Size for a homemade hammock

**Grinder** · 12-11-2006, 11:13

The hammock size is a tradeoff between weight and comfort.

Bigger is more comfortable, but heavier.

Sandy, from Miami area, who posts on the Hammockcamping forum, grew up in Venezuela, where they sleep in Hammocks as a normal practice. She led me to investigate Brazil type hammocks, which tend to be huge.

My current hammock measures full material width (58) by 12 feet before hemming. I tie it with a sheet bend knot, which I prefer to whipping or zipties. All three ways work.

I have been sleeping in it for over a month now.It's very comfortable. I lie at about a 30 degree angle to the center line.

After I tote the thing on an overnight hike, we'll see about cutting down size to minimize weight. When/if I do, I will go with JustJeffs figures for a starting point.

Tom

**Coffee** · 12-11-2006, 12:09

Weight wise I don't know how much you are saving. Then again I am not a gram counter. My ~12'x5' one weights 12 oz minus straps. I am going to take some length off when I get the feel right. But too me a long wide one is worth the 2 oz or so I would save.

**Otter1** · 12-11-2006, 21:51

Hammock Engineer & Pan,

Thanks for the welcome. I'll post pics when I can get this project done.

Pan, I use your quilts & weather shield & I love 'em.

---Toddhiker

**Peter_pan** · 12-12-2006, 09:56

Originally Posted by toddhiker

Hammock Engineer & Pan,

Thanks for the welcome. I'll post pics when I can get this project done.

Pan, I use your quilts & weather shield & I love 'em.

---Toddhiker

Toddhiker,

Thought you sounded familiar....What took you so long to post?

Pan

**Otter1** · 12-12-2006, 23:04

Originally Posted by Peter_pan

Toddhiker,

Thought you sounded familiar....What took you so long to post?

Pan

Hey Pan,

I somehow missed this forum! Don't know how that happened.

Anyway, glad to learn from you all.

--Toddhiker

**Frolicking Dino** · 12-17-2006, 08:08

A question for the hammock makers -- does width affect the stability of a hammock (that feeling that you are going to flip over at any second)?

**Peter_pan** · 12-17-2006, 08:22

Originally Posted by Frolicking Dino

A question for the hammock makers -- does width affect the stability of a hammock (that feeling that you are going to flip over at any second)?

We don't make a hammock... But in my experience, the general answer is yes....For ex ... a 32 inch wide M1965 JH is very unstable ... a 48 inch TC is pretty stable and a 60 inch Speer is very stable.

Pan

**slowhike** · 12-17-2006, 08:42

Originally Posted by Peter_pan

We don't make a hammock... But in my experience, the general answer is yes....For ex ... a 32 inch wide M1965 JH is very unstable ... a 48 inch TC is pretty stable and a 60 inch Speer is very stable.

Pan

this is true. but w/ the right tension on the sides, even the 48" hammocks i have liked best, form a sort of "wall" that you feel when you roll & shift.
when you`ve spent time sleeping in a hammock, i believe you develop a sense of knowing not to try to roll over that "wall".
if i wanted to, i could roll over the side of my narrow hammock, but i would have to make an effort to.
but i never have rolled out, & i`m a pretty sound sleeper. ...tim

**Peter_pan** · 12-17-2006, 09:49

Originally Posted by slowhike

this is true. but w/ the right tension on the sides, even the 48" hammocks i have liked best, form a sort of "wall" that you feel when you roll & shift.
when you`ve spent time sleeping in a hammock, i believe you develop a sense of knowing not to try to roll over that "wall".
if i wanted to, i could roll over the side of my narrow hammock, but i would have to make an effort to.
but i never have rolled out, & i`m a pretty sound sleeper. ...tim

Slowhike, et al,

Tim, I agree with you.... I don't see an issue here....I've sleep comfortable in almost every hammock design currently available... Developing a sense is pretty natural... however some have posted of learning it the hard way, in the past...

... And yes, a 48 inch hammock ready approximates walled sides...a 60 inch hammock, similiarly forms higher walls... thus I ascribed the relatively stability range stated above... I think this is more a relative value issue, as opposed to an either or...

Pan

**slowhike** · 12-17-2006, 12:33

i agree. i think your right on w/ the earlyer post. those sound like good guide lines to me.
i just wanted to point out usability of a more narrow hammock so no one would be skeerd off from giving one a try<g>.