Why asym?

[danielleung314]

Dear all,

I am a newbie here and I started to love hammock camping as I read the threads here! And I am planing to get myself a hammock, DIY or buy it from the stores but I have a problem here deciding what to make/buy.

Why you guys go for an asym hammock? whats so good about being asym?

Sorry for my poor english as i am not a native english speaker.Thanks for answering!

Yiu

[TinaLouise]

asym means that you lay in the hammock sort of sideways or off center of the main suspension ropes going to the trees. This tends to cause the hammock to feel more flat to you and to open up the inside of the hammock a bit more. With hammocks that lay right down the center, the hammock is more banana shaped and also more clastiphobic.

[Redoleary]

You can however, and should, lie asym/diagonal in a "straight" hammock. So an asym hammock is built basically in the shape that you will lie in, while a standard "straight" gathered end hammock you will lie diagonally in and the fabric will just conform to you rather than being cut that way. I have never been in an asym hammock, only "straight" hammocks that I have laid asym in.

歡迎! to the forums also.

[Str1der]

If you imagine a line running straight down the middle of the hammock from foot end to head end, that is the main axis of the hammock. If you lie along that line, the hammock will sag down in the middle where you are most heavy and will not be very flat. If you lie assymetrically (with head to one side of the line and feet to the other side), you will force the hammock to stretch out some and become flatter. You should do this on any hammock. Assym hammocks are simply designed with this in mind. They often have extra fabric on the sides to allow you to lie further off axis (flatter), like the footbox in the Warbonnet Blackbird.

Happy hanging!

[danielleung314]

You can however, and should, lie asym/diagonal in a "straight" hammock. So an asym hammock is built basically in the shape that you will lie in, while a standard "straight" gathered end hammock you will lie diagonally in and the fabric will just conform to you rather than being cut that way. I have never been in an asym hammock, only "straight" hammocks that I have laid asym in.

歡迎! to the forums also.

I see! So basically there is no true asym hammock on the market, it all depends on how you lie in the hammock, can i say that? I guess I will follow the DIY hennessy thread to make one and add some modifications.

btw, your greeting is so warm! The last thing here I thought I could see are chinese words! Actually, I think I am the first guy from Hong Kong here. Hammock camping is a cold topic here (Havn't heard of anyone mentioning it). XD

[danielleung314]

If you imagine a line running straight down the middle of the hammock from foot end to head end, that is the main axis of the hammock. If you lie along that line, the hammock will sag down in the middle where you are most heavy and will not be very flat. If you lie assymetrically (with head to one side of the line and feet to the other side), you will force the hammock to stretch out some and become flatter. You should do this on any hammock. Assym hammocks are simply designed with this in mind. They often have extra fabric on the sides to allow you to lie further off axis (flatter), like the footbox in the Warbonnet Blackbird.

Happy hanging!

Thank you! Hopefully I will have my first hammock this month!

[ofceb]

My first hammock was a standard outdoor hammock from Kmart, no net. I laid in it diagonally and was real comfortable. I just got the WBBB which is cut for the diagonal lay, slept in it last night for the first time. I have to get used to it.

[FLRider]

I see! So basically there is no true asym hammock on the market, it all depends on how you lie in the hammock, can i say that? I guess I will follow the DIY hennessy thread to make one and add some modifications.

Pretty much, yes. As far as I know, anyway.

It only really seems to matter when an integral bug net is involved; the asymmetrical tie-outs help with keeping the netting away from your face and feet (since mosquitoes can bite through the netting if you're pressed against it).

[Redoleary]

Well I don't actually know chinese, but I can copy and paste with the best of them.
You might also want to check out The Ultimate Hang, tons of great info in there. There is a Kindle version so you can get instant gratification.

[mattmacman]

@ Redoleary, google translate helped to make sure i didn't fail French when it was compulsory in the lower years of school =)