>>638610The advantage over a bivy is comfort for many people.
For me, I can't sleep on the ground, even if I have a kick ass pad. I ache so bad when I wake up, I just can't do it.
In a hammock, I get better sleep than un my bed.
I agree, having the quilts, especially my winter set up is bulky, but it makes up for it in comfort.
Also, when you're in a tent or bivy, you're just laying in a bag in the woods, very isloated. Being in a hammock is open, and it's freaking awesome. Some may not like that, but damn it was an absolute revelation to me my first night out. I couldn't go back to a tent.
In my area, another advantage is potential camping spots. There's tree everywhere, I mean everywhere. There aren't that many nice flat areas in many of my favorite spots. In my hammock I can hang on a hill, or really anywhere. Out west, where trees are limited, def bring a tent or bivy.
A bivy does offer more protection from weather unless you have a really impressive winter tarp setup for your hammock. Even then, a bivy is more weatherproof.
