D brought some pictures of volcanoes to work to show me. The pictures are amazing…and part of a very effective advertising concept. The catalogue  camping/outdoor equipment includes a series of [extreme] travel reports, ensuring that you keep reading and ‘accidentally’ look at their gear and the pack lists and the favourites and recommendations. It’s not immediately obvious what’s for sale and what’s just what someone happens to be wearing or carrying or using. It’s incredibly well done 🙂

As I flipped through the rest of the catalogue I came across an article about a small hammock-making company focussed on being as ethical and climate-friendly as they can. That set off an avalanche of hammock related thoughts and research.

It seems they’re not the only company making lightweight hammocks and thinking about their effect on the world. I read about several others, all with a slightly different angle. Organic cotton, well paid staff, reduced emissions, recycled/recyclable materials, European production, using the scraps for other projects… etc etc etc.

***

Nearly 20 years ago, when I went to live with people who had hammocks instead of beds, I decided I wanted a hammock too. I started playing with the idea of taking one camping a few years ago, when a friend said he’d done it. Trouble is, things like wall plugs and statics and mosquito nets and weight and the ‘right’ kinds of fibres are each enough to bog me down for weeks and I never got much further than reading and overwhelming myself in the research and putting it all off for ‘later’.

This time round I was more trigger-happy and actually bought something 🙂

Or more accurately two somethings.

I picked this up from the neighbouring town:

So cool 🙂

Also a testimony to the power of subliminal advertising.

Not that I bought it new or from the companies mentioned in or issuing the catalogue.

I figure the most ecologically beneficial purchases are the second hand ones using what already exists. This one was brand new, from one of the companies I’d just discovered and was on sale within cycling distance. Seemed way too good to miss 🙂

What a great way to spend a Saturday evening 🙂

Then I bought a ridiculously lightweight one online, also second hand, also from one of the newly discovered companies.

I assume the blue one will mostly live on the balcony and the light one will come camping with me.