First quick&dirty Hammock

[kuchenkabel]

So, after my introduction I want to show you my first DIY hammock. As you can see in my other thread, I have done several other DIY projects but using a hammock out on the trail was new to me. Until I found Shugs videos on YouTube. After watching some of them, I got infected with the hammocking virus. And what can I tell you.... It feels quiet right !
But let me show you some pictures I made today. It was the first time I could hang in the woods... There are no trees tall enough in my backyard.


The ridgline is set to about 95" (bare with me if I get the American measurement wrong...). Was a good hang but there are two things I am not sure about.
1. I can't sit in the hammock and lean back like I saw it on several pictures. Its more lying....
2. Lying in the diagonal gives me a nice spot for my feet on one side but on the other side the middle part of the hammock is always a bit too high. Know what I mean?

But those are only points that would be a "nice to have" and not a "must have".



The last picture is just for showing how small it packs down. The total package weighs about 15.66oz.
The hammock hasn't seen any sew machine at all. I'm still looking for a new one (and my first one )

Greetz from Germany

[Bubba]

That's nice and quick!
I'm thinking if you lengthen your ridgeline a bit you may get a little less pressure on the other leg. This worked for me. Measure your hammock and make the ridgeline 83% of the length of the hammock and then adjust for comfort.
How wide is your hammock? I found I could sit up a bit more in a narrower hammock. After cutting off about 15 inches from my ENO I can sit up in it a bit more.

[Shug]

Looks good ...... tighten the sides and you can sit up more. Means re-whipping.
I re-whipped mine about ten times to get it just right......
Shug

[kuchenkabel]

The hammock is 59" wide.

Thanks for the re-whipping advice. Will try tomorrow... Bit too dark now .

EDIT: The re-whipping thing made it. Got better at first try... Thanks Shug!

But now I have another Question. Should the ridgeline hang loose or tight? I don't know if you can see it on my pictures but my ridgline is very tight, while I'm in the hammock.

[kuchenkabel]

Its been some months, since I made the hammock and I spent several nights in it. Rewhipped, shortend the ridgline etc.. Sleeping is good but my knees are always without contact to the hammock. And after a while it starts to hurt because of the weight that lasts on my knees. Sleeping on the side is ok. Dont know how to explain it right.
I know I read this before somewhere around here but I cant find it....

[Bubba]

You can try a pillow under the legs or try bending one leg and letting it fall to the side. I have also read that some people tuck one foot under the opposite knee.

[wirerat123]

I have also read that some people tuck one foot under the opposite knee.

I do that and sleep like a baby.

[kuchenkabel]

Any other solution? Sometimes i like to stretch out...

[Knotty]

Any other solution? Sometimes i like to stretch out...

I find that I need a little something under my knees no matter what. The need is less pronounced in larger (longer) hammocks but it's still there. You can still stretch out with a pillow or jacket under the knees. It's more of an issue when lay on your side and then the pillow is better between the knees.

[creativeKayt]

I do the "tuck the foot behind the knee" method in my indoor hammock. As Knotty pointed out, it seems to be less of a problem the longer my hammock is. I find I prefer a hammock that is 10' long (I'm 5'11", so it's well over the recommended 2' longer.) I don't think I'll mind the teensy amount of extra weight because of the trade-off for a fantastic night's sleep. But, that remains to be seen as I have yet to do my first overnight trip in the hammock. I've slept in my 10' in the house, but that's an entirely different beast all together.