Why are Hammockers so creative?

**4 dog knight** · 04-15-2012, 19:36

I've been hammocking for 5-6 yrs, but fairly new to this forum. I've always been a do it yourselfer but I'm thoroughly impressed with the ingenuity of all you folks. (I'm also very impressed with the sharing that goes on here...without any sniping or harse words that I've seen so far!)

Back to my original thought, Why are Hammockers SO creative? Is it because it's a farily new (in some respects) to mainstream use and as such still has a way to go before it reaches critical mass? Is it because the very nature of Hangers as adventurous people that they like to push the envelope of creativity in their quest to lighten their load? Is it the continuous stream of new materials and products that drive change and therefore development?

It would appear that Hammocking has gotten more men to learn to sew than almost anything else I can think of! (Well, maybe camping equipment as a whole may also be a prime mover, but it seems that much of that development comes from the companies?) Hammocking seems to be driven by a burgeoning cottage industry of people who come up with some incredibly creative solutions and then go about making the product themselves and offering it to an almost cult-like following here. (I mean cult-like in the kindest of terms) Hammocking seems to have it's own language and reading here...it's own set of acronyms!

So before I answer my own questions...
4 dog

**Boomer** · 04-15-2012, 19:41

There seems to be a lot of people that tinker & they go, "what if I tried...."

**backpackingZombie** · 04-15-2012, 19:53

Regarding hanging: I am not creative.

I spend the majority of my time away from my "pay the bills" job with my wife and two kids, working two other volunteer positions and running a Disc Golf group. I don't really have time to tinker, but I will gladly pay someone else for their ingenuity.

**kayak karl** · 04-15-2012, 20:01

i don't think "cult-like" is not a good term (even in the kindest of terms). People that ride Harley's don't let Honda Davidson riders in their group and are viewed as a cult. Hammockers have been looked at as uppity and looking down (pardon pun) on tenters, but this IS NOT the case and should never be. we welcome all types of camping at our hangs.

the people here are creative and need to be to be. most of the stuff was not sold 5 years ago. i remember when webbing and rings were the cats meow.

times change. as far as lightening load the tarp tenters got a jump on us years ago. we are just now getting there.

**SnrMoment** · 04-15-2012, 21:11

I think creativity comes from challenges. In the case of the hammock, it's an old way of sleeping. Trick is to make it better, more comfortable, useful and warmer. The day I found out that you can actually lay flat in a hammock (on my first visit to HF), I went in search of one. Along the way, I ran into the folks that make hammock camping state of the art like Professor Hammock, Dutch and Shug. The list gets longer every day and I have now just acquired a micro weight, extra long, over 5 ft wide hammock from some new cottage vendors.

I'm also impressed with the way this site is run. It's a mecca of information and knowledge paired with respect and good manners. A rarity on the interweb.

**harrellt** · 04-15-2012, 21:27

Originally Posted by SnrMoment

I'm also impressed with the way this site is run. It's a mecca of information and knowledge paired with respect and good manners. A rarity on the interweb.

Hear hear. Thank you all for the good, clean fun!

**jayf124** · 04-15-2012, 21:31

Originally Posted by backpackingZombie

I don't really have time to tinker, but I will gladly pay someone else for their ingenuity.

Amen to that....but I do enjoy the free creative advice of others here on the forums

**Acer** · 04-15-2012, 21:46

Hammockers never stop seeking perfection. This is why everybody on this forum always shares their creatitivity, trips, experiences, and new ideas with everybody here. Ever notice how anxious everybody here is willing to help each other out? Its Fantastic!

**DivaB** · 04-15-2012, 21:48

It's because of the trees

**MAD777** · 04-16-2012, 05:39

Enough good things cannot be said about the folks on this forum and it's moderators. As others more eloquent than me have said, "Hammock Forums is my Facebook."

It's an educational hub, a social hub, a get out in the fresh air hub, etc, etc. it's a Welcome Center for hammockers and those just curious about hammocks.

The sub-title of this forum should be, "The friendliest place on the Internet "