Advice for side sleepers

**Jhb627** · 06-12-2012, 11:39

Any tips or tricks for us side sleepers? And change in angle of hang?

I am a newbie and am trying hard at night in my bed to sleep on my back. But

**Gary_R** · 06-12-2012, 11:47

I mostly sleep on my side in my hammocks. And all I do is put the foot end higher than the head end and sleep as diagonally as I can. Works great for me.

**Jhb627** · 06-12-2012, 11:53

Thanks for the quick reply. Any changes with insulating pads?

**captaincoupal** · 06-12-2012, 12:19

I run into coverage issues with side sleeping and pads, so I'm looking at supplementing my pad with a PLUQ (sewn). I'll be trying it this year, and I hope that's enough to deal with shoulders, etc.. that still get cold.

**olzeke** · 06-12-2012, 13:01

Sleeping in the bed is so much different from sleeping in the hammock. I cannot, for the life of me, sleep on my back in bed. I try most every night, for about 10 minutes, then I have to roll onto my side. In the hammock, I sleep on my back, often never moving during the night. I woke up once to find I had not even removed my glasses.

**DemostiX** · 06-12-2012, 13:02

I have no trouble in Clark hammocks sleeping on my side. That is attributed to the relative lack of stretch in the bed due to heavier fabric.

I have not found it comfortable to sleep on my side in 1.2 oz or 1.7 oz single layer hammocks, both from other makers.

Diagonal is necessary and comfortable if you are not to be in banana shape.

**dejoha** · 06-12-2012, 13:09

Like others, I sleep like a rock on my back in a hammock. In a bed, I toss and turn all night. It's the miracle of hammocks for me. I know this isn't true for everyone.

Side sleeping is very popular in gathered-end hammocks and a lot of people end up that way. I've done it myself a lot too, especially if I didn't get the hang just right and I get an uncomfortable leg strain. I've found that hammocks with more length than width have less problems with leg strain, but I haven't proven this mathematically yet

Pads are problematic no matter how you sleep in a hammock. Double layer hammocks make it much easier, but quilts, pull-over bags, or even PeaPods can really help.

For side sleepers, you might check out the Exped Dreamwalker 650 down bag (long) as a pull-over bag. The zip open arm holes make excellent head holes for side sleepers so you don't breath into your bag.

**Gary_R** · 06-12-2012, 14:57

Originally Posted by Jhb627

Thanks for the quick reply. Any changes with insulating pads?

As stated by others.. I use a Quilt.
I have never tried using a pad yet....

**OutandBack** · 06-12-2012, 15:17

I side sleep and the only thing I'd recommend is a small pillow.
It could be your cloths stuff sack. Just something to help support your head and neck.

I've had no issues sleeping on my side in any of the many gathered hammocks I've owned.

**MAD777** · 06-12-2012, 16:09

I can sleep only on my side, whether at home or in a hammock. I don't use pads other than a small one inside the footbox of my top quilt. A pillow is necessary, IMO. I use a Montbell inflatable.

I turn from side to side during the night and I find it most comfortable to face toward the outside of the hammock. This means that I switch diagonals as I turn. Therefore, I like a symetrical hammock.