout, and the inclusion of side-pulls makes an enormous enchancment for livability.
The shortage of pockets or storage of any sort is a slight draw back, however the Dream provides many equipment that add storage in considerate methods. This permits for personalisation of the kind of storage that’s extra necessary to particular person customers.
We predict it’s priced nicely for a premium mannequin, touchdown about common in comparison with different tenting hammocks, and we predict this makes it a worthy funding that can final for a few years with correct care.
We discovered the Darien to be tremendous comfy when testing it out within the woods, reaching for it most after we simply wished to chill out. We discovered that mendacity diagonally was straightforward because of the beneficiant dimensions and high quality nylon.
Throughout the night time, the shortage of pockets was most noticeable, and we resorted to hanging headlamps from the ridgeline and conserving telephones in pants pockets.
Apart from that, the supreme consolation carried by means of to morning, and it was among the many finest night time’s sleep we acquired throughout testing. Whereas it’s not the lightest mannequin for extremely weight-conscious backpackers, it’s the mannequin we’d suggest if consolation is barely extra necessary than ounces.
Fast Specs
Dream Hammocks Darien
Most Snug Light-weight Hammock
CleverHiker Score:
4.7/5.0
Value:
$137
Measured Weight:
1 lb. 1 oz.(hammock, stuff sack, connected guylines)
Weight Restrict:
225 lb.
Dimensions:
11 ft x 5.3 ft
Professionals
- Snug
- Light-weight
- High quality supplies
Cons
- No inside pockets
- Lengthy zipper pulls
Consolation
If consolation is extra of a precedence than weight, the Darien is the lightest hammock that also manages to wow us with its consolation. The Darien has a beneficiant 11 toes of size and 5.3 toes of width whereas utilizing a smooth and premium nylon that has simply the correct amount of give. Throughout testing this was the hammock we stored coming again to for lounging after we wished one thing supremely easy; there’s not lots of options and it’s straightforward to make use of. Two of our testers – at 5’11” and 5’5” – rated this probably the most comfy out of all of the tenting hammocks we examined.
The ridgeline is about proper at that candy spot of 83% the size of the hammock, so discovering a diagonal mendacity place was straightforward. The inclusion of side-pulls meant that the bug netting stayed out of our face. That is an asymmetrical hammock, so the bug web is sewn to a proper aspect mendacity place (toes to the precise, head to the left), however we don’t suppose directionality is that necessary.
Options
Balancing options with weight financial savings is all about tradeoffs, and it’s right here the Darien exhibits its precedence for light-weight consolation versus having all of the bells and whistles.
Most significantly, it has side-pull attachment factors and consists of some shock wire to extend livability. That is our favourite hammock characteristic to see for the reason that bug netting can get in the best way throughout sleeping with out it. Nevertheless, the shock wire has no adjustability, and the attachment factors are actually underquilt hooks, which is perhaps cramped in the event that they’re sharing area with the quilt attachment.
Total that is our least favourite implementation of side-pulls, however we’re glad it wasn’t a characteristic that was ignored. These aforementioned underquilt hooks are good to see, however that’s the extent of the Darien’s options.
It’s value noting that Dream doesn’t intend this to be their most totally featured hammock; they’ve their Sparrow mannequin for that. The Darien is supposed to be a stripped-back mannequin centered on consolation and weight, and to that finish the shortage of options is smart.
They do provide some very nice equipment akin to a ridgeline organizer, peak shelf, and a ridgeline sling, however these price extra and add weight. One nitpick is that the zipper pulls are longer than vital, which implies they get tangled in one another a bit extra usually than different hammock fashions, and the additional size isn’t all that useful.
Weight
The Darien is the second lightest hammock we examined coming in at 17 ounces. There are different hammocks which might be lighter, however they’re not as comfy as a consequence of basically smaller dimensions.
We predict the Darien strikes a superb stability of leaning extra in the direction of consolation whereas staying on the light-weight aspect of the spectrum. Including again issues like storage would enhance the burden and add further price, shifting its place from the clear, light-weight consolation king to a extra feature-rich and dear choice.
Ease of Use
One other advantage of being easy is that setup is kind of straightforward. With two mounted loops, a pleasant full size zipper, and aspect pulls related to the material physique, it doesn’t get a lot less complicated than this. It might rating increased, however the aspect pulls don’t embrace any adjustability out of the field. If this was our each day driver, we’d add some wire locks to make it a good higher expertise. Twine locks would permit for tensioning the shock wire so the stakes could possibly be positioned at any distance with out worrying about applicable pressure.
Ought to You Purchase the Dream Darien Hammock?
For somebody in pursuit of the lightest gear that also retains luxurious ranges of consolation, the Darien is a superb alternative. It’s proper in the course of worth for premium fashions which ought to make it a better buy than others, and we predict it provides good worth for the standard of product it supplies. It’s not a great match for somebody who desires a detachable bug web or different options, however Dream has extra accessory-rich fashions just like the Sparrow, for those who like the general really feel of the Darien.
What Different Hammocks Ought to You Contemplate?
Warbonnet Blackbird Assessment: For our prime hammock decide that boasts the lightest weight whereas nonetheless retaining key options, the Warbonnet Blackbird is difficult to beat. At 1.7 ounces lighter than the Darien, the Blackbird provides two key options: a superb gear shelf and higher aspect pulls for elevated livability. The draw back is that the Blackbird is smaller and due to this fact isn’t fairly as comfy because the Darien. In the end we predict, for most individuals, this slight tradeoff in consolation is well worth the lighter weight and the options it provides. The Darien nonetheless makes a great case for being one of the best light-weight hammock relying on priorities.
Onewind Tempest Assessment: If the consolation of the Darien is interesting, however the worth is a bit excessive, the Tempest is a discount for comparable ranges of top-notch consolation. It retains the identical 11×5.3 foot dimensions because the Darien however at the price of 4 extra ounces as a consequence of barely heavier supplies and a completely detachable bug web. We predict the Tempest provides unbelievable worth for a snug design, however folks eager to put money into a lighter design will wish to persist with the Darien.
Extra Images
The Darien might be made with quite a lot of materials relying on weight, sturdiness, and luxury preferences. – Photograph Credit score: Taylor Passofaro (CleverHiker.com)
The lengthy zipper pulls on the inside and exterior generally flop over to the opposite aspect of the zipper. – Photograph Credit score: Taylor Passofaro (CleverHiker.com)
The Darien is made of top quality materials and supplies. – Photograph Credit score: Taylor Passofaro (CleverHiker.com)
The Darien is simple and easy, making it tremendous straightforward to make use of. – Photograph Credit score: Taylor Passofaro (CleverHiker.com)
The aspect pulls on the Darien work nicely, however we want they supplied higher adjustability. – Photograph Credit score: Taylor Passofaro (CleverHiker.com)
