Has anyone used the Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Hammock? Its been 20+ years since I used a hammock and would like to get back into hammocking. This looks like a decent entry hammock, maybe even as cheap as a DYI, but I'd like some input before I go with it.

I don't have any experience with this brand. It looks similar to a Claytor but without the double bottom. I see it is available at Campmor for ~ $40 which is a pretty good price. It only comes with 10' of rope on each end so you'll probably need some slap straps or replace the ropes with 15' straps.

Jump over to HammockForums.net and search 'grand trunk' in titles only and you'll get plenty of info

Grand Trunk is the new name for The Travel Hammock" company. It is a good entry level hammock, however like with most backpacking gear you are probably better off going immediately with a higher quality hammock with the features you desire.

The warbonnet blackbird is all the rage right now in the hammocking community, I personally have not had the chance to try it. I have a Claytor hammock, it is excellent.

Haven't used the Skeeter Beeter but I have seen them in REI. You will need to alter the suspension, but some polypro strapping is cheap at strapworks.

For about double the cost, either a Hennessy or Blackbird has bugnetting, straps, storage, and tie outs to stabilize the hammock sway. It depends on what you really want - plenty of people use ENO or Byers or Travel Hammocks. The Blackbird would be more expensive by the time you get a tarp as well but is more like a BMW; the Hennessy (have one of those too) is sort of the VW of hammocks, everyone starts in one and upgrades, it seems.

Also remember you will need a tarp in addition to the hammock - the funky forest tarp at Grand Trunk is the same cost as the hammock, so you will be spending 160 plus tax/shipping. An eighty dollar tarp is cheap, comparatively speaking, but I would go with the mac cat for about 100.

I was planning on starting with a 9' Noah's Tarp I already have for a trial run and upgrading the tarp if I get hooked. How about DYI? Am I better starting with a basic hammock or going DYI with a Speer type?

that depends on how much time and effort you want to spend...

Thought you might be interested - right now someone's got a Claytor Expedition in the for sale forum at hammockforums. 110 for the hammock and a small tarp.
http://www.mosquitohammock.com/

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7419

Stuff goes on sale second hand over there often - you might scan through daily, the good stuff goes fast. There's been no complaints that I've seen over there on sales gone bad, and you might just pick up a good deal.

For DIY there's lots of instructions floating around - Risk has a Z hammock that makes a decent pad pocket. http://www.imrisk.com/zhammock/zhammock.htm

You can pick up 1.1 or 1.7 ripstop nylon at a variety of places, online and off - it has been spotted in the bargain bin at Walmart which is closing out fabrics and selling off stock on hand. Can also order from Thru-Hiker, Seattle Fabrics, and other online retailers - factory seconds work just as well. Strapping for suspension can be picked up at strapworks. Nylon stretches and keeps stretching, poly/polypro stretches and stops stretching on successive hangs.