View Full Version : How much sag?
So I have been bitten by the hammock bug. :o For the last several weeks I hae been thinking, planning, and then last week I finally bought an Eagles Nest Double just to try it out. ;)
So, I hae had it up several times but I haven't sleot in it yet. I'm still "sperimentin". Anyhow, I added a ridge line to get a consistant hang. But how much sag should I have? I have experimented with really tight al the way to pretty loose. About 3/4 loose seems to work well. However, on the ENO site the hammocks seek to hang lower. Am I missing something?
Anyhow, I thought I'd ask the experts! :)
Thanks.
headchange4u
12-03-2006, 20:56
It's really depends on the size of the hammock and your own comfort level. I think wider hammocks need less sag and narrower hammocks need more sag to make them comfortable for me. I don't like a hammock that is really tight around the shoulder area. Increasing the sag will give you more room.
My advice would be to 'speriment some more and find what feels best to you. When I first started playing around with a ridge line I used a trucker's hitch to make the ridgeline adjustable on the fly. Once I got the correct sag I measured the ridge line and see how long it is and then I made a perminate ridge line of the appropriate length.
millergear
12-03-2006, 21:00
Check out Dave Wombles "Dissertation" in Hammocking News at:http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/2006/Jan2006.htm
Just Jeff
12-03-2006, 21:11
Yep - there really isn't a "correct" length or height or anything. As long as it's comfortable and dry, it's right. My advice is about like headchange's - use an adjustable knot or easy lashing. Make the ridgeline really short so it's just a bit uncomfortable for you, then let it out in ~6" increments until you find what you like. I like my narrow hammocks to have a bit less sag...the wider ones have more room to spread out so I give them more sag. Opposite of what headchange does...so as long as it works for you, stick with it.
There are a couple pics of ridgelines here (http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockGlossary.html).
headchange4u
12-03-2006, 21:50
Check out Dave Wombles "Dissertation" in Hammocking News at:http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/2006/Jan2006.htm
Wow. That's a pretty technical write-up on sag. Maybe I should use a protractor when setting up my hammock :p ;) .
I like how they addressed the height of the ridge line above the hammock. I think most people attach the ridge line near the whipping but I attach my ridge line to my biner in my suspension system like this:
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=202&c=4
It makes the ridge line a little higher which keeps stuff that I have hanging from the ridge line out of my face and should keep bug netting up a little higher. If I need to lower the ridge line I just run it through a loop I made in the end of one of the whipping cord. You can see a close-up of that in the following picture. It doesn't effect the sag becaue the biner is still the attachment point of the ridge line.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=201&c=4
Wow. That's a pretty technical write-up on sag. Maybe I should use a protractor when setting up my hammock :p ;) .
I like how they addressed the height of the ridge line above the hammock. I think most people attach the ridge line near the whipping but I attach my ridge line to my biner in my suspension system like this:
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=202&c=4
It makes the ridge line a little higher which keeps stuff that I have hanging from the ridge line out of my face and should keep bug netting up a little higher. If I need to lower the ridge line I just run it through a loop I made in the end of one of the whipping cord. You can see a close-up of that in the following picture. It doesn't effect the sag becaue the biner is still the attachment point of the ridge line.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=201&c=4
Interesting ridgeline system.
Right now I have one long strap (about 40') and tie a loop in it so that the loop goes over the end of my hammock knot. I still knot the end right now. This would work with whipping. I keep thinking of changing, but I really don't see myself adjusting the hammock after I get it where I like it. I like using the strap as my ridgeline. I can put a lot of stress and weight on it and not worry about breaking it.
Headchange4u,
I have a similar ridgeline setup. I'm trying to figure out how to make it none load bearing but still allow it to be used to get a consistant hang of the hammock. Anybody have any ideas on this one? I was considering a short piece of bungee cord.
Just Jeff
12-04-2006, 19:33
If you're using it to set the hammock's sag, it's by definition load-bearing...it sets the sag by bearing the load that would otherwise be on the hammock body only. A bungee would just stretch from the load....and then either break or continue bearing the load at full stretch.
I am not sure of the weight of different ridgeline material. But I have to agree on having a load bearing ridgeline. The weight difference for going from the lighter rope to something that will hoad the weight can't be more than an oz. 40' of the straps that Ed Speer sells only weighs in around 8 oz.
So I have been bitten by the hammock bug. :o For the last several weeks I hae been thinking, planning, and then last week I finally bought an Eagles Nest Double just to try it out. ;)
So, I hae had it up several times but I haven't sleot in it yet. I'm still "sperimentin". Anyhow, I added a ridge line to get a consistant hang. But how much sag should I have? I have experimented with really tight al the way to pretty loose. About 3/4 loose seems to work well. However, on the ENO site the hammocks seek to hang lower. Am I missing something?
Anyhow, I thought I'd ask the experts! :)
Thanks.
on sag,the main thing i do is hang high on each end but not tight,i have good sag and off the ground by 2 feet or so:cool: neo
I am a two month veteran to hanging.
My advice to a newbie would be to go toward "more sag!!" It seems that more is required than is intuitively guessed at.
I don't honestly know what happens when you have "too much" sag. Stay within the limits of how high you can reach to hang it and touching the ground when in the hammock and you'll be in the ballpark
Comfort comes from being diagonal.
Too snug and you can't get diagonal and experience shoulder squeeze.
HTH
Tom
I think that you can get too much sag. I was playing around with a long hammock with an 8 foot ridgeline. To me it seemed like it was so long and had so much sag that I couldn't lay flat.
For me making the hammock is the easy part. Getting the sag just right takes a lot more time and effort.
After thinking about it, I'd guess at the "too much" end of things, you would be lying at right angles to the line of suspension and get shoulder squeeze.
es posible, no??
Tom
Perkolady
12-09-2006, 13:20
I'm only 5ft tall, 118lbs., and after trying out a couple of longer hammocks and comparing to my HH, and seeing the difference in sag- I can tell you that sag sure matters to ME!
The longer hammocks had more sag than my HH (and no ridgelines), and it seemed that there was too much hammock power , so to speak, and not enough of "me" to have the force needed to lay flat on the diagonal comfortably. I also noticed that they were both hung with greater distances between trees too, which probably played a part.
That was a great experience for me- I've mentally filed away that info for when I make my first home made hammock attempt. :)
Perkolady
Just Jeff
12-09-2006, 15:08
Adding a ridgeline can help take away that hammock power and make it easier for you to get diagonal.
So how do you determine the length of the ridgeline? Is there some magic to it, or do you set up the hammock the way you like it with regards to sag and leave it at that?
I would get the sag where I liked it.
I would measure the distance between the hammock ends.
Then I would add a ridgeline of that length.
One idea behind the ridgeline is to preset sag.
When you hang a hammock with a ridgeline you just crank it on as tight as you like, (within structrual limits<G>)
Tom
Just Jeff
12-09-2006, 20:28
Read this page. http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeHammock4.html
If you use a lashing on one end, you can keep adjusting an see how you like it. Try it REALLY short, then let it out 6" at a time until you get it where you like it. I like it about where the "lots of sag" picture is on that page...much easier to get diagonal and flat that way, but it make the sides a bit saggier.
I just stumbled into my anglometer (angle measurer however you spell it) and thought I would add a factual data point to this thread.
My hammock suspension hangs at 45 degrees at the foot end and 40 degrees at the head end. I have no idea why they are different. Maybe because there is 6 inches difference in lead length, the way it worked out.
The head end is tied off about 12 inches lower than the foot end. This was done on purpose, based on someones comments in the forum.
When I get diagonal I'm at about 30 degrees to the centerline and almost flat.
I have been sleeping with this setup for several weeks.
Tom