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Thread: silk hammock?

  1. #1

    silk hammock?

    I found instructions for a silk hammock.

    I am considering making a hammock using 10mm Habotai Silk like this, using whoopie slings and tree huggers and small carabiners.

    Does anyone have experience with this silk hammock?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Hawk-eye's Avatar
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    I'd be a bit leary of silk as a hammock ... especially camping hammock. Strong but if punctured ... you'll go right through. That's the benefit of using ripstop nylon. Just my thoughts ... I could be wrong ... I have been before

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  3. #3
    Senior Member Oh-No's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ConnieD View Post
    Does anyone have experience with this silk hammock?
    I have made and used several, using both 8mm and 10mm silk.
    I'm about 175lb and am very gentle with my gear, but I
    have had (and have seen) problems with silk hammocks.

    The thin spectra suspension lines cut the silk, so I now use
    padding between the suspension line and the hammock end.
    (I just wrap several layer of scrap silk around the hammock
    end and then attach the Suspension Line)

    Small holes or abrasions tend to propagate into catastrophic
    tears.

    My present hammocks are made from Cuben, nylon, or polyester.
    The silk is nice in the backyard in the summer, but I wouldn't trust
    them for any long trips. YMMV

  4. #4
    The link is at "garlington".

    I thought I had heard good things about The Garlington Insulator also called the Garlington taco.

    Maybe 10mm Habotai Silk would be strong: silk is strong.

    I do understand a great deal relies on how the silk is made into fabric.

    From Ray's Hammock Design:
    I used 10mm silk and it seems strong enough. Bill recommended Thai Silk as a source. I ordered 3.6 yards of 10mm silk (021J) for the body, 3.6 yards of 3.5mm gauze (024N) for the bug screen, and 4 yards of the 5mm silk (021F) for the bottom insulator bag.
    Oh-No, I must have posted while you did. I am interested in lightweight.

    Did you use the 8mm and 10mm Habotai silk? How is the cuben holding up?
    Last edited by ConnieD; 01-03-2010 at 22:19.

  5. #5
    MacEntyre's Avatar
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  6. #6
    Senior Member PKT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ConnieD View Post
    The link is at "garlington".

    I thought I had heard good things about The Garlington Insulator also called the Garlington taco.

    Maybe 10mm Habotai Silk would be strong: silk is strong.

    I do understand a great deal relies on how the silk is made into fabric.

    From Ray's Hammock Design:

    Oh-No, I must have posted while you did. I am interested in lightweight.

    Did you use the 8mm and 10mm Habotai silk? How is the cuben holding up?
    ConnieD

    Thanks for the "garlington" link, I'd not seen that, was an interesting read.

  7. #7
    Senior Member TiredFeet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hawk-eye View Post
    I'd be a bit leary of silk as a hammock ... especially camping hammock. Strong but if punctured ... you'll go right through. That's the benefit of using ripstop nylon. Just my thoughts ... I could be wrong ... I have been before
    Ripstop isn't going to do you any good for stopping a rip in a hammock.

  8. #8
    Senior Member stevebo's Avatar
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    I thought a silk hammock sounded interesting---------until I found a second post on the internet about one failing (poor guy, it was on day 1 of a week long trip)-------So, I scrapped that idea and decided to stick to proven materials!
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