1.1oz ripstop hammock? Really?

**Wentworth** · 08-01-2010, 03:32

Hi All,
I've read about a few people using a single layer of 1.1oz ripstop as their hammock body. How safe/ durable will this be?
I seem to recall stories years ago of catastrophic hammock failure with lighter fabrics?
can anyone ease my worried mind!? I'm concerned about the longevity of such a hammock.

**JohnSawyer** · 08-01-2010, 03:41

I'm 210lbs, 5'11, and my current hammock is 1.1 ripstop 2nds purchased from sclittlefield... I've slept in it 8-10 nights, and have set it up quite a bit more than that...

I've had no issues so far.

I also have a Beyer "Parachute" hammock, that's very thin, NON-ripstop material.. It has held me up so far... (it's rated to 220lbs)

**Hangin' Burrito** · 08-01-2010, 05:01

Like JohnSawyer, I got some of that same camo 1.1 and have used my hammock a number of times and it's worked out well, & I'm 213pds. and 6' 3".

I believe it's key to get into a hammock slowly so as to not put unnecessary stress on it. I wouldn't worry about it as long as your careful.

**Wentworth** · 08-01-2010, 05:30

thanks to you both. I'm 182lb, so perhaps I have nothing to worry about!

**SGT Rock** · 08-01-2010, 05:50

I'm using 1.1 and I weight about 180.

**Wentworth** · 08-01-2010, 07:06

Sgt Rock,
have you had many nights in it?

**SGT Rock** · 08-01-2010, 07:35

I haven't kept a running total but I think it is about 14 nights in that one. It is thru-hiker.com 1.1 which is stronger than other 1.1 I have tried in making hammocks.

I have also been using a Nano7 which appears to be a more stretchy 1.1 than my homemade and I have about 2 weeks in that one as well.

**Just Jeff** · 08-01-2010, 07:44

Some 1.1oz is stretchy and won't be comfortable, even at 180 lbs. Other 1.1 oz is fine as long as you don't sit up on your elbow, try to stand in it, etc. I have a 1.1 oz sil hammock now with a handful of nights in it (5-6) and haven't had any issues. Plus, the Hennessy Backpacker Ultralight is 1.1 oz fabric.

One of the catastrophic failure stories may have been mine from several years ago. It failed b/c I had sewn an insulation layer to it, then removed that layer. I had a weak spot where the backstitching had been, and one day I thought it would be cool to put my heel there while I moved around. Not as cool as I thought it would be.

**SGT Rock** · 08-01-2010, 07:50

Isn't Hennessy using some exotic hard to get fabric. I was trying to find some of that because I love the feel of it, but didn't have any luck.

**Just Jeff** · 08-01-2010, 07:58

I haven't looked for it, so I can't say for sure. I just know it's high tenacity so it doesn't stretch after the first few nights. It does have a unique feel, though...I've never seen it on anything else.