FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Which model is right for me: the North American, Tropical or UltraLight ?
Can I sleep on my side?
Should I get the Standard Fly or Rain Fly XL?
What features of the Clark Jungle Hammock are not available anywhere else?
Can two people sleep in one Clark hammock?
Tree Straps: What are they? How do they work?
Stuff Bag: Where is it? How big is it?
Will the hammock set up on the ground?
Where can I find a Clark Jungle Hammock in stores?
Have a question that was not answered here?
When selecting the model you need, start by thinking about the type of camping you plan to do. If you ever plan to camp in cold weather (50° F / 10° C or lower), then we recommend the North American model since it offers cold-weather features to keep you warm. The North American also does well in warm temperatures. If you plan to camp in only warm climates, you should know that the Tropical offers warm-weather features in a lighter package than the North American.
Decide if you need the WeatherShield feature (standard on North American models and optional on Tropical models). The breathable, water resistant WeatherShield offers three main benefits. First, it encloses the hammock to provide warmth in cold weather. Second, it offers extra protection from wind and blowing rain that might sneak up under the rain fly. You can even zip it up on only one side as a windbreak. Third, the WeatherShield offers privacy by creating a true tent.
Consider how you will use the large pockets underneath your hammock. The North American offers six pockets underneath which store gear and provide insulation against the cold. Most backpackers don’t need nearly that many pockets for gear, so if you plan to only camp in mild temperatures you may consider a Tropical (4 pockets) or UltraLight (2 pockets) model.
The Tropical model has pockets that are spread apart to allow you to stay as cool as possible. The Tropical is the only model that offers a netted head end which allows for even greater air circulation in warm temperatures. In wet weather, a water resistant nylon hood can be raised over the netted head end of the Tropical.
Finally, consider the size and strength of each model. The North American and Tropical models are made from our toughest materials and include our strongest ropes. The UltraLight has the bare essentials of Clark standard features and is made for the camper who is mainly concerned with the weight of the shelter and the size of the bundle in the pack. The UltraLight is not ideal for very tall people or very heavy people.
Be aware that the North American and Tropical models offer small storage pockets inside the hammock but the UltraLight does not.
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Yes. It’s easy and comfortable to sleep on your side in a Clark Jungle Hammock.
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Since the Clark’s Standard Fly will do a fine job keeping you dry in a typical storm, it may be difficult for you to decide whether to upgrade to the Rain Fly XL. The Rain Fly XL is only about 1.5 oz. heavier than the Standard Fly while providing 13 extra inches of coverage on both sides (See comparison). The size of the stuff bag is not significantly bigger when it contains the Rain Fly XL. Some people upgrade to the Rain Fly XL because they plan to take advantage of the extra coverage it provides around the hammock. For example, some campers wish to have a little more sheltered area beside the hammock so they can engage in activities like cooking or changing clothes while remaining covered.
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The Clark offers a combination of features you will find nowhere else, including:
- No-tip design: This hammock is virtually untippable. You won’t believe the stability until you try it.
- WeatherShield (North American and Tropical models): The breathable, water resistant WeatherShield offers three main benefits. First, it encloses the hammock to provide warmth in cold weather. Second, it offers extra protection from wind and blowing rain that might sneak up under the rain fly. You can even zip it up on only one side as a windbreak. Third, the WeatherShield offers privacy by creating a true tent.
- Exit and entry from two sides: Don’t get caught in a hammock that won’t let you get in and out on both sides. Some hammocks make you feel like the netting is trapping you inside a coffin. The Clark’s netting goes where you tell it to go, whether you want it folded down to create an open-air hammock, raised on one side, or zipped up on both sides to protect you from the tiniest bugs.
- Patented pockets for storage: The Clark is the only hammock that allows you to store your gear in easily accessible pockets underneath the hammock bed. In the Clark, you can sit down like you are in a chair, take off your boots and stow them in a pocket without ever touching your feet to the ground. In other hammocks you may be forced to leave your shoes out in the weather or in some other inconvenient place. The North American and Tropical models include two pockets inside the hammock for storing small items like a flashlight, a pistol or your eyeglasses.
- Patented pockets for insulation (North American model): The Clark North American is the only hammock that removes any need for insulating pads in most weather. The insulating pockets provide a stable air mass underneath you to block cold air from reaching your back. Read more about these insulating pockets.
- Built-in Stuff Bag: The Clark’s stuff bag never gets lost because it’s part of the hammock (located in one of the pockets closest to the foot end). You can compress the hammock into a small bundle.
- The perfect rope: The Clark’s rope has an exceptional breaking strength (1710 lbs. for North American and Tropical models and 1125 lbs. for the UltraLight). This rope also offers a slick texture that helps you untie the knot after it tightens during the night. Best of all, the Clark rope is manufactured to hate water. Water will not soak into the rope and wick to the hammock bed. The rope simply repels it. We dare you to find this feature on any other hammock.
- U.S.A. construction: We proudly construct the Clark Jungle Hammock in the United States. Most of the materials we use were also made in the U.S.A.
See? Americans still know how to make great things.
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For safety reasons, we don’t recommend that more than one person occupies the hammock at one time. Placing two people in the hammock creates two centers of gravity which could make the hammock unstable. When just one person occupies the Clark, the hammock is perfectly stable and nearly impossible to tip. We have heard of backpackers allowing a dog or small child to sleep in the hammock with them, and their reports make us believe that it works just fine, but we still can’t recommend it.
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Clark's Tree Straps are designed to help protect the environment. Using your rope alone may damage some trees. The tree straps offer wide webbing that distributes the stress over a larger area to keep you from leaving blemishes on the bark. Clark Tree Straps have a breaking strength of over 1500 lbs.
Using your tree straps is easy
(See Tree Straps diagram). When you receive your Tree Straps you will notice that there is a loop on both ends, one larger and one smaller. Simply hold the large loop against the tree and wrap the straps around the trunk. If the trunk is large in diameter, you may only be able to wrap the straps around once or twice. When there is not much strap left, thread the small loop through the large loop and snug the strap to the tree. Then simply tie your rope to the small loop.
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The Clark’s Stuff Bag is built into a pocket underneath the hammock bed (always the pocket closest to your right foot when lying down inside). Learn more by reading our Owner’s Manual (PDF 2.8 MB). When packed up, the hammock is much the size of an American football. The dimensions are about 12.6 X 4 X 8 inches for the North American model, 12.5 X 3.5 X 7.5 for the Tropical and about 12 X 3.5 X 7 for the UltraLight.
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Yes. Learn more in our Owner’s Manual (PDF 2.8 MB). If you camp in places where there are any trees, you'll be glad to know that it's hard to find a campsite that won't support hanging a hammock. In fact, it's generally easier to find a place to hang a hammock than it is to find a flat spot to set up a ground tent.
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Clark has sold its hammocks direct from its Salt Lake City factory for over ten years. We choose not to sell in stores so that we can retain the flexibility to quickly respond to your needs and suggestions.
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Please write to us at info@junglehammock.com. We have all the answers.
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