Wider Hammock, Longer Ridgeline?

[keatham]

I'm pretty new at this, but have a tendency to research things to death. So I've been learning a ton from you all and experimenting with some different things. Thanks!

I've pretty much dialed in my singlenest right around 83% for the SRL which feels great. But when I use the same length SRL on doublenest (hammock is the same length but much wider) I wake up with lower back pain. It just doesn't feel supportive enough. I'm a relatively small guy (5'8", 165) and it's a big hammock. Is it too big? I'm wondering if I should be experimenting with longer ridgelines to "tighten" it up a bit. That would seem to make sense if I understand the physics of it all. Anyone have any thoughts or experience on this?

[Bubba]

Have you actually measured the hammocks? There can be a fair difference among them even if they are from the same company.

[Buckeye Bill]

Remember a ridge-line controls the sag of your hammock. Different sag = different lay = back pain. Hope you work out your problem.

[keatham]

I have measured them and they are within an inch of each other from gathered end to gathered end. I tied a longer ridgeline last nite on the double (about 90%) and got a much more "supportive" diagonal lay. Maybe for a shorter guy in a wider hammock, less sag is a good thing.

[MacEntyre]

Trial and error is the best way to find comfort. However, instead of adjusting the ridgeline, temporarily remove the ridgeline and adjust the sag (length of suspension).

Dial in the best way to hang without using a ridgeline, then measure the length of ridgeline needed to repeat the configuration. You will get it right every time.

Do this for each hammock, because the different length and width will change the length of ridgeline needed.

[nothermark]

I don't think it is an issue of physics. It looks to me like a problem in complex geometry. The geometry of the hang combined with the size of the hanger set up the physics problem. The angle you lay at will effect the geometry thus changing the sweet spot.

With respect to MacEntyre I would start with whatever felt right as he describes it but use an adjustable hitch on one end of the ridge line so I could add some witness marks with a marker then try an inch either way and see if it made a significant difference after a long nap. Often things change when one adds time to the experiment. We will be interested in what you find.

[MacEntyre]

...use an adjustable hitch on one end of the ridge line

That's what I did with a Hennessey once... it's the only way, if you have to work alone.

[keatham]

Thanks for all for your thoughts here. I've had a couple good nights' sleeps with my ARL set about 98. I'll probably keep tinkering, but I'm quite satisfied with that for now. It still seems to me that because of my smallish size and all the fabric, a little less sag makes sense.

I'm still a bit more comfortable in my SN, though, contrary to just about everyone else. I like the snug factor of the smaller hammock.