First real hang-knees hurt

**Two Rivers** · 10-15-2010, 18:53

Just came back from a solo camping trip in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness. Had a real good time. This was my first time to camp using a hammock. Slept really good. Not near as hard on the old back, but my knees hurt. So much so that it made the pack out pretty tough. I was hanging in a Claytor jungle hammock.
What might be the cause of the hyper extended knees ? Except for that everything was fine.

Scott

**Running Feather** · 10-15-2010, 19:48

If you sleep on the diagonal the hammock flattens out minimizing the hyper-extension effect. Some folks put a small pad or an article of clothing under their knees as well.

**mbiraman** · 10-15-2010, 19:48

Welcome to the forum. Allot of us put a pillow or coat etc under our knees when sleeping on our back to avoid hyper extension.

**cataraftgirl** · 10-15-2010, 20:06

I have a bad knee that makes hyperextension an even more painful experience. Things I've done are ..... sleep as diagonal as possible, put something under my knees, sleep with bad knee bent and good leg straight, and my favorite..... sleep kind of frog legged. The frog legged thing was very comfy, with feet kind of together. I have a Trek Light double hammock so there's lots of room to stretch out.
KJ
PS - Just got the bad knee replaced two weeks ago, so hopefully it's no longer my "bad" knee. Now it's my bionic knee.

**MikeN** · 10-15-2010, 20:36

Originally Posted by cataraftgirl

Now it's my bionic knee.

Congrats!! Do you make that "doodoodoodoodoo" noise when you run, now?

**Rob_** · 10-15-2010, 20:50

I had the same problem sleeping in an Eno hammock. I bought a Hennessey Explorer Deluxe which is an Asymetric hammock and that made a huge difference.

Going to be upgrading to a lighter Warbonnet Blackbird 1.7 DL, so I'll probably be selling the HH sometime soon.

**cataraftgirl** · 10-15-2010, 21:28

No running yet. Still working on bending the new knee and walking. Hope to be fully rehabbed & ready for the river & my hammock by spring.
I'm glad now that I got a double hammock instead of a single. More room to stretch out and get more diagonal.
KJ

**Two Rivers** · 10-15-2010, 22:21

Thanks or the info. So I take it, its quite common. I'll try the " something under my knees " thing next time. I couldnt seem to get to awful diagonal because of the way the hammock bunches all up at the ends.