Fabric Stretch In A Bridge Hammock

I see a lot of folks are talking about using polyester or other fabrics that don't stretch in their gathered end hammock. I'm looking to do it in with a bridge hammock though. The bridge hammocks are a bit more finnicky about dimensions if you want a flat lay, and I would think that switching from Nylon to Polyester would create some fairly significant changes in performance.

Rolling it around in my head, it seems like it would actually give the bridge a much flatter lay if you weren't sinking in to the fabric in the middle where your weight is greatest. Has anybody tried this yet? Is there anything to be cautious of when designing a bridge with a fabric that doesn't stretch?

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Originally Posted by Frost

I see a lot of folks are talking about using polyester or other fabrics that don't stretch in their gathered end hammock. I'm looking to do it in with a bridge hammock though. The bridge hammocks are a bit more finnicky about dimensions if you want a flat lay, and I would think that switching from Nylon to Polyester would create some fairly significant changes in performance.

Rolling it around in my head, it seems like it would actually give the bridge a much flatter lay if you weren't sinking in to the fabric in the middle where your weight is greatest. Has anybody tried this yet? Is there anything to be cautious of when designing a bridge with a fabric that doesn't stretch?

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I made a bridge hammock of the crinkle polyester taffeta fabric that DIY Gear Supply sells. I suspect it comes from the tableclothsfactory.com site.

Here are the details.

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=54951

I still have the end caps to attach to the hammock body. These will be 1.1 ripstop nylon (already have it and to reduce weight). I also have a BMBH (original) and I found that with the nylon it stretched a fair amount and really hugged you tight. The shorter spreader bar width at 31" also plays a role in the snugger fit as well.

I find my 36" spreader bar width and the polyester fabric to be much more comfortable for me. I have broad shoulders and a fair amount of girth in midsection area ;).

The only real finicky part of dimensions for a bridge hammock is calculating your suspension arc and ensuring it is symmetric on both sides of the hammock. GrizzlyAdams goes over this aspect in detail on his video series on the construction of a Rhino Bridge.

Cheers

Brian

Tee Dee discussed polyester in bridges in this thread

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=8537

I've been quite happy with the 1.4 oz (or so) poly I used in mine.

once upon a time Rockywoods Outdoors fabric carried lightweight polyester microfiber in something close to 2.0 oz/yd^2. I check every so often, but what I find is heavier stuff, 3.3 oz/yd^2 is the current lightest weight.

Anyway, I built a number of bridge hammocks using this stuff, and very definitely there is less stretch, and a flatter lay. I'd lay in a supply of it again if I could find it!

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Originally Posted by GrizzlyAdams

once upon a time Rockywoods Outdoors fabric carried lightweight polyester microfiber in something close to 2.0 oz/yd^2. I check every so often, but what I find is heavier stuff, 3.3 oz/yd^2 is the current lightest weight.

Anyway, I built a number of bridge hammocks using this stuff, and very definitely there is less stretch, and a flatter lay. I'd lay in a supply of it again if I could find it!

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For the record, I believe the crinkle polyester taffeta fabric (table cloth) comes in at about 2.5oz/yd^2. At least that is what PapaSmurf at Dream Hammocks says it comes to.

Cheers

Brian

this thread got me to googling around again and I found The rainshed.com, where they say
their polyester microfibers come in at 2.25 oz/yd^2.

Gave them a call, put in an order, we'll see how it works out.

I have made a few gathered end hammocks out of nylon and polyester, same weight, and the polyester definitely stretches less. It took more fiddling to get the whipping right.
Also, huge +1 for The Rainshed. They're great to get stuff from.

PF