Hennessy Ultralite Asym Zip Assessment

Backside Line

Taking a stab at a design that’s lighter than their in style Expedition sequence, the Hennessy Ultralite Backpacker Asym Zip drops the burden quite a bit and raises the worth an inexpensive quantity. It presents an honest worth for somebody who needs a light-weight package and doesn’t thoughts the model. The standout characteristic is a novel asymmetrical design that makes it trickier to discover a constant flat mendacity place, however can nonetheless provide good consolation for most individuals as much as about 5’9” by our testing. Added to the expertise are high quality supplies and considerate options like a ridgeline organizer and facet pulls that make the Ultralight Zip good to make use of.

The largest draw back to this package is that the small rain tarp and small hammock dimensions imply most individuals are higher off taking a look at our high picks for single hammocks and kits for a extra snug and storm worthy mannequin. It’s potential to get good outcomes with the Ultralight Zip, and we definitely loved our time testing it between a few of Minensota’s greatest timber. It’s not our first alternative when making a basic suggestion, nevertheless, particularly at this value and weight.

Nonetheless, Hennessy is without doubt one of the oldest gamers within the sport and has a loyal following for a motive. For individuals who benefit from the model and are absolutely conscious of the design tradeoffs, the Ultralight Zip is a high quality product that ought to final a very long time.

Consolation

We discovered the Ultralite Zip to be decently snug with a bit of labor. As a result of the hammock has a patented, aggressive asymmetrical design and a shorter than regular ridgeline, the candy spot for locating a snug mendacity place is a bit smaller than different hammocks. The asymmetrical form is supposed to raised outline the diagonal mendacity space, however we didn’t discover that it made a giant distinction in comparison with symmetrical hammocks. Our 5’11” tester was nonetheless capable of finding a snug spot, however not as simply as different fashions, and transferring exterior of that space wasn’t as forgiving. 

A part of that is attributed to the shorter ridgeline. Most fastened ridgelines goal a size of 83% of the hammock physique size, however Hennessy makes use of a 72% size, so there’s extra curve than on different fashions. It nonetheless is feasible to get a snug night time’s sleep, however we’d encourage anybody above 5’9” to have a look at the XL mannequin with an 11 foot size. 

Fortunately the remainder of the consolation expertise is strong. The material isn’t the softest, however definitely snug sufficient. The included ridgeline organizer means there’s a spot to place a cellphone or headlamp whereas sleeping, in order that they’re not rolling across the hammock physique at night time.

When testing this hammock in a neighborhood park alongside the opposite hammocks in our lineup, we weren’t drawn to it for lounging or enjoyable like a number of the extra spacious hammocks. Contemplating how targeted this mannequin is on light-weight backpacking, we don’t suppose that’s essentially a nasty factor. It’s loads snug whereas sustaining its ultralight standing.

Options

Hennessy presents a number of helpful options that make the Ultralite Backpacker Asym Zip snug and pleasant to make use of. The included ridgeline organizer offers good storage for smaller gadgets. We appreciated stashing our headlamp and cellphone there when testing. The facet pulls are additionally good, though not our favourite design. They’re shock cords, however don’t have any adjustability within the type of a toggle or LineLoc, so getting the strain proper is solely as much as stake placement. The bug netting is top quality noseeum mesh (which retains even the smallest of bugs out), and the zippers have a pleasant really feel with good pull cords.

As a result of it is a hammock package, suspension and a tarp are included, however unusually not tent stakes. The tarp is a diamond form, which offers minimal protection and helps Hennessy preserve the burden down. Diamond tarps aren’t our favourite shapes since they don’t provide the safety that hex or sq. tarps present, however we’ve waited out rainstorms in Hennessy diamond tarps earlier than, and so they’re nice. 

The tarp attaches to the suspension with a prusik knot and a mitten hook, which is a bit completely different from typical tarps. This method saves weight by not requiring extra connection strains to timber, but additionally implies that motion within the hammock is translated to the tarp, and organising the tarp impartial of the hammock isn’t potential. These are minor points,  however they’re nonetheless tradeoffs in comparison with conventional designs.

The suspension is one other distinctive design that now we have comparable emotions about. As a substitute of straps, two fastened cords are connected at both finish and connect to 2 brief tree straps. The included directions – helpfully printed on the storage bag – present the way to tie the knot that secures the wire, however knot data will be intimidating and never as intuitive as {hardware}. The included tree straps are additionally a lot shorter than we’d favor to see, particularly when tenting in areas with massive timber.

Weight

The Ultralite Backpacker Asym Zip has weight on the high of its priorities, and it largely delivers on this. With a complete weight of 33.6 ounces, it’s the lightest full package we examined. Contemplating that another singular hammocks weigh nearly as a lot as this, that quantity is spectacular. 

It’s necessary to notice that almost all of the burden financial savings comes from the smaller tarp, distinctive suspension, and small hammock dimensions. When weighing the hammock physique individually, it is available in at 22.4 ounces, which locations it at one of many heavier hammocks in our lineup. So whereas the package is impressively light-weight, it achieves that by way of sure design tradeoffs which will or might not be interesting. Nonetheless we are able to’t deny it’s an impressively light-weight package deal at an inexpensive value.

Ease of Use

Hennessy hammocks are arrange somewhat in a different way than different hammocks, because it depends on knots slightly than {hardware}. Whereas some folks favor this method, we discover it makes issues a bit extra tough than typical designs. Getting the facet pull and tarp cords tensioned correctly is difficult since neither provide straightforward adjustability. The suspension can also be easy in idea, however counting on knots isn’t very newbie pleasant. Even these of us skilled with knots don’t take pleasure in this implementation and would slightly use {hardware} or  a distinct knot association. General, it’s one thing that may be straightforward when you get the cling of it, however it should take a little bit of time.

Ought to You Purchase the Hennessy Ultralite Backpacker Asym Zip Hammock?

Hennessy makes hammocks in contrast to every other, and for followers of their model, the Ultralite Backpacker Asym Zip is an effective funding that ought to yield many nights of nice sleep. The problem is that a number of the design selections made are powerful to advocate when there are a lot of different hammocks that do issues a bit higher, cheaper, or lighter. So for the worth, you’re getting a decently mild package deal that gives good worth, however provided that the tradeoffs aren’t a giant deal. 

It’s simple sufficient to repair the design tradeoffs, though the extra value in value and weight doesn’t make a lot sense. The small hammock dimensions will be remedied by upgrading to the XL mannequin, however to improve to a greater protection hex tarp would deliver the entire package weight to 41.2 ounces and the worth as much as $339. At that time, the worth proposition is a a lot tougher promote; for that cash and weight, loads of hammocks are way more interesting.

So we expect the Ultralite Backpacker Asym Zip solely is smart for somebody who understands the design tradeoffs and nonetheless loves the all-in-one package that Hennessy has put collectively right here. It’s a high quality package, however it doesn’t earn a better suggestion as a result of most backpackers received’t recognize the design tradeoffs.

What Different Hammocks Ought to You Contemplate?

Deep and cozy sleep is paramount for an pleasant backcountry or yard campout. For extra CleverHiker examined and reviewed choices, see our greatest tenting hammocks gear information.

Kammok Mantis UL Assessment: For an instance of an all-in-one hammock package that delivers on a ton of fantastic design selections at an inexpensive weight and value, the Mantis UL is fairly particular. The hammock is bigger and extra snug than the Ultralite Backpacker Asym Zip for much less weight The rainfly is way bigger, attaches to timber independently, and is one we’d really feel assured driving out a heavy storm in. We beloved our time testing the Mantis UL and suppose it’s an awesome funding for these on the lookout for an all-in-one package. 

Different Hennessy Kits: There are two Hennessy kits price mentioning, the Ultralight XL and the Hyperlite. The XL we’ve talked about on this assessment a number of instances as an extended mannequin price trying out, however it’s basically the identical because the common size. 

The Hyperlite makes use of a distinct 30D ripstop nylon as an alternative of the same old 70D nylon taffeta for the hammock physique, and a 20D silnylon (siliconized nylon) for the rainfly. These are each extra frequent ultralight supplies and convey the burden right down to an astonishing 28 ounces. Even for those who assembled a package of premium elements, it might be powerful to beat this weight with out resorting to a Dyneema tarp. 

The identical design tradeoffs exist on this design – it’s nonetheless a Hennessy in spite of everything. For an additional ounce or two, assembling a package of premium choices will present a considerably bigger tarp and a way more snug hammock. So the Hyperlite solely is smart for individuals who need a supremely mild package and don’t thoughts the design tradeoffs.