>>995462ENO is fine, but I think pricey. I started with a Hammock Bliss, it was $20. I know people that made one out of a taffeta tablecloth and love it. Some people like to shit on anything, and I'm sure they have their reasons. The important thing is to get your ass in a sling and try. Try new gear, figure out what works for you, what doesn't work for you. Once you do that, you too can shit on others setups.
The back yard is great for testing, but lacking that, try car camping and bring a backup tent if it doesn't work. No weight penalty if you're not backpacking.
My recommendation for newbies:
Normally I'd say keep your eye on woot. Yukon Outfitters and Twisted Root Designs have cheap, decent hammocks on there all the time. Singles, doubles, with or without nets. You pick, top end is $40 or so. Grab their diamond rain fly for $20. Got a sleeping pad? Skip an underquilt for now. Got a sleeping bag? Skip a top quilt for now.
Included suspensions aren't usually great (ropes) get something like a daisy chain and caribiners to start.
This:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR1ZYJLis a surprisingly decent deal for a starter hammock with bug net and a simple suspension. The straps alone usually run $30. You'll still want a rain fly/tarp.
When I started I used a woobie blanket (military poncho liner) and Grabber emergency blanket/tarp as underqulit. Workable just below freezing for me. Eventually I got an underquilt. For top quilt, I used a sleeping bag until recently picking up a top quilt.
If the cheap shit worked, why did I switch?
Well, mainly I wanted something that required less field adjustment.
Tried a torso (3/4) length underquilt and discovered I'd rather have a full length because my feet get cold easily.
Got the synthetic top quilt because my down bag wouldn't be well suited for a particularly wet trip I had planned. I'll probably change again at some point, but for now I've got something that I like.
