Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 33
  1. #1
    Senior Member Mountainfitter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Florida
    Hammock
    DIY Hammock
    Tarp
    Cuben Hexalite
    Insulation
    InsuLite Foam
    Suspension
    TreeStrap/Whoopie
    Posts
    291

    Cuben Fiber Hammocks

    As some of you might know. I built and tested several cuben fiber hammocks over the last few months. I love how cuben fiber hammocks lay (flat) and felt like it was the perfect hammock material. I had even planned to offer them for sale in the future.

    I however have decided to abandon this idea after a hammock failed while being used by a beta tester last weekend. The tester was moving around in the hammock after spending a night in it when it failed. Luckily he was only 12" off soft ground and was un-injured. The hammock was built using CT2K.08 which is a .75oz a yard material and has a break strength of 105lbs/inch.

    The beta tester was testing the difference between the channel end and the gathered end. The failure took place 18" down from the gathered end which signifies this was a material issue and not a manufacturing issue. At first I thought it might have to do with how the end was "gathered" but after seeing pictures of the failure I realized that a failure like this could occur with a channel end as well.

    I sent the hammock to a Materials Engineer and a Materials Scientist and they concluded that the CT2K.08 might not be an appropriate material since prolonged overloading could cause a failure. They suggested that I use a heavier/stronger material but due to the nature of the material this would not guarantee anything.

    We are all fascinated by this awesome material but I think it has limitations and one of those limitations is being used as a hammock.

    I am not going to discredit the use of the heavier material at this time because I cannot say whether a failure would or could occur. I just want to offer this post as a disclaimer. If you decide to build a cuben fiber hammock please use the hammock with care.

    Here are some photos of the failure.








  2. #2
    Member jdempsey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Asheville, NC
    Posts
    87
    Man, that sucks... I was really hoping to see this develop into a viable UL option, although I've got to say I was never convinced laminated dyneema was appropriate for this application..


    The physical stresses that go on in hammocking seem complex. A featherweight woven dyneema would seem ideal to me..

    Honestly, the whole spectra/dyneema thing likely wont reach full potential until some superior material of the same sphere comes into existence which forces it to evolve (get cheaper).

  3. #3
    Senior Member SGT Rock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Maryville, TN
    Hammock
    Argon X90 Experimental hammock
    Tarp
    7'x9' cuben tarp
    Insulation
    Pads and quilts
    Suspension
    Kevlar + dynaglide
    Posts
    2,178
    Images
    92
    Thanks for the update. I was thinking about buying some of that stuff to try the idea out. Looks like I can save that time and money. Still sounds good as a tarp though.
    NO SNIVELING!
    www.hikinghq.net - Hiking H.Q.
    www.bmtguide.com - the BMT Thru Hiker's Guide

  4. #4
    Senior Member SmokeHouse's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Arkansas
    Hammock
    my 11' ers
    Tarp
    many of my tarps
    Insulation
    yeti, Incubators
    Suspension
    DIY Whoopie
    Posts
    1,211
    Images
    49
    WOW,,, thanks for the info... sorry it didn't work out, but better to know now than later.

  5. #5
    Senior Member BLUEFIN 774's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Newfoundland, Canada
    Hammock
    Hennessy ULBA with 2QZQ mod #4
    Tarp
    AHE Toxaway Tarp
    Insulation
    Hammockgear TQ/UQ
    Suspension
    WhoOpie Slings/DCs
    Posts
    785
    Too bad it did not work out. It Is much better to be safe when using this gear. I applaud you for letting the forum see the photos and warn others about the potential dangers of this material as it is now for use as a hammock.
    Take care,
    Bluefin


    Bluefin's Videos

  6. #6
    Senior Member NCPatrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    Custom OES tarp
    Insulation
    JRB Down UQ/TQ
    Suspension
    Whoopie slings
    Posts
    8,797
    Images
    40
    Wow, thanks for the pictures. That really puts it in perspective for me. Thanks for posting and saving folks a lot of time and $$$.


    "Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities."
    - Mark Twain
    “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”
    - John Burroughs

  7. #7
    Senior Member WV's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    southeast WV
    Hammock
    DIY
    Posts
    4,815
    Images
    208
    Mountainfitter,
    That's bad news for those of us who were planning to try cuben hammocks, but your willingness to share details and photos can only help your endeavors. Thanks!

  8. #8
    Senior Member Oh-No's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Smyrna, DE
    Hammock
    various homemade Speer type
    Tarp
    10' X 11' Cuben
    Insulation
    CCfoam, Down quilt
    Suspension
    various
    Posts
    440
    Images
    9
    What was the weight of the Beta tester?

  9. #9
    Senior Member ikemouser's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    ky
    Hammock
    WarBonnet BB 1.1 DBL
    Tarp
    Maccat Deluxe Spin
    Insulation
    JRB No Sniv + Yeti
    Suspension
    Whoppie Slingin'
    Posts
    1,480
    Also why not try a stronger cuben fiber?

  10. #10
    Senior Member Oh-No's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Smyrna, DE
    Hammock
    various homemade Speer type
    Tarp
    10' X 11' Cuben
    Insulation
    CCfoam, Down quilt
    Suspension
    various
    Posts
    440
    Images
    9
    Quote Originally Posted by ikemouser View Post
    Also why not try a stronger cuben fiber?
    If 0.75oz is not strong enough, then you are getting into the weight realm of 1.1oz nylon which is far cheaper than Cuben.

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Replies: 15
      Last Post: 11-25-2014, 22:24
    2. Hammock Gear Cuben Fiber tarp w doors 12' ridgeline with cuben sleeves
      By halfastronomical in forum [SOLD/WITHDRAWN] Items no longer available
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 11-23-2014, 14:00
    3. Cuben fiber tarp for two hammocks
      By NMardin in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 06-01-2013, 14:02
    4. Cuben Fiber Down Air Pad?
      By packdaddy in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 08-15-2012, 21:15
    5. Cuben Fiber
      By Smarteee in forum Fabrics
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 06-04-2011, 21:08

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •