Calculate the Hammock length?

**Tig3rch3n** · 03-05-2016, 07:04

Hey Guys,

I just came back from my 11 month New Zealand Trip. I used my Hammock about 40% of the time and have some things to improve.

Specially on some Department of Conservation Campsites, they have some Shelters (no pitching the tarp), but my Grand Trunk is to long for those.

One thing I thought about is, is there a rule of thumb or calculation method to get the minimum length for you Hammock?
Like my height+60 cm or height*1,4 or something? I read most of the DIY Threads but everyone just whet with the standard 11', 11'6" or 12' is that really the minimum comfy length?

Cheers
Aaron

**GadgetUK437** · 03-05-2016, 08:41

Longer is comfier, but tarp length/weight is a limiting factor. Obviously, shorter folk can get away with shorter hammocks, but I'd just go for the longest that will go under your shelter.
For narrow hangs, take a continuous loop and Prussik it over the end of your hammock at an appropriate length and use that as a suspension point.

**Snowball** · 03-05-2016, 08:44

I don’t think there is. None of us want a hammock longer than it needs to be but it’s about comfort.
We don’t have the same stature and we have different options about comfort.
I am 183cm tall and my limit is around 9 feet but I am not as comfortable in any of short hammocks as I am in the longer. When I was younger I could sleep on a rock but these days are long gone.
If you want something really short I think you have to make a bridge style hammock but made in a way so you can hang it with 4 cords without the spreader bar falling out. If its hung by all four corners maybe you don’t need any spreader bars and they could be replaced by dog-bones (cord) because the forces are going in the opposite direction.
Normally a bridge hammock including the triangles (cords) is just as long as a GE hammock.

It doesn’t matter what we say it’s about you and what you find comfortable so you have to try it to see how short you are willing to go.

Edit.
If you can hang on a diagonal in the Shelters it may help you.

**Tig3rch3n** · 03-05-2016, 08:49

Sure longer is more compfy but is there a rough rule somehow?
I'm just 1.8 meter or 5'11"
Jup I switched to continuous loops before I left but the hammock was still to long for the shelter

But I see what you mean with the Prussik as gathered end, hmm jeah I guess I could live with that.
Thanks for the Tip

EDIT: Hmm I never thought about Bridge style Hammocks :? Maybe...
Jup I Endup hanging it Diagonal just on my continuous loops but the angle was a bit steep, like 40-45°

**GadgetUK437** · 03-05-2016, 08:49

And, of course, hammock width complicates matters. You could probably go shorter in wider hammock, get more diagonal. But available materials limit that.

**Snowball** · 03-05-2016, 09:06

No rule i know.
Alternative.png

Alternative in the situation (improvise).
IMG_20160228_145924 - Kopi.jpg

**hutzelbein** · 03-06-2016, 05:19

No, there is no rule - you can go as short as like. My advice would be to simply try out different lengths by gathering your current hammock at different lengths. Some people are not as sensitive towards discomfort, so you might be fine with a ~8' / 245cm hammock. For me it wouldn't be worth it. If I have to use a shelter, I would rather sleep on a pad on the ground than in a very short hammock.

By the way, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to use a hammock in a shelter. It depends how it is built and how you hang your hammock, but apparently there have been cases where hammock users have damaged / destroyed shelters in the past.

Originally Posted by Tig3rch3n

EDIT: Hmm I never thought about Bridge style Hammocks :? Maybe...

Bridge hammocks need more space than gathered ends. If you want to hang in tight spaces, a bridge is not the way to go...

Originally Posted by Snowball

Alternative in the situation (improvise).
IMG_20160228_145924 - Kopi.jpg

That is probably the best solution - but you can only do this with no-net hammocks. The biggest advantage is that you can still use the full length when you have more space.

**Macca81** · 03-06-2016, 16:31

My rule of thumb is making it as long as twice your height. But, even then some people like longer or shorter, but that's my starting point when I make them for people