Hammock throws me out

**hutzelbein** · 12-30-2010, 04:14

If your hammock is instable, i.e. "throws you out", what could be the problem?

I had to get a temporary hammock since my Blackbird didn't make it New Zealand. The only hammock I could find was a Ticket to the Moon single. When I put it up straight out of the box, so to speak, I already noticed that the sides seemed to be kind of floppy. As a result I kept wandering over the edge slowly, when lying in it for longer time. I thought that this might be due to the way the ends are connected to the suspension: the cord is threaded through the end of the hammock fabric. So I tried to gather the ends, as described by Knotty. But this seems to have increased the problem. The moment I get in the hammock, it tips. I can still stay in it, but I definitely wouldn't sleep in it.

What did I do wrong? Is this a problem of the cut?

I would love a comparable security as in the Blackbird. When I get in, it kind of cradles me. I never worried that I could fall out.

**oldgringo** · 12-30-2010, 04:51

It sounds to me like you've hung it too tight...try more sag.

**hutzelbein** · 12-30-2010, 04:54

Hm, the angle was something like close to 45°. I can try to give it more sag and see if it improves the behaviour. It doesn't throw me out straight, but diagonally. Difficult to describe.

Also, the sides are still "floppy" in contrast to the Blackbird, which is like a big tub. If I knew what is causing this, I could try to change it.

**turnerminator** · 12-30-2010, 05:54

How did you re-whip it? Was it the warbonnet style whipping with the cord cinched through the channel and then wound round?
If it is, I would try adjusting the whipping again, making the sides tighter to see if it made things better.

How does it work at a 30o angle?

**KerMegan** · 12-30-2010, 05:57

hmm.. got any pics of the situation?
are you way up in the air, or near the ground?
laying along the centerline, or somewhat (to very) diagonal?
I find, the more sag I have, (and 45* is a lot) the more diagonal I can go to get flat..
Hope that helps, KM

**titanium_hiker** · 12-30-2010, 05:57

posting a picture would be helpful!

TH

**Rat** · 12-30-2010, 08:38

Floppy side are normal for this type of hammock; something that has been discussed her several times. Back in the day some people tried to pull a little slack out of the sides while whipping to make them tighter and Slowhike hangs his tighter and uses spreader bars to alleviate floppy sides. 45° is a pretty aggressive hangle and will cause more floppiness than if you used a less aggressive hangle like 30°. It will not throw you out, it may fell that way compared to the Black Bird, but you are safe; mine has never dumped me.

The single makes it feel like you are right on the edge because it is narrower than the double; but it is still plenty big.

**wisenber** · 12-30-2010, 08:41

The tighter the hammock (without a structural ridge line), the higher the center or gravity, the less stable it will be. The drooping sides would be a result of the whipping. The WBBB would also hold you better as it is wider than your current option.

**Cannibal** · 12-30-2010, 10:38

How tall are you?

TTTM hammocks aren't the longest to begin with and then you made a gathered-end hammock out of a cinched-end hammock, which according to the laws of physics, made the hammock shorter. I've experienced tippiness on short and narrow hammocks. It doesn't take being very much out of position for them to get tippy. Just my thoughts.

The floppy fabric shouldn't have any effect on the stability of the hammock. All my ENOs, TrekLights, and TTTM hammocks have floppy edges; the wider they are, the more loose fabric along the edges. I like it! I use the extra fabric as an arm hammock.