material needed

[bonius]

You might want to check into Dyneema. I'm not sure if this would be the right type of fabric for a hammock but I'm sure someone here will chime in if it's not. Pricey stuff/ it will hold the weight for sure. http://thru-hiker.com/materials/coated.php

I'm 6'5" and 350, and I just read Speer's book. The idea of using Dyneema had never occurred to me. I think Speer recommends 4 oz/yd cordura for someone my weight, but I've not had any luck finding any for sale.

Thru-hiker.com lists the Dyneema at 4 oz per square yard, so It wouldn't be any heavier, but I imagine the Dyneema would not breathe very well.

Does anyone know where I could find 4 oz cordura? $20/yard is pretty salty for Dyneema, but I bet I'd be the only kid on my block with a dyneema hammock.

[Ramblinrev]

Hoe-key doh-key = prepare to enter the obscure and deliberately arcane world of fabric weights.

The lightweight fabrics are usually listed in oz/yard* But the heavier fabrics are listed in "denier" weight which is the weight of the unwoven yarn per 9,000 linear meters.

So I checked around and found the following on Rockywoods Fabric. I am NOT suggesting _this_ particular fabric. but please note the paste...

70 Denier PVC coated Nylon Taffeta
58-60" wide
0.30mm PVC backing

This 70-Denier Nylon Taffeta is a good choice for purses, bags, cases, stuff sacks, storage covers and temporary lightweight tarps. Approximately 9.4 oz/sq yard.

In other words a 70 denier nylon is more than suffcient to meet the 4 oz/yard* criteria. 70 denier fabric is readily available. Cordura is a weave pattern just as taffeta is a weave pattern. Cordura will be a stronger weave, but 70 denier fabric should weigh the roughly the same no matter what the weave.

In other words a very lightweight pack cloth should be sufficient.

[Cannibal]

Dyneema probably won't breath well at all for a hammock. My ULA packs are Dyneema and I just can't imagine it being a comfortable surface for a hammock.

[bonius]

Hoe-key doh-key = prepare to enter the obscure and deliberately arcane world of fabric weights.


In other words a 70 denier nylon is more than sufficient to meet the 4 oz/yard* criteria. 70 denier fabric is readily available. Cordura is a weave pattern just as taffeta is a weave pattern. Cordura will be a stronger weave, but 70 denier fabric should weigh the roughly the same no matter what the weave.

Does that mean you think that the 70 denier 1.9oz ripstop that Speer sells on his site would be adequate for a 350 pound person?

He says it's rated to 250 pounds. Maybe that's just on the conservative side for liability reasons.

[Ramblinrev]

I don't know enough about fabrics to be able to say. If Ed Speers recommends 250 as the top end ofr the ripstop then I would go by that unless You are using two layers. Then you might be able to get by. It seems I was hasty in my previous post. 70 denier seems to be a rigpstop standard. The cordura weave might make a difference. I would probably go with a 200 denier for a single layer hammock at least to start with. Even so... a 200 denier is fairly easy to find and would be what I would call a light pack cloth.

Ripstop has more stretch factor than cordura or taffeta if I understand correctly. So I would probably not look for a ripstop at that weight load. The HAAB hammocks rated at 400 seem to be using a "parachute silk nylon" which is not ripstop but taffeta.

All of this begs the question of why build it yourslef when the eno and other HAAB (Hook and attached bag) hammocks are reasonably cheap and pretty much ready to go at those weights.

[sclittlefield]

Aye, unless you really want to DIY, I'd recommend the ENO Doublenest.

[plowhorse]

thanks everyone! You answered a lot of my questions. I was thinking about buying a Trek Light to try it out and when I am comfortable, I will try to make my own. Again thankyou all.

[Cannibal]

Trek Light is a good hammock. My girlfriend and I slept double in one for a while, never had any problems.

[aprarye]

Im at 350+ and am using a 70 denier nylon. more concern id the stiching seaming and suspension. HH safari uses a 210D oxford nylon and is rated at 350#
if fabric weignt is of little concern try Ebay Item number: 370140226954 and also look at Item number: 370112408286 for a readymade <20.00
---------------------------------------------
For cinch buckles and more
Paragear has all the webbing and buckles you'll need and will sew it for you.

<http://www.paragear.com/templates/parachutes.asp?group=243&parent=34&level=2>

------------ --------- ----

DJ Associates has the same products at somewhat better prices but do not sew for you.

Fort Smith, AR 72903 (479) 452-3987
<dj-associates. com>

<http://djassociates.thomasnet.com/viewitems/military-hardware/adjusters?&forward=1>

Paragear and DJ Associates have gear for parachute and cargo use so most have the weight raitings you'll need

[warbonnetguy]

you want to look at the weight/yd of the fabric, not the denier necessarily. you also have to be careful though, because some fabrics are much heavier because of a heavy coating, like pvc coated 70d. it might weigh 4 oz, but won't be nearly as strong as something like packcloth i don't think.

1.1 is usually 30 or 40d, 1.9 is 70d, but i've got some 70d that's only 1.7. i think the haab hammock fabric is between 2.5-3 oz, while uncoated packcloth is around 4.

you want something slick/slippery for a hammock, cordura and supplex are not so i wouldn't use them. packcloth might be slick enough. 2 layers of 1.9 would be heavier/stronger than the haab fabric, 2 layers of 1.5 would probably be close if not still a little heavier/stronger.

i wouldn't go with anything with a coating unless it's for winter. and i think the dyneema fabric is only dyneema grid, the main part of the fabric is still nylon, but it's no doubt alot stronger due to the dyneema reinforcement.