Cheap DIY portable hammock stand

[NWAlabamaHiker]

I've searched for and read a lot about different (semi)portable hammock stands. I'm looking for something that could potentially be carried backpacking that would be relatively lightweight and compact. I know about the handy hammock - and it looks awesome, but I really don't have the money to drop on one right now. I ran across these instructions for what seems to be a relatively lightweight and cheap solution, but wanted to know if anyone here had any personal experience with a setup like this and if anyone knew specific reasons why this would not work. I'm specifically looking for a setup to hang on a beach with no trees and I will be setting up in the sand. I know I will have to stake it out very deep with long stakes on the sand, so I was thinking about making some stakes like in the instructions - but making them much longer.
Does anyone here have any thoughts about whether this setup will work or not? Thanks!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Free...Hammock-Stand/

[WaffleBox]

My only thought is I would strongly encourage you not to use paracord for the tie outs unless you are only going to be the hammock a short time. The cord will stretch and you hammock will sag more and more as the night goes on.

[GadgetUK437]

Does your budget run to one of these?
http://www.boatstogo.com/folding-hammock.asp

[GadgetUK437]

Worth considering a ridge pole, eliminates the issue of staking into sand

[NWAlabamaHiker]

My only thought is I would strongly encourage you not to use paracord for the tie outs unless you are only going to be the hammock a short time. The cord will stretch and you hammock will sag more and more as the night goes on.

Yeah, that was my thinking as well. I figured I'd use amsteel maybe? Thanks

[NWAlabamaHiker]

Does your budget run to one of these?
http://www.boatstogo.com/folding-hammock.asp

Thanks for your reply. I have looked at these before - but if I'm remembering correctly, these will only work for a short hammock (9' or so)? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Also it says it has a safe limit of 200 lbs. I weigh about 215-220.

[WaffleBox]

Yeah, that was my thinking as well. I figured I'd use amsteel maybe? Thanks

Amsteel would work just fine.

[lxzndr]

Thanks for your reply. I have looked at these before - but if I'm remembering correctly, these will only work for a short hammock (9' or so)? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Also it says it has a safe limit of 200 lbs. I weigh about 215-220.

Site says 112" between the hooks. so if your ridgeline in 112" or less should work fine .83 x 11 ft is 109"

Not sure on how they are calculating safe limit though.

[NWAlabamaHiker]

Site says 112" between the hooks. so if your ridgeline in 112" or less should work fine .83 x 11 ft is 109"

Not sure on how they are calculating safe limit though.

My hammock is 10.5' with a 106" ridgeline which should work, but I'm not sure how easy that will be to connect to frame with suspension. It looks like it would work maybe, I'm just a little concerned about weight limit I guess though.
Also the weight and size of the setup are a little concerning. Not quite as big of an issue as the other things (I highly doubt I'd ever carry it in a backpack hiking) but the concern is the nonetheless.

[WaffleBox]

My hammock is 10.5' with a 106" ridgeline which should work, but I'm not sure how easy that will be to connect to frame with suspension. It looks like it would work maybe, I'm just a little concerned about weight limit I guess though.
Also the weight and size of the setup are a little concerning. Not quite as big of an issue as the other things (I highly doubt I'd ever carry it in a backpack hiking) but the concern is the nonetheless.

More than likely the connection points on the stand are too low so even if the length works, the sag of the hammock will have you laying on the ground.