Dimensions For Hammock

**Old River Rat** · 08-08-2010, 16:17

I have just completed my first hammock. It is made with a folded in half king size sheet. The sheet is 108 inches wide by 102 inches long. My finished hammock is 54 inches by 102 inches. The ends are gathered and whoopie slings are attached with about 4 inches of the gather hanging free. So, the length of the hammock would be 104 inches. I think I need the dimensions a bit bigger. I am 5 foot 7 inches tall. I think 60 inch wide fabric is wide enough. Or should it be wider? But, what do I need the length to be for my heigth?

I have suspended this hammock in my bedroom with two eye bolts screwed into the wall, each bolt centered on a 2X4. This seems to be strong enough.

I am proud that I made the slings myself using 1/8 amsteel blue. I used a 12 inch upholstry needle to work the amsteel. I was tempted to buy the $55 tool, but the needle did an excellent job.

**beep** · 08-08-2010, 16:20

As I understand it, the "standard" gathered-end hammock length is 10 feet (x 60 inches).

**Knotty** · 08-08-2010, 17:59

Some people seem to get by fine in shorter hammocks. Look at Sgt. Rock's pics and his head and feet are near the peak at each end.

Personally I prefer a longer hammock so I can lay asymeterically, which will be a flatter lay than down the center,

Different strokes...

Since you've already made the hammock, use it for a bit and see and come to your own conclusion on the length. At 60" there shouldn't be any problems with the width.

Also, good for you on making your own whoopie slings. Fun isn't it?

**oldgringo** · 08-08-2010, 18:17

Originally Posted by Knotty

Some people seem to get by fine in shorter hammocks. Look at Sgt. Rock's pics and his head and feet are near the peak at each end.

Personally I prefer a longer hammock so I can lay asymeterically, which will be a flatter lay than down the center,

I find my Speer 8.5, hung with lots of sag (~40 degrees), to be decently comfortable.

Like Knotty, I prefer a longer hammock, but that is not an absolute requirement.

**Old River Rat** · 08-08-2010, 18:33

Thanks for the replies so far. The more I play with this, the more I like it. I have always liked hobbies I could "dabble" in. The whoopie sling is a great invention and it is fun to fabricate.

I am now seriously looking into the possibility of purchasing a "thread injector."

**hiker_DC** · 08-08-2010, 18:39

Ed Speer, in his book Hammock Camping, recommends that the interior length of the hammock be your height plus two feet. I am 5' 7" as well and find that my just shy of 9' hammock suits me fine. There are people that make hammocks as long as 11 and even 12 feet long. That's fine too I suppose. The nice thing about experimenting is that you can find what's best for you.

Doc