Onewind Backpacking Cover, Gear Hammock, Chair Hammock

I’ve been using Onewind stuff for a while, and really like their gear: it’s well thought-out, designed and made, looks good, can stand some abuse, and is always very functional. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the same luck with their Multifunctional Gear Hammock/Pack Cover/Camping Chair, which failed me the first time I tried it as a chair hammock (fortunately while testing it in my backyard).

My Sea to Summit gear hammock (reviewed elsewhere here on Trailspace) is a cool piece of gear for hammock camping. It allows me to keep my stuff neatly organized, protected and stored under the hammock. Its only drawback is the color, though the light green does make it clear and thus easier to see things in it, and in fact color is a matter of personal preference more than anything.

Though it’s been serving me well, I wanted to try a similar product with other interesting and useful functions. Coming from good experiences with Onewind stuff, I found their concept of a gear hammock that can also be used as backpack cover and camping chair quite appealing. It’s a way to improve convenience and functionality, while saving a few grams. I love gear that can perform multiple functions. 

Specs.

I ordered the size large (55"X47", or 140cmx120cm) Multifunctional Gear Hammock/Pack Cover/Camping Chair, which is good for 70L capacity according to OW. There are two other sizes to chose from, small (50L) and medium (50-70L), and it’s available in other colors.

It’s made with 1.1oz. Silnylon ripstop fabric, silicone and PU 3000mm coated which is more than enough to use as bag cover in bad weather. Weight is 6.8oz/195g. Color is dark olive green (love it), and construction is good with smooth and consistent sewing and plenty of adjustments with shock cord and lockers and hooks. Paracord and quick alu guy line tensioners on each end make it quick and easy to hang.

In use (well, almost).

Honestly, I didn’t have the chance to use it in real life (camping/backpacking) because it failed during my backyard testing on the first day. The gathered end ripped and I ended up on my back in 15 seconds when I first sat on it (I’m  6'/175). Before that, I tested it as gear sling as shown in the images, and it works. It’s a dry and warm winter so I didn’t have the opportunity to try it as a backpack cover, though I’m sure it would suit this function well because that’s a simple function  really.

That’s what testing is for, much better having stuff fail there than in the middle of nowhere, even if it’s something non-essential (or non-vital) as this gear sling/pack cover/chair. Oftentimes, I test new gear two or three times in different conditions in the backyard or near home, before taking it to the real world. I do a lot of wild and stealth camping, rural and wilderness (trail) backpacking/trekking and I like to know well how the stuff performs, and at least have a measure of how reliable it is before venturing out. 

The alu guy line loop tensioners make it easy and quick to setup. Just find a decent branch (two is best) and hang it. I put all my gear (50L backpack with food and water) and it held fine. 

Prior to purchasing it, I checked Onewind’s website for capacity and warnings. No word on weight limit, so I figured it was like a small hammock maybe? Sure not enough to support me and my stuff, but if it’s a hammock chair… Product description show pics of people sitting on it (using as a hammock chair), even adults, so even though I‘m 6'/175, I figured the weak link would be the paracord, never the fabric. As advertised, “Onewind rain cover can be used for chair hammocks or hanging swings for kids.“

Obviously, I didn’t use it for swing, just relaxed on it as in a chair hammock, with both feet on the ground, when it suddenly ripped. No harm, thankfully. Anyway, after assessing the damage, I removed all the shock cord and attachments and am now using it as a ground matt/tarp. It has a storage sack sewed to it as most other Onewind stuff, easy and simple to pack. I can remanufacture the hemmed end and still use it as gear sling and backpack cover, though I still wish it could be used as a hammock chair. But it does make for a nice footprint as it is. 

Background

Unfortunately I didn’t have much luck with the Onewind Multifunctional Gear Hammock/Pack Cover/Camping Chair. Maybe it was a defected unit, or maybe it’s just not really built to be used as a safe chair hammock for people of my size and weight. Too bad, it’s a great idea to save weigh and increase functionality and convenience. It’s still a good gear hammock and backpack cover, and is now reincarnated somehow as a ground tarp and footprint, so not all is lost.