Contact: Mike Brown FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cell Phone: 207-619-0592
Email: AlpineHammock@gmail.com
Twitter: @AlpineHammock
Alpine Hammocks – Redefining Fast and Light Outdoor Travel
Two young engineers from Boston bring their “alpine-style” project to Kickstarter
The Alpine Hammock is a weatherproof one-man shelter that can be used in the outdoors both as a traditional hammock as well as a bivy sack. This patent-pending design is the creation of two young engineering graduates from Tufts University, Mike Brown and Ryan Stolp. “We have both hiked and climbed with hammocks, bivy sacks, and one-man tents but we were dissatisfied with the tradeoffs that we had to make between the available options on the market,” says Brown. So one day they decided that there had to be a better solution for fast and light traveling in the mountains. This led to the creation of the Alpine Hammock.
After several rounds of prototyping, they have created sleek and functional prototypes out of waterproof materials and have tested them in both the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It’s a project they’re very excited about. However, “As recent college graduates, our student loans limit our ability to fund the project ourselves,” says Stolp. Therefore, Ryan and Mike have taken their idea to Kickstarter.com in an attempt to raise $40,000 in 30 days.
While the Alpine Hammock incorporates design components from both the hammock and bivy sack, it is a significantly more versatile product than either option. “We pulled the powerful features of both systems, and combined them in a way that preserves the functionality and integrity of both the hammock and bivy experience, in a single, lightweight and capable product,” says Stolp. It can be used up in the trees as a traditional nylon hammock and in the event of poor weather, the built-in bug net and waterproof-breathable rain fly can be zipped up for protection from the elements. This self-contained, compact design makes the set-up and tear-down fast and easy because there’s no need for additional rain tarps and multiple tie-out points as is common with most backpacking hammocks. When traveling in areas above the tree-line or without trees in general, the Alpine Hammock can simply be used on the ground as a traditional free-standing bivy sack.
Kickstarter campaigns operate under an “all-or-nothing” funding model so if the Alpine Hammock project doesn’t reach it’s goal at the end of 30 days then it might be years before you’ll see it on the market. To follow their project, be sure to find them on Twitter (@AlpineHammock) and Facebook and spread the word to your social media networks. Consider donating as little as $1 to help their project come to life. If you decide to donate more, you might be among the first in the world to travel in the mountains with an Alpine Hammock.
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If you’d like more information about the Alpine Hammock Project, or if you’d like to schedule an interview with Mike or Ryan please email AlpineHammock@gmail.com or send them a tweet @AlpineHammock.
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Mike Brown studied Biomedical Engineering (B.S.) and Engineering Management (M.S.) at Tufts University and currently works as a Mechanical Engineer in greater Boston. He is a Tufts Business Plan winner, a MassChallenge Alumni, and a recipient of entrepreneurial scholarships. Ryan Stolp studied Engineering Psychology (B.S.) at Tufts University is currently working with the forest service. He has designed and built multiple backpacks specific to both rock and ice climbing. Both engineers were avid members of the Tufts Mountain Club and belong to a Boston-based climbing group called VICE: Vertical Ice Climbing Enthusiasts. Their technical design skills, entrepreneurial savvy, and experience in the mountains makes them a great pair to tackle the challenge of bringing the Alpine Hammock into the world.
The Alpine Hammock on day 5 of backpacking from Purgatory Flats through the Vallecito Trail in Colorado
The Alpine Hammock in bivy sack mode near Columbine Lake in the Weminuche Wilderness of Colorado.
