Bridge Hammock - First Try

**jrs77** · 10-24-2017, 03:41

Hello there. Newly registered guy from Finland here.

I just placed orders for 3x1.5m 70den Ripstop Nylon 66gr/m², 10 meters of 19mm Edelrid Supertape (1500 daN webbing) and 2 meters 16x2mm aluminum tubes to fabricate my first bridge hammock.

I want it to be as simple a bridge hammock as possible without any fancy stuff like foot-boxes, mosquito-nets, or aynthing like it. Just a piece of fabric with webbing sown to the sides.

There's lots of different design out there, and I'm not too sure what will suit me the best, so I'm asking for a little advice here. I want a pretty much flat hammock suited for sleeping on my side or my stomach, as I can't seem to fall asleep on my back. Never could.

The plan is to make the hammock 210cm / 83" long, 120cm / 47" wide with a 12" curved cut resulting in 90cm /35" in the middle. The spreader-bars will be the same 90cm / 35" as the waist of the hammock.

As far as I understand it, this will result in a pretty flat hammock, with the spreader-bars being the same width as the middle of the hammock and only some 12" of waist cut.

Am I mistaken in this assumption, or will these measurements roughly result in what I'm looking for?

**MAD777** · 10-24-2017, 05:33

I can't help with the measurements, but a well respected member, WV, posted the following instructions for a simple bridge.
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...-first-glimpse

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**jrs77** · 10-24-2017, 08:06

The materials are pretty hard to come by here in Finland and I need to order them from Germany or the UK, which allways adds alot of shipping-costs in addition to the waiting times.

That's the reason why I wanted to ask first, if the dimensions will actually result in a hammock like I want it to be before I start to cut and sow the fabrics.

I watched the videos from Grizz and anything else I could find for DIY-hammocks, but all the available media is either too general or way too specific and different from what I want.

The reference for my approach would be this -> https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...Bridge-Hammock But it doesn't go into any details of how much it sags and if it's suitable for sleeping on your side or stomach, etc.

My goal is basically to design a bridge-hammock that I could use as a bed at home.

**zooshooter** · 10-27-2017, 15:18

Originally Posted by MAD777

I can't help with the measurements, but a well respected member, WV, posted the following instructions for a simple bridge.
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...-first-glimpse

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Seconding these plans. I made a "test hammock" out of some clearance ripstop and was mostly pleased with the results. It was a simple rolled hem edge with grosgrain at the corners to hang it by. I found that even following his instructions to create a "knee ridge" that my prototype laid flat. I also wound up using a much wider spreader bar at the head than at the foot and would HIGHLY recommend you do so as well. Even with the head bar being over a foot longer than the head, my shoulders still get a slight squeeze. I also made some half-circle end caps for mine so that nothing would fall out of the head or foot end during the night as I tend to toss & turn a bit. If you'd like I can get some photos up of what I currently have finished on it.

**Country Roads** · 10-27-2017, 18:32

Another vote for WV's plan. I made one and it was pretty darn easy and pretty darn comfy too.

**jrs77** · 10-28-2017, 02:46

I've watched the video, and the PBH/VBH sags way too much for my liking. Therefore I'm much more interested in pursuing Bics approach -> https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...Bridge-Hammock

**FJRpilot** · 10-28-2017, 09:33

I think your side cuts may be a little too deep. I would suggest you start at 6 or 7 inches. You can always go back and take more out if you think you need to.

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**jrs77** · 10-28-2017, 10:38

The cuts are at 6". 12" combined.

**FJRpilot** · 10-28-2017, 11:41

My misunderstanding, then you should be fine.

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**GrizzlyAdams** · 10-28-2017, 17:48

That's pretty close to what I would do (I might make the waist cut an inch or even two deeper.) Cut the body, hem the ends, roll in the webbing, sew it down, hammock body done. Very straightforward job. To make the ends look cleaner where the hammock body ends meet the webbing realized that the webbing and hammock end are not at 90 degrees. So when you roll the body onto the webbing the body will visible 'wrap' around the webbing. For a 'cleaner' look you can angle a shallow cut on the corner of the hammock body first, so that when wrapped the body edge align.