hammock camping

[Stovemonkey]

I recently purchased a hammock. I was wondering,can I use paracord to hang my hammock? If not, what are some low cost alternatives?

[gunner76]

Do not use paracord. It is not strong enough and will streach.

Use a 1" or 1.5" polyester webbing strap or Amsteel rope. Hammockfourms.net has many vendor sources listed selling time tested hammock suspenion webbing and or rope

Anything nylon will streach and you will find yourself on the ground.

[russb]

paracord does work, but the stretch requires you tie it very tight. Most hammockers don't use it.

A better (and still cheap) alternative is polyester webbing. Extremely strong (you need to deal with forces potentially nearing 1000lbs), cheap, doesn't stretch much. If weight isn't an issue, the addition of a carabiners and cinch buckles will make it very quick to setup and easily adjustable.

[Stovemonkey]

Where can I get webbing, hardware stores. I got carabiners, i'll deal with the weigh for easy set up.

[adurbin]

You can purchase webbing at any outdoor outfitter. They usually sell it by the foot, and it is cheap.

[Hooch]

paracord does work. . . . No you can't. It's not strong enough to withstand the forces placed on it by a weighted hammock. Not even close. That notwithstanding, as you noted, it's made of nylon. Nylon is desinged to stretch, so it's not a good idea for hammocking applications.

[Hooch]

You can purchase webbing at any outdoor outfitter. They usually sell it by the foot, and it is cheap.Make sure it's not nylon before you buy.

www.hammockforums.net (http://www.hammockforums.net)

[Stovemonkey]

So how much webbing should i get? 2 lenghts 6ft long?

[Sierra Echo]

Here:

http://www.rei.com/product/815060/grand-trunk-tree-sling-hammock-hanging-kit-special-buy


I just happened to come across it while browsing.

[Hooch]

Here:

http://www.rei.com/product/815060/grand-trunk-tree-sling-hammock-hanging-kit-special-buy


I just happened to come across it while browsing.No, no, no, no no, please no. This is why: that cord doesn't have the ability to spread the load of a weighted hammock and will dig into the trees you hang it from, causing damage to them. Use polyester webbing (NOT nylon) and this problem is alleviated.

[Hooch]

So how much webbing should i get? 2 lenghts 6ft long?You'll need more than that. What kind of hammock do you have? How will you attach the webbing to the hammock? What adjustment method are you using? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Stovemonkey]

It is a moskito traveller hammock made by byer of maine. I'll have carabiners which i will use to attach the webbing to the hammock. So more like a 12 foot length of webbing

[Bearpaw]

Please don't use cord or even rope to hang your hammock. It will bite into the tree and almost certainly damage it. Some parks have banned hammocks for this reason.

I recommend webbing, polypropylene being the time that offers the least stretch, even when wet. Strapworks.com (http://www.strapworks.com/Polypropylene_s/59.htm) is where I order mine. I go with 12.5 foot lengths. Be sure to request "No splices" when you order.

[Ironbelly]

You can also go to any hardwear store, buy ratcheting tow straps, the ones with 1 inch webbing. Then just cut off the metal parts, but don't cut off the sewn loop. I have 14ft lengths, but thats just what came with my blackbird, 12.5 is more reasonable as i always have several feet of slack.

If you havn't visited hammockforums.net I suggest you do. As far as attaching the webbing to the hammock I sugest using cinch buckles, how are you planning on using your carabiners?

[jstuart5487]

Go to and Army surplus store and get some 550 cord, double braid it, and tie two self tightening knots. Use caribeeners to hook up to the end of your hammock, and your set. When you tear down, you can discard the cord, because its cheap and light, so you can carry more... does the trick every time... I dont even carry a tent into Afghanistan any more, just my eagles nest hammock and a roll of 550. does the trick every time....

[Rain Man]

No, paracord is not nearly strong enough to allow a safety margin of error. Keep in mind three critical factors. Any knot or bend in a rope reduces its strength. How much depends on the knot or angle and sharpness of bend. Use half as a rule of thumb. Next is the geometry of the hang. Rope strength is measured with the rope hanging straight down (no angle from the center line of the rope). However, hammocks are hung horizontally, so the weight can hang as much as 90 degrees off the center line. The geometry and physics involved mean your actual weight is multiplied several times and that's on each side/end of the hammock. Use two or three times as a rule of thumb. Finally, ropes are tested using static weights, but you are a dynamic weight, plopping down in the hammock, tossing and turning during the night, and etc. That also can multiply your weight, if only for a second. Use two or three times as a rule of thumb.

To summarize, no rope in use is ever as strong as its stated strength in the laboratory. Nor do you "weigh" as little in motion as standing still on your bathroom scales. Do you stand perfectly still on those things, or do you jump up and down? That needle moves for a reason.

When human safety is involved, professional riggers often use a rule of thumb of 10-to-1, for rope strength to weight of load. Several good discussions of this are over at www.hammockforums.net, where examples of hammockers pulling down trees and walls of shelters are mentioned.

If you and your gear weight 200 lbs, professionals might recommend rope/line rated to 2,000 lbs. One exception: Amsteel is rated already using a splice in its testing, so that skews things. With Amsteel, a 5-to-1 ratio might be okay.

Be smart and safe as you like.

Rain Man

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[Jagglax]

ok .. i get that parachord ONLY holds 550lbs but ive set up a hammock with 80lb test rope. If you use parachord, use the double ring method it works like a charm. I recently switched to whoopie slings which are a whole lote better. you can buy them at http://arrowheadequipment.webs.com/ for cheap.

[Ironbelly]

That sounds like a good recipie for sore butt syndrome...

[raiffnuke]

As mentioned before, check out Hammockforum.net (http://www.hammockforums.net/?). All of your hammock questions can be answered there. The is a thread (http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=86) specifically about suspension that will answer your question in detail.