Bridge Hammock

**funbun** · 08-28-2007, 08:09

Originally Posted by GrizzlyAdams

Yes, it would be tippier, although I don't know how long the spreader bars have to become before it is "too" tippy. There seems to be a fundamental tradeoff between stability and shoulder squeeze, as both are determined by the angle of the fabric from the shoulder to the spreader bar.

But yes, the poles hitting the tarp are going to be an issue. In mine, the 36" bar touches the tarp sides when I'm out of the hammock. I get another view inches of clearance once I'm in, but probably not as much as a foot. The next generation design we've been talking about with a lowered spreader bar will help that a lot --- you use a shorter spreader bar to get the same squeeze, and it's lower. The tippiness problem is reduced as well.

So as I talk though this, it seems to me that the lowered spreader bar version is the one you want to be looking at to get better spread without undo tippiness, and still fit under a tarp. Guess we'll have to make one guys, instead of just talking about it, or dreaming up equations about it

Grizz

Wow, I've been out of it for a couple weeks. I'll have to try this lower spreader bar version. Would the lower spreader bar be attached in the same way at the current upper spreader design? If so, wouldn't it be attached in a weaker spot on the fabric, thus causing it to tear more easily?

**GrizzlyAdams** · 08-28-2007, 08:19

Originally Posted by funbun

Wow, I've been out of it for a couple weeks. I'll have to try this lower spreader bar version. Would the lower spreader bar be attached in the same way at the current upper spreader design? If so, wouldn't it be attached in a weaker spot on the fabric, thus causing it to tear more easily?

keep reading my friend, you have 10's of posts yet to go. By the time you read this one, you'll have your question answered.

Grizz

**funbun** · 08-28-2007, 08:30

lol, I just finished reading. So I can modify my current rig with the secondary webbing instead of starting all over? If so that would be so much easier to mod on one, then once I figure everything out make another one from the ground up with all the mods included.

w00t! I ain't giving up on hammock camping yet.

**GrizzlyAdams** · 08-28-2007, 08:44

Originally Posted by funbun

lol, I just finished reading. So I can modify my current rig with the secondary webbing instead of starting all over? If so that would be so much easier to mod on one, then once I figure everything out make another one from the ground up with all the mods included.

w00t! I ain't giving up on hammock camping yet.

yes, you should be able to mod an existing bridge to sew in that secondary line.

Can't say yet whether that will work....but I'm hopeful. If the upper lines can take enough weight to provide stability, while the lower lines take enough to spread the body out, you could get a pretty wide shoulder spread with longish spreaders without the usual accompanying tippiness.

Grizz

**schrochem** · 08-28-2007, 09:04

Okay fellas, I'm going to throw this out there, just to throw it out there.
What would happen if we turned our current Bridge hammock sideways?
I think the ends might try to come together, or the hammock just wouldn't be comfortable, or not steady or......
A ridgeline could keep the sag where we want it but it would probably also take a lot of force.
Actually I bet the ends would just bunch up like a normal gathered hammock.

Or maybe not....
I'm having a hard time envisioning the damage.

**funbun** · 08-28-2007, 09:11

Isn't that what Bridge hammock are: banana hammocks turned sideways? If you turn them back, wouldn't you be back at square one?

**GrizzlyAdams** · 08-28-2007, 09:11

Originally Posted by schrochem

Okay fellas, I'm going to throw this out there, just to throw it out there.
What would happen if we turned our current Bridge hammock sideways?
I think the ends might try to come together, or the hammock just wouldn't be comfortable, or not steady or......
A ridgeline could keep the sag where we want it but it would probably also take a lot of force.
Actually I bet the ends would just bunch up like a normal gathered hammock.

Or maybe not....
I'm having a hard time envisioning the damage.

so the webbing is at the head and feet, the spreader bars are 7' long and the sides are open?

I think I fall out the first time I roll over.

Dutch likes it though, 'cause when he's gotta go, well, ....

maybe we need an electric kool-aid acid picture to help our imaginations

Grizz

**schrochem** · 08-28-2007, 09:19

no spreader bars
Just a lot fabric horizonatlly and not much vertical
We would still lay in it the same way, just be perpendicular to the trees....

**GrizzlyAdams** · 08-28-2007, 09:25

Originally Posted by schrochem

no spreader bars
Just a lot fabric horizonatlly and not much vertical
We would still lay in it the same way, just be perpendicular to the trees....

I suppose if you could find 4 trees, one per corner, it could work like one of those animal hammocks recently discussed in another thread. Make it really big and all sorts of possibilities open up

Not seeing how a ridgeline is attached orthogonal to the trees though. And funbun's right, we're back to the banana republic.

Grizz

**funbun** · 08-28-2007, 10:41

I've often read that a pad helps increase shoulder spread. so I'm guessing that the pad does, to a much lesser degree, what the lower spreader bars do?