How does the length of a hammock affect the ability to lay diagonally? Does the length of the hammock have an effect on the apparent width of the hammock. Let's experiment and find out.
I`d knew, that it give so much information about Hammocks. And i have to try it by myself in the riality. Thank you very much for the informative video. Christian from Northgermany.
Big like. All through your demonstration I was wondering about under-quilts and then you very helpfully dispelled my doubts. As for cold-butt fixes it is almost a necessity to have a helper for initial set up. I have recently discovered that I was making the same mistake at my foot end, and in trying to cure a problem I failed to correctly identify on my own I also used too much tension on my suspension and compressed my lofting. Just enough is always right. I saw a presentation on fitting under-quilts on Jacks'R'Better's website and they suggest doing the opposite of what I intuited, namely to have the head-end drawcord quite tight but the foot-end drawcord quite (and surprisingly so) slack. Thank you for posting, and kudos for your DIY efforts.
That is what I would have termed, "A disaster". Just joking, but you can do better than 111. I like the 2 metre wide ones, although I haven't tried one. But word on the street is that's the way to rumble. You can buy one that width and it makes a great difference, but to make is hard as they don't usually stock material that wide.
I'm 6'3" and sleep in a double hammock I bought a "hobo hammock" and works good for me. Never made one yet but quick learned a single hammock or 8 ft one was to small for this big guy. Lol. The hobo hammock is around 10ft long and I think 6+ft wide
Thanks a lot for this informative video! I guess it would help folks if you could write down the exact measurements of the hammocks (length, width and length of the ridgeline) in the information box. Thanks! P.S. I really liked your tip about the underquilt! Very helpful!
The tip about the tightness of the shock cord is a good one. I had the same kind of thing going on that you described and I saw a video by Paul from AHE on how to setup up his Jarbridge and he covered it there. Good to know about the length of the hammock. I'm hoping to get an 11' in the near future
Good video... I am a short person so I can get away with a regular size hammock, but someone 5' 9" or taller should consider a longer hammock for their first hammock or they might be put off by hammocks because their first hammock was too small. Good demo. 👍👍👍
Greg, I just bought my first hammock and your video was absolutely fantastic and very comprehensive! Do you use any special underquilt suspension? What do you attach the suspension to? thanks for great vid.
nicely shot! very clarifying. For me, a side sleeper, it isn't as much of a trade-of between comfort vs weight. I found many perfect trees but often to close together. My summer set is very short and very light. It fits under a 2.9 meter tarp and will fit between trees only 3 meters apart. Opening up more and cozier stealthcamps! Also shorter ridgeline means smaller tarps possible thus lighter. Not that i am UL freakish but my knees hurt...
My favorite hammock to sleep in is my 13' Yucatan. it is just to big and bulky weights almost 4lbs. to use camping. My pares from SMr is 10 and three quarters but doesn't give me as much wiggle room. Not having access to a sewing machine. Making my own is out. lol
This helped me TREMENDOUSLY!!! Been looking at hammocks, both big brands and independents for over a year, trying to make an informed first, and probably last(gettin' old,heh)hammock. It's finally come down to size. I'm pretty big(6'4, 260), and a 100% side sleeper due to NASTY neck injury several yrs ago. Tent camping is not an option anymore, but I still want to camp, with short, light hikes in and out, 2-4 days, max. Length seems more important than width, although I need more than most, I'm sure. But simple geometry tells me that longer equals more room to flatten out, making it easier to side sleep, as your video seems to prove, unless I'm missing something. Anyway, looks like I'm going with 11X68, but I haven't ordered it yet. I could go 12', but it was brought to my attention that trees aren't always over 12 feet apart, but proper straps can accommodate a shorter hammock if they are(makes sense)! So, do you have any input? The netting is fully enclosed with wide opening at the bottom with bungee cord closure, so I don't foresee a problem there. Not in a GREAT hurry, but I plan to place order within the next 2 weeks. Any advice, input, or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated, from you, or anyone else, for that matter!!! Thanks!!!
Hey Danny, if I were your height I'd go for the 12' hammock, because the ridgeline will be under 10'. I know that you'll just need to walk around a bit to easily find trees far enough apart for that length. A half mile walk can bring you to the most amazing campsite. if you're making your own hammock you can always shorten it later. also a 6" closed loop of amsteel will allow you to hang in tight places.
+Jeffrey Wong, I saw some u tube videos from him! I'm just about to Chuck the whole retail thing and make my own! After seeing several DIY videos, I realized I've got about 90% of the material here, including the fabric!! Just gotta find everything! I figure it'll run me about $15.00, max to do it!! Thanks for the info!!! I let you know how it goes!!!
Came across your videos and based on your videos it looks like I may be needing a 12 ft hammock being that I’m 6’4”. Curious about what the width of them are? Even though the length helps. If you’re pushing the width out to go diagonal can’t you be comfortable in a 10’ and let’s say 68” wide or even wider🤔? Thanks. Also would a synthetic quilt stretch as well?
Ron Gallant I was thinking about that. How do you lay in yours. I have a dd super light and lay like a banana... I'm about to make my first hammock and stand 6 feet tall, what would be a good size in length and width if comfort is highest priority?
I've been thinking about making my own hammock and this was very insightful. I've been leaning towards a longer hammock due to back issue (thanks to Afghanistan). My wife swears she can integrated a zippered bug net into the hammock for me. Opinions?
is there anywhere a site with a tutorial for the hammock seen in 03:30? It looks great - i would so want to build one like this... is there a bugnet included in that design?
+J. Charles Check out my other videos. I have a video on how to build a hammock. The one at 3:30 just has some end piece added on them and I STILL haven't added the bug mesh yet.
I see two variables in the video: hammock length and tension. Is it the increase in length or the increase in sag that is allowing for a more diagonally lay?
Both, and there's a third and fourth variable not spoken of in this video: the shape of the hammock and the way it is whipped (or maybe that's one and same the same variable). With this you can give shape to the sag itself and the diagonal lay is part of the hammock. Hammocks like this have a left-to-right lay (or visa versa) build into them. Note that this is not the same as having asymmetrical pullouts. A hammock that gives shape to the sag this way doesn't need pullouts to give you that lay.
Lol free "course" on here. Look up the "shug" hammock videos. He covers everything you pretty much want to know in a easy and funny way. He goes by shug.
+No1 Toast I think there's a sweet spot around 11 feet long. Beyond that you start having problems finding a tarp which can cover the hammock. I think you'd be fine in an 11 footer. A 12 footer is almost too big.
+No1 Toast I'm 6'4 and 11ft are plenty. Like Greg I have tried several lenghts and widths and 11' long at 60'' wide is what I like best. 10 ft is minimum to be comfortable. I have a 11'/66'' and like Gregs 12 footer, its nearly too much, like a tub.
Just bought a sewing machine to start making gear. Locally, bought parachute silk and rips top is approx 62" width, full-without hemming. I've seem some hammocks with extra strips of material sewn onto each side to make them wider. So my question is: if side panels are sewn on to make a hammock wider, do they become less comfortable due to the extra seam that would pass under your head and calves? Any info???
No it's not more uncomfortable the ends will always be tighter because the person's weight is in the middle. With or without the extra on the sides the end will still be tighter. I personally only have the store bought side sticked ones but think maybe just maybe you could feel the edge where the fabric is over lapped but I don't notice it. I sleep in mine from time to time. I'm no expert but thought I could try to answer it. Welcome to the world of hammocks! Just for future reference it is rip stop fabric. Meaning if you get a small hole it won't become a huge hole and keep ripping. I knew what you ment. Have fun!
I have to say that in my 9' 6" Yukon outfitters Double, I can get a perfect diagonal lay which keeps me flat. The double width allows me to do this with the ridge line adjusted correctly.
+HikeEatRepeat I have found that length isn't the big factor to laying diagonal, its the sag. Im 6' 4 with a 9.5' hammock and get just as diagonal as he did with his 12.5'. Just decrease the ridge line length and let it sag. Just gotta make sure the hammock is wide enough for you.
Guys, I'm having issues finding the answer to this question. When people speak of an 11' hammock, do they mean the length between the lines you attach it to a tree with? So only the fabric while laying flat? Or is it the whole hammock with lines and attachments included?
I believe they say the ridgeline should be roughly 83% the length of the hammock. Use that as your starting point and adjust from there for your comfort. This is a good place to use a Whoopie sling as it makes the adjustment easy to make.
It seems to me, a non-expert, that hammocks are more comfortable the more diagonal you lay. If true, wouldn't width be more important than length? Just asking....
depends on the style. I've been sleeping in a woven mayan hammock for going on three years now, and I absolutely love it. Solid cloth need the length to allow the diagonal (you're right that's the proper way) but with the woven cord it gives you the width stretch you need. Also how tight you string the hammock makes a difference in how wide you can stretch it. Somehow the eno freaks got the idea that the tighter the better. the more banana shape you allow, the wider you can stretch.
Width without length doesn't help a lot. The longer a hammock is, the more sag you can give it when hanging it. And the more sag you have, the more diagonally you can lie in it.
Most people get store bought universal hammocks and they are not universal. Everybody I've seen hanging that complains is in a hammock too small for them.
I'm afraid you're not seeing what i see need to watch your own videos and think think about it. It's not the length of a hammock that is helping you it is actually hindering you in some ways. Think about this a shorter hammock like the second one. But make it wider. That way it still staple but you have the extra width to lay diagonally for what you need is a medium length hammock that is whiter
What if instead of cutting hammock square, the ends were cut half-moon, such that side-rail length was longer than middle-ridge length? Yes, the continuous-loop channel would be curved. Thus, a better diagonal lay would be available in a shorter overall length (and lighter weight) hammock?
No, that does not work. You would end up having to pull the center more taught creating a bump there. But when using shorter fabric you can spread the end with a hammock clew instead of whipping it .
@@Luke-eg1gn - Since then, when ahead and made one. Calculated the angles to achieve a flat-lay and guess what? It worked. Was about 12" shorter along the CenterLine. Cut a smooth curve, leaving 8" straight along each side for side rails. Sewing the end-channels was a little tricky, especially at the transition to the short 8" straight-sections. It's just enough curve to keep each point level. No bumps and no troughs. Guess hammock-manufacturers agree with you though, since they still sell banana-canyons?
These kinds of hammocks are designed to have a certain amount of sag. In fact, the length of the ridge line is used to determine that sag and everyone sort of finds their sweet spot. Laying diagonally is what gives you flat laying position. If it was flat you'd feel really constricted on the sides and strangely enough, it would add a lot of tension to the suspension. A 200 pound person in a straight, flat hammock pitch can generate over 1000 pounds of tension on the material. Do a RU-vid search for "Shug Hammock Newbie". Shug does a much better explanation of the use of sag than I am. Thanks for watching.
how about adding some width? 12 feet long for a hammock is a bit excesive no? I bet if you went up to 180cm wide then your 10 foot hammock would be just as comfy as your 12 footer....i mean why stop at 12 feet why not make it 16 feet or even 20 feet. At some point it matters not how long your hammock is cos if its now wide enough then you will never get a decent diagnonal lay ... just thinking out loud. Thanks for the vid
People hammock camp in pouring rain all the time.. check out Shugs channel, he has hammock camped in -40 degree fahrenheit blizzard weather in Minnesota!
Benjamin Shaw Material for hammocks come from a bolt of cloth which is always 60" wide. So I limited my comparison to hammocks which can be made easily from the most common material.
