How important is ripstop?

[Big Jim Mac]

Seems like a really good deal for camo nylon, wondering what this might be good for? It's not ripstop, so might not be best for hammocks, what do you all think? At this price should be good for something.

http://shop.vtarmynavy.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=armynavy&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=852367579&Count2=769508004&ProductID=7952&Target=products.asp&__utma=1.1108884751.1287945257.1287945257.12879452 57.1&__utmb=1.2.10.1287945257&__utmx=-&__utmc=1&__utmz=1.1287945257.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(di rect)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=123393291

[Ramblinrev]

I don't know why everyone considers ripstop so critical to hammock bodies. 70D would be about 1.9 oz/yd. Should be fine. Lots of commercial hammocks are made from normal nylon broadcloth, not ripstop.

[Big Jim Mac]

We'll see, I ordered some. If nothing else I can make stuff sacks or practice hemming :lol:

[JohnSawyer]

I have a "parachute" hammock, made by Beyer of Maine that is something like 1.1oz/yd NON-ripstop. It holds my 220lb bulk, no problem... It still makes me nervous, though! :lol:

[sclittlefield]

Ripstop is nice, it does have advantages, but it is definitely not required. I would even venture to say that most commercial hammocks are not made with ripstop.

[Big Jim Mac]

Got my fabric today from Barre's, pretty nice stuff. Digital woodland camo pattern, here's a pic. I'll try to turn this into something resembling a hammock this weekend...5 yards was $24 with shipping.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q77/moselle1962/camo.jpg

[JLueckenotte]

Cool Jim!

I may have to place an order and tell them you sent me!

[jeffjenn]

Jim, could you give me the sku# of this from the Barre site, I'm having trouble finding it. Also do you have a weight on this fabric?

[Lonely Raven]

My blackbird is taffeta. Ripstop isn't needed at all, and I think it flexes/stretches different than broadcloth and taffeta.

Jim, I'm interested to see what you do with that material and how you like it.

[Big Jim Mac]

It's called Cadpat Nylon cloth, here's the SKU #: cmm-7951

I hate how Barre's web site is set up, really hard to find and then refind stuff! I get e-mails from them, that's how I found out about this.

I have a hammock almost complete from this, making a Hennessy clone. Only have to sew the end pockets together and put on the side tieout straps.

Not sure if I like this stuff or not, I'll get a weight on it when I'm done. It's real easy to work with though when I was rolling the hem it kept growing for some reason. I would say much easier to work with than ripstop, not quite as slick.

[rjcress]

My blackbird is taffeta. Ripstop isn't needed at all, and I think it flexes/stretches different than broadcloth and taffeta.


I'm far to new at this to make it sound like I know what I'm talking about. However, My taffeta WBBB clone body failed on the first attempt to sleep in it.
LOTS of potential root causes, but poor fabric choice can't be ruled out.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=24000

More likely that the main cause was improper hanging of the hammock... but I'm thinking I'll steer towards proven, ripstop fabrics from now on, and NOT pillage the bargain bin for any Nylon or polyester that looks like it would work.

[Ramblinrev]

LOTS of potential root causes, but poor fabric choice can't be ruled out.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=24000

More likely that the main cause was improper hanging of the hammock... but I'm thinking I'll steer towards proven, ripstop fabrics from now on, and NOT pillage the bargain bin for any Nylon or polyester that looks like it would work.

Rather than write off the taffeta, I would search for other causes for failure. If taffeta is a poor fabric choice then every hammock I have been in except one, should have failed. There is the possibility of a flawed piece of fabric. Particularly from Wally World type bargain bins. But too many commercial hammocks are made of taffeta for it to be discarded as an unsuitable fabric.