What's too long?

[Cecilg]

I just finished a DYI hammock using Knotty's instructions and recommendations. By the way, Thanks a ton Knotty. This made it nice to be able to see this tutorial. Also I'm 5' 8" tall 195 lbs.
Anyway, I had three yards of ripstop nylon that is 60 in wide and just used that with a hem of about 1 in on each side and the channel on the ends about 1 1/2 in. That leaves the hammock pretty long. I'm wondering if I had cut it down in length if that would be better and if it would lay a little better.
I am new to hammocking and DIY so any help and input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Cecilg

[JCINMA]

That's not pretty long at all. By many standards, that's a very short hammock. I just finished making a DIY hammock out of 4 yards of fabric (and it's verrry nice).

[Mule]

My most comfortable ones have been 11 or 12 feet long, BUT you do have to worry about having enough tarp to cover it.

[SlowBro]

I just finished a DYI hammock using Knotty's instructions and recommendations. By the way, Thanks a ton Knotty. This made it nice to be able to see this tutorial. Also I'm 5' 8" tall 195 lbs.
Anyway, I had three yards of ripstop nylon that is 60 in wide and just used that with a hem of about 1 in on each side and the channel on the ends about 1 1/2 in. That leaves the hammock pretty long. I'm wondering if I had cut it down in length if that would be better and if it would lay a little better.
I am new to hammocking and DIY so any help and input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Cecilg

Longer is better in my estimation. Ed Speer's formula was your height + 2 feet plus 3" for hems (assuming you are using a channel end) which comes out close to the 9 feet you use. Longer is usually flatter, but I suppose there is such a thing as too long- 10 yards?
-Mark

[JohnSawyer]

I have 3 hammocks: my first was 9 feet of material, my second 11', and my third 10'. I find that there's some difference between the 10 and 11' models, but the 9' isn't as comfortable as the other two (but still very comfy)... I'm 5'11" tall.

Wider material would be the other option, as it makes the diagonal lay flatter.

[JCINMA]

I suppose there is such a thing as too long- 10 yards?
-Mark

I don't know...just think of the diagonal!

just think of the required sag

[Knotty]

Celig - Glad you found the tutorial helpful. Starting with 9' of raw material is towards the short side but many people have no problem with a short hammock. Try it and see if you like it. If not, some more material and make another. There's just no stopping at one.

[Cecilg]

Thanks everyone! I think I'll go the other extreme and make a 12 footer. Then I can compare. I can see how you get addicted to this stuff. Lot's of fun and great people to help out.
Again thanks everyone for your help.
Cecilg

[Doctari]

My shortest hammock is 8' 6" long (Finished) & at 5' 7" for me, it's about as short as I can fit in. Yes, I'm comfortable in it, but there are times when I notice it's ALMOST too short.
I think yo will be happy starting at "Way long" & will probably end up making one that is even longer.

Remember that the hammock length has little to do with how long the hammock is when hung, especially if using a structural ridgeline. When hanging, my short hammock is actually about 7' long, so it fits under my shortest tarp with ease (9' ridgeline).

You got a good start there, congratulations!!

[JTucker]

I have two homebuilt hammocks, the first one is about 12ft. long and made from some really heavy ripstop. It's about 60in. wide and very comfortable. We just finished making a 1.1 double layer yesterday that's close to 11ft long and 64in wide. I only got to try it out for a few minutes yesterday but it seems to be fine, although I can tell it's shorter. The 1.1DL is about half the size packed though. I used the whipping from Knotty's thread as well, worked out great.