Hammocks for kids?

[Mrknot]

This subject has probably been discussed ad nauseum, but I did a couple of searches and couldn't find anything...so here goes...

Just bought my first hammock, a GT Single.
After our first day hang in a local park, both of my girls, (ages 8 & 10), decided they want their own and want to try hammock camping :-)

They are both pretty ground-dwellers and love being out of doors, so I have no doubt that they'll dig it. Each has their own sleeping bag and therm-a-rest, (they sleep in their bags in bed half the time), and we have quite a few big, poly tarps for rain protection, (to start with anyway).

So...what's a decent, low cost, (We're on a pretty tight budget), hammock to start them out on? Cabelas down the road carries the GT Ultralight for about $20. The REI about a mile north of Cabelas has the Byer Traveler Light for $22, and Wallyworld sells a couple of hammocks for anywhere from $25-35...the skin-flint in me says , "just go for the cheapest", the girls are small and light, and won't stress out a cheap hammock the way my 250lb frame will. They are both pretty average size girls weighing around 80 or 90lbs.

After we cut our teeth and "learn the ropes" this summer, my intention is to slowly upgrade our kits as finances allow, (and the girls grow), but for now we just want to get out there and upgrade our outdoor experience.

Are there any special considerations when choosing a hammock for a youngster?
I plan on making our first trips as warm and comfy for them as possible as I want them to enjoy this so we can do it over and over again...

[Bladerunner]

you could pretty much go the cheap route for them, the GT ultralight seem to be a pretty nice hammock. the young'uns wont be putting much stress on a hammock when they use em normally(might want to add durability as a factor to avoid them tearing em up fast) you could also go the DIY route if you're so inclined. 1.9oz ripstop is fairly inexpensive and will hold my butt without issue (im around 300ish lbs) if you have access to a thread injector or someone who sews its a fairly easy DIY project. that route would also allow you to make each one specific to the girls. (favorite color and such) just check out ripstop by the roll and dutchware for the materials and suspension. welcome to the forum and happy hanging :thumbup1:

[K8oe]

I agree with Bladerunner, I was basically typing out the same message when I saw his. If you look under the DIY stickies there are plenty of examples. Heres one for a gathered end one https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/15205-Instruction-Gathered-End-Hammock
I came across these post you might like.
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/94060-8-year-old-daughter-first-wild-hammocking?highlight=hammocking+kids
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/14309-DIY-Children-s-Hammocks

If you type "site:hammockforums.net kid hammocks" with out the quotes in google you'll get plenty of post related to kids hammocking. Thanks to Phalse to the hint on search tips.

I think either way you end up going y'all will have a fantastic time in any hammock you end up getting. Welcome to the forum and a great hobby/lifestyle. 8)

[MississipVol]

This may be an upgrade for you later but I got my son a Hennessy Scout hammock and he loves it. Even though I bought a third hammock - a more roomier Grand Trunk SBP, he still prefers the Hennessey. He said the smaller hammock is more comfortable and warmer fwiw.

[blueaera]

Check ticket to the moon, their single 1 color is at 35$

[Mrknot]

Thanks for the input all!
I think that at this point I'm going to go w/ the GTULs. They're the best price point for me right now. I don't own a thread injector...yet...but reading all the DIY threads on this forum have got me thinking :-)
I would definitely like to try my hand at making some of our gear in the future!
Probably start out "simple" with some decent silnylon tarps until I get the "hang" of it, (pun intended ).
A week and a half until our first trip, I am simply dripping with excitement!!

[Briguy114]

You could also make some very simple gathered end hammocks with a table cloth from tableclothsfactory.com, and some suspension stuff from dutch


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyX0McICr0

[jamaulwall]

I found that you can usually purchase the Walmart hammocks online for around $15. The online price fluctuates, I've seen it anywhere from $23 to $13. Why they are cheaper online then in the store is baffling to me but I just did a free site-to-store shipping and picked them up, for $13 I couldn't pass up buying a couple. I was in the same boat, looking for a cheapo hammock for the kids. It looks like it is out of stock here (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Equip-Travel-Hammock/34136728) at the moment but if you can wait it's not a bad option, although the included suspension is completely useless. That hammock is what convinced me I like the stiffer Poly material and got me to purchase my favorite hammock of all, an 11' PolyD from Dutch. Just a thought, but the reality is almost any hammock will work for kids starting out. Good luck.

[K8oe]

Hey Mrknot, Did you see this post?

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/107345-Yes4All-Ultra-Light-Hammock

H_angm_n got a good deal for starter hammocks for the kids on amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F3NLW9M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_AQEbvb17G8W31
thought you might like to check it out to see if you were interested.

[Mrknot]

I
Hey Mrknot, Did you see this post?

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/107345-Yes4All-Ultra-Light-Hammock

H_angm_n got a good deal for starter hammocks for the kids on amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F3NLW9M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_AQEbvb17G8W31
thought you might like to check it out to see if you were interested.
Hey, thanks for the info and link!
Lots of great hammock deals on Amazon!!!
I'm still kinda stuck on the idea of a Grand Trunk for the girls, (mostly for the accountability aspect should anything be faulty). I will probably go out and pick them up this weekend.
I'm beginning to wonder though... In cruising around on Amazon, looking at the pictures, there were a number of them that looked EXACTLY like my GT, even the rope and carabiners on the gathered ends looked the same...
I wonder if most of these hammocks, (including the GTs), are made in one or two factories overseas, then re-branded by whichever company buys the lot?
While I'll probably end up buying a couple of those cheapies down the road as spares, loaners, or gifts to get people hanging, I think my next, personal hammock is going to come from one of the small vendors on this forum...

[old creek]

you seem to be on a track but just incase and for others in the future I wouldn't recommend the wally world hammock. I bought each of my grandsons one and they liked them for lounging but neither of them liked sleeping in them. now one of them has a SBP and the other a WBRR and they sleep well in them. for an all around camping hammock I really like the SBP, just flip it over when the bug net isn't needed. I sleep in my SBP every night and am pretty pleased with it but wish it were a little wider for every night use.

creek

[Datahiker]

I'd say either: 1) a GTUL, which my son started in, 2) a DIY tableclothsfactory, which I made for all three of my kids (60x102, I just knotted each end and larksheaded whoopie slings over them), or 3) a Yukon Outfitters off of woot!, especially if you want a built in net. I'm not spending a ton of money on anything since they are in the growing phase now.

[Mrknot]

Had our first trip earlier this week.
Ran two hammocks and it was awesome!
Ended up getting the girls both a GTUL...
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd504/mrknot/Mobile%20Uploads/207591EF-E7FD-4540-A9D2-B4A9A8DD1EBD_zpskihqw3u5.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/mrknot/media/Mobile%20Uploads/207591EF-E7FD-4540-A9D2-B4A9A8DD1EBD_zpskihqw3u5.jpg.html)
Set up was pretty primitive, but effective.
Rained like crazy the first couple of days but we stayed pretty dry...at least while we were sleeping :-)
Great fun, and the girls loved it...they're both asking to have them set up in their rooms at home now...Win!!!