cut down hammock

[gunn parker]

Hi All
I have been wondering if my hammock would be better with shorter sides.
I would make a new one and instead of using the full width of the rip stop as it is supplied I would cut say 10" off one side to give me about 5" shorter sides on each side.
Here is a photo of my hammock as is now but I wonder if anyone else has tried this and the pros and cons of doing this.
Thanks
Gunn

[Cannibal]

Are you able to get flat in it? That would be my biggest concern with a more narrow hammock. That's what I really like about the super wide hammocks, you can turn just about anyway you want. You tell us; how does it feel?

You look comfy in it.

[Rapt]

If its the sides flapping in your face that are bothering you, try lying at a bit more of an angle... Or whipping them with more slack (don't draw them in as much.)

That may give you a more "open" feeling in the hammock. Finally you can try side tie-outs like a Hennessy to keep them from your face.

[slowhike]

i've been making my hammocks about 48-50" wide for quite a while now, but i tend to hang it a little tighter than most people & i use a partly inflated insulated air mat.
if you can get some fairly inexpensive material, it might not be a bad idea to play around w/.
some of the advantages i see are...
less hammock material
less bottom insulation material
lower sides for a full view out both sides

disadvantages to consider...
lower sides could mean a little less stability, especially if you used a fully inflated air mat, but i've never fallen out of mine. there's still a tight wall to roll up against.
less wind protection from the hammock it's self.
...tim

[gunn parker]

You look comfy in it.

Yes it is comfy, it's nice and long and feels good, I was just thinking about the view out of it and getting rid of some of the flap.
I attached two small rip stop tie outs up near the head end to guy the sides out a bit and reversed the line tensioner so that I can set the tension from within the hammock but I have not fully tested it yet or taken any pics of that setup.

Did the cat cut side thread go any where? maybe I will look that up as that could be an option.
Thanks

[ZDP-189]

Gunn, why not have a go? Let us know how you get on.

[gunn parker]

I have put together a drawing of my cat hammock idea, does anyone have any reason why it won't work?, tried it before?

I plan to make a short test one first before cutting up the ripstop I have.

Plans below

[GrizzlyAdams]

I have put together a drawing of my cat hammock idea, does anyone have any reason why it won't work?, tried it before?

I plan to make a short test one first before cutting up the ripstop I have.

Plans below

That's essentially the shape I cut a bridge hammock (although I make mine longer than 1m )

I can imagine that if the straight edges for whipping were a bit longer relative to the middle that is cut, one could sew in webbing with loops at the ends along the cut edge. Whip the ends and you've got a normal hammock with webbing re-enforced edges. Unwhip, attach rings and spreader bars at the ends of the webbing. and you've got a bridge hammock. The ends of the boxy bit could be brought up and attached to the rings to form a sort of end cap.

I think this occurred to me because I was looking at those dual-use Exped Wallcreepers others have been chatting about. Ended up buying a FrogSac as a Christmas present for my brother-in-law.


Grizz

[ZDP-189]

Hey that could be a great idea: a single hammock that could be rigged either as a banana or a bridge.

[Mule]

Since I got my Claytor, 48 inches wide, I have started making my DIY hammocks just like it. Also, the double bottom is awesome if you want to use a pad. I too do not like the fabric high on one side of me even when laying diagonal. Mule