I had my first hanging experience this weekend. It was fun, didnt do alot of testing before hand but i think it went pretty well. I did wake up with a sore lower back. I dont know if this was due to the hammock or my frameless pack. Also I am not sure how much of an angle to lie on. I woke up and my feet were in the space pulled out by the side tie out and my head in the opisit. I also felt like i couldnt get my head in a comfortable position. Any suggestions, I am going to definatly keep trying the hammock, it beats the ground any day.

I would try it without the hiking, to elimenate the pack from the equation. For me, as long as I am almost flat I am ok. Some people like it flat like me, and others like some sage to it. Try having the foot end a little higher, or even putting something underneath your legs.

It sounds like you have a good excuse to do some backyard testing with different setups.

What kind of hammock did you use? How tall are you? Did you sleep mostly on your side or back? Did you use any pillows?

I did wake up with a sore lower back. I dont know if this was due to the hammock or my frameless pack. Also I am not sure how much of an angle to lie on. I woke up and my feet were in the space pulled out by the side tie out and my head in the opisit. I also felt like i couldnt get my head in a comfortable position. Any suggestions, I am going to definatly keep trying the hammock, it beats the ground any day.

with all those problems, i'd say: try a tent, it beats a hammock any day.;)

I was using a HH ULBP. I did not have a pillow, i forgot it. I slept on my back all night. at one point i put my cloths sack under my knees to give support for my legs. I remember reading something about putting a pillow under you neck for extra support, i will try that next time. I also think the hammock might have stretched out a bit since i didnt get an opprotunity to sleep in it at home, i also dont have any big trees at my town house to practice with.

Sometimes I get lower back pain when I sleep on my side, and putting a pillow between my legs helps a lot. Don't think I've ever had it from sleeping on my back unless the hammock was too short, though.

Assuming you're not too big for that model, I'd say play around with pillows (stuff sacks like you used) until you get it right. The neck pillow may not help the lower back pain but it'll probably help your head get comfortable. Putting the pillow under your knees or thighs might help your lower back.

A few nights ago I woke with hip pain. I thought it was from the hammock, but the following night was pain free. I suspect that, for me anway, it was old age & arthritus, mostly cause day 2 I took all my arthritus meds whereas day 1 I did not.

That is the only time I have had mentionable# pain in about 12 nights in a hammock so far this year. I use a Byer, can't sleep on Diag. I'm more comfy with a pillow, but it's a very small pillow (8" x 5" by about 2" thick depending on what I stuff it with.). I do sometimes put something under my knees.


# Occasionally have slight lower back pain or knee pain, not something that is bothersome as they hurt most days anyway, and both are relieved by putting something under my knees.


Doctari.

Sounds like you might have been on TOO much of a diagonal. That would put a torque on the body that might cause the back ache. It could also account for the difficulty finding a comfortable spot for your head. The side of the hammock would push your head toward the center line.

It only takes a slight diagonal to level the body. Feet should be to the right of the slit about halfway between the slit and the edge of the hammock. A similar position for your head at the other end.

A small pillow definitely helps. I use it behind the neck, not under the head.

Keep trying. You'll find the sweet spot.