Hanging Failures? Guide for rookies?

**GeneH** · 07-25-2011, 03:23

Next spring's hiking season might just start out with me hanging between a couple of trees. What type of mistakes, failures, or otherwise bad hangs might I run into, being blessed with newness?

**Catavarie** · 07-25-2011, 03:48

CBS (Cold Buttocks Syndrome) Proper under insulation is a must for most people when it gets below 75ish.

Hanging too low. You really need hook on the trees atleast head height, higher if the span is further than about 12ft.

Tarp hitting hammock suspension/tarp lines and hammock suspension interfering with each other. Illustrated instructions found here courtesy of dejoha.

Empty your bladder before you crawl in, half asleep and needing to answer nature's call is not the time to try and figure out how you're supose to exit your hammock.

**GeneH** · 07-25-2011, 03:58

Originally Posted by Catavarie

CBS (Cold Buttocks Syndrome) Proper under insulation is a must for most people when it gets below 75ish.

Empty your bladder before you crawl in, half asleep and needing to answer nature's call is not the time to try and figure out how you're supose to exit your hammock.

In opposite order: ok, practice getting out a few times before turning in...

And - Hitting 40 deg F is not unusual at night. Good head's up. Thanks!

**TinaLouise** · 07-25-2011, 06:33

Always keep a check on all of your knots. Not only the ones that you will be tieing every night, but also the ones that stay tied and never get untied. For me, those are like the knots attaching my hammock to the suspension ropes. These knots need to be looked at to make sure they are not slipping.

TinaLouise

**olddog** · 07-25-2011, 07:29

Welcome aboard from Florida. Always check above your hang site for widowmakers.

**timabababaluka** · 07-25-2011, 08:31

Originally Posted by olddog

Welcome aboard from Florida. Always check above your hang site for widowmakers.

Also, always check below your site for things like rocks, porquipines, shark teeth, bayonettes, or whatever. If you are unwilling to fall on it, it probably shouldn't be under you.

If you use a sheet bend to attach your hammock to your whoopies, for the love of heaven, make sure to dedicate enough hammock material to your knots (and if you find out the hard way that you didn't, for the love of heaven, make sure to fix BOTH sides of the hammock, not just the one that failed (= fail x2)).

I admit to nothing, but experiences like those mentioned above could cause a person to live by the credo "never hang higher than you are willing to fall." All hypothetical, of course.

**Mancat** · 07-25-2011, 08:45

Don't use paracord for any part of your hammocks suspension. Make sure your down coat is in a waterproof bag under your tarp(just in case one of your stakes pulls in the middle of the night.

**JaxHiker** · 07-25-2011, 09:01

Not a rookie mistake really, but an oversight. I put the hammock up (using ring buckles) and I was cold, wet, and in a hurry. I didn't put a knot on the other side of the buckles and when I sat down I ended up on my butt on the ground. Pay attention to what you're doing.

**GeneH** · 07-25-2011, 10:26

Originally Posted by timabababaluka

If you are unwilling to fall on it, it probably shouldn't be under you.

Hmmm. One reason for using a hammock is ground not suitable for tents. I'll have to keep that in mind. I'll start another thread later on "site selection" after I search the forums for a while.

Good list! :-)

- Widow makers above (Birch trees!) and pain below.
- Check all knots and suspension regularly, but especially when setting up.
- No paracord suspension components.
- Waterproof bags for everything. (current practice)
- Pay attention!