Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Clayton, NC
    Posts
    3

    Ridgeline Tension

    Ok, while I am sure this has been asked a thousand times, I can't find the thread, so here we go.

    A 250 lb male, I have one expedition and one explorer deluxe. I have worked out most of the setup bugs, stretched the lines, tried this and that and, for the most part, I am exceedingly happy.

    That said, everytime I climb in my hammock, I touch the ridgeline and am just pain frightened at the tension. We are talking guitar string tension, tight enough to get a note out of.

    So I ask, is that normal? If not, then clearly I have a setup issue.

    Thoughts???

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    fort collins, co
    Posts
    4,648
    Images
    47
    yeah, it's too tight, people have broken them like that, try hanging the hammock so the suspension lines are 25 degrees or so before it even gets weighted.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Doraville, GA
    Posts
    946
    Images
    23
    Right, you need to hang them higher with longer span distances between trees. I think the explorer deluxe will need to be hung a little higher than the expedition at the same span distances. If you pull them taut initially, then the hammock drops more when you get in. It is easier to hang them initially with some sag and it puts less stress of the suspension system (ridgeline and hammock ropes that attach to the tree hugger webbing).

    Maybe the attached sketches that I made will help visualize what is going on. They are my best guess for someone that is 6 foot tall. How tall you are will influence how high you want the the hammock to end up off the ground. I think the HUBA has the same dimensions as your expedition.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Youngblood AT2000

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Oregon
    Hammock
    HH Exp A-Sym
    Tarp
    HH 70D "HEX" PU
    Posts
    149
    doesn't this effect the comfort of the hammock? It seems like with it hanging bowed like that it wouldn't be as comfortable or is my logic wrong?

  5. #5
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Milton, PA
    Hammock
    Hennessey Explorer Ultralight
    Tarp
    Hennessey Hex
    Insulation
    HH Super Shelter
    Suspension
    ring buckle
    Posts
    7,945
    Images
    101
    Your logic does not take into account the diagonal lie. Rather than following the centerline of the hammock you are diagonally across it. actually in a HH to some extent the more sag there is the more room you have for a diagonal. Of course there is a point of diminishing returns so the structural ridgeline can be tuned to each persons preference if you want to take the time to do it.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
    Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn

    We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series

    Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies

    Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    fort collins, co
    Posts
    4,648
    Images
    47
    well, the ridgeline is the same length weather you set the suspension tight or loose, meaning the distance from one end of the hammock to the other is always the length of the ridgeline, so the fabric wouldn't hang any different in either case, it's still 10 feet (or whatever) of fabric suspended from two points that are the same distance apart in both cases. the only difference is in what's going on with the suspension.

    and as far as the "sag" of the hammock fabric goes, the traditional way of using an end gathered hammock and probably the most popular and preferred way is to have plenty of sag in the fabric and get "flat" by laying diagonally. meaning the more sag the better (to an extent). since you lay diagonal, the actual curve of the loose unweighted fabric does not dictate the curve your body will be in.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Doraville, GA
    Posts
    946
    Images
    23
    Quote Originally Posted by JohnH View Post
    doesn't this effect the comfort of the hammock? It seems like with it hanging bowed like that it wouldn't be as comfortable or is my logic wrong?
    The purpose of the structural ridgeline with the hammocks mentioned is to maintain the same sag for the hammock over a range of sag angles for the hammock suspension lines. So the comfort of the hammock shouldn't change. Without a structural ridgeline, it would change as you have suggested. But the bowing is only a problem if you lay down the center line of the the hammock. Many hammocks are designed to have a lot of bow with you laying off center on a diagonal, which provides for a flatter lay as your feet and upper body drop a bit.
    Youngblood AT2000

  8. #8
    New Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Bradford, England
    Hammock
    HH Explorer Deluxe Asym
    Insulation
    Vango Pad
    Posts
    2
    I'm glad I found this thread, I've only hung my hammock a couple of times (HH deluxe asym) and each time I tightened the suspension lines as tight as I could, I never considered that they should sag initially. My ridge-line was also drum tight! I'm heading home tonight, so tomorrow I'll experiment with slightly higher huggers, and much looser suspension lines before I get in. Having said this, if the lines aren't tight how do you stop the huggers falling down the trunk? they're pretty slippy stuff.

    I was about to post a thread asking about this... shows that the search function works!

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. Ridgeline Tension
      By gakayaker in forum Warbonnet Hammocks
      Replies: 30
      Last Post: 11-06-2015, 10:59
    2. ridgeline tension
      By Jharpphoto in forum Warbonnet Hammocks
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 08-19-2013, 15:38
    3. How much tension on the ridgeline?
      By K0m4 in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 13
      Last Post: 12-05-2012, 04:31
    4. tension on ridgeline
      By mrsmileyns in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 07-21-2012, 10:00
    5. ridgeline tension
      By weaver2469 in forum Warbonnet Hammocks
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 09-18-2011, 07:30

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •