Experienced Zero-G in my hammock...need advice

**FlySubCompact** · 10-24-2015, 00:51

Been using some cheap Equip brand hammocks (Walmart) for couple of years. No issues, until now. One was my main camp hammock and a spare I keep on the porch for lounging. Was on the spare last week, enjoying the Fall breeze, surfing on my laptop, when it suddenly committed suicide out fromunderme.

Zero G was achieved a split second before hitting the porch deck. Only thing that kept me from hitting really hard was the left hem held and used it and my left arm as a brake at the end.

Autopsy revealed that my young girl puppy had been biting on the bottom of the Equip. (she chews everything) Rip started where she'd bitten it up.

Totally have no confidence in the Equips now. Dutch's gathered end rigs have caught my eye. The 11' GE and the new Half Wit with the net. This leads me to fabrics. I always hear the term "ripstop". Does that mean that if a hammock experiences a small puncture (or sixteen) that it can help avoid a total failure like I had in the Equip? I am fairly large. (6' and 230lbs) Which of the fabrics would be best to order? I like light weight stuff, but I'd splurge on carrying a little extra rip insurance to remain at 1 G.

p.s. BTW, I will inspect any hammock I plant myself in before planting, from now on.

**Evaed** · 10-24-2015, 01:12

I believe rip stop does work the way you think but to a certain degree of course. Other folks on here can give you a much better explanation on that than i'm capable of. I personally would use Dutch's new http://www.dutchwaregear.com/new-nylond-1.6.html . Suppose to be very strong and comfortable, the half wit comes in the 1.6 hexon too.

**FlySubCompact** · 10-24-2015, 01:33

Originally Posted by Evaed

I believe rip stop does work the way you think but to a certain degree of course. Other folks on here can give you a much better explanation on that than i'm capable of. I personally would use Dutch's new http://www.dutchwaregear.com/new-nylond-1.6.html . Suppose to be very strong and comfortable, the half wit comes in the 1.6 hexon too.

I keep hearing about the hexon your mentioned. Not real experienced with any fabrics, so mebbe some others will chime in.

**Evaed** · 10-24-2015, 01:45

Here's a good thread with folks curious about Hexon with Dutch helping explain about it. Hope this helps you out Fly. I'm sure others will chime in on this as well, this is a deep subject lol. https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...3093-Hexon-1-6

**hutzelbein** · 10-24-2015, 05:39

The ripstop won't prevent failures like the one you experienced. Unloaded, the ripstop pattern will prevent the rip becoming larger, but loaded any fabric will fail. Of course some fabrics can be damaged more easily than others. I'd say that it's easier to rip a 1.0oz or 1.1oz fabric than a 1.6oz, and a 1.6oz fabric rips easier than a 1.9oz and so on. Best thing to do is not to let your dog anywhere near your hammock. But of course you could try making a hammock from Dyneema X or the likes

But knowing how pointy young dogs' teeth are, I dare say even this fabric wouldn't hold up...

**Shug** · 10-24-2015, 08:37

The Dutch Hexon 1.6 hammocks are right goodies. Just used one on a 8 night trip and slept in comfort nightly.
Shug

**Ramblinrev** · 10-24-2015, 10:56

Originally Posted by hutzelbein

The ripstop won't prevent failures like the one you experienced. Unloaded, the ripstop pattern will prevent the rip becoming larger, but loaded any fabric will fail.

Ripstop was developed for clothing, sleeping bags and other minimum stress applications. It works as described for briar pricks and such but under hammock loads it is virtually meaningless. I can tear ripstop by hand and have done so numerous times so don't count on it holding a full body load.