>>321435i live in new england so i know your woes! last night i camped-out and it was all skeeters and flies, and the time before that there was snow and ice everwhere.
tell you what bro, my first hammock was a milsurp jungle hammock. it's like $35 (hunt around the web for the best price). it's all one piece, and easy as hell. it's just a little narrow (which for us skinny dudes isn't such a bad issue). also i've never had any critters big or small penetrate the netting. as you can see from my pic i did modify it by adding the dowel spreader bars. it makes the hammock more tipsy but it's very hard to sleep in without them, it closes-in too tight. i think Rothco™ is the major seller of these types of hammocks.
a proper sleeping bag (20ºF) with a fleece liner will keep you comfy down to around 50º outside, but when it starts getting colder at night (say oct-april) you'll need a sleeping pad or underquilt. the rothco hammock will lend itself very well to a pad because it's a perfect fit. if you get a fantsy hammock (my current hammock is the DD Jungle Hammock) you can't really get a pad in there, and you'll have to invest in an underquilt. It's amazing though - I camped-out in about 15º and between my inderquilt, sleeping bag and fleece bag, had no idea it was that cold. i was snug as a clam.
