User Review: Warbonnet Blackbird Double Layer 1.7

Summary

The Warbonnet Blackbird is an extremely comfortable hammock. I really enjoyed camping out in it. My wife loved it so much that she has now claimed it for herself.

I have a video review of this product as well, you can check out my website in my profile to get it.

The Warbonnet Blackbird must be one of the top hammocks in the hammock camping world. I think just about anyone who is in to hammock camping has tried the blackbird or wants to try the blackbird as it usually always gets great reviews.

When I first received the Warbonnet Blackbird I was really impressed with how small and light it was. This was a double layered hammock with a shelf and bug net, including the webbing it only weighed 36.5 oz and can hold up to 400lb. It is designed for campers who are 6’ 8’ and under.

I took the hammock out on a cool fall day with my brother. This was an exciting camping trip because when we woke up in the morning it was raining and my brother said, “This is a good opportunity to try and start a fire in the rain”. I stayed in my hammock warm and cozy chatting with my brother when it happened. His knife missed the target and hit his hand, keeping knives as sharp as possible as my brother normally does, the knife cut right to his bone.

I then had to quickly jump out of my hammock, in the rain, in my underwear, grab my first aid kit and start operating on him. After the gauze filled with blood faster than I could wrap it I decided we need to get to the hospital. We quickly hiked back to the car, the bleeding had almost stopped by now and I had to learn to drive standard on the way to the hospital. Everything turned out to be ok and my brother now has a cool scar to show off. That was my first night in the Warbonnet Blackbird.

Enough of my stories.

The Warbonnet blackbird has an incredibly comfortable interior with lots of space and a great asymmetrical lie. Part of what contributes to the asymmetrical lie is the foot box. At the end of the hammock there is a foot-box, great and unique design. This really helps in the flat lay but it means that you can only achieve a flat lay in one direction and from one position in the hammock. This can prove to be a disadvantage to some.

Another unique feature to the Warbonnet Blackbird is the shelf in the interior of the hammock. The shelf is 2sq.ft. and can hold a lot of gear. I usually fill it with my water bottle, book, some tissue and a head lamp. There is no other hammock, aside from the new Clark Flex 180 that has this much storage space. The only down side to the shelf is that it eliminates visibility for that entire side of the hammock, again not a big deal to most but it might be for some.

The way the Blackbird is able to have so much room inside is because you tie out the sides of the hammock. There is a tie out for the shelf and another tie out near the entrance. These tie outs are made of a bungee cord so your hammock won’t get damaged from stress.  It truly creates a comfortable sleeping space inside.

The bug netting in the Blackbird has proven to be effective and well constructed. If you would like to lounge in the hammock you can simply untie the tie out on the side and flip the bug net over the shelf. This will open it up and make the hammock into a comfortable chair.

I was using the double layered hammock and in it you are able to insert a pad in between the layers for insulation. This is great during colder seasons for that added comfort. It is also useful in this hammock as there is only one option for an asymmetrical lay so you don’t have to worry about rolling off the pad. Almost all under-quilts are compatible with the Warbonnet Blackbird and Warbonnet has a specific line of under-quilts that are designed for this model.

The suspension system for this hammock is one of the best. I said in a previous review that I think the Blackbird is the fastest hammock for setting up out there. The hammock uses a 13’ webbing system with a loop sewn into each end. There are also carabineers that clip into that loop. You simply wrap the webbing around the tree and clip it into the carabineer and that is that. To adjust the length you just pull the webbing through the cinch buckle. Great system in my opinion.

The Hammock has a structural ridge-line attached that is 100” in length. This is good for hanging gear on and adding more storage areas. This is also good for learning the proper way to hang a hammock because if you ridge-line is too tight you know you need to adjust the suspension.

On top of all those great features this hammock can also be used as a bivy. I have not done this yet and would not really recommend it either. The hammock material is not water proof so you will need a ground cloth and if you somehow slightly damage the hammock on the ground you may compromise the strength when hanging from it later. This could lead to a fall or injury. Plus I don’t know how you would keep the bug net out of your face in bivy mode. I think that you would be pushing it to use it as a bivy tent but it is listed as one of its features.

Aside from the bivy mode this is one of the top hammocks and one of the most comfortable out there. I enjoy using this hammock.