Illustration - Optimal Distance and Height Between Anchors

**Arvis** · 08-18-2010, 13:58

Thanks, beep & dejoha... I guess that experience will be the final teacher... this information will greatly shorten the learning cureve!!!!

**dejoha** · 08-18-2010, 14:21

Originally Posted by Knotty

dejoha - Missed this when you first posted but didn't want to miss the opportunity to thank you for yet another great illustration.

Thanks knotty! Lots of inspirational stuff here.

**hikelite** · 12-14-2010, 14:51

Stumbled upon this illustration today when researching tree distances to make a new SLS. I was not surprised to find another excellent illustration from dejoha.

I'll be happy to buy you that slice of pizza and a beer to go with it!

BTW, the new hammock should be complete tonight (I got my Amsteel yesterday and started making slings), so we could get together for the mini noAZ hang soon. If it starts snowing again, I may need to wait until I get those quilts made though.

**chillyhiker** · 12-14-2010, 17:09

HMM..this could explain why some nights I sleep well in my hammock and other nights not so? (temp not being a factor) I may have been stringing it to tight. I would guess this applies only to gatherd end hammocks? How about the bear bridge?

**ChrisH** · 12-14-2010, 17:47

Thanks so much for another great illustration, Dejoha! I save all of them as well.

**dejoha** · 12-15-2010, 00:11

Originally Posted by hikelite

BTW, the new hammock should be complete tonight (I got my Amsteel yesterday and started making slings), so we could get together for the mini noAZ hang soon. If it starts snowing again, I may need to wait until I get those quilts made though.

Thanks hikelite! You know, these past few weeks have been unbelievably warm for Flagstaff -- we should see about an S24O before the snow

Let me know when the UQs are finished.

Originally Posted by chillyhiker

HMM..this could explain why some nights I sleep well in my hammock and other nights not so? (temp not being a factor) I may have been stringing it to tight. I would guess this applies only to gatherd end hammocks? How about the bear bridge?

The 30° angle rule would apply to any hammock, I believe, since the forces applied would be the same. I know many hammocks use structural ridgelines to help ensure the lay of the hammock is perfect, but it doesn't help achieve the 30° angle for the suspension, so you would have to watch for that.

**packeagle** · 12-15-2010, 03:45

Wouldn't the tension on the suspension lines play a factor. If you were to put a great deal of tension on say a whoopie or webbing wouldn't that create a different angle as compared to a very slack suspension line?

**gargoyle** · 12-15-2010, 08:45

Packeagle,
You are correct.
Overtightening the suspension puts more stress on the suspension and the hammock fabric.
Try to maintain the 30* downward slope on the suspension lines for best results.

There is a good graphic around showing the math and forces applied as the angles change. 30* is the best recommended angle.

**hikelite** · 12-15-2010, 11:58

Originally Posted by dejoha

Thanks hikelite! You know, these past few weeks have been unbelievably warm for Flagstaff -- we should see about an S24O before the snow

Let me know when the UQs are finished.

I was test hanging the new hammock this weekend out in the forest. It felt like Summer!

I haven't even started ordering materials for a quilt. It will be awhile. I haven't even settled on a design yet. I mostly know what I want to do, but I want to do a little more research first. :P

I did finish off the whoopie sling suspension last night, so the new hammock is officially finished.

The new slings work great. I made them from 15' of Amsteel. I think they go as long as ~7.5', so they are a little longer than normal. I'd rather have a long tail hanging on the ground than have the sling not able to reach the tree hugger!

My outdoor stand is made of pipe, so I didn't have an easy way to attach the loops on the whoopies. I decided to install a couple hooks in the bedroom we use as an office. I love how easy it is to adjust now. I didn't love the hook bending and dropping me on my butt. :P A trip to the hardware store should solve that problem.

**packeagle** · 12-15-2010, 16:09

Originally Posted by gargoyle

Packeagle,
You are correct.
Overtightening the suspension puts more stress on the suspension and the hammock fabric.
Try to maintain the 30* downward slope on the suspension lines for best results.

With that being said, wouldn't the hang height be irrelevant at any distance and suspension line tension be the main factor? I know that visibly that has more effect on the angle of my lines than how high I hang it. I believe that hight must be the main factor or this wouldn't have been posted. I just don't understand how this helps the angle.