Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18
  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Davis, CA
    Hammock
    DIY 11' gathered end hammock
    Tarp
    DIY Winter Tarp
    Insulation
    Jarbridge UQ, Sock
    Suspension
    Whoopie, MSH
    Posts
    274
    Images
    12

    Ghost Hammock or Knotty Side Stretch w/mods

    I am looking to make a lightweight hammock. I'm 210 lbs, using 1.1 ripstop. I was thinking to make a ghost hammock single layer and now I'm thinking of Knotty's side stretch with mods at the head and feet. I want something light, but it needs to hold my weight and be comfortable? BTW is the side stretch the same as a gathered end hammock?

  2. #2
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    White Mountains, New Hampshire
    Hammock
    DIY, WBBB & Switchback
    Tarp
    HG cuben,OES Spinn
    Insulation
    DIY 3/4 UQ/TQ, UGQ
    Suspension
    Dynaglide / Dutch
    Posts
    10,950
    Images
    39
    The side stretch that Knotty came up with is really a hammock "accessory". It doesn't affect the lay of the hammock or it's strength. It is used on a gathered end hammock to do two things.

    1. Tension the edge of the hammock so that it's not flapping in your face when the wind blows.
    2. Keeps your top quilt from going overboard during the night.
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  3. #3
    Senior Member dragon360's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Toronto, ON
    Hammock
    WBBB/TR, DIY, HH, SB DL, GT UL
    Tarp
    ID/OES/WB/WL
    Insulation
    HG/WB/Go-Lite/WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie/Straps/DW
    Posts
    4,704
    Images
    1
    I have made several of Knotty's design and they are super comfortable. I believe the Ghost Hammock is very minimalist though I have never made one.
    The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. - St. Augustine

    Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.
    - Bob Marley

  4. #4
    Senior Member DemostiX's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Like Lewis & Clark: Wintrin' o/t Columbia again: PDX
    Hammock
    Clark w 2QZQ mod,Tropical, NX;Nano
    Tarp
    Clark micro
    Insulation
    Major down
    Suspension
    7/64 SK75 +strap
    Posts
    2,322
    Images
    13

    Light for your weight? Expect shorter life

    So long as you distribute stresses, the lightest nylon and polyester fabrics are strong enough to support even a heavy person.

    The two issues are: Comfort of the stretching and reduced lifespan of the hammock. Just as ropes have a lifespan which is shortened by repeated loading beyond some elastic threshold, so too with fabrics.

    For occasional use? And even occasional repeated use? No problem. For strength of the fabric covert the fabric by weight to the equivalent nylon or polyester rope, matching up weight, and looking up breaking strengths (bs).

    For example 1.1oz /sq yd nylon fabric is comparable to 1.1 /3 = 0.35 oz/ft cord = 35oz / 100ft cord, just over 2 lb (1kg). That's pretty heavy rope by hammock-hanging standards, even allowing for lost strength from braiding. Looking up a Samson nylon climbing line, you can find 5/16" / 11m Velocity, a jacketed 5.6lb /100 ft line weighing 5.6lb per 100 feet. It is rated rated at 6000lb breaking strength (bs)

    That's about 1000lb of breaking strength per lb of fiber in the rope (or fabric?.) Now, all the fibers in the 35oz of cloth will not contribute to breaking strength from loading in one direction. But, some will, in fact, distribute the load. So, that 1.1oz cloth may have minimum breaking strength, if called on to support you being pulled up the side of cliff, of half that say 1000+ lb.

    And long term wear? There's a marked difference between regularly loading fibers @ <10% or less of their breaking strength versus loading them at 30+%. In the latter case, the fibers fatique, and will fail catastrophically, and without warning. So, abrasion faults aside, you can see that heavier fabric will likely be more durable, long term.
    Last edited by DemostiX; 07-26-2012 at 07:56.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Davis, CA
    Hammock
    DIY 11' gathered end hammock
    Tarp
    DIY Winter Tarp
    Insulation
    Jarbridge UQ, Sock
    Suspension
    Whoopie, MSH
    Posts
    274
    Images
    12
    Quote Originally Posted by MAD777 View Post
    The side stretch that Knotty came up with is really a hammock "accessory". It doesn't affect the lay of the hammock or it's strength. It is used on a gathered end hammock to do two things.

    1. Tension the edge of the hammock so that it's not flapping in your face when the wind blows.
    2. Keeps your top quilt from going overboard during the night.
    so knotty's would be heavier since it is additional fabric while the Ghost is limiting the fabric from the body, but adding a footbox. any idea on how they compare on the lay and comfort?

  6. #6
    Senior Member WV's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    southeast WV
    Hammock
    DIY
    Posts
    4,815
    Images
    208
    I'd add that the side stretch allows you to sit in the hammock without having the edge tight under your knees. It's more comfortable. I think the side tension when you're lying in it also helps keep your feet from sliding off the edge, so it functions a bit like a foot box. You could add the side stretch feature to a hammock that has the end gathered by whipping or gathered by a cord through an end channel. It might offer more benefit with the former, though.

    IMO, go for comfort and durability, not light weight. If you make your hammock with 1.9 oz ripstop it will be more comfortable than 1.1. It will weigh maybe 4 ounces more.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Davis, CA
    Hammock
    DIY 11' gathered end hammock
    Tarp
    DIY Winter Tarp
    Insulation
    Jarbridge UQ, Sock
    Suspension
    Whoopie, MSH
    Posts
    274
    Images
    12
    how about making it a double layer with 1.1?

  8. #8
    Senior Member Moel Siabod's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    the woods
    Hammock
    comfortable
    Tarp
    waterproof
    Insulation
    warm
    Suspension
    necessary
    Posts
    284
    I made 1.1oz ripstop hammock and took it on it's first outing last week. It held up but after just 2 nights it's already showing signs of weakness. At one point I snagged my fingernail and can now see right through the fabric.

    When I got home I immediately switched back to my thicker hammock.
    "Live like you will die tomorrow, but learn like you will live forever." Gandhi

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Davis, CA
    Hammock
    DIY 11' gathered end hammock
    Tarp
    DIY Winter Tarp
    Insulation
    Jarbridge UQ, Sock
    Suspension
    Whoopie, MSH
    Posts
    274
    Images
    12
    That doesn't sound good....

  10. #10
    Senior Member lustreking's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Bethlehem, PA
    Hammock
    DIY GE
    Tarp
    12'x9'
    Insulation
    DIY IX UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    243
    Quote Originally Posted by Girotogo View Post
    how about making it a double layer with 1.1?
    If you're looking to save weight, how about a single layer 1.5 or even 1.9? both would be lighter than a double 1.1

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Stretch-Side Hammock
      By Knotty in forum DIY Stickies
      Replies: 97
      Last Post: 07-19-2018, 09:50
    2. Instruction: Stretch-Side Hammock
      By Knotty in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 89
      Last Post: 10-08-2015, 21:00
    3. Knotty Mods or Tie-outs on DIY Hammock
      By Wkerber in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 5
      Last Post: 11-03-2014, 18:04
    4. Where did I buy my stretch side hammock?
      By Mule in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 04-05-2012, 07:37
    5. Knotty Inspired Side-Stretch Hammock
      By Tendertoe in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 02-06-2012, 07:51

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •