Hammock experiment #1. Fail

**GregB** · 08-18-2012, 15:38

I realized that a year or so ago my wife bought me a little ripstop nylon hammock for backpacking. I opened it up and decided to give it a try. I made some tree slings from some 1" climbing webbing, found some trees the right distance apart and gave it a try.

The hammock had about 20 nylon ropes going to a rolled edge at each end. As I tightened up the hammock to bring it up to height the entire hammock dropped. Every one of the 20 lines at one end broke at once. I grabbed all 20 of the lines at the other end and gave them a tug. I was able to break the entire bundle.

OK, so cheap, toy travel hammocks don't work. Also, the entire hammock was only about 6'long so I probably wouldn't fit in it anyway.

So I'm off to Joann's to find some fabric and REI to get some good quality line. I'm going to make a real hammock.

**WetRivrRat** · 08-18-2012, 15:43

Ha hah! Go forth and Conquer!

**ninjahamockman** · 08-18-2012, 15:56

That is great

you can get some awesome tips from Just Jeff's blog he makes alot of his own gear and I think it is pretty awesome.

http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGear.html

**Rolloff** · 08-18-2012, 17:48

Cut it off. Hem the ends up. Gather and whip the ends, and reattach the suspension. Now you have a pretty nice gear hammock, and with any luck might be able to use it for a camp chair.

**GregB** · 08-18-2012, 19:12

Originally Posted by Rolloff

Cut it off. Hem the ends up. Gather and whip the ends, and reattach the suspension. Now you have a pretty nice gear hammock, and with any luck might be able to use it for a camp chair.

That's a good idea. Or, I may have a grand daughter hammock.

I did find Just Jeff's page. That's essentially what I'm going to build.

**Ramblinrev** · 08-18-2012, 19:58

Very important step... This is crucial but don't use it now. When the wife starts to complain about the DIY mess and expense look her squarely in the eye and say, "Well it's all your fault. If you had bought me a good hammock to start with we wouldn't be here!" Under no circumstances allow her to respond, "If I had known what was coming I wouldn't have bought it for you start with." That is a low blow and must not be allowed.

**GregB** · 08-18-2012, 22:02

Ramblin' Rev:

Just checking, is that advice suppose to result in me sleeping outside in the hammock? 'Cause I don't think it went as well as I expected.