WBBB Style footbox on a DIY hammock?

Over the last few months of experimenting with my DIY Speer type hammock, I've come to find that I like a VERY loose hang, and lay on the diagonal, with my head to the right. My feet almost hang off the edge, so I assume my hammock is a bit too short, and I should make a longer one. (I'm 6', my whipped-end hammock is 9'.) My other thought is to sew in a footbox, like the Blackbird has.

Has anybody attempted this... I've done some searches here, but have found nothing...

Pics/drawings would be appreciated...

Eventually, I'd like to buy a WBBB, but funds for 2010 will be tight...


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

Have you tried the "W fold" whipping? I think you might be able to approximate a foot box/pocket by adjusting how deep the folds go- but I haven't tried it myself- at the least you will probably need a couple more feet of length in the starting hammock fabric.
Just my .02 lira, KM

Is this what your looking for?
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=12761

Adding length is fine, but consider the width of the hammock if you enjoy sleeping on the diagonal. Width is at least as important in my mind.

I agree with the width being important.

I am a diagonal sleeper. I made a 48 inch wide (x 120 long -if you care) hammock last year (to imrisk's bug net plan) and can't get diagonal like I want without my feet going over the edge and my head being uncomfortably close to the edge.

I just altered my 60 in. wide x 120 long hammock to the Hennessy Clone technique with the ends sewed together in a tube and rolled to the center. I love it!!! I'm debating adding side pullouts. I've never used them before**

I'm now making one with ripstop.

** true confessions I've only actually seen a Hennessy in the flesh once on the trail and have always been the only hammock in camp the rest of the time.

My current DIY is 58" wide (60" material, plus rolled hem), and 3 yards long. (Ends are whipped)


KM: Thanks for the tip on the "W", I recall reading something about that either here, JustJeff's, or Risk's pages... I'll check it out.

Optimator: Thanks for the find on the thread... that's exactly what I was looking for.

Grinder: I'll take a look at the HH clone... I might undo the whipping and give it a shot.

Sounds like I need to find more material and build hammock #2 so I have a test hammock to mess with...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Grinder

I'm debating adding side pullouts. I've never used them before

---

The pullouts provide tension to keep the bug net from sagging. They also open the body up a bit which is nice getting in and out. I don't think they effect the lay of the hammock when occupied, that's all in the length, width, whip and sag of the body and the angle of the occupant across the axis.

In a hammock without a bug net I probably would not bother with pullouts, just one more thing to screw around with. When I was working out the design for my DIY hammock I got some tarp grippers and experimented with tie out placement. That drove the shape of my bug net, shelf and foot box.

One thing I did that I would NOT recommend is that I used multiple pullouts on the entry side of the hammock body. I really like this until I tried to get my UQ to hug it. Is simply could not eliminate the air gap under my right shoulder. Loosening just on of the pullouts resolved that.

The Blackbird does have multiple pullout points but there is more fabric in the body than there is with mine so it does not effect the body like it does on mine.
Attachment 7368Attachment 7369

I guess someday, I'll just have to go buy the WBBB... I'm just having too much fun doing the DIY thing...

Heck, if I paid myself $3/hr, I could have a WBBB, winter Yeti by now... :lol:

Thanks for the tips...