Hammocks - got some questions

[Scottieoutdoors]

Afternoon all,

I won't be making any purchases anytime soon, but just wondering about hammocks as I know they're favoured amongst a lot of people.

Has anyone tried hammocks and not got on with them?
I'm typically a side sleeper - anyone else? Can you actually sleep sideways in one or do you adjust?
What is it like on your back? I've often thought surely being curved would/could lead to aches?
Also, I've seen videos and pics of people hammocking with a tarp over the top to stop dew/drizzle, is there not an issue of rain running down the trees and along the "ropes" (please excuse my terminology) of the hammock and therefore onto/into the hammock?

Think these are my only questions at the moment... I wanted to sort of bunch them under a "sell hammocks to me" type of banner. They are something I'm interested in, but with a combination of Wife and Doggo as my outside company, I'm not sure they're on the agenda anytime soon... 'er wouldn't like sleeping on her own and having a wriggling terrier in the hammock might not work either!


Cheers all

 

[TLM]

There are double hammocks, I don't know about there being 2.2 hammocks.

 

[Broch]

If you get a big enough hammock it's possible to have a (near) flat lay as you lie diagonally across it. Basic measurement, your hammock should be at least as wide as your outstretched arms finger tip to finger tip. I tend to sleep on my side and can usually find a comfortable position but end up moving around a few times in the night.

You stop the water running down the ridge line by having a 'dripper' such as a piece of string hanging down where the ridge line joins the tarp; all the water goes down the drip line.

Get a copy of 'The Ultimate Hang' by Derek Hansen (£7.45 on Kindle) - all your questions and more will be answered

 

[Duggie Bravo]

I am a side sleeper at home, but sleep well in a hammock, I tend to start on my side but wake on my back in a Figure of 4 shape, so basically flipped over.
Depending on your set up you have a break under the tarp, in my case it’s where the hammock attaches to the straps (called tree huggers) that I use around trees, any water runs to there and then runs to the floor.
Nowadays I ache more when I sleep on the floor!

Depending where you are in the country there will more than likely be a fellow tree dweller that will be more than happy to show you their set up so you can see for yourself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Scottieoutdoors]

Thanks all. It's all food for thought. Unfortunately at 6'6" and 17+ stone (last time I checked) I tend to have to go for the larger sized stuff anyway, so not sure there'd be a hammock that'd fit me, 'er and Doggo... That being said, she wriggles more in the night than the Doggo anyway, so maybe less is better .

Tbh I've yet to have a good mooch about the wooded areas near me. There are a few areas near reservoirs but by all accounts there is a lot of widowmakers and it can be frequented by undesirables...sadly!

 

[punkrockcaveman]

I'm a side sleeper. I started with the dd camping hammock, which is on the smaller side, then upgraded to the chill out which is bigger. I don't fully side sleep comfortably in it, I'm not gonna lie, it's either broken sleep trying to side sleep or eventually getting off to sleep on my back. Now with the negatives out of the way, they are soo comfy, like ridiculous. Something underrated too, is the hammocks ability to give you a comfy place to sit or lie down for a short period if you have been going full throttle on other tasks. I never wake up sore from a hammock sleep, which I normally do from ground sleeping. Even if you don't end up doing a night in one, I'd say go for it.

P.s. just read your second post. At that height and weight, look at ticket to the moon hammocks. They have a high load capacity and you can get huge sizes to give you ample room.

 

[BigMonster]

Basically there are two types of hammock. Straight "banana" lay (fe DD hammocks), and diagonal lay (most hand made stuff), also few specialty inventions like the bridge hammocks but that's more hassle than you get from it. With your size I wouldn't bother with the first type, too much shoulder squeeze and almost impossible to sleep on the side.

If you ever try anything go for the 11' diagonal lay. Standard 10' will be too short for you but for me 18 stone, 6'4" guy 11' hammock is a perfect fit with room to spare. I had a customer who is 7' and is very happy with 11' hammock.

 

[MartinK9]

Prepare for the Rabbit Hole:

https://www.youtube.com/user/shugemery/videos

Shug's the man to watch.

Side sleeper:

Drip Lines:

 

[SaraR]

Afternoon all,

I won't be making any purchases anytime soon, but just wondering about hammocks as I know they're favoured amongst a lot of people.

Has anyone tried hammocks and not got on with them?
I'm typically a side sleeper - anyone else? Can you actually sleep sideways in one or do you adjust?
What is it like on your back? I've often thought surely being curved would/could lead to aches?
Also, I've seen videos and pics of people hammocking with a tarp over the top to stop dew/drizzle, is there not an issue of rain running down the trees and along the "ropes" (please excuse my terminology) of the hammock and therefore onto/into the hammock?

Think these are my only questions at the moment... I wanted to sort of bunch them under a "sell hammocks to me" type of banner. They are something I'm interested in, but with a combination of Wife and Doggo as my outside company, I'm not sure they're on the agenda anytime soon... 'er wouldn't like sleeping on her own and having a wriggling terrier in the hammock might not work either!


Cheers all

I'm a side sleeper and turn a lot throughout the night and I find my hammock (a Hennessy Explorer deluxe) super comfortable for sleeping on the side. A *small* pillow under the head is nice and if you're a back sleeper a small pillow inder the knees help if you're probe to a calf ridge.

For two people, you can hang in a V-shape (eg feet end to same tree) or in an L-shape and use a tarp to make a communal living area. You'll be close enough to talk but not interfering with each other's sleep (unless one of you snores....).

For dogs, many people - at least in the States- bring a tiny dog tent to keep the mozzies off if nothing else. Or just on a long lead underneath their hammock, with suitable bedding of course.

Whatever you get, factor in an underquilt. You'll need one!

 

[ScottE]

If you’re over 6’ I’d go for a custom 12’, the length requirements of taller hammockers are well proven by the US guys who hammock a lot more than us in the UK and have pushed the limits of fabrics and designs beyond anything available in the UK.
I’m 6’5” and 17-18st season dependant and after being sold 11’ hammocks by a few UK makers and retailers with at least one being downright rude...I’d go stateside for a 12’ custom hammock but also one that’s built either symmetrical so you can choose your lay angle, or built on “your” preferred lay angle, as I’ve also suffered being told that there’s only one angle of lay by a UK builder!!!
The Americans have custom builds and customer service as it should be....no arrogance or ignorance... and experience based on multiple inputs not just their own desires.
Side sleeping is no problem whatsoever in a hammock designed for your height...I side sleep and do so like a baby in my custom 12’ and full width hammock.
Currently using a Trail Lair from Simply Light Designs.
SLD, Dream Hammock, Dutchware all do 12’ hammocks...

Rain doesn’t reach the hammock as we use rain breaks or drip lines before suspension enters the under tarp area.

 

[MikeeMiracle]

Just re-iterating what others have said, the longer the hammock the flatter the lie. I'm more than happy with my 11' Easyhammock from BigMonster. Could never go back to ground sleeping now. I think most people who don't get along with hammocks have just only tried the cheaper / shorter hammocks.

 

[punkrockcaveman]

Just re-iterating what others have said, the longer the hammock the flatter the lie. I'm more than happy with my 11' Easyhammock from BigMonster. Could never go back to ground sleeping now. I think most people who don't get along with hammocks have just only tried the cheaper / shorter hammocks.

Or they are those annoying people who can easily sleep on their backs... I wish

 

[MikeeMiracle]

I can sleep on my back but I would still be uncomfortable if my backside was much lower than my head and feet.

 

[punkrockcaveman]

Have you tried experimenting with the foot end higher than the head end?

 

[MikeeMiracle]

Yeah, it's doable but not ideal. Having to do that while using a sleeping bag was the reason I opted for the top quilt route. Sleeping bags and hammocks dont really work well in my opinion, well not the diagonal lay ones anyway as it's so hard to reposition yourself once your in them. Short of it being well below freezing I'm sticking with the top quilt and sleeping with my Buffalo S6 on.

 

[punkrockcaveman]

Yeh I'm seriously considering a quilt this year, any suggestions for a reasonably priced one? Can you just double them up in winter?

 

[MikeeMiracle]

I use the Snugpak Top Quilt. It's around £30-35 and for me it's good down to around 5C (wearing merino base layers.) In terms of "bang for your buck" for me it's one of my best ever purchases.

 

[Scottieoutdoors]

I can sleep on my back but I would still be uncomfortable if my backside was much lower than my head and feet.

Yeh, I think that's what I invisage... Lying there like a V shape.

 

[SaraR]

Yeah, it's doable but not ideal. Having to do that while using a sleeping bag was the reason I opted for the top quilt route. Sleeping bags and hammocks dont really work well in my opinion, well not the diagonal lay ones anyway as it's so hard to reposition yourself once your in them. Short of it being well below freezing I'm sticking with the top quilt and sleeping with my Buffalo S6 on.

I use an open sleeping bag as a top quilt. Built in footbox and plenty of cover.

 

[Hammock_man]

Have a chat with BigMonster, (he has posted on this thread) with a view to getting one of his "EasyHammocks". I was a very happy "DD" user and still rate their kit highly but when I first tried the "EasyHammock " I was sold. While I am only 5ft 4in I have an embarrassing huge number of kilos, It takes me fine. It is the shear width of the thing I love. Designed for a diagonal flat lay from the off....... I can just feel me pushing the sleeping bag down, screeching out and listening the early morning bird song.