alas...

**dutchmarco** · 07-22-2011, 17:21

Regrettably, I've tried (bought a hammock for €35 made of parachute-fabric
and paid €60 for a stand
tried to sleep in it tonight
and gave up. S
pent about 2 hrs awake - this is quite normal for me - without showing signs of falling asleep. I was uncomfortable by not being able to roll, by touching the ground with my butt, ny shoulders were pished up uncomfortably, and some smaller issues as well. So now I'm back in my normal bed again, not tha t that promises much good, oh well.

**Dutch** · 07-22-2011, 17:24

It's not for everyone

**Cannibal** · 07-22-2011, 17:38

I'd be willing to bet you'd have a different experience without the stand.

A good number of commercial stands simply don't work well with our hammocks. They are primarily designed for those horrendous monstrosities that people put in their backyards with spreader bars at either end and stretched as tight as a wedding dress. Before you give up on the hammock, try taking it somewhere with trees and pick two about 15' apart. Sometimes it's the stand that gives the hammock a bad grade. Worth a try anyway.

**Ears** · 07-22-2011, 18:09

i concure with cannibal, altho i have never really "backpack hammocked" ive lived farm life and i guess its an unwritten rule there must be at least two hammocks per farm. anyway... there is a huge difference, just with the set up. if your booty is touching ground your not going to get the full effect of the hammockery that could be. its like judging a girl just on the feeling you got from getting to first base. dutch is right, different strokes for different folks, but i dont want you to get discouraged because you didnt get a fair shot at it. you should be able to gently sway yourself to sleep if so desired. like a ship off port.... either way, good luck and ihope you catch those Z's

**kayak karl** · 07-22-2011, 18:11

i can't sleep in a hammock in the back yard. if i hike all day i can sleep anywhere. don't write it off to quick.

**NewtonGT** · 07-22-2011, 18:14

Originally Posted by kayak karl

i can't sleep in a hammock in the back yard. if i hike all day i can sleep anywhere. don't write it off to quick.

i agree. I have to seriously get tired before I can sleep in a hammock unless its nice and cold and then I get in the hammock and warm up and pass out. but im a stomach sleeper so its hard for me to fall asleep unless im really comfy

**Catavarie** · 07-22-2011, 18:18

I have to agree with what other have said. It sounds like your hammock wasn't properly set up. Sounds as if it was hanging too low and too tight, most likely due to the stand. A pair of trees about 5m apart with the hammock suspense wrapped about 1.5m off the ground should offer a more comfortable hammocking experience.

Also be sure to sleep diagonally to flatten out, unless you want to sleep like a banana.

**DemostiX** · 07-22-2011, 18:23

And, you haven't even heard yet from (the relatively few) hammock sleepers here. They sleep well in no-compromise Brazilian or Mayan style, which may be as much as 7 feet wide, and certainly do allow you to roll, they are so capacious.

But +1 on what others have said about set-up. Tune any string instrument wrong and it will be uncomfortable.......sounding.

**Catavarie** · 07-22-2011, 18:58

Also forgot to mention that some people have trouble getting to sleep in their hammocks the first few times out in them. The fact that they are so different to lay in than a more traditional bed means it takes a little time to adjust to them.

**Pipsissewa** · 07-22-2011, 19:50

Replace the stand--hang from trees or posts. Play with the sag (SMALL changes in the suspension make BIG differences in how the hammock feels) and start by taking naps in the hammock on the weekends. Don't put pressure on yourself by trying to spend the whole night right away. When naps become your favorite pasttime, spending the night will naturally feel like the next step.

N.B.: Your butt should NOT touch the ground!!!

GOOD LUCK AND LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES!!!!