Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
  1. #1
    cougarmeat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Bend, OR
    Hammock
    WBBB, WBRR, WL LiteOwl
    Tarp
    OES, WL BullFro
    Insulation
    HG UQ, TQ, WB UQ
    Suspension
    Python Straps
    Posts
    3,759

    Feet High or Low question

    When my grounder friends look for a tent sight, given a choice, they prefer their feet a little lower than their head - something about the blood not rushing to the head makes it easier to sleep. Regardless of the "reason", slightly lower feet is the preference.

    When reading about Hammock Hangs, I often read that many like the foot end to be a bit higher. The next sentences usually makes a comment about the resulting "flat" feeling.

    I'm a little puzzled about this apparent Tent = feet lower, hammock = feet higher paradox.

    Is it because the weight distribution of a hammock results in a "feet higher" becoming "feet level" once the hammock is loaded with a body?

  2. #2
    Senior Member DivaB's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Newark, OH
    Hammock
    DIY Extra Wide & Long Tablecloth
    Tarp
    Funky & GG Tarps
    Insulation
    DIY down UQ
    Suspension
    continuous L. Amst
    Posts
    3,528
    Yes.

    I almost have to hang my feet about a foot higher....probably due to my bigger than what should be center of gravity

    Keeps me flatter and keeps me from sliding down during the night, and my bedding items stay put better.

  3. #3
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    White Mountains, New Hampshire
    Hammock
    DIY, WBBB & Switchback
    Tarp
    HG cuben,OES Spinn
    Insulation
    DIY 3/4 UQ/TQ, UGQ
    Suspension
    Dynaglide / Dutch
    Posts
    10,950
    Images
    39
    Hang with your foot end a few inches higher than the head end. This will keep your body balanced.

    The problem with a level hammock is that your torso is heavier than your legs and hence will be pulled down to the lowest point in the hammock by gravity. This will in effect drive your feet up toward the foot of the hammock.

    By hanging the hammock on a slight slant, you effectively move the lowest point in the hammock a bit toward you torso.
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  4. #4
    Senior Member dammfast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Slayton, MN
    Hammock
    Gt UL, 1.7 wbbb
    Tarp
    GG, monsoon,suprfl
    Insulation
    PLUQ, jarbidge, di
    Suspension
    Whoopie wb-strap
    Posts
    467
    Images
    6
    to keep you from sliding down towards the foot end of the hammock you raise the foot end a little. Your center of gravity is somewhere in your belly center of gravity is going to seek the lowest point.
    Dammfast

    “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”

    ― Mark Twain

  5. #5
    Senior Member DemostiX's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Like Lewis & Clark: Wintrin' o/t Columbia again: PDX
    Hammock
    Clark w 2QZQ mod,Tropical, NX;Nano
    Tarp
    Clark micro
    Insulation
    Major down
    Suspension
    7/64 SK75 +strap
    Posts
    2,322
    Images
    13
    Quote Originally Posted by [email protected] View Post
    When my grounder friends look for a tent sight, given a choice, they prefer their feet a little lower than their head - something about the blood not rushing to the head makes it easier to sleep. Regardless of the "reason", slightly lower feet is the preference.
    <snip>
    Are you sure you are reporting this correctly? Have they all put spacers under the legs at the head of their beds at home, too? If not.......why not? I wonder if, instead, it is that given non-level ground, they'd rather their feet find and avoid rocks than their head and arms wake them up when doing that. How they'd slide into second or third base......

    I agree that more attention ought to be given to this. I don't understand why many people take time to center the hammock between trees, except authority and then habit. I always hang the foot end higher and shorter, but I still rarely wake up and not find my head has still drifted toward the center.

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Neenah, WI
    Hammock
    Blackbird
    Insulation
    Down
    Suspension
    Whoopie
    Posts
    51
    Hammock = feet higher (slightly). I don't like sliding down in my hammock and it seems to me that I don't slide as much towards the head end.

    Ground = I like the feet lower. For some reason I don't slide as much towards my feet on the ground.

    Go figure, guess I'm lopsided depending on my contact with the ground.

  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Syracuse , NY
    Hammock
    Breyman 1.1 ACU, GTUL, TL DBL
    Tarp
    BMJ, GG 12x12
    Insulation
    Incbtr 20, No Sniv
    Suspension
    Whoop whoop!
    Posts
    82
    May be just me, but sliding down to the foot end of my tent drives me nuts!
    I'll try to get flat as possible, but slighty foot high seems to stay put better.

  8. #8
    Senior Member Roadrunnr72's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Milford, Va.
    Hammock
    1.1 dbl ge double strech-side
    Tarp
    Tadpole/ Superfly
    Insulation
    HG- TQ,UQ- DIY PL
    Suspension
    Whoopie,D Buckle
    Posts
    2,339
    Images
    210
    I have spent more than 1 night waking up, trying to figure out why I am sliding down, and pulling myself back up towards the head end. So now I hang with my feet up. Set up my Turtledog stand at a camp out with the scouts, and didn't think about the foot up part. Kept sliding down the first night, the second, I turned around, and slept great!.....RR
    I'm a member of PETA!!!!

    People
    Eating
    Tasty
    Animals


  9. #9
    Senior Member BillyBob58's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Tupelo, MS
    Posts
    11,108
    Images
    489
    And then there is the JRB BMBH original model - and maybe the newer ones. Head higher is a requirement, if level my head is too low. Why? Don't know.

    All of this probably varies with how your body weight is distributed, so it is probably all an individual thing. Varying with both hammock and individual. I hang all of my non-bridge hammocks higher on the foot end from a few inches to a foot. That was a lesson learned quickly on my 1st night, and confirmed the next night, as I slid to the foot end through the night. I worked hard to hang it level the 1st night, and even harder the 2nd. After the 2nd night I never again tried to hang a hammock level.

  10. #10
    HangingOut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Central Cascades, WA
    Hammock
    WBBB XL custom 1.1 single.
    Tarp
    Cuben HG w/doors
    Insulation
    Exped DownMat
    Suspension
    Becket hitch
    Posts
    259
    Images
    12
    I have to have my feet at least a foot higher than my head and set-up with slightly more sag than the ridge line calls for or I get a tight strip of fabric down the middle of my hammock that makes my legs very uncomfortable. Even causes them to go numb sometimes.

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Traveler question... Feet fall out?
      By Festus Hagen in forum Warbonnet Hammocks
      Replies: 19
      Last Post: 01-10-2014, 11:36
    2. ~~~ A 63 Feet High Refreshing VIDEO!
      By Refreshing in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 30
      Last Post: 05-31-2013, 14:29
    3. Replies: 10
      Last Post: 05-05-2012, 03:12
    4. Nano 7 question - how to keep feet in!?
      By tdi_tech in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 19
      Last Post: 03-05-2012, 16:29
    5. Sleeping 50 Feet High in a Tree (pictures!)
      By Refreshing in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 71
      Last Post: 01-03-2012, 19:26

    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
    •