6' 5" inch guy: should I buy fabric and pay seamstress?

**goober** · 09-17-2014, 20:47

Not that I am a giant, but I am finding I am not in the sweet spot of hammock production. The first hammock I got, even at 118", seemed to be short. (I probably didn't hang it optimally--my feet seemed to be at the high end with a lot of room behind my head. It was 60" wide)

Anyway, I found someone who claims to be pretty good with a sewing machine. Should I get a huge tablecloth fabric and pay the lady to do it up? Or would she likely mess it up if it's the first hammock she has done? I'm liking the 90" wide fabric, with a length of 11 or 12 feet. Not very many options at these dimensions from cottage vendors or anyone else.

Most vendors seem to use fabric rolls of about 60". (They make them that wide not because that width is the most comfortable, but because the rolls come in that size, for some reason only the Gods know.)

How should I proceed with my renegade plan?

Let me add that this hammock is for backpacking.

Ideas?

**boulderv7** · 09-17-2014, 20:54

The tablecloths are not that light, but i've backpacked with mine. I know if you shoot Papa Smurf over at Dream Hammocks an email, he can answer all your questions and make you an awesome hammock that will fit your needs. If it is just channels you need sewn, and not a zippered bugnet, don't pay your seamstress too much, its really easy, you could probably even do it yourself after a little bit of practice.

Also, 118'' is kinda short, I'm only 5'11'' and I prefer at least a 126'' hammock.

**Boothill** · 09-17-2014, 20:57

have you thought about a bridge? you could get away will alot less fabric and even with the weight of the spreader bars come out ahead of a gathered end that big i would think

boot

**Ratdog** · 09-17-2014, 21:10

I'm running 12' hammocks whipped end to whipped end (12'6" before whipping) for myself and a few others.

These are 60" and are ok for someone 6'4", but his favorite hammock is still the 90"x156" tablecloth. Just heavy and doesn't pack down small.

The 60"x144" hammock in Argon or HyperD packs plenty small and is very comfortable.

There are some fabrics available in 72"-77" wide, you just have to hunt them down at places like Magna Fabrics.
Or, contact Dream Hammocks as was mentioned.

**gmcttr** · 09-17-2014, 21:15

A few people like the 90" wide hammocks, but many of us just find it means a lot of excess fabric in our faces. You can't really lay much (if any) more on the diagonal than with a considerably narrower hammock.

The extra length of an 11' or 12' long hammock will be of more benefit to your comfort than excessive width. Your 118" (9'-10") hammock is almost considered short by many hangers.

**sadrian** · 09-17-2014, 22:07

My brother is the same height as you and I made him an 11' x 70" hammock and he said he sleeps very comfortably in it.... even considering using it full time. It is a DL 1.1 from magna ripstop with amsteel ucr and an adjustable srl. I use the same hammock only single layer and love it... much preferred over even my 10' hammock. Im 6'1" btw.

**nothermark** · 09-18-2014, 08:43

FWIW My advice is to buy a couple of pieces of fabric and do some lashed end hammocks. Easy to do, no sewing but I would heat seal the cut ends. You can move the same suspension between hammocks. After you try a few different one's for a night or two in the back yard you will know more about what you like than any of us here can tell you. Take notes and pics if you can. After you do that order what you like or stick with a DIY. Either way you will stop wondering what is better and why. Why is the key. Just like a lot of things there is no perfect answer for all conditions but there are good compromises one makes and stops worrying about because they understand what choices were made and why.

**Nodust** · 09-18-2014, 09:00

I'm 6' and have used a 10' hammock very comfortable. But a 11' is better. 60" is wide enough for me.

118" is a little short for your height. I would try a 11'.

**Megss** · 09-18-2014, 09:12

I am right at 6 ft ~200lbs and use an 11ft DL out of the 1.6 Argon with a rl and with a fronkey style bugnet. Width to me wasn't as important as length because the shorter hammock I started with caused me to not get a comfortable lay. The 11ft eliminated that problem and with the 60" fabric I still have plenty of fabric to wrap myself up in like a taco and it packs down relatively small and lightweight for backpacking. To me its a perfect fit, but to you it could be a different story. All personal preference with no right or wrong answer.