Hammock Stand Help

**Carolinahammockhanger** · 08-07-2009, 10:13

I have some ENO hammocks which I love, but at home I have no trees or anything else to hang em on. I've seen the diy stands and think its cool you guys can make your own stuff, but I don't have the tools to do so. I'm wanting to buy a stand. I was looking at the Pawelys Island stand with a 600lb capacity. It seems more stout than other stands I've looked at. I like the weight capacity of 600lb, so I can lounge with my kid in it. So my question is, is there a reason I shouldn't get the pawley's island stand? And if not what other commercial stand do you guys recommend? Thanks!

**Frawg** · 08-07-2009, 11:01

I recently picked up a similar looking used stand on Craig's List and have been using it lately:

It holds my 190 pounds okay, although there's a fair amount of flex in the setup and some free play in the connections. Despite how tightly the hammock appears to be strung in the picture, I still end up no higher than about 12 inches above ground in it.

FWIW...

**BillyBob58** · 08-07-2009, 11:28

That one looks similar to my Byers of Maine stand. I got it a while back on a good sale price, don't know what they are going for now. But it gets the job done and is reasonably portable.

I don't have any knowledge of the Pawelys Island stand. I think the Byers is only rated at 400 lbs. There is a good bit of flex. With my ridge line hammocks, I have to string them real tight to get some pre-flex going. Then when I get in there is some more flex, so RL tension is about right. After this flex, I am often close to the ground, especially with my RL hammocks. With my Claytor, I always am well above the ground.

However, lately I have not had quite as much trouble staying above the ground. I bought an extension bar, but I may have wasted my money. As we all know, the farther apart the tres, the higher you must put the straps, right? Well, unless you rig up some kind of height extender ( which would be nice), youcan't go very high with the Byer. But to my surprise, I was able to actually adjust the stand for a good 6" less than max length even when not using the extender bar. The surprise was that this left me enough length even for my longest hammock, like the Safari and Claytor. Then if I adjust so that (after whatever tensioning and pre-flex is needed) I only have a few inches of suspension between the hammack end and stand attachment, I stay up pretty good.

The biggest problem is the Safari, because it hangs so far below it's RL. But with some of the above tricks, I am staying high enough above ground even with it. But with my Claytor, I don't have to fool with any of this. At worst, maybe just hang it with a bit less sag than usual. Then when the bars flex, I am just right and well off the ground.

**Cannibal** · 08-07-2009, 11:39

If I were to buy a commercial stand, I'd want this one. Mostly because it's adjustable and should accommodate any of my camping hammocks.

**Rain Man** · 08-07-2009, 11:48

Originally Posted by Cannibal

If I were to buy a commercial stand, I'd want this one. Mostly because it's adjustable and should accommodate any of my camping hammocks.

OUCH... just looking at that one scares me. For no good reason, it has those two big knobs sticking UP right under your backbone. Any break or slippage, and you're landing on those things. YIKES.

In any event, 350 lb rating just isn't enough for two adults, so it'd be a one-person stand for the most part.

Rain Man

.

**Riverpirate** · 08-13-2009, 08:35

I use the Pawleys Island in my yard almost every day. It will hold any of the hammocks I have and I have 4 different manufacturers. When I want to use a tarp I use a couple of tent poles at the ends to hang the tarp from.

**gargoyle** · 08-13-2009, 10:52

http://http://design.spotcoolstuff.c...o/best-hammock
This one is a beauty. Just a bit pricey.

**animalcontrol** · 08-13-2009, 10:57

Originally Posted by Riverpirate

I use the Pawleys Island in my yard almost every day. It will hold any of the hammocks I have and I have 4 different manufacturers. When I want to use a tarp I use a couple of tent poles at the ends to hang the tarp from.

I had a Pawley Island stand that I used inside. I returned it (and got a Byers of Maine stand - luving it!) because it hung so low...I could overtighten the hammock or lay on the ground

Did you have that problem?

**animalcontrol** · 08-13-2009, 11:00

Originally Posted by Rain Man

OUCH... just looking at that one scares me. For no good reason, it has those two big knobs sticking UP right under your backbone. Any break or slippage, and you're landing on those things. YIKES.

In any event, 350 lb rating just isn't enough for two adults, so it'd be a one-person stand for the most part.

Rain Man

.

I see your point Rain Man...those knobs would hurt!
I also use that stand...I while the knobs would hurt, but so would the floor support tube so I just don't fall down!

**Riverpirate** · 08-13-2009, 14:03

Originally Posted by animalcontrol

I had a Pawley Island stand that I used inside. I returned it (and got a Byers of Maine stand - luving it!) because it hung so low...I could overtighten the hammock or lay on the ground

Did you have that problem?

No but I normally use my Clarks which like tight hangs.