How to hammock

According to the internet sources, hammock comes from a Taíno culture Arawakan word meaning "stretch of cloth" from the Arawak root -maka. Cool story right? Over time hammocks were used for everything from helping babies learn to crawl, to maximizing space on ships and of course sleeping and relaxing.

When you think of a hammock, chances are it's either for camping or just plain relaxing. The idea of Hammock Dave has been motivated by 'living the easy life' as much as possible. Here are some helpful tips and resources on how the hammock experience can help you enjoy the outdoors with no frustrations.

Hammocking can't be that hard, can it?

I sure hope not! But, there are some things that can help you get the most out of your experience.

 

USE PROPER HARDWARE

What you suspend your hammock with will obviously play a part in keeping the weight supported. It can also affect your anxiety level if you're constantly worried about making an unexpected foot and a half fall spilling your margarita all over the place. Whether you are mounting to a wall, strapping to a vehicle or tree, or even using a hammock stand, the most important thing you can do is use a strong foundation.

If you are mounting to a wall or post (such as on a porch) try using something such as a hammock hanging kit with a weight capacity well over what a few people would weigh. When you attach to a wall, the weight that can be supported is not only based on the hammock or hardware, it is also determined by the object you are attaching to. Find a solid wood beam without rot. Make sure if you have to go through drywall you find the true center of the stud to get a good 'bite'. If you set screws in the very edge of a stud it may feel secure for a bit, but can easily break free with a few swings of the hammock, or when a kid comes jumping in!

When mounting to a tree or wrapping around an object to create an anchor point, think of the trees!

While rope/line is the easiest and generally the cheapest option, it can also be the most harmful to the most common anchoring point... trees. If you can, wrap the line around the tree a few times to avoid a single point of contact that may rub the bark too much.

Using a wide strap is the best option to be kind to your tree-friends. It can also be the easiest to set up. A lot of the new straps have loops at the end so you don't even have to tie anything. Simply wrap around the tree (or whatever you are tying to), slip it through the loop and connect the hammock to the free end.

 

TIE A PROPER KNOT

Unless you are using a setup with carabiners or similar quick-connect device, you are probably working with rope to secure your hammock. Thanks to the interwebs, finding a knot technique isn't all too difficult. Check out this link for some ideas.

When deciding what knot to learn and use with your setup, make sure it is easy to 'break'. What this means is that after you put a load on the knot and things cinch up, you'll still want to be able to break the knot loose when it comes time to pack up. Tying a slew of overhand knots with a few wraps over and under random loops in the line will probably leave you frustrated or losing your line because your only option is to cut it off with a knife.

I personally like to stay with a bowline or a half hitch as they tend to cinch under load, but are still easy to break when the day is done.

 

SET UP AT THE PROPER HEIGHT AND ANGLE

Ideally, you want the hammock to be about 18" above the ground. Mainly this allows an easier entry as if you were sitting in a standard chair. Some people may defer to hanging lower because they feel 'safer' in case it falls. In that case, make sure as in the prior sections that you use proper hardware and tying techniques.

When choosing anchoring points you'll want the distance to be about the length of the hammock alone. When you add in the straps or connecting hardware you'll be able to attain the proper angle. 

Whatever distance you find, the consensus is to have about a 30 degree angle when hanging. This will provide the most comfort at various positions. Having too shallow of an angle will create too much force on the mounting and anchor points. Too much of an angle will pretty much start turning a standard hammock into a chair that isn't too comfortable to lay in.

 

ACCOUNT FOR STRETCH

As you use your hammock, chances are it will settle in. In other words, it'll stretch out. Even if the material is pretty solid, somewhere in your setup things will break in and change the hanging geometry just enough for you to notice a difference. Maybe a knot is cinching up or the tree wraps have self adjusted after bearing some weight. Whatever it is, 'sagging' over time isn't something to worry much about. Well, unless there is an actual defect in the hammock or mounting.

Having easily 'breakable' knots or carabiners hooked to strap loops will make adjustments so much easier.

Keeping in mind the 30 degree angle (think banana) you may have to adjust depending on the weight in the hammock or the intended use.

 

SWINGING!

It never fails... people (kids AND adults) will get in a hammock and want to experience the 'swing'. Why would we not?

This may seem obvious to some, but when you swing, even a 50lb kid can create an increased load on the hammock and hardware. It may be enough to break an insecure knot free dropping everyone's fun straight to the ground.

When setting up your hammock, be sure to do proper load testing. How? Before getting in (and inevitably swigning) hang on the the connected ends of the hammock, pull, tug, move, etc. Do what you can to mimic the forces that will be applied. This not only verifies your setup is secure, it will help settle in any un-cinched knots or loose straps.

 

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HAMMOCK

With so many hammock styles, materials, construction you'll have to use some common sense when taking care of you hammock. Here are some guidelines to think about regardless of your hammock style.

• Don't pack it up dry. Whether it's the popular 'parachute' fabric or Brazilian cloth hammock, if you stuff it in a sack and don't expect to use it again for a while, make sure it's completely dry. It's no fun to open up a mildew infested hammock on your first camping trip of the season.
• Protect it from the sun. Especially the hammocks that tend to get left in the backyard. You'll dry out the material making it brittle, and uncomfortable, and maybe even dropping you mid-nap.
• Give it a once over. Even if it's the same day you set it up, spend 20 seconds checking the critical points of the hammock. Look for ripping seams, fraying lines, broken hardware... You get the picture. It's no fun getting up from the ground to see that the discount store carabiner was meant to be a keychain, not a load bearing device.

 

AT THE END OF THE DAY

Really, this is just another source you may have stumbled upon to get some ideas on enjoying your hammock lifestyle just a little more. The most important rule to understand is that we are in this for fun and relaxation. Share it with the world! Share it with your friends. Find creative ways to hang your hammock and create memories that last a lifetime.

Keep calm and Hammock on!