Hammock for a heavy guy

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Jackdaw

Full Member
I'm on the look out for a hammock that would suffice for my brother-in-law who happens to be on the large side.

It would need to be capable of dealing with a load in the region of 145kgs and 6'2". Most of the hammocks I've been looking at (DD, TW) cater for around 120/125kgs. I realise that these are guide capacities but has anyone of the larger persuasion used one and could give a recommendation please?

He's a bit stressed at the moment so I want to get him away from the computer screen and out into the woods for some much needed R&R.

Jack
 

sunndog

Full Member
May 23, 2014
3,561
477
derbyshire
Have a look on dutchweargear.com you specify a double layer hammock in some very heavy fabric
Or theres those two person hammocks on amazon, they must have a hefty weight rating
 

Jackdaw

Full Member
I hadn't thought about ebay or amazon to be honest. I've used Dutch before but got hammered with import fees that near added around 50% to the total so I'll probably be avoiding him again. He's a great guy but I'm from Yorkshire.
 

sunndog

Full Member
May 23, 2014
3,561
477
derbyshire
I hadn't thought about ebay or amazon to be honest. I've used Dutch before but got hammered with import fees that near added around 50% to the total so I'll probably be avoiding him again. He's a great guy but I'm from Yorkshire.

aye, import cost can be a killer. Just dutch was the only one i could think of that gave big boy weight ratings
I'd tend to agree with countryman though most well made double layer hammocks 1.2oz or above will almost certainly take your mates weight and more
 

Duggie Bravo

Settler
Jul 27, 2013
532
124
Dewsbury
The Hennessey Explorer Deluxe had a weight limit of 135kg, don't know what safety margin they have.
Whereabouts in Yorkshire, you can always try mine to see if it is any good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

mick91

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
May 13, 2015
2,064
7
Sunderland
Enjoydeal Outdoor Traveling Camping Parachute Nylon Fabric Hammock (Blue&Grey) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00J7L9HXE/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_8QgfwbPKETN8Z

I've used that as about your brother in laws weight and a smidge taller for 2 years with no issues + a 35kg pack, compound bow and misc gear. Serve you very well for years I can assure that. Shame it doesn't have a net but a tube net fits well
Actually more than him thinking about it. Strength is no problem. Isn't available in "bushcraft" colours but easily dyed
 
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GadgetUK437

Forager
Aug 8, 2010
220
6
North Devon
Super easy to make your own.
Get some 1.6 - 2.4oz ripstop, hem the cut edges (if you are needle-phobic, there's always someone in the local ads who will do it for a few quid), the seams aren't load-bearing.
Put a whipping on each end (I've used cable-ties before, they're champion)
Bob's yer mother's brother.

I can send you links, if google isn't your friend.
 

Barney Rubble

Settler
Sep 16, 2013
552
280
Rochester, Kent
youtube.com
Check out ukhammocks.co.uk the guy that runs this company makes a nice selection of hammocks that you can see on the website but as he makes them himself he also offers to tailor them to suit customer needs. I'm quite sure that he'll be able to make a hammock to suit a larger person. Best of all though is that everything is hand made in the UK and he's not too expensive and that's got to satisfy a Yorkshireman!

I'm in no way affiliated with the company, I'm just a happy customer.
 
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Jackdaw

Full Member
At first glance of your post I thought "Where is WG getting these weight limits from?" I had checked DD's website and read only that it was comfortable for people of 125kgs. Checked the user guide and it states 150kgs limit. Thanks for pointing that out:You_Rock_

Problem solved people. DD Frontline it is.:hammock:


 

WoodGnome

Tenderfoot
Mar 4, 2015
67
1
Germany/Northern Ireland
@Jackdaw: You're welcome.

@MattJames: I personally would not want any hammock without integrated mosinet anymore. If you don't need it, you turn the hammock upsite-down, if you need it... well. And I think the sky bed would be just right for you, Matt, although it might be a little more expensive because it has to be imported from the US.

[EDIT] I just checked change rates and actually the sky bed would be about as much as the one you linked.
 
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Oct 30, 2012
566
0
Eseex
At first glance of your post I thought "Where is WG getting these weight limits from?" I had checked DD's website and read only that it was comfortable for people of 125kgs. Checked the user guide and it states 150kgs limit. Thanks for pointing that out:You_Rock_

Problem solved people. DD Frontline it is.:hammock:

I'm in a similar position and contacted DD about theirs. They are only raged to 125kg, I pointed out the 150kg weight limit on the different part of the website and they said it was an oversight!
 

tallywhacker

Forager
Aug 3, 2013
117
0
United Kingdom
Here is a vid of hammock tensile tests, they stretch beyond recognition long before they actually fail (the 7/64 (2.5mm) amsteel actually snapped before the hammock (1.8 oz/yd^2 fabric, single layer). Amsteel is of course as strong as steel braid for a given diameter, as you can see it took a massive 734KG to fail, if that is the concern.

[video=youtube;7yITshmzIX4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yITshmzIX4[/video]

If you check warbonnet's website you will see fabric weight is a case of comfort (due to stretch) and be able to see what thickness of fabric will be most comfortable for his weight. If the fabric stretches the lay is compromised and his legs will either hyper extend a little or a ridge will form under his knees (the same effect as incorrect hang angle or unsuitable hammock length/width), neither are fun but are somewhat manageable and can be worked around to some degree (jam a jacket under his knees).

If i where him i would be mostly concerned about length and width due to his height. He won't get truly comfy in a sub 3m hammock at 6ft+, especially if it's under 1.5m wide. When i say comfy, i mean as comfy as they should be, he will get by somewhat in a shorter hammock with the same workaround as above (RE stretch). i'm 6"1 / 70kg and ended up making an 11' hammock (3.3mx1.6m +/-) out of 1.5 oz/yd^2 pertex to get a truly comfortable hang because at the time i thought the uk hammocks and warbonnets where a rip off (in hindsight the price is fair). Too short and his knees will hurt unless he hangs it real tight as there simply wont be enough room for him to get a flat lay. On a tight (sub 30 degree) hang angle load is amplified at the fixings though and they will become a likely fail point. At his size i wouldn't risk a sub 30 degree hang angle so i think he should get as long as he can afford/find. He might find a 10 footer to be long enough to avoid leg hyper extension at a 30 degree hang angle, i went with 11' to play it safe.

Double 1.5 fabric will possibly be fine but i wouldn't unless it was purely to test the water as it could stretch, double 1.7 or 1.9 i would bet on it he won't notice stretch while stationary. Very large folk from the US swear by double 1.7 or 1.9 on hammock forum. As mentioned though if in doubt you can check warbonnets site http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/hammocks-101/ , or better yet ask the same question over at https://hammockforums.net/forum/content.php .

TW double layer hornets are very thick fabric, i have one i no longer use (if he ships it he can borrow it to try), prob well over 2 oz/yd^2 nylon and comes in double layer. Also cheap, very cheap. I have had three people of similar weight to me in one with minor stretch (although my rigging was on the brink). Too short though imho @ 2.8 meters, i don't use mine any more because i kept having to stretch it out to rid myself of leg hyper extension. They sell a longer version now @ 3m, that might be right up his street if the fabric is the same as the hornet. Be warned though, they are stupidly heavy/bulky as are some of the DD's and i don't trust the guy who runs TW to be honest as he doesnt publish essential information like fabric weights (which he surely can get) and has clearly misleading product information on his site that appeals to those who would not know better (or at least he use to, as did DD, but not checked his site in a while so YMMV).

ENO at last count where also releasing a longer hammock, in what fabric i do not know, but their prices are comparable to DD/TW and their product line has been vastly improving in recent months.

If he increases budget though, or ends up really loving em and wanting top end i would recommend the UK hammocks expedition. Currently £130 but i assure you after making one in quality fabric that is well priced. Quality fabric, plenty of length/width, quality design, structural ridgeline and adjustable footbox. BUT, they are heavier than his woodsman X. DD/TW/ENO, damn, even hennessy don't compare. I would put money on it that the expedition is more than comfortable for him, but quality and comfort costs. Sure, the single layer 3oz fabric equates to double 1.5, not thick enough right? Well it actually might be, it depends on the type of weave too, not just fabric weight; email him and ask, matt is a good maker who knows his products and would probably make it in a suitable fabric for the extra cost of materials if needed. He has not flinched over me asking for custom work in the past and his quotes where highly reasonable. See: http://ukhammocks.co.uk/products/woodsman-xpedition-hammock?variant=1031233356

There is also the warbonnet blackbird XLC in varying fabric options (double 1.7 being the one to note) which is well reputed, but even more expensive after import for little benefit over the expedition (removable bug net and optional winter screen). http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/blackbird-xlc/

I think dutch also does a longer hammock in argon fabric, but if i am honest i find dutches quality control poor/inconsistent, his sewing skills are clearly lacking and the way he deals with issues from overseas customers (in my case at least) is frankly appalling (he is reluctant to replace due to shipping etc and tries to offer partial refunds as a compromise). Dutch is highly over rated quality wise, but he has some clever ideas in terms of hardware design and the cost of his sewn items is relatively decent in some cases. YMMV, that is simply my experience with him.

A quite common thing is also to simply buy a large nylon.polyester tablecloth and 'whip' the ends, assuming he is not bothered about a bug net he can pick and choose size and fabric on a budget. If he goes with polyester he will need to 'up' the fabric weight a little, apparantly it's not as quite strong for the weight but has lower stretch, so they say over at HF anyhow.

Hope this wall of text is of some help, there is far more to hammocks than first meets the eye and frankly they can be a real headache, but it pays off.
 
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Jackdaw

Full Member
A quick update:

I ended up taking him to the excellent Lakes Hammock Camping. It was £25/head/night but they do provide everything bar the sleeping bag.

It enabled me to hook my mate on hammock camping without him having to outlay a lot to start with. They provide an XL tarp (already hung) and a Frontline hammock in a storage box along with other camping essentials such as billy cans etc. It's in a great spot on the Low Wray Camp Site run by the National Trust.

He's now going to buy a Frontline XL for his own personal use. The Frontline was a bit narrow for my liking and I couldn't get a good lay on it. So I resorted to using my own UK Hammocks Woodsman DL for the second night.

It's a great way to get those new to hammocking and camping in general into it gently without spending vast amounts of money on it all.

Jack.
 

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