My first DIY Gathered End Hammock- Lightweight Style (ish)

[magic354]

So, this is my first attempt at a DIY project. I've got a DD Camping hammock that is a hefty 29oz, especially given the fact it doesn't have a bugnet, so I decided to make my own lightweight hammock. I used the lightest ripstop nylon I could find in the UK which came in around 2oz/square yard, 1 yard of 1" polyester webbing for corner reinforcements and Gutermann 100% polyester thread. I used a square piece of fabric 118" x 59", hemmed the perimeter, used a box stitch to sew in the webbing on each corner, and then took about 3" at each end and rolled it three times to create the channel, I secured this with four rows of stitching. That was everything!

Final dimensions came out at 102" x 58" and weighing just over 11oz.

In hindsight, it may be a tiny tiny bit short me, given the fact I am 6 ft 2, but I had a pretty nice diagonal lay on it this afternoon so I think I might just get away with it. On the MkII I think I will make the sides a little narrower, increase the length, and definitely make the channel a lot smaller. All the material has gathered in a fan-like manner as a result of the 3 inch channel, you'll see it in the photos.

I'm really pleased with hows its come out, although I can't help but feel slightly shown-up by all the awesome XTrekker style hammocks popping up on the forum. I'm still working out my plans for the bug net, not sure whether to go the Fronky style no zipper, or make a MkII hammock with an integrated bug nut. For now, my plans turn to a tarp...

Hope you enjoy the photos.
Cheers,
Tom.

All hemmed and ready to be gathered:

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This is inside the channel, the webbing sewn in for extra reinforcement/abrasion resistance:

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My assistant got quickly bored with the project:

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Here's the fanning I was talking about earlier:

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And relax... finally...

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[dimjim]

looks like a successful project! That stitching doesn't look like it's coming out anytime soon, especially with those webbing reinforcements.

[kayak4water]

Nice job tom
My progress, finished the hammock today 120" x 60", two whoopie slings. Tomorrow: tree huggers. Then a short trial hang in my back yard.

Later: tarp of clear poly cro 10' x 12' or so, underquilt, bug net

We are really getting this done on the cheap! I can't wait to hang in the a.m.

[SimonMc]

Nice job. I like the contrasting thread.

[magic354]

looks like a successful project! That stitching doesn't look like it's coming out anytime soon, especially with those webbing reinforcements.

I sure hope not! Otherwise I am going to have a very sore butt!


Nice job tom
My progress, finished the hammock today 120" x 60", two whoopie slings. Tomorrow: tree huggers. Then a short trial hang in my back yard.

Later: tarp of clear poly cro 10' x 12' or so, underquilt, bug net

We are really getting this done on the cheap! I can't wait to hang in the a.m.

I look forward to seeing your finished setup, be sure to post some pictures. And you're going to do it really cheap! I hadn't come across polycro before, really interesting material, you're going to save a tonne of weight.


Nice job. I like the contrasting thread.

Cheers Simon, I've ordered my silnylon in black and plan on using orange reinforcing material and the orange thread again, gonna have a colour coded camp!

[kayak4water]

"I hadn't come across polycro before, really interesting material, you're going to save a tonne of weight. "

the backpackinglight.com forum inspired me to make a 6 ounce 7' x 10' tarp ($6 at Wa-mart--end of season pricing) for ground camping. Forum members tested it under snow loads. When I camped with it, I was really outside & I loved having simultaneously a skylight and rain protection. For the tie-outs, I used 3M "clear" duct tape (2120?), said to have strength, stick and UV resistance.

"on the cheap" That is, compared to buying pre-made retail. My sewing machine has returned its cost many times over. Here's the 411:
DIY:
Thread: Guterman Tera--Tex 50: 656 yards $3.75 I used < 10 yards, definitely under $0.10
Hammock: I got 1.6 oz ripstop 2nds from diygearsupply.com, $3.75 per yard. weight 9 oz. 3.33 yd = $12.50 [Walmart had no ripstop)
zip tie to gather hammock ends: lying around. cost =$0
Whoopie sling: Amsteel blue 1/8" @$0.36 per foot (no 7/64" in stock zip when ordered). 30' = $10.80
A Utility Constrictor Rope UCR would save ~10' though it needs a little more care in use.
Tree huggers: Black poly webbing, 0.2 oz/ foot, 14' @$0.35/ft = $4.90
Shipping from diygear $12/3 (I bought enough for 3 hammocks for friends and family:) )
Sales Tax= $0
To hook the whoopie to the tree hugger, I may use a marlin spike hitch, with found things like pvc pipe or metal rod e.g., cut off aluminum tent stake. Cost =$0
Total=$28.30
weight 399 gm = ~14 ounces

Pre-made retail:
ENO singlenest, weight 18 oz: $59.95
ENO suspension, weight 11 oz: $29.95
WA state sales tax 8.7%= $7.82
Shipping: $0
Grand total $97.72
Weight 29 oz.

[magic354]

(I bought enough for 3 hammocks for friends and family:) )

Sounds like you're going to have a lot of stitching to take up your retirement!

But your breakdown really does show just how cost (and weight) effective it is to make your own gear, especially if you already have a sewing machine in the family.

Have you considered using Amsteel soft shackles to attach your whoopies to the tree huggers? They are really easy to make and weigh about 0.2oz, plus they only use 3 ft of Amsteel, so can be made for $1 each!

[kayak4water]

Hi Tom,

My 7' long tree huggers have only one loop. I hold up the loop next to the tree, wrap the free end around the tree and then pass the free end through the loop. I pull on the free end, cinching the loop against the tree. With a tree circumference of one foot I will then have six feet of webbing available for a marlin spike hitch. I have seen people using biners or Dutch thingies where I pass the free end through the single loop, which leads me to hope I didn't over-simplify the suspension. Will my simplification lead to a mishap, injury, premature death?

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I love the concept of the soft shackles. I'd make one just to make one. Maybe even try to use it to replace a hard biner in a PCT style bear bag hang.

jeff. (forgot to sign earlier)

[magic354]

Hi Jeff,

Nice to meet you, glad to find a fellow 'new-hanger'. Aah I see, the tree straps I brought when I first started hanging came with two sewn loops, one on each end, but tree huggers with just one sewn loop are perfectly suitable also. As long as the stitching was sewn properly on the loop (usually a series of bar-tacks and cross stitches I believe) then you're method looks absolutely fine to me. The dutch clips and carabiners you may have seen others use are there to simplify and speed up the set-up and pack-down process.

You could hang using your tree huggers as they are currently, with a marlin spike hitch, or you could sew a second loop into the tree huggers and use a soft shackle. It's your call, Hang You Own Hang as they say!

I am currently using a lightweight climbing grade biner to connect my tree huggers to my whoopie slings, they weigh 1.2oz each and are rated to nearly 5400lb when closed, the soft shackles weigh 0.18oz and have a breaking strain of 1500lb I am led to believe. I like the climbing biner because it is very easy to clip in, the soft shackle is a little more fiddily, but if I was looking to shave off some weight the biners would be the first thing to go.

[dynamicsnail]

This is inside the channel, the webbing sewn in for extra reinforcement/abrasion resistance:
84952
Eerily similar to the one I made yesterday (close in size, also 4 rows of orange thread, grosgrain sewn in the edges. But I used 1.1oz brown fabric and orange UCRs (to match the orange thread).

[dynamicsnail]

I am currently using a lightweight climbing grade biner to connect my tree huggers to my whoopie slings, they weigh 1.2oz each and are rated to nearly 5400lb when closed, the soft shackles weigh 0.18oz and have a breaking strain of 1500lb I am led to believe. I like the climbing biner because it is very easy to clip in, the soft shackle is a little more fiddily, but if I was looking to shave off some weight the biners would be the first thing to go.
I recently tried out the Black Diamond Micron wiregate 'biners, with good success. The "large" version is only $4.00 each and weighs less than my BD Hotwire climbing 'biners. Going to give the "small" version a shot today ($3.50 and even lighter :D).

[magic354]

Eerily similar to the one I made yesterday (close in size, also 4 rows of orange thread, grosgrain sewn in the edges. But I used 1.1oz brown fabric and orange UCRs (to match the orange thread).

What a funny coincidence! I wanted to to use a lighter material but I wasn't sure if it would hold my ~200lbs. But I really like the black on orange, definitely suits the hammock!

[magic354]

I recently tried out the Black Diamond Micron wiregate 'biners, with good success. The "large" version is only $4.00 each and weighs less than my BD Hotwire climbing 'biners. Going to give the "small" version a shot today ($3.50 and even lighter :D).

Thats definitely a competitive price, and a little lighter than my ones, but I feel when it comes to suspension I'd rather take the extra weight and know I am 100% safe, I could work with a biner that didn't have a load rating.

[ezhiker]

You might look into the C.A.M.P. Nano at 23 grams or Meliolius FS Mini Biner also 23 grams, Both Are climbing rated and probably weigh in the range of the fun biners from Black Diamond. May cost a dollar or two more, but the security in my mind is worth it.

[dynamicsnail]

What a funny coincidence! I wanted to to use a lighter material but I wasn't sure if it would hold my ~200lbs. But I really like the black on orange, definitely suits the hammock!
I'm currently sitting around 185 and did plenty of bouncing around in an older 1.1 without problems, but it was whipped. I'll have to give this one a good test to see if the channel stitching holds up :scared:

[magic354]

You might look into the C.A.M.P. Nano at 23 grams or Meliolius FS Mini Biner also 23 grams, Both Are climbing rated and probably weigh in the range of the fun biners from Black Diamond. May cost a dollar or two more, but the security in my mind is worth it.

They are both fantastic looking carabiners, a fair bit lighter than the ones I am using by still plenty strong and load rated, dynamicsnail, I would think these are a safer option.

[magic354]

I'm currently sitting around 185 and did plenty of bouncing around in an older 1.1 without problems, but it was whipped. I'll have to give this one a good test to see if the channel stitching holds up :scared:

That is interesting, I would definitely like to use 1.1oz to lower the weight even further, it would be interesting to do a weight test, I may have to do this...

[Guitfiddle64]

It was kind of funny reading your purchase order from DIYGearSupply.com. Mine was exactly the same even down to the thread. I'm making this one to take in my pack. My first was from a tablecloth (Strong but bulky and heavy) and I use it for my bed. Can't wait to get some outside hang time! Great job on yours BTW.

[kayak4water]

FYI, I am using a Marlin spike hitch on each end for now. I've replaced the heavy PVC toggles for the hitches with:
1. a 3" length of 1/2" hardwood dowel ~5 gm. and
2. a 3" length of .3125" carbon arrow shaft. ~2 gm.

I ensure that the whoopies go above the knots, as wiser hangers advise, and not on the toggles.

[dynamicsnail]

They are both fantastic looking carabiners, a fair bit lighter than the ones I am using by still plenty strong and load rated, dynamicsnail, I would think these are a safer option.They definitely look very good, and are certainly stronger (and lighter), but also twice the price. The Microns use the same cross-section design as the Hotwire, just scaled down. I'll have to get the calipers out and run the numbers (and assume the materials are the same, of course), but I'd guess they are more than capable for hammocking. I might not use them for the 2nd floor of a bunkbed setup or for a double-loaded hammock, but I kind of see them like using zing-it for a SRL--you save a little $ (and some weight in that case), but it's not 'technically' safe. HYOH, right?

DIYGS also has some 1100lbf / 24oz units for $5, which is as strong as Dynaglide IIRC.

[magic354]

I kind of see them like using zing-it for a SRL--you save a little $ (and some weight in that case), but it's not 'technically' safe. HYOH, right?

HYOH definitely, and each to their own, but if a SRL goes you'll only lose some sag in the hammock, if a carabiner on your suspension system fails, its going to do a bit more damage. But HYOH.