Is silk a good hammock material ? One article I read stated that it breathes well and is great for comfort. Another thing I read from another guy states his hammock ripped open during a long trip. Good or bad to use?
Is silk a good hammock material ? One article I read stated that it breathes well and is great for comfort. Another thing I read from another guy states his hammock ripped open during a long trip. Good or bad to use?
I only have a little experience with silk and that was when I first experimented with hammocks.
I found it hard to find lightweight silk that was wide enough to make a comfortable hammock. The material has a nice feel to it and little stretch.
My experiment ended when the hammock grazed the ground and split open - it is quite fragile.
That said, I have heard of a few who have successfully used silk.
As a natural fiber silk is a very high maintenance fabric to use for outdoor use. It must be fully dried before being packed away. This would included exposure to dew as well as rain. Perhaps this would account for the failure of the hammock on a long trip.
For indoor use, IMO you would be hard pressed to find a more comfortable fabric to use as a base. Silk is very strong and very lightweight. It breathes like a champ and is excellent for body "climate" control. Warm in the cool temperatures and cool in the hot weather. If you don't mind the added maintenance it would be great for outdoor use. But that maintenance is very high and critical to its proper functioning.
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."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
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Silk has a very high tensile strength. It is often considered to be stronger than steel of the same diameter. But it is very prone to abrasion which reduces its tensile strength considerably. Another component of high maintenance for outdoor use.Originally Posted by krugd
Was far as width is concerned... panels can be add to the edges for the desired width very effectively.
Last edited by Ramblinrev; 06-09-2012 at 10:42.
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."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
I've been sleeping mainly in a silk hammock (indoors) for a couple of years. It's very nice, breathable, no static, etc. It's a good thick-ish satin weave, no extra maintenance.
One downside is no stretch, so it's kind of hard on the butt.
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