Recently, I made my first hammock (not just first DIY -- first one of any sort). My three younger children (ages 12, 10, & 8) decided they also wanted hammocks and have made their own (with a little guidance, but they did the work). We hoped to camp out on our property sometime during this last week. We picked out a night when it was forecast to not rain, but the forecast changed. So, we changed our location to inside the house we're building (a debt free timber frame straw bale house -- but that's another topic). That way if it rained (and it did) we would stay dry -- we don't have tarps yet.
So, we hung our hammocks inside the house and got things ready for our first night ever of hammock sleeping. After all of the great things I've read on HF and elsewhere online, we were excited to experience what we expected to be one of the best nights of sleep any of us has ever had. Knowing that it would be a little cool in the house (mid-50°s), we planned for some insulation. We each had a sleeping bag, and the children also added wool blankets or an afghan for extra insulation underneath. I attached my just finished $4 underquilt (made from half of a polyester comforter I bought for $1.00 at a consignment shop and some shock cord and clips from elsewhere -- the second one from the other half has yet to be completed).
There was no problem with any of us staying warm overnight. The temp only got down to 54° inside (we started at 58°). But, it was not the best night of sleep any of us had ever had. Only the youngest (she's 8) was completely comfortable. There does seem to be a learning curve. Maybe we were too excited. Each of us had some difficulty getting things adjusted and getting in to the right position. I think I had the UQ too tight and it was squeezing me out of position (at least psychologically). I felt a lot of heel pressure, too. Although it didn't meet my initial expectations, it was better than sleeping on the ground. Later the next day, I discovered I had my head too low. Also that day, I experimented with laying in the hammock with and without the UQ, and I adjusted the UQ and raised the head end of my hammock. I felt better about how the next nights sleep would go. While trying things out, I almost fell asleep.
So, last night, two nights after our first foray into hammock sleeping, my 12 year old and 8 year old (the 10 year old opted for his bed) tried it again. Again, it rained, but we were safe and dry inside the house. The temperature was again in the mid-50°s. We were all warm, and the sleep was much better. I was much more comfortable in my lay and had the UQ better adjusted. I did discover that it is more efficient insulation-wise when it's tight against the bottom of the hammock (I had it too loose for a while). I didn't experience the same heel pressure. My only complaints were a stiff neck (until I used my jacket for a pillow) and some lower back muscles that were somewhat uncomfortable (I think because of the difference in how I lay in the hammock as compared to a bed which used/involved different muscles -- and the "soreness" didn't last long). I slept well and am even more encouraged.
I know how much photos are appreciated, so here are a couple:
The 8 year old's hammock (made with a $3 piece of fabric from a consignment shop), my hammock, and my 10 year old's hammock. You can see my red $4 underquilt.
My older son getting things ready with hammock suspended from the timber frame.
The house is still under construction, and the color of the walls is due to the clay plaster which hasn't received its final coat of plaster and hasn't been pained with the natural, home-made paint all the walls will have (hopefully this summer so we can move in by fall).
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks