Who was first vendor to advocate foot end higher?

[Latherdome]

I know Warbonnet does. At what point, and by whose efforts primarily, did hanging the foot end higher become a commonly recommended practice?

[MAD777]

It's always been known that the torso is heavier than the legs, therefore the reason to elevate the foot end. Don't know who actually stated it first, but my wild guess would be Ed Speer.

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[Trecker8]

I try to always keep at minimum level or head end higher. I have gastric reflux, and the doctors always tell me to sleep head elevated so that the stomach acid doesn’t reflux into the esophagus, where over time it can cause Barret Esophagus, which can cause esophageal cancer. It’s true the center of gravity in a humans is around the area of the shoulders. A grizzly illustration of this was the World Trade Center jumpers, who all fell feet up and head low.

[Latherdome]

I try to always keep at minimum level or head end higher.

Paradoxically, hanging the foot end of the hammock higher results in a flatter lay, with your feet lower, and head higher, than if hammock is level or especially if head end is hung higher. That’s why so many hammock makers recommend the practice, and why more than a few hangers complain when they don’t observe it. Counterinuitive at first.

[TominMN]

Yup, getting the foot end up means that your body will settle closer to the head end. Your head will be on the up-slope and your legs/feet can more easily spread the fabric being that much further from the gathered end. The hammock spreads more, the lay is flatter, and it's much easier to avoid that pesky "calf ridge." That taut spot in the fabric typically ends up under your knees (if it exists at all) where it's barely noticed.

[Trecker8]

Some of this points out the one main problem of hammocks - they're a pain in the azz to lay properly in, and God help you if you change positions or get up to pee!

[TominMN]

Some of this points out the one main problem of hammocks - they're a pain in the azz to lay properly in, and God help you if you change positions or get up to pee!

I found that to be true at first. After a while, I've been able to get back to a comfortable position pretty quickly. There definitely is a learning curve before being able to get comfortable consistently but, believe me, it is possible for most folks.

[Latherdome]

I ask the history because our stand REQUIRES the foot end higher, and want to understand the backstory and prevalence of the recommendation. It's actually a competitive advantage over other stand designs whose end supports are level, and too low or close to compensate by letting the head suspension down.

[canoebie]

I have been around a while, and I recall one of the early calls for this coming from Warbonnet.

[sidneyhornblower]

I know Warbonnet does. At what point, and by whose efforts primarily, did hanging the foot end higher become a commonly recommended practice?

This is an intriguing question, actually. I used my google-fu and found that here on hammockforums, the earliest post I could find that mentioned hanging foot end higher dates from fairly early in 2007. The text makes it sound like it was an already established practice, however. I suppose a search of whiteblaze might turn up something earlier than 2007.



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edited to add: Earliest post I can find on Whiteblaze that references hanging foot end higher dates from 2005, but again makes it sound like an already existing technique. So whoever came up with it, it's likely earlier than 2005.