what about the young 'uns?

**te-wa** · 06-22-2008, 18:56

HangnOut posted a kids hammock 4 sale a lil while ago and it got me thinking, how many hangers on here have kids that like to be just like the grownups and go out on hangs with you? or how often do your kids want to hang/fight over your big hammock when you're just out in the yard?

Im liking the idea of making a small hammock, complete with fly, just like the real deal but scaled down. I'll likely do a gathered end style about 5' long (up to 4' kid, maybe 100#'s) and a fully functional ridgeline, and mini cat cut hex tarp. For now, lets call it the Kiddy Kat.

Does anyone think its worth the effort or just too "authentic" for a kid?

**Ramblinrev** · 06-22-2008, 20:44

Kids are _always_ worth the effort. And they will never forget the effort made... Just make sure you teach them to hang their own set up. With perks come responsibilities.

**TDunc** · 06-22-2008, 21:03

Mine are 12 and 13 and they hang in their own full size. I did not want to make a small version and then have to do it all over again soon.. Growth season you know!

They do well except when it is dark and they are tired. at all other times they do well.

**FreeTheWeasel** · 06-22-2008, 23:06

My daughter is now 7 and she's been hanging as long as I have been which is something over a year now. She loves it, but before I placed the order for both our hammocks, I decided to get hers full sized as well so that we could have mix and match insulation. I did manage to get one of the purple hammocks that Hennessy had on their odds and ends sale so she was quite happy with it.

FreeTheWeasel

**QChan** · 06-22-2008, 23:37

I think that the "kiddy kat" would be awesome for younger kids. Kids know when somthing is made special for them and they love it!

I don't have kids myself, I'm just speaking from what I hear from the kids I work with.

**gunn parker** · 06-22-2008, 23:44

Hi
My daughter is now ten, we were to go out last weekend but she came down sick so we have re planned it for this weekend.
I made her a kids size hammock that she loved but quickly out grew it. Now she has a full size one and I now don't have to make another so soon.
Gunn

**animalcontrol** · 06-23-2008, 07:10

Since I purchased my 2nd hammock, I gave my 11 yr old son my HH Exped. He has been backpacking with me since he was 5 and always slept on the ground w/me.

His first full night was last Sat (he was a little nervous)...The next morning he asked why everyone didn't hang?! I fully expect to have to field questions about setting it up in his room soon!

**NCPatrick** · 06-23-2008, 07:36

My daughters are 6, 8, and 10.

I just got back from an overnighter hiking trip at Mt. Rogers NRA with my 8 year old. She and I (and our friends, Ashman and his 8 year old daughter) weathered a big thunderstorm overnight. She slept in a full sized HH Expedition, and under a JRB Hammock Hut tarp, which came in very handy during the storm.

Last year I made my oldest daughter a purple HH inspired hammock, based on HC4U's directions on this site, and will soon make my other 2 daughters their own as well (pink and lt. purple), as soon as I finish making my niece's (green). These have been in the works for a while, but now it's time to crank them out.

So far, everyone likes full sized hammocks, (mostly because they don't know any different - and they like what they get) and like FTW above, it's easier to mix and match the insulation. I figure they can grow into them too.

**te-wa** · 06-23-2008, 10:26

I had this zany idea to make a hammock for my almost 2 year old boy, and so far I have the fly done (the kiddy kat)
its a scaled down version of BlackCat, w/ 7' ridgeline and 5' 6" wide max. I was going to get some ripstop and do a 6' channel end hammock that I think would fit well under the hex tarp. I thought it would be great for a)when Im testing in the yard and I can tell he wants to imitate, b)when we do real car camping trips he'll have his own lounger, c) it should be large enought to last until he is 5-6 and by then he will have already used it backpacking. Of course at that age I would have to make another, but thats 4 years worth of use for a fully functional "just like daddy's" hammock + fly.
thanks for everyones stories, and opinions. Keep em coming!

*edit: I added this pic of the Kiddy Kat atop a MacCat Micro. It (the KK) is 7x5'6"
total weight is 5.9 oz

**Iafte** · 06-23-2008, 11:18

My boys are 7 and 9. They both have full size DIY hammocks. I'm taking them out next week for their first multi day hiking trip. Should be fun.

Nice part of full size is I can have friends use them if they want.