Thanks for this. This was really helpful. I’ve had a Warbonnet XLC for 10 years and a ridge runner for a couple of years. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a banyan for the sturdier ridge lines for a hangtime hook which will support a large phone. I was almost at the stage of pulling the trigger although your cons of the banyan with the storage are one of the things I love about the ridge runner. The teething issues are also giving me pause for thought as the RR is tried and tested. Really helpful. Thanks All the best from Scotland!

Good review. Thank you for making and posting. Newbie to hammock system camping.

Thanks for that video mate! It really seems that the banyan would serve me better, as I have bugs all year around so the hammock is mainly for sleeping. I own a couple chameleons and use it with the double bug net and the spreader bar to keep the two hammocks a certain distance from each other. Yes those bars ends are a hazard for tarps. If you cut them to trim the excess you risk to make it more prone to disconnect it from the hammock. What I did was replace these tips for hex head screws. Tight fit on the bar super glue them, cut the length just enough to fill the titanium dutch stuff hole, but had to file the screw treads( unevenly, so you need to wiggle it to disconnect it) to make it have a snug fit. The treaded shape makes a much more secure connection.

Nice content . Thank u for sharing with us

Another great video! Very informative and neat to see what issues can happen with hammocks. I'm just a dirty ground dweller! XD

Thanks for the insight between these two hammocks.

Great video, thanks for putting it out. I've been eyeing the Banyan for a while, so I'm glad I found this video. I don't need another hammock and I prefer the gathered-ends anyway, but it's that compulsive buyer disorder that I have when it comes to hammocks that I really need to get under control, hahaha. Funny we all have our quirks. I have a bunch of hammocks including a Ridge Runner and a Chameleon. The Chameleon is my go-to hammock for 99% of my outings, I find that it's more comfortable in just about any situation that the RR. There is a calf ridge issue indeed that I only started noticing recently. So I fix that by sliding a camp pillow under my knees. Then after I fall asleep, the calf ridge doesn't seem to bother me that much and the pillow gets kicked around out of the way. I agree on the ease of set-up of the bridge hammocks versus the gathered-ends. But I also enjoy that fiddle factor. It's kind of part of the ritual of camping for me. As far as the storage options. I actually like the peak loft, and the ridgeline organizers better than the sidecars. I don't have a sidecar on my Chameleon because I don't want to add more weight to it. But I do have those saddle bags on the RR and I'm not a big fan. In fact I've thought about installing a ridgeline on that RR so that I can hang stuff from it. But since I hardly ever use that hammock, it's not a top priority at this point. In general, everybody needs to find what works for them individually, but videos like this are great because they highlight different aspects of a given set-up, good and bad, that perhaps people had not thought about, and which can help them when making a gear decision.

Thanks Great video!! I own the chameleon. Thinking of getting the banyon. After your video I’m it to sure now lol

I agree with mostly everything you've said, but with a few disagreements. I also have the Banyan and Chameleon and made a comparison video. I prefer the Chameleon, but it's a close race. I find the Banyan to not be a good 'lounger' and is really only good for 1 thing: sleeping like a robot. You can't move a lot in the Banyan because first off, it's small... and second, any change in the center of gravity will cause a lot of tippyness.

I have the ridge runner and the banyan also an Amok the most comfortable by far is the Amok but in my humble opinion you get a far better comfortable lay in a bridge hammock I have numerous gathered end hammocks and every time I move from on my side to the other comfort is out of the window for me personally its a bridge hammock or a tent

Thanks for honest comparison. Can you tell what is the lenght needed for tarp for banyan bridge?

The need for a Bridge specific UQ with the Banyon might need to be considered in terms of the overall cost comparison... but then again I suppose it doesn't matter if you cant buy a Banyan!

I really want to see a updated version on the old m1966 jungle hammock. I'm 6' 1" and 300lbs every gathered end hammock I have tried I can't sleep because I end up rolling in line with the hammock and wake up like a banana. I'm thinking about maybe the Clark hammock since Dutchware bought them out.

I prefer the bridge hammocks for sleeping at home or in a garden (I have the Ridgerunner at the moment) but the gathered ends are just more comfortable for lounging and more convienient and practical under a tarp in the woods. I'm still looking for a good gathered end to take on a longer trip (6 weeks). So far the best hammock I have is a home made one from 1.9oz 70D nylon at 10 feet long, but I still get hyperextension of my knees (I'm 5'8) and a little bit of a calf ridge. I found switching from a 40D fabric to a 70D fabric helped a lot with the calf ridge (less stretch probably) but still I wouldn't take this one on a long trip. On my first hammock trip 25 miles into the backcountry took me 2 extra days to get home because I woke up in the morning with terrible calf pain that made it impossible to walk for more than two hours. Not something I want to experience again ;) So far I've tried the Warbonnet gathered ends in 10' and 11' but they only make them in the thinner 40D nylon nowdays which gave me too much of a calf ridge. Do you have any tips/experience with hammock length, fabric or manufacturer for a comfortable diagonal lay?

What underquilt is used with the Bayan in this video?

Hi Scott!!

Anyone else notice this ground dweller? I mean there's a mattress right next to the hammock! Quit mocking us real hammockers! Signed - DB Jk great comparison buddy!