BLOG: Why You Must Lay Flat in a Hammock

[johnbelly]

Get Highest Level of Comfort while Sleeping in Your Hammock?
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Why You Must Lay Flat in a Hammock (https://www.outdoorfederation.com/why-you-must-lay-flat-in-a-hammock/)

[James Fowler]

Cool, whose blog was that?

[johnbelly]

Cool, whose blog was that?

Yeah I'm Team Member of this blog and the Article is written by one of our team member.
Btw Thanks for Reading :)

[johnspenn]

I'm definitely in the minority, but I sleep just fine laying right down the middle like a banana lol. That's probably why I stay comfortable in shorter hammocks like my ENO and table cloth, I'm not trying to get that angle most people search for. YMMV HYOH and all that, I do understand most people search for that Holy Grail "flat" lay.

[Tyroler Holzhacker]

"And take thy pin from thy holy hand grenade that thou may blowest up thine enemy into tiny bits..."(Monty Python Holy Grail) Yes the search for the flat comfortable lay IS the holy grail for hammockers no doubthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrgLj9lOwk

[James Fowler]

"And take thy pin from thy holy hand grenade ..."

"then shalt thou count to 83, no more, no less"

[Chesapeake]

I'm kinda the same way as Johnspenn, I typically don't need to lay totally diagonal to be comfortable and/or flat. Both of the hammocks I use 99% of the time are 11' and have a fairly deep sag. Sometimes I'll get a WICKED calf ridge w/the XLC, even w/the foot end hung higher and my body a lot closer to the head end per Warbonnets recommendations, which causes me to get more diagonal to correct it. But most of the time I'm almost completely flat and not far from laying right down the middle. Maybe it's because they are 11' long and I'm only 5'7" ? Idk, all I know is I'm not "banana" at all .

[m00ch]

I'm definitely in the minority, but I sleep just fine laying right down the middle like a banana lol. That's probably why I stay comfortable in shorter hammocks like my ENO and table cloth, I'm not trying to get that angle most people search for. YMMV HYOH and all that, I do understand most people search for that Holy Grail "flat" lay.

My wife is in your club also, it makes me so mad that she can lay anyway she wants in a hammock and be super comfortable.

[Chesapeake]

Lol. I think it also has a little something to do with the fact that on most nights once I call asleep, I'm soooooo comfortable that I don't move much , IF AT ALL, until my bladder or the alarm clock wakes me up. There was actually a night when I woke up to pee in the middle of the night and both legs/feet were numb from not moving, AT ALL. Talk about scary a.f lol. I almost pee'd myself bc I couldn't walk to the bathroom lol. Now that's a good night's sleep! But yeah, I'll lay kinda diagonally and be mostly flat.

Also, UQ's can sometimes inhibit the degree to which you can lay off of the centerline, some specific quilt lengths, types, suspension thicknesses and/or manufacturers more than others I've noticed. Example : The primary on my -10° Incubator is very thick due to the temps at which it will be used and the effect that cold has on shock cord below a certain temperature. This can cause the quilt to actually push against my feet to resist the force that's being applied and will make it harder to be more than a few degrees off of center. My Incubator more so than my CDT, more than my Snugpak and so on depending on suspension thicknesses, UQ length etc...

[rweb82]

I've found that the most diagonal lay possible is not necessarily the most comfortable lay possible (unless you're talking about a 14' extra wide Brazilian hammock- where you can almost lay 90°). This is even more apparent when I am using an integrated bug net and/or a properly suspended UQ. The netting/UQ suspension keeps the hammock sides from splaying out as far, and trying to get too diagonal can cause problems. When I go netless, I can get a little more diagonal and stay comfortable- though I don't necessarily "have" to.

I think some hammocks are just more forgiving than others, too. My DH Raven is very comfortable and flat with just about any lay (though I've never lay straight down the middle). I can be closer to the head-end, or foot-end, more diagonal, less diagonal, and be comfortable with all. This is especially nice after a long day of hiking, when I don't want to have to spend a ton of time "dialing in" my hammock to get a good night's sleep. As long as the foot-end is higher than the head-end, I'm good to go.

[OCDave]

I'm definitely in the minority, but I sleep just fine laying right down the middle like a banana lol. That's probably why I stay comfortable in shorter hammocks like my ENO and table cloth, I'm not trying to get that angle most people search for. YMMV HYOH and all that, I do understand most people search for that Holy Grail "flat" lay.

WEIRDO!


...Just teasin' . Have a great day!

[johnspenn]

WEIRDO!



Not the first time I've been accused, probably won't be the last... heck it might even be true haha!

[BillyBob58]

I think the main benefits of the bridge hammock almost all come from there being no need to lay at a diagonal across the center ridge. That solves problems, but so many other problems arise from it, at least for me. Calf ridge, an so called side torque, and may difficulties with bottom insulation with quilts(gaps and fit problems) and/or pad use. all are caused or at least made more difficult as I try to lay at a diagonal across the center line trying to overcome the banana shape.

But, of course, GE hammocks have their benefits also and for that reason I keep trying to make them work consistently. But it is hard for me to beat the consistent benefits of a bridge. The biggest one(for me) being ZERO calf ridge ever. No need to search for a sweet spot, if you get in you are in the sweet spot. And probably 2nd is that as long as the quilt is not to long, I have never had a rectangular quilt fail to curve around the natural U shape of the bridge hammock and be free of gaps no matter how much I might shift around. Snug head to heel. I guess 3rd is a rectangular CCF pad in a similar way perfectly fits the shape of the hammock and stays perfectly positioned in the pad pocket, and unless a severl inch thick blow up model, I might not even know the pad is there except for warmth. But a pad on the diagonal? That can be a different story! ;)

[wolfe]

good blog and what more it makes sense

[GregfromHolland]

I have a Sld trail lair and even if I wanted it just doesn't let me lay in the middle /banana shape. It is somehow made in such a way that it automatically shifts you into a diagonal and flat lay.

For comfort I still prefer the 90degree hammocktent.





Tapatalk

[michigandave]

I have a Sld trail lair and even if I wanted it just doesn't let me lay in the middle /banana shape. It is somehow made in such a way that it automatically shifts you into a diagonal and flat lay.

For comfort I still prefer the 90degree hammocktent.





TapatalkI'm on my second Trail Lair (both 10 foot) and never had an issue of laying in the banana shape or a diagonal/flat lay. As long as the foot end is pitched higher, it should work fine. I know there's lots of variables regarding hang distance, angles, body shape, etc that can come into play.

For winter camping, the banana position is pretty much the norm for me.

[OlTrailDog]

Although I am not a fan of the bridge hammock I used for several years and sold, the same benefits BillyBob55 lists are applicable to a hammocktent 90 degree hammock. After modifying my 90* hammocks to suit my preferences there is little fiddle factor, simply climb in and sleep, turn on your side and sleep some more, and etc. I like my GEs, but there is definitely more fiddle factor involved.

[Lancewood]

Good info!

[GregfromHolland]

Having slept in a GE last night I can only agree, the 90degree hammock is really fiddle and hassle free. No searching for a sweet spot, or messing with the ridgeline length. The perfect lay is right there.

Tapatalk

[MammockHammock]

Great article! I'm glad to know about that website. Thanks for sharing.

[hammockguy32]

I always used to tight my hammock too tight. Finally had someone put it up and it was looser. Much better feel to it. Nice post! :)

[brady1]

This all makes me feel better to hear. I'm pretty short, 5'4'', and don't lay very diagonally at all. I sometimes try to initially get as diagonal as possible but end up somewhere in the middle, maybe 20 or 30 degrees.

If I push it too diagonally, I get pressure on my outside foot. Just slightly off of straight seems to work well for me.