Hammock width for side sleeper?

[Datahiker]

I started out with a GT UL, which is a great starter hammock but I just can't get comfortable on my side. I figured it was due to the length, so I made an 11' DIY (~56" wide) which is much more comfortable but I still find my legs uncomfortably curved up when I lay on my side, even at a diagonal. Do I need something wider, or have I just not tweaked the hang enough yet? I'm about 6', so I know it's not the length.

[Boston]

Sounds like you should play with sag a bit. Do you use a structural ridge line?

[HangingBull]

Ya. I'd say hang too. Especially if you're not used to it. Of course there's always a bridge.

[Datahiker]

Do you think more sag would help, or less? I don't use a SRL, but I've been playing with some Lash-It thinking about it. This is all still pretty new to me and I want it to work out.

[titanium_hiker]

try both, though I'm thinking more sag. Also, lay on a diagonal to the center line. The ridge line is just to make it less hassle- but you can vary the sag without one.

TH

[MAD777]

I'll jump on the sag band wagon too.
I'm a side sleeper and i've made hammocks from 54" to 70" wide. My go to hammocks are 54" wide by 11' long.

[SnrMoment]

Sag. My BIAS is 64" wide. I use an adjustable ridge line and don't keep it real tight. Allows me a lot of room to flop around in like a king size bed.

[nothermark]

Definitely sag. A hammock will always go banana if parallel to the ridge line. The idea is to go off center to get the flat lie that is comfortable. A SRL will help control the shape by providing a consistent sag.

I wonder if you would also benefit from a foot box.

It occurs to me that in bed I am a side sleeper. In a hammock or lounge chair I am a back sleeper. You might find it worth while to experiment.

And, as someone said, there is always the bridge. ;-)

[BillyBob58]

Definitely sag. A hammock will always go banana if parallel to the ridge line. The idea is to go off center to get the flat lie that is comfortable. A SRL will help control the shape by providing a consistent sag.

I wonder if you would also benefit from a foot box.

It occurs to me that in bed I am a side sleeper. In a hammock or lounge chair I am a back sleeper. You might find it worth while to experiment.

And, as someone said, there is always the bridge. ;-)

+2 on the bridge, unless you require knees way up towards the chest in a major fetal position. I can do a "moderate" fetal in my 2 JRB bridges. But there are no problems with my legs or hips while side sleeping. In fact, even though I don't mind the lack of a lot of shoulder room in my original bridge, I almost routinely sleep on my side in it. Which makes the lack of shoulder width a moot point. Very comfortable.

But as for non-bridge, side sleeping and hammock width: my two fav non-bridges for side sleeping are my very wide and very long HH Safari and my most narrow, 10 ft long Claytor No Net, all of 48" wide! So with that information, is hammock width very important for side sleeping?

But I should add that while that narrow Claytor in the running for very best for side sleeping with legs straight, and it is good enough for fetal, I think my wider HHs are a bit more comfortable in fetal position.

[gunner76]

Sounds like we need a guide / chart that could recommend a hammock size based on a persons height / weight and the hammocks length and width needed to get a flat lay. Of course it would not perfect but it could act as a guide to help decide on which hammocks might be the best suited for someone