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  1. #1
    New Member Highlander366's Avatar
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    What am I doing wrong with my set-up?

    So I have spent the last two nights in my new hammock that I made and I am wondering what I can do to make it more comfortable. I woke up this morning with a stiff neck and headache. Here are my questions:

    1. How flat should one be able to lay? I have been laying at a diagonal in an attempt to lay flat but it seems that my head is still elevated, and made worse by use of a pillow.

    2. Do other hangers find it difficult to keep their feet in the hammock when laying diagonally? From what I have found on line on the forums my hammock should be long enough, but I find that my feet like to slip over the edge, especially when they are in the foot box of my top layer.

    I have attached some photos, any advice on improving my set-up would greatly be appreciated. Here are some measurements as well.

    I am 6 feet tall, 200#.

    -Hammock is a gathered end made of 1.1 sil, ten feet long.
    -Ridgeline in picture is a whoopie sling and measured at 93"
    -The hammock is centered between tree and post (14'), 38" from gathered end to tree huggers.
    -Suspensions are nylon webbing, marlin spike hitch, and whoopie slings.
    -The right side of the picture is the end where I was laying my head.

    Also I made the Spinntex tarp in the background, the red blanket is a lightweight down blanket that I had in my house that I am trying as an UQ. The first night trying to lay on my Neo Air was miserable. The blanket seems to work well, I am considering sewing on tie outs and buying some elastic cord. Headed to Yellowstone next week and I don't have time to make an UQ.

    Thanks

    Scott
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    In Hope I Byde

  2. #2
    Member Irvingdog's Avatar
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    That looks like a lot of sag to me... Got a pillow under or between your knees?

  3. #3
    Senior Member Dblcorona's Avatar
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    Of the dimensions given, I didn't see what the width was? I am 6' 1" and my hammock doesn't have quite as much sag as that.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Formerly 'TroutEhCuss'
    Trout's Avatar
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    I found that one of the big surprises for me was having the hammock pulled tighter than I thought it should, so when I got it it didn't sag too much. Your hammock ends aren't pulled apart enough from my perspective. I'd try tightening up hammock. Also, if your head is too low, lift that end up a big on the tree. Me, I like my feet end up a little higher, so the blood goes away from the feet - giving'em a relief.
    I like big hammocks - I cannot like.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    Try extending the ridgeline to ~100". You might think that is not a big deal but even 1" has made a difference in my comfort. Hang the feet about 6-12" higher than the head or if you are still set up that way switch your head to the other end.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
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  6. #6
    Senior Member Land's Avatar
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    Talking

    Scott,
    From your photos, it looks like the tree end is your feet end and the post end is your head end. The tree end is lower than the post end, it looks like.

    If the hammock is still set up from when you took these pics, try getting in it with your head at the tree end. That just might fix your head-too-high and feet-hanging-over problems. Since so much of our body weight is in our torsos, a feet-slightly-high hang works for lots of folks.

    Also, 93" is relatively short for a ridgeline. Since it's a whoopie, try a little longer ridgeline, maybe.

    Edit: Dang, I'm a sloooow typist!

    Chris
    Last edited by Land; 09-12-2010 at 14:33.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Poppabear's Avatar
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    Take a look at dejoha's hammock camping illustration. It may give you a few ideas of things that you may try in order to get a more comfortable hang. http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=11700 Looking at your picture my first impression is that have to much sag and that your tie off points are to close together.
    Terry

  8. #8
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
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    To me, it looks like the tree connection is to low. Or spin yourself around. You want your foot end a few inches higher than your head end. It may keep your feet from falling out?
    Play with your sag, see if that helps.
    Nice looking set up. Welcome to the forum.

    The uq/blanket needs channels sewn on so you can close the gaps at the short ends. Shockcord in the channel and a cordlock or two will do the trick.
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

  9. #9
    Senior Member KP's Avatar
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    I believe that
    #1 The ridgeline is too short. Based on the length of the hammock I would go for 95 or 96 inches between each of the gathered ends.
    #2 Like everyone has said already, hang the head end lower than the foot end.
    #3 In a pinch 14 ft between each tree should be good but if possible try for a 15 ft spread. Walk a measured 15 ft mark and count the paces. This will give you a good way of picking out trees to hang from when you get to Yellowstone. Be aware that your pace count will vary with the terrain walked but you'll be close.

  10. #10
    Senior Member
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    The recommended RL length is 83% of the total hammock length. 83% of 10 feet (120 inches) is 99.6" - call it 100 inches. Putting the RL at 100" would help you lay flatter, I bet.
    Mike

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