Hennessy Ultralite Asym Zip Hammock with Hex Fly Review

Last Updated on 06/03/2022

Hennessy Ultralite Asym Zip Hammock with Hex Fly Review

Hennessy Ultralite Asym Zip Hammock with Hex Fly Review

Finding the right shelter system for your adventures can be tough. Hennessy Hammock designs a complete line of hammocks that’ll have you covered in the jungle, the winter, or on a standard camping trip. Hennessy offers all of the conveniences of tent camping while adding versatility.

Hammock options are available in packages or customizable. For instance, if you want tree straps that are a little longer than the standard, you can opt for different lengths. Your rainfly options vary in material, size, and color as well.

Hennessy Hammocks can be tough to get the hang of if you’re new to hammocking. While a lot of popular hammocks come with carabiners that you hook directly to your webbing, Hennessy’s do not. This strategy definitely cuts down weight, but it also requires that you have some kind of a grasp on a few basic knots – like the figure eight.

Specifications

  • Asym Hammock MSRP: $180
  • Hex Rainfly MSRP: $79.95
  • Hammock Weight: 1lb 12oz
  • Rainfly Weight: 1lb 11 oz
  • Capacity: 6ft/200lbs
  • Trip Length: Expedition
  • Best Uses: Trekking/Lounging/Camping
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Highlights

  • Bug Net
  • Snake Skins
  • Interior Pocket
  • Customization
  • Adjustability

Check out these Top 10 Hammocks with Bug Nets

Hennessy Ultralite Asym Zip Hammock Hex Fly Review

Quick Tips for Setting up a Hennessy Hammock

After spending several months with a Hennessy Hammock, I learned that there are a few things you can do to make setting up your hammock easier.

  • While the packaging advertises a 2-minute pitch time, this hammock can be tricky to pitch right (especially the first few times you use it). Make sure to allow 5-10 minutes initially.
  • A lot of newbies don’t realize that you’re supposed to stake out the sides of your hammock to create a bowl shape rather than a banana. While it’s not a totally essential part of the setup, it does change your experience quite a lot.
  • Hennessy recommends using lashings rather than knots. This means that rather than getting yourself into trouble with complicated knots, you use the same pattern over and over again to secure the hammock to itself. This helps eliminate time that would otherwise be used trying to dislodge knots.
  • Installing your snakeskins helps you pack your gear a lot faster than if you’re dealing with loose fabric.

How to Make Sure You Pick the Right Shelter

While trying to determine what type of shelter to buy, the most important factor is going to be where you’re going. If you’re the type of person that likes to camp on a slab of rock on top of a mountain, hammocking may not be the way to go. But I found that Hammocking tends to offer more versatility overall. While you can’t fit much inside your hammock with you, you can set up your rainfly and cover 4 people during a torrential downpour.

After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail and the Colorado Trail, I’m confident that you could use a hammock on both trails. The Colorado Trail would just take a little extra thought and planning since there are big stretches of Alpine Tundra.

Fitting: If you’re super tall (taller than 6 ft), you’ll want to opt for a longer version of this hammock. As a 5’7 female, I have plenty of space in the Ultralite Asym Hammock, but special requirements are limited.

Why I Opted for The Hex Fly

I hiked the Appalachian Trail with Hennessy’s pre-packaged backpacking hammock and ended up pretty saturated after a thunderstorm on more than one occasion. While there’s definitely a learning curve involved with pitching your rainfly, I also found that the standard rainfly is a little bit unpredictable. Even if you pitch it really well, if the direction of the wind changes, you’re likely to get wet.

While testing the Hennessy Asym Zip Hammock, I opted to try a larger rainfly (the Hex). The Hex certainly offers more shelter, it’s easy to set up, and I doubt that any thunderstorm will get past it. But it’s also pretty bulky and not as weight-efficient as I hoped. In fact, it weighs about as much as the hammock itself, which indicates an odd pairing of products. Perhaps the ideal set up would include a large, lightweight rainfly and an ultralight hammock.

Pros

  • This hammock can be pitched almost anywhere. I’ve seen hikers suspended between telephone poles (although I’d personally discourage that approach), between cars, and between trees. While my initial experience with Hennessy was on the Appalachian Trail where coniferous trees are plentiful, my transition out to Colorado’s backcountry hasn’t been difficult.
  • On the Appalachian Trail, it can be pretty tough to find level ground. It’s not uncommon to wake up having gravitated toward a distant corner of your tent. Hammocks resolve this issue gracefully. You can camp on the side of a mountain without issue.
  • Competitors can’t beat the cost.

Cons

  • Other hammocks I’ve worked with use daisy chain straps, which are convenient because you don’t have to worry about finding trees that are the perfect distance apart. Instead, the length between tie-in spots can be adjusted by the straps. While Hennessy’s standard straps are certainly ultralight, I’ve found myself tired and frustrated at their design at the end of a long day. And making them into daisy chains wouldn’t add a terrible amount of weight.
  • The standard rainfly is really hard to get pitched right, which can cause shoddy protection in inclement weather.

Is The Hennessy Hyperlite Hammock Comfortable?

As a side sleeper, I was a little bit wary of the idea of using a hammock. But Hennessy’s design helps the hammock lay relatively flat. And I found that sometimes I like to keep the banana shape of the hammock rather than tying it out because I find that elevating my legs while I sleep alleviates some of the lactic acid buildups.

Is the Hyperlite Asym Reliable?

With a little under 200 miles of testing done with the Asym, I’m confident that this hammock will live a long life. After 2200 miles on the Appalachian Trail, my first Hennessy Hammock (The Backpacking Hammock) barely shows any wear. I have yet to see any other tent or hammock perform as well for such an extended period of time.

How Does the Weight Stand up To Competitive Hammocks?

Hennessy Hammocks tend to fall on the light side of the spectrum in terms of weight. Although my choice of working with the Hex fly turned out to be quite a lot heavier than standard flies, the overall setup is still pretty efficient. Most long-distance hikers end up with shelter systems that weigh somewhere between 15 ounces and 3lbs. Hennessy does a really good job of fitting that standard.

Hammock Cost: Costing a total of $259.95, the Ultralite Asym Hammock and Hex fly combination are incredibly competitive. Compared to popular sleep systems, this setup runs about $50 below market standards. And it’s definitely worth the cost in terms of the longevity of the product.

What Do Other Reviewers Think?

Other reviewers give the Hyperlite Asym an impressive 4.5-star average. Commenting that it’s light, comfortable, and versatile, most users color themselves impressed. But they also note that there’s a learning curve involved. And hammocks require specialized insulation. While you can get away with a sleeping pad and a standard sleeping bag, the most efficient setup involves an underquilt, which is hammock specific.

Final thoughts about the Ultralite Asym Hammock & Hex Rainfly: I’m a really big fan of Hennessy Hammocks. I have yet to find a company that’s as responsive, innovative, and reliable as Hennessy. And the company’s many positive qualities can be seen in its products. If you often find yourself in temperate forests and you want to sleep on a cloud, try out a Hennessy.

Hennessy Ultralite Asym Zip Hammock with Hex Fly

While backpacking hammocks certainly involve a learning curve, putting in the time is worth it. The Hyperlite Asym Hammock is one of the lightest, most reliable hammocks I’ve had the opportunity to work with. And Hex fly is a really well-made fly, but I’d make sure that it fits your needs before purchasing it. Is the weight worth the return? If you’re an adventurer or a professional lounger, I’d absolutely recommend Hennessy Hammocks.

How Much is it?

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