Ripstop, taffeta or both?

I'm having a hard time deciding which material to go for with a Dream Hammock. I have never had the chance to see or lie in a taffeta hammock, therefore I'm not sure if it's worth the weight penalty. In all likelihood, my hammock will be an 11 footer (don't know which width, yet) and a double layer because I will be using a pad.

Up to now I have used 1.0, 1.1, 1.5 and 1.7 ripstop hammocks. I love the weight and softness of the 1.0 hammock. But I have to admit that 1.5/1.7 provides a more comfortable lay.

Anybody tried taffeta and ripstop and can share their experiences?

I'm also wondering if it would be a good idea to mix materials, e.g. outer layer taffeta, inner layer 1.0 ripstop. Or outer layer 1.7 ripstop, inner layer 1.0 ripstop. Any opinions on that?

The Taffeta feels similar to the fabric used by Eno, Grand Trunk and similar brands. It's softer than ripstop, but it's also going to be heavier and may not pack as small as ripstop.

For backpacking, I prefer the lightweight nylon, but in my backyard I use a Grand Trunk because I like the feel of the parachute nylon.

Either will make a great hammock, just depends on how important weight is to you.

I had the roaming gnome by Dream Hammocks. It is a great hammock with lots of excellent features. But those features add weight, and being made of taffeta added even more weight. More than I wanted in a backpacking hammock. If, or when, I buy another roaming gnome, it will be in a lightweight fabric.

My preference is taffeta but remember opinions are like belly buttons... everybody has one.

I have a single layer 2.6 taffeta dangerbird and it packs down pretty small and is crazy comfy. not exactly sure about the weight of it though.


https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...5&d=1353554194

I've got a taffeta tablecloth, and I think it's great. If I was to get another hammock, I'd just get a longer tablecloth.

Have you looked at the poly 2.3? I had a chance to lay in Papa Smurf's Tbird at the MAHHA and loved the lay and feel. I have not tried the taffeta so u fortunately I cannot compare the two. Maybe worth considering a heavier material inside for feel/lay and a lighter one outside to hold your padding. I am on queue for a dangerbird, likely will upgrade to a TB before getting into the production stage, but am going with the extra oz's to get that comfy lay.

Thanks for the input. It seems the heavier fabric is preferred. Not sure, though, if I want to carry the extra weight. Wish there was some 1.0 tafetta...

I prefer the ripstop in the lighter weights but taffeta feels softer once 1.9oz is reached. If unconcerned about weight, go taffeta,,,jmho,,,Bush

OP writes in text about 1.0 (nylon). But his profile shows him with a double layer 1.0, and I doubt the second layer is lighter than 1.0.

So, he starts with 2oz / sq yd, and a single layer hammock of 2.3 oz fabric will be less than 10% heavier if the rest of the necessary parts are the same weight.

Dream Hammock provides an online calculator with weights for every possible fabric option. My experience with numbers is that everyone likes to futz and fool themselves by neglecting elements that may add up to several oz or 150g. Like the stuff-sack, differences in suspension, or differences in size and included features. [The kids' joke of 50 years ago applies: How to lose 10 lbs of ugly fat? Cut off your head!! Similarly,] How can my Ridge Runner be lighter than yours? I cut off the saddlebags!! Two and more years ago, WBBB were the lightest hammocks, and we were reminded of that oh, so often. Recently WBO released a larger, more feature-laden hammock, and nobody dares to note that it is heavier, or to call it "feature-lead-en." (Lead as in Pb = pun)

When Sgt. Rock writes up his UL rig, he is explicit in the compromises he makes in trying to reach the bleeding edge of lightness, including durability and even lost comfort from a Cuben hammock bed, and a short one at that.

Finally, hand feel is one thing. Local and global stretch is quite another, and I look forward to explicit description and photos of the same body in hammocks of the same size. [Did your butt really get so heavy and large, or is it just that hammock you are wearing?]

Once a body is adapted to one notion of comfort for body parts and angles, it requires re-adaptation to see if another design can be comfortable. Sometimes different works better, sometimes not. I am used to a nylon fabric that is locally non-stretchy. So hammocks that ARE stretchy don't work well after 30 minutes of trial. If you sleep refreshed and without back pain with some level of support, no amount of 'great hand-feel' is going to be preferred over a sore back if stretch causes that soreness.

Last: I doubt much that 2oz+ wt polyester hammocks are as durable as nylon ones. I suspect them to be less tolerant of nicks and abrasion.

I didn't realize that poly is not as tough as nylon.

In all likelihood, I'm going to stick with 1.0/1.0 due to weight savings. Between my Blackbirds I always pick the 1.0 DL over the 1.7 DL when I'm travelling, simply because it packs smaller and is significantly lighter.

I have a 1.1 DL BB and I am very comfortable in it. The lay is very flat and I don't notice any sagging or stretching that makes it uncomfortable for me. I am 170 lbs however. After talking to Brandon, he suggested it since at the time, I did not know whether I would be using padding or not. I ended up using UQs and/or a pad in my hammock so it is no longer an issue. Poly is known for not being stretchy so will lay flatter but whether there is a noticeable difference between a single layer of 2.2 or 2.3 and a double layer of 1.1, I would not know. I am still considering whether to go with a 1.8 oz nylon taffeta or the 2.3 poly/nylon blend.. at 170 lbs, would I really notice a difference when one is rated at 250 lbs and the poly at 265... I would save 3.5 oz. The poly is supposed to be more hydrophobic and moisture wicking, the same as with clothing, which is intriguing when it comes to condensation but if you have an UQ underneath, I am not sure if that is a good thing.

I had the tafetta hammock and it was very comfortable, but I prefer the 1.0 or 1.1 nylon for lighter weight. I think the tafetta is warmer, which makes it nice in winter. I just did not like the weight of the tafetta. That is just my $.02, for what it is worth.

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Originally Posted by BajaHanger

I had the tafetta hammock and it was very comfortable, but I prefer the 1.0 or 1.1 nylon for lighter weight. I think the tafetta is warmer, which makes it nice in winter. I just did not like the weight of the tafetta. That is just my $.02, for what it is worth.

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Did you experience much difference in comfort/sag? How much do you weigh, if you don't mind me asking..

First off, I am a woman and cannot divulge my weight. :lol: However, I read you posts above and at 170 you are good for 1.0 and 1.1. I prefer a double layer in case I need to use a pad :rolleyes: so a 1.0 or 1.1 is definitely okay. Preferring a double layer is another reason I didn't want tafetta, because it was too heavy.
I do have the tafetta tablecloths made into hammocks, which are great for the backyard or car camping. I just have a bunch of hammocks, so the tafetta ones don't get used much.

Also, to answer your question, I did not experience much sag at all.

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Originally Posted by BajaHanger

First off, I am a woman and cannot divulge my weight. :lol: However, I read you posts above and at 170 you are good for 1.0 and 1.1. I prefer a double layer in case I need to use a pad :rolleyes: so a 1.0 or 1.1 is definitely okay. Preferring a double layer is another reason I didn't want tafetta, because it was too heavy.
I do have the tafetta tablecloths made into hammocks, which are great for the backyard or car camping. I just have a bunch of hammocks, so the tafetta ones don't get used much.

Also, to answer your question, I did not experience much sag at all.

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Apologies.. I did not know your gender or would not have asked the question.. I had the opportunity to try the Thunderbird with 2.3 poly/nylon and the Darien UL with SL 1.0 nylon. The double layer does reduce stretch. The UL was much softer and "closed up around you" much more than the TB which was flatter and a more open lay. I guess I am looking for a compromise somewhere in there, maybe with PapaSmurf's 1.8 nylon taffeta.

No worries about asking my weight. :lol: I really like the night grid camo, just not the 1.8 weight. I got the 1.0 coyote for the inside layer of my ThunderBird, looks very nice. I also got the coyote for the top cover. :thumbup:

Not to butt in, but I did want to share one thing.
The photos at the bottom of this page http://www.dream-hammock.com/Darien.html show me (260lbs at that time) laying in a single layer 1.8oz High Count, Olive Taffeta. (same specs as the Night Grid) This is likely lighter than I would use because it was more stretchy than I like, but it does illustrate the lay I was able to get with this fabric. A slightly lighter person would get along great with it.

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Originally Posted by PapaSmurf

Not to butt in, but I did want to share one thing.
The photos at the bottom of this page http://www.dream-hammock.com/Darien.html show me (260lbs at that time) laying in a single layer 1.8oz High Count, Olive Taffeta. (same specs as the Night Grid) This is likely lighter than I would use because it was more stretchy than I like, but it does illustrate the lay I was able to get with this fabric. A slightly lighter person would get along great with it.

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Do you think I would notice a significant difference in the lay/stretch between the 2.3 poly/nylon and the 1.8 taffeta at 170 lbs?

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Originally Posted by Space4DaPoppa

Do you think I would notice a significant difference in the lay/stretch between the 2.3 poly/nylon and the 1.8 taffeta at 170 lbs?

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Tough question.
Does increasing the fabric weight well above the max comfort rating mean a more supportive, flatter lay?
I would think so, but it's so subjective that I'm not sure we could ever measure it.

I think the reason I see so much difference is that I'm hovering around the reasonable max comfort weight of 1.8oz & 2.3oz.

Maybe you would also notice this same big difference if you compared a 1.1oz, 1.5oz & 1.9oz.
Is anything heavier wasted capacity? I don't really know.

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Originally Posted by PapaSmurf

Tough question.
Does increasing the fabric weight well above the max comfort rating mean a more supportive, flatter lay?
I would think so, but it's so subjective that I'm not sure we could ever measure it.
.

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As I've applauded in another thread on another maker's hammocks -- the applause being for the well-chosen language by multiple HF members to describe aspects of comfort -- measurement isn't everything.

But, isn't it time, by now, to set up a camera and take views of the same person in hammocks of different weight or construction? I wasn't kidding when I wrote earlier in this thread: "I look forward to explicit description and photos of the same body in hammocks of the same size. [Did your butt really get so heavy and large, or is it just that hammock you are wearing?]".

Not your responsibility, Papa Smurf. You are providing a wide range of options, a degree of "consumer sovereignty", that must have some productivity costs, too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DemostiX

As I've applauded in another thread on another maker's hammocks -- the applause being for the well-chosen language by multiple HF members to describe aspects of comfort -- measurement isn't everything.

But, isn't it time, by now, to set up a camera and take views of the same person in hammocks of different weight or construction? I wasn't kidding when I wrote earlier in this thread: "I look forward to explicit description and photos of the same body in hammocks of the same size. [Did your butt really get so heavy and large, or is it just that hammock you are wearing?]".

Not your responsibility, Papa Smurf. You are providing a wide range of options, a degree of "consumer sovereignty", that must have some productivity costs, too.

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For the good of the HF community, I would happily take on this task and publish the scientific results if the hammock makers on this forum would donate one of each of their product offerings to me for this research. :lol:

My taffeta hammock is super comfortable, and with my whoopies and rl, it weighs in at just under 16oz