Hyperextended knees??

**Scooter** · 09-08-2010, 08:33

Hello, Clark-O-Philes ...

I have a question regarding how you lay in a Clark hammock. Most other hammocks tout being able to lay flat on the diagonal. Clark has you lay with your feet slighly elevated above the head in more of a banana style hang. With this being said, do you ever have problems with your knees being hyperextended after laying in the hammock for a while? If so, how do you counter it? Is it as simple as laying on your side, or do you put something under your knees when laying on your back? This would seem to be an important issue for me as I've had 4 knee surgeries and I'm giving serious consideration to the Clark NX-200. Any insight/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

**HappyCamper** · 09-08-2010, 09:15

I put a stuff sack with extra clothes under my knees no matter what hammock I'm in.

**BillyBob58** · 09-08-2010, 09:23

Originally Posted by HappyCamper

I put a stuff sack with extra clothes under my knees no matter what hammock I'm in.

Ditto! Problem solved.

**Jsaults** · 09-08-2010, 09:39

I find I can lay anwhere from supine with my legs slightly splayed to full on my side with my legs in a "4" position, or amywhere in between.

Jim

**TinaLouise** · 09-08-2010, 11:34

I think because I'm 5 foot tall that I've got more room inside the Clark than most. I'm just off center, with the foot end just slightly higher, on my side with one leg mostly straight and the other bent. Works for me. Mostly I sleep on my side with knees bent. I don't have any knee issues.
My tall husband has tried my hammock and it takes him about 30 seconds before he's complaining of his knees hurting. He refuses to put anything under his knees.
I reciently got a Hennessy which he tried out. This hammock is still to short for him but he said his knees didn't hurt. So I'm thinking that a lay down the middle hammock, like my Clark, is not for him. But a sideways laying one, like a blackbird, might just work fine.
One other thing about the Clark, I've found that I've got to get the angle and the sag just right. I've found that trees to close together are harder for me to get the hammock set up right. Getting the foot end higher is good but getting it to high... is bad!! And whoopies are the greatest invention since sliced bread. No more tieing and untieing knots to get the suppension "just right". Once I've got my hammock suppended right, it "feels" flat when I'm laying in it.

**Knotty** · 09-08-2010, 11:45

I use a pillow, jacket or stuff sack under my knees in every type of hammock. Have never tried a Clark but if you do have to lay pretty much down the center then some sort of knee support is a must. Not a fan of the lay down the center concept. Seems uncomfortable for both back and knees.

**bigbamaguy** · 09-08-2010, 11:46

Scooter:
I have the NX-200 and when I sleep in it I lay down the center on my back and sleep with my leg in a modified 4 position. This way I can stretch them and keep them from hyper-extending. I also pull the hammock a little tighter to flatten out the lay.