Warbonnet Outdoors RidgeRunner Hammock Review

Last month we reviewed the Warbonnet Blackbird 1.7 and it quickly became one of our all time favorite hammock's. Warbonnet Outdoors seems to look at their hammock production from a user mindset. The Warbonnet Blackbird had met and exceeded our wants and need's in a end-gathered jungle style hammock. Then....Warbonnet Outdoors introduced their first "Bridge" hammock; the RidgeRunner. I'll be honest up until this point I had been turned off from Bridge style hammock's after using Bear Mountain Bridge Hammock by Jacks R' Better. In the BMBH hammock, I felt as if I was in a cradle or coffin (basically uncomfortable). With that, we had a good feeling with the RidgeRunner. Our feeling was right.

For those of you that are not familiar with Bridge Style Hammocks: A Bridge style hammock uses spreader bars on the head and foot end to give the user a flatter lay. It does compromise stability somewhat from the traditional end gathered hammock's.

Warbonnet RidgeRunner w/ Spreader Bars

The Specs:
Warbonnet RidgeRunner Double Layer
Price: $195
Weight: 27 ounces (w/ Adjustable Webbing Suspension)(Spreader bar weigh an additional 9.9 ounces)
Load Capacity: 250 lbs
Length Capacity: Will comfortably fit a user up to 6'6"
Material: Breathable water resistant fabric

*The Double layer can be used in conjunction with a pad inserted in between the layer's



We've covered the adjustable webbing suspension in the Warbonnet Blackbird review and there isn't an easier suspension system on the market. I highly recommend carrying the extra ounces for the convenience of set up. In the picture above you will see I have one side of the suspension wrapped around the bishop sack. I do this for the head end of the suspension system, so that I can easily identify which way I would like to be facing.

The RidgeRunner set up literally takes less than a minute. As I stated above, the adjustable webbing suspension is super fast.

The spreader bars are lightweight and can be supplemented with trekking poles and that method is explained on their website. The spreader bars and hardware are of good quality and lock into place with no sign of slippage.

view from inside the hammock

The RidgeRunner was super comfortable. I'm 6'1" and 200 lbs and had plenty of room. It felt more like laying in a bed than a hammock, I could easily change positions i.e. side lay-flat lay. The head area of the hammock has a taut section that simulates a pillow (one less thing to carry in your pack).

Another feature that I really like and you can see in the top picture are the internal "saddlebags" pockets. They hang on the exterior of the hammock so no room is lost inside the hammock (however the saddlebags can be accessed from inside the hammock). The saddlebags run on both side's of the RidgeRunner giving room to store gear as well as easy access to the storage area. I also had room at the head end of the hammock to store my fleece.

No-see-um netting tucked away in storage pocket

The No-see-um netting is of the same quality as the Warbonnet Blackbird. This netting is held up by a very effective adjustable bungee system.

Entry can be made on either side of the hammock because the netting zips and unzips around the entire hammock. This also allows the netting to be packed away at the foot end of the hammock in an affixed storage pocket (seen to the far right).

Warbonnet Outdoors also has specialized underquilts, undercovers, and tarps for the RidgeRunner to extend its use through the seasons. They also have something called a Spindrift Sock that encapsulates the entire hammock.

Check them out at http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/ridgerunner.php