Got a question for any of you who are bike packers. I’ve never gone bike packing but I’m considering doing it next year to keep costs down during some overnight or several day long trips through Taiwan. While looking at tents online (Naturehike seems to get mentioned a lot on Reddit), I fell down a hammock-related rabbit hole: cheaper, pack much smaller, weigh barely anything.
Anyone done bike packing in Taiwan with a hammock rather than a tent? If so, what was your experience? I’m guessing it’s a given it’d have to be a model with a bug net. Any local brands worth checking out, or any brands otherwise I should check out you might recommend?
Who wants to sleep on the ground? The only thing I’ve noticed here, the hammock is far superior for summer sleeping, but during the rainy season, when it’s windy, the ground was too soft and my fly stakes kept popping out. This let rain get in my hammock. Good news is that drying it out is quick and easy by hanging it in a tree. Ive used ENO jungle hammock for years. Lots of new ones out now though so I haven’t compared.
I’d be willing to let you try my old one. Some people just can’t get used to them. Would be a waste to buy one only to learn you are one of those people.
Can get cold at night since the wind blows underneath you. I use a half-size inflatable mat for insulation.
DO NOT BUY A CHINESE ONE or you’ll live the rest of your life hating them.
If you enjoy your back, never hammock. It’s not as heavy, sure. But a lite mattress and tent is worth it’s weight in gold. Cycling is already doomsday on one’s spine, at least let one lay flat in rest! If too heavy, just build more muscle…the extra couple kg is nothing in comparison to bliss of a proper sleep.
Bikepacking is an extremely expensive way of forcing yourself to tolerate lack of comfort. Go for it, though, it has always been my dream, but it always makes my neck hurt.
Get a 3 season, free standing 1-2 person tent. Topeak might sell one. E.G. Northface Tadpole. Flat ground for a tent stake is rare. 2 trees for a hammock? Good luck. After a heavy rain and you stay dry, you’ll understand. In a pinch ask at schools if you can pitch your tent.
By the way idea for bike packing doesn’t match Taiwan reality.
For real. For me it’s back pain. Now I’m a wuss. But camping on the road is something I truly love. The experience to be in nature is amazing. Same for hiking, just can’t cover distance, but can cover far more in the quality realm. Now when I do it, it’s on a scooter. Cause I’m a lazy hypocrite.
Judging by the answers, this is one of those things you have to try and figure out what works for you. If you like hammocks, you don’t see the point in a tent, and vice versa.
I have actually rarely, if ever, gone camping, let alone bike touring, but I’m making up for lost time after a lifetime of not being terribly well (moderately chronic condition) and over the last couple of years largely recovering from it.
I’ve never even used a hammock, but if I think it’d save me money, and if I turn out to like it, it seems like the smart thing to do. I’m not intending by any means, to be clear, on doing an entire trip in a hammock: I’d like to stay in some hostels and hotels, but also have a backup plan in place that’s deliberately outside of my usual comfort zone. It might turn out I think hammocks are the best idea ever or I’ll swear them off and always stick to hotels or hostels or whatever. I simply don’t know, but I’d like to find out.
Bree, that’s a great picture. It does make it look very enticing. What’s the deal with your Eno tent - you’re not using it much, or you’re looking to maybe sell it? Just curious. But I’d love to give it a shot if you’re okay with that. I did have back problems in the past, and that did concern me a little, but those problems have disappeared since I started doing weight training in my local gym a few months back.
My mom’s bought me a new one for my last birthday. The pic is the new one. I keep the old one for friends to use when tents are not feasible.
To be clear, sleeping in a hammock, you don’t curve like a banana. You sleep on the diagonal which allows you to stretch out.
Ha. I just noticed that pic shows my bra and underwear hanging. You are welcome Forumosa.
I’m sure that means I was running around naked that morning in 拉拉山.
I need to get out of the city before it gets too cold
Hammock camping is the best! Based on my limited experience up in the mountains, I wouldn’t want a tent. It’s hot as hell and you get bad air flow, I’d still bring a mat/underquilt because the wind can get chilly under you. Bug net is a must here. Mine is a crappy Walmart tent I brought from America but it gets the job done. If your back hurts using a hammock, you are simply laying wrong.
So I’m hoping to go scooter camping during CNY and would love to do it with my hammock if possible. Just wondering how feasible it is to find random spots off the road without getting hassled by authorities or locals. Any advice would be appreciated!
As bree mentions, you likely won’t get hassled unless you are doing something disrespectful (eg. Pooing in private land, liter, during people’s property/campfire using their land, very noisy, very late etc). Taiwan is very easy going, just don’t intrude nor disrespect other people’s private property. It’s all good. Police could not care less outside of you poaching, cutting trees, suicide and along those lines. Bring extra vear in case the owners show up and you can share, might even become your newest best friend
The only real hassle you will get is from your spine when you age. I love hammock camping. But it’s terrible to the bones, and scooter/bicycle/hiking ain’t helping that situation haha.