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I am looking to make a lightweight hammock. I'm 210 lbs, using 1.1 ripstop. I was thinking to make a ghost hammock single layer and now I'm thinking of Knotty's side stretch with mods at the head and feet. I want something light, but it needs to hold my weight and be comfortable? BTW is the side stretch the same as a gathered end hammock?
The side stretch that Knotty came up with is really a hammock "accessory". It doesn't affect the lay of the hammock or it's strength. It is used on a gathered end hammock to do two things.
1. Tension the edge of the hammock so that it's not flapping in your face when the wind blows.
2. Keeps your top quilt from going overboard during the night.
I have made several of Knotty's design and they are super comfortable. I believe the Ghost Hammock is very minimalist though I have never made one.
So long as you distribute stresses, the lightest nylon and polyester fabrics are strong enough to support even a heavy person.
The two issues are: Comfort of the stretching and reduced lifespan of the hammock. Just as ropes have a lifespan which is shortened by repeated loading beyond some elastic threshold, so too with fabrics.
For occasional use? And even occasional repeated use? No problem. For strength of the fabric covert the fabric by weight to the equivalent nylon or polyester rope, matching up weight, and looking up breaking strengths (bs).
For example 1.1oz /sq yd nylon fabric is comparable to 1.1 /3 = 0.35 oz/ft cord = 35oz / 100ft cord, just over 2 lb (1kg). That's pretty heavy rope by hammock-hanging standards, even allowing for lost strength from braiding. Looking up a Samson nylon climbing line, you can find 5/16" / 11m Velocity, a jacketed 5.6lb /100 ft line weighing 5.6lb per 100 feet. It is rated rated at 6000lb breaking strength (bs)
That's about 1000lb of breaking strength per lb of fiber in the rope (or fabric?.) Now, all the fibers in the 35oz of cloth will not contribute to breaking strength from loading in one direction. But, some will, in fact, distribute the load. So, that 1.1oz cloth may have minimum breaking strength, if called on to support you being pulled up the side of cliff, of half that say 1000+ lb.
And long term wear? There's a marked difference between regularly loading fibers @ <10% or less of their breaking strength versus loading them at 30+%. In the latter case, the fibers fatique, and will fail catastrophically, and without warning. So, abrasion faults aside, you can see that heavier fabric will likely be more durable, long term.
so knotty's would be heavier since it is additional fabric while the Ghost is limiting the fabric from the body, but adding a footbox. any idea on how they compare on the lay and comfort?Quote:
Originally Posted by MAD777
I'd add that the side stretch allows you to sit in the hammock without having the edge tight under your knees. It's more comfortable. I think the side tension when you're lying in it also helps keep your feet from sliding off the edge, so it functions a bit like a foot box. You could add the side stretch feature to a hammock that has the end gathered by whipping or gathered by a cord through an end channel. It might offer more benefit with the former, though.
IMO, go for comfort and durability, not light weight. If you make your hammock with 1.9 oz ripstop it will be more comfortable than 1.1. It will weigh maybe 4 ounces more.
how about making it a double layer with 1.1?
I made 1.1oz ripstop hammock and took it on it's first outing last week. It held up but after just 2 nights it's already showing signs of weakness. At one point I snagged my fingernail and can now see right through the fabric.
When I got home I immediately switched back to my thicker hammock.
That doesn't sound good....
If you're looking to save weight, how about a single layer 1.5 or even 1.9? both would be lighter than a double 1.1Quote:
Originally Posted by Girotogo
I already have 1.1 that I need to use up. maybe it's back to a double layer ghost. what do you guys think. I am looking to lightweight, otherwise, I will use my hennessey expedition.
Ok. I may be a little biased :D but a stretch side can be made pretty light by using 1.1oz fabric, keeping it short and only putting the stretch on one side of the foot end.
Personally I think 1.1 is too light for your weight and making it a double layer will unfortunately double the weight.
I bought some ACU 30 Denier 1.1 Ripstop Nylon (Magna) from a HF group buy. For those who bought the same stuff, can you tell me your experiences?Quote:
Originally Posted by Moel Siabod
I have some of the ACU Group Buy stuff but haven't made a hammock from it yet. However, I have used some of it for other projects and I'm convinced it has to be a double layer hammock for my 200 pounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Girotogo
BTW, it is 1.0 oz/sy fabric.
I did a knotty mod on the Acu and weigh 200 these days. It's the bees knees.
Here's another option, other than the ghost, for a weight saving hammock.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=31584
I just made one, but only slept in it one night, so I haven't dialed it in yet. It is, however, surprisingly comfortable considering that the ridge line is over two feet shorter than my other hammock. The whole thing including hammock (made of single layer 1.5 oz nylon), dynaglide whoopies, tree straps, ASR, HUG bug net, in a silnylon bishop bag is about 14 oz.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knotty
I saw what you did there :lol:
+1 Knotty mods do not add much weight. I can't now imagine having another hammock w/o them.
was that just a single layerQuote:
Originally Posted by dedominick