Calling SB Owners

[Amelander]

How flat of a lay can I get in a SB? I have bad knees and need to sleep with them straight, and sometimes on my side.

The WBBB is not flat enough. My BMBH is.

I'm just looking to add another hammock to the family and want to hear your opinions.

Thanks

[BillyBob58]

How flat of a lay can I get in a SB? I have bad knees and need to sleep with them straight, and sometimes on my side.

The WBBB is not flat enough. My BMBH is.

I'm just looking to add another hammock to the family and want to hear your opinions.

Thanks

I have yet to find one that can consistently match a BMBH is this regard and lack of calf pressure. The closest for me is ( and close enough?) is the HH Safari, the Claytor No Net and my new WL Light Owl. Have not yet got to try a SB. :(

[SoCal Mike]

How flat of a lay can I get in a SB? I have bad knees and need to sleep with them straight, and sometimes on my side.

The WBBB is not flat enough. My BMBH is.

I'm just looking to add another hammock to the family and want to hear your opinions.

Thanks

I haven't tried a bridge yet, but I hear those are as flat as you'll get. I have a 1.9 SL SB hammock. I have knee/leg issues, too. But I prefer to sleep with my legs slightly bent and sleep on my side quite a bit.

Most guys prefer a taut pitch with the SB and I do, too. With a tight pitch it can be pretty flat and, depending on your height, I think you may find it flatter than most hammocks b/c they are fairly long (10 ft) and offer more surface area than other hammocks. The tighter pitch and generous diagonal may allow for exactly what you are seeking.

I hope this helps.

Michael

[OutandBack]

How flat of a lay can I get in a SB? I have bad knees and need to sleep with them straight, and sometimes on my side.

The WBBB is not flat enough. My BMBH is.

I'm just looking to add another hammock to the family and want to hear your opinions.

Thanks

I've own both and if you were not flat enough in a bb I don't think you will be
flat enough in a SB.
IMO the advantage of the SB is no calf pressure, no RL to keep hitting your head on and a net that ties way up out of your way.

Adding a pillow under the knees could help a lot in a gathered hammock IMO.

[MacEntyre]

A Switchback is an unusual hammock, because the "cut-across-the-leg" syndrome is reduced as you tighten the suspension. All other gathered end hammocks work the opposite way.

I learned this the hard way... got my netless SB and thought I knew how to hang it... on the third night, it occurred to me that Darby always looked too tight to me, so I tightened mine up, and Ah Ha! Comfort and Bliss!

I think you might get about as flat a lay as can be achieved in a gathered end hammock, if you try the Switchback.

A good second choice might be a Speer, but don't tell anyone... that is a well kept secret.

- MacEntyre

[rip waverly]

without the srl - the sb can be hung tighter , thereby extending the distance between the gathers, and flattening the hammock out. this also slightly increases shoulder squeeze, but not to a point of any noticeable discomfort, rather the opposite for me, in it provides support along my back when side-sleeping.

thats why i like the tttg sb style - the bugnet is not tethered to a given distance- letting you flatten out or sag the hammock as much as you want.

the lay is about as flat as you can get- and the 'ridge' is drastically reduced the tighter you hang the hammock.

imo- the next best option is a simple gathered end and separate bug net- if the noseeum is critical.

[Sidewinder]

Well nothing is flat as a bridge but the swtchbacks are pretty flat for a gather end. Only other I can suggest are the WL Owls. I think you have to try a few and see how they are for you.

S

[russmay]

A Switchback is an unusual hammock, because the "cut-across-the-leg" syndrome is reduced as you tighten the suspension. All other gathered end hammocks work the opposite way.

I learned this the hard way... got my netless SB and thought I knew how to hang it... on the third night, it occurred to me that Darby always looked too tight to me, so I tightened mine up, and Ah Ha! Comfort and Bliss!

I think you might get about as flat a lay as can be achieved in a gathered end hammock, if you try the Switchback.

A good second choice might be a Speer, but don't tell anyone... that is a well kept secret.

- MacEntyre

When you say you tighten it up , hanging you tree straps lower to ground (say 5 feet and then have a 30 degree hang at this point. I a bit confused on this a visual would help.

[MacEntyre]

When you say you tighten it up , hanging you tree straps lower to ground (say 5 feet and then have a 30 degree hang at this point. I a bit confused on this a visual would help.
I have no visual aid... but tightening up is simple. Since there is no ridgeline, just tighten the suspension, so there is less sag.Doesn't matter how high or low the tree straps are.

It's the same thing as lengthening the ridgeline on a hammock that has one.

- MacEntyre

[Boomer]

With many of the gathered end hammocks, you can only get a flat lay by going asym. There are a few exceptions like the DD, Clark, SB, BMBH and likely the soon to be released Warbonnet Bridge.

With the SB, you don't want the 30 degree angle coming off the tree. MacEntyre's experience mimic'd mine. I started at 25 degrees and went progressively steeper. After about the third adjustment, I noticed it was getting worse. When I went the other way - really tightening it up (just pulling the straps tighter through the rings), I found it was way more comfortable.

I did notice a little shoulder squeeze, like Rip said, but the SB has tie-outs on all four 'corners' so you can spread it out.

[MacEntyre]

Just so, RodWolfy!

Asym in a SB is less pronounced because at 52" it is relatively narrow. Most hammocks are full width of the cloth, which is about 60", so they can have a generous and roomy diagonal. The SB diagonal is closer to the centerline because your feet and head reach the edges sooner than with other hammocks.

Being relatively narrow also limits the shoulder squeeze. It can only squeeze a little, because there is not a lot of extra fabric with which to squeeze. That attribute also yields the nice view on each side; unlike a HH, there is no wall blocking the scenery.

At one time, I thought I would never have another 'boughten' hammock, that I would make my own from now on. Then, I got a Switchback. Not only do they have a unique geometry, but they are made very well. Even Thing1, who loves DIY hammocks and sleeps in one every night at home, uses a SB Lighthiker when she needs a bugnet!

- MacEntyre

[OutandBack]

With many of the gathered end hammocks, you can only get a flat lay by going asym. There are a few exceptions like the DD, Clark, SB, BMBH and likely the soon to be released Warbonnet Bridge.

With the SB, you don't want the 30 degree angle coming off the tree. MacEntyre's experience mimic'd mine. I started at 25 degrees and went progressively steeper. After about the third adjustment, I noticed it was getting worse. When I went the other way - really tightening it up (just pulling the straps tighter through the rings), I found it was way more comfortable.

I did notice a little shoulder squeeze, like Rip said, but the SB has tie-outs on all four 'corners' so you can spread it out.

I've never used the pullouts to prevent shoulder squeeze.
If I had to do that the hammock would be to tightly strung IMO.

Any angle between 20 and 25 degrees gives me a perfect lay without any additional fiddling. One of the best features for me. Hang it and your done.

[BillyBob58]

I've never used the pullouts to prevent shoulder squeeze.
If I had to do that the hammock would be to tightly strung IMO.

Any angle between 20 and 25 degrees gives me a perfect lay without any additional fiddling. One of the best features for me. Hang it and your done.

That was my opinion from the word go about the Claytor No Net ( 48" wide). It just didn't seem to make much dif about how I hung it, though if there was a dif pulling it tighter was if anything more comfortable. Hang it and your done, pretty much with little sag or more sag. I have never bothered with a ridgeline for this hammock. It has always been my go to hammock for a PeaPod.