Diagonal lie in a single wide hammock

**Scratch** · 07-22-2009, 10:01

I haven't tried a single wide hammock. I've only slept in a double (6.5ft wide).
Is there any 'rule of thumb' for minimum width to get a comfortable diagonal lie? I don't see many pictures of people lying on a diagonal in a single wide hammock ... and many of the ones I do see, their feet are over the side.

**Cannibal** · 07-22-2009, 10:04

Lots of sag. Even then, I generally have my feet propped up over one edge. Kind of comfy for some reason.

**jbo_c** · 07-22-2009, 11:45

The one I just made is 60" wide and I am able to lay very flat in it at 5'8.

Jbo

**Shug** · 07-22-2009, 13:39

Same here .... my DIY is 60" wide and is my most comfortable.... I have plenty of room for a good diag lay with feet in. Lighter as well....

**Scratch** · 07-22-2009, 13:43

I generally have my feet propped up over one edge. Kind of comfy for some reason.

How about if the hammock has a bug net? Your feet would need to be entirely inside then. With lots of sag, you're still able to comfortably lie (sleep) on diagonal?

**Scratch** · 07-22-2009, 13:44

Amazing ... Shug answered my question before I even asked it!

**Cannibal** · 07-22-2009, 14:47

Originally Posted by Hike4WD

How about if the hammock has a bug net? Your feet would need to be entirely inside then. With lots of sag, you're still able to comfortably lie (sleep) on diagonal?

Like Shug said, I can sleep with my feet inside the hammock. I just kind of like the feel of my feet propped up in the open hammocks. I do the same thing with my WB Traveler.

**Frawg** · 07-22-2009, 18:35

I guess I don't lie that much on a diagonal, come to think of it, but definitely not in banana mode. Eyeballing it, I lay maybe 10* +/- off the centerline.

I've been experimenting with several different size DIYs to figure out what best suits my 6'2" / 190# frame. I've made 4 single layer (1.9-ish) gathered end hammocks (60"x132", 60"x120", 49"x105" and 60" x 96") and my current fave, a double layer (1.1) that's 51" x 96".

The wider ones make nice lounge chairs because they give me built-in head and arm rests, but they just swallow me up in sleeping position. When I crank up the sag the wide ones give me too much shoulder squeeze and the center line ridges up uncomfortably into my leg. OTOH, 51" feels pretty good at the 96" length, and even the 49" can feel maybe 4" - 6" wider than necessary in the 105" length. And that's with my feet in the hammock.

Lengthwise, the 132" one is overkill, and even 105" is a bit longer than I need. The 95" one is definitely usable, and I sleep comfortably in the double layered 96" one. I think I'll downsize one of the big ones to a 42"x100" end channel model to see how that feels.

Bug net is no problem for me except that with the narrower width I can easily end up with toes or head against the netting -- obviously not a good thing to do.

I guess it comes down to what you get used to. From what I've been reading, guys my size wouldn't go for the hammock size I seem to like. I might well change my mind in cooler weather, though.

**plowhorse** · 07-22-2009, 22:17

my current diy is 10'6" long and 60" wide. I have a 105" ridgeline rigged in it, and I can get very flat and sleep very comfortable on the diagonal.

**Scratch** · 07-22-2009, 22:44

Well, I decided to get a single wide to try it out. It seems like a REAL hammocker has a COLLECTION of hammocks. So, I might as well start mine. I'm sure the wife won't mind ...