Looking for DIY Suggestions

[jpgoober]

Has anyone made these table cloths into a hammock for two? To make sure there is enough room for shoulders.

[Jimbo3b]

I'm 6' 4" and 370. I got into hammocks to go bike touring, which has helped me drop 40 in the past year.

My first hammocks were double layer with 1.1 and 1.9 layers. They are still rock solid for me. I've ripped out a 1.1 single layer. That was after three nights in it. Not cool. The crinkle taffeta from tableclothsfactory.com is plenty strong but seems to stretch or sag overnight so I wake up in a bucket, sort of.

I got a spool of 7/64 Amsteel. It's OK but I think I'll buy 1/8 next time. I Iike using the Amsteel for the ridge line because I grab it for getting in and out and for rolling over, so it's nice to know it's as strong as the rest of the suspension.

[FLRider]

For fabric weight versus layers versus comfort, I highly recommend Papa Smurf's wonderful chart. It would seem that, at your 335, a 1.6 oz/sq yd ripstop fabric in a double layer hammock would be the lightest comfortable option.

For the strapping, I'd avoid straps that have no load rating, just in case. With known vendors (I highly recommend both DIY Gear Supply and Arrowhead Equipment for strapping), you get a load rating that you can compare to your weight. You want at least a 5:1 ratio, due to the dynamic forces exerted on your suspension. Same with the line used to attach the straps to the hammock.

There are two majorly popular ways to go about attaching the straps to the hammock: Whoopie slings and a continuous loop attached to either a pair of descender rings/buckles or a cinch buckle. There are numerous threads on the pros and cons of each, but it boils down to how much space you're willing to give up in the pack and how much fiddle factor you're willing to put up with in camp. It can go either way, depending on that.

For reinforcement, I recommend the Knotty/Warbonnet whipping method; it spreads the load on the fabric body fairly evenly. For your tree straps, I've found that bartacks spaced approximately 0.75" to 1.25" apart work well for me. I use one per 40 lbs (probably overkill, but it's what MOLLE gear is rated to per attachment point, and that's very similar) of weight.

For width/length, I'd recommend an 11' long hammock by 60" wide before hemming. It's what I sleep in, and I'm about the same height as you (if somewhat lighter). It offers me enough space to toss and turn during the night if I need to, which means that it should be enough space for your shoulders to fit comfortably.

Hope it helps!

[woodswookie]

Thanks for all the Great info. the links and vendors has my brain ticking away on decisions. All those awesome links and so many projects to do.