Hammock suspension

[gumby]

I bought a byer hammock, made a hammock tube, underquilt and windshield. Hooked it up to two good strong trees sat in it and sunk straight to the ground like I was on a bungee jumping machine. I was using 1" nylon webbing I bought from REI. I think the problem is that I should use Polyester webbing so that it will not stretch. I used regular rope and all was well in that set-up.

I'm glad no one was watching, it was pretty funny in retrospect.

So what is the collective opinion on what to use?

Thanks, marc

[SGT Rock]

I can't sew, so my suggestion would be to buy a set of hennessy straps

[Just Jeff]

Ed Speer sells 1" polypro webbing on his site.

Or get some low-stretch rope, like spectra, and use the straps you have as tree huggers.

Pics here:
http://www.geocities.com/jwj32542/Ho...kSupports.html

Or use the rope that Youngblood uses...it stretches, but not much, and it flattens out on the trees so he doesn't need tree huggers. Search WB for more info.

Or figure out a way to levitate and post your results here!

[titanium_hiker]

if you tighten the hammock and retry, what happens? check out www.imrisk.com and browse around for the webbing- it's on his testhamock page. poly webbing is the way to go- the stuff you see on backpacks.

titanium

[Grinds]

I bought and used a Hennessey this past summer and used it in Virginia for a week. I don't plan on using anything else for my thru hike next year.

[flyfisher]

I bought a byer hammock, made a hammock tube, underquilt and windshield. Hooked it up to two good strong trees sat in it and sunk straight to the ground like I was on a bungee jumping machine. I was using 1" nylon webbing I bought from REI. I think the problem is that I should use Polyester webbing so that it will not stretch. I used regular rope and all was well in that set-up.

I'm glad no one was watching, it was pretty funny in retrospect.

So what is the collective opinion on what to use?

Thanks, marc

LOL ;-)

Polypropyline webbing will not stretch nearly as much as nylon. It can be obtained from several web sources - Ed Speer, Seatle Fabrics, Quest Outfitters.

If you want a quick solution that spreads the weight about as well as webbing, try 3/8 inch yellow polypropyline rope sold in hardware stores. It is cheap and hollow. When it has a load applied, it crushes the hollow space and becomes flat against the tree. This also keeps it from rolling down the tree. Being polypro, it does not keep stretching like nylon. (It does stretch the first time you put it up, it just stops stretching after that.)

Try this and it should be a bit better next time.

[Rambler]

Watch out for that yellow three-strand poly rope. When it weathers, it tends to fray, leaving needle-like pieces along the sides. These strands can do a number on your hands. The braided type might work better. In ropes use dacron or other braided varieties. Nylon will stretch. In my homemade Speer-like hammock I have switched from rope to webbing.

[rpettit]

Just buy a hennessy and forget about all of the frustration of trying to get the Byer to work.

[neo]

I bought a byer hammock, made a hammock tube, underquilt and windshield. Hooked it up to two good strong trees sat in it and sunk straight to the ground like I was on a bungee jumping machine. I was using 1" nylon webbing I bought from REI. I think the problem is that I should use Polyester webbing so that it will not stretch. I used regular rope and all was well in that set-up.

I'm glad no one was watching, it was pretty funny in retrospect.

So what is the collective opinion on what to use?

Thanks, marc

this is what i use with my byer hammock,it work great,sure you can make your own set up,but i really like this byer accessory,neo



http://www.byerofmaine.com/amaz-acces_microrope.htm

[Just Jeff]

Do you have that accessory? How much does it weigh?

[gumby]

this is what i use with my byer hammock,it work great,sure you can make your own set up,but i really like this byer accessory,neo



http://www.byerofmaine.com/amaz-acces_microrope.htm

neo,

Thanks, I bought my Byer because of your positive remarks and because I am money challenged now. Should pick up becasue after 8 months out of work I found a job. Downside...I can't go hiking, it is a six day a week job.

Oh well, in a few years if everything works out I can retire.

gumby

[Patrick]

Can someone who's used these post the weight and some details about set-up and use? I saw them in a Byer catalog the other day in REI and thought they looked like a good idea.

[neo]

Can someone who's used these post the weight and some details about set-up and use? I saw them in a Byer catalog the other day in REI and thought they looked like a good idea.

the byer hammock i use is 11 oz and the suspension system wieghs 4 oz
i use it in the winter with my jacks r better tarp,in buggy warmer weather
i use my hennessey hammock. neo


http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/...p?i=8072&c=577



http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/...p?i=8071&c=577




http://www.byerofmaine.com/amaz-acces_microrope.htm





http://www.byerofmaine.com/amazonas-traveller.htm

[neo]

the byer hammock i use is 11 oz and the suspension system wieghs 5 oz
i use it in the winter with my jacks r better tarp,in buggy warmer weather
i use my hennessey hammock. neo


http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/...p?i=8072&c=577



http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/...p?i=8071&c=577




http://www.byerofmaine.com/amaz-acces_microrope.htm





http://www.byerofmaine.com/amazonas-traveller.htm

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH

[Patrick]

Neo, thanks for posting that.

I see on the REI site that it says that it's a "tree-friendly design". You feel okay using it as is with no straps or anything?

Also, it says it's rated for 330 pounds. Is that enough? I know there's a lot of math behind calculating the force put on a hammock and it's always surprisingly high.

What about just putting the metal doohickeys on the stock HH rope for easy adjustment? Anything on there look like it will wear or cut them?

I'll stop asking questions now.

[Burn]

gumby i use the rope that came with my clark jungle hammock. since i'm a pretty beefy type, i need the assurance that were gonna still be there when we wake up. you could go to their site and check out their knots and rope tensile strength to get an idea of how other companies do it with stuff you can get at the hardware store.

the interesting thing about hammocks is the initial stretch factor....mine recommends setting up and getting the stretch out of the hammock and the harnessing system. once it stretches, it should be good to go wherever you set it up.

also there seems to be an experience curve to hammocking. once you get the hang of it, you'll never want to tent or shelter again, unless she invites you to her tent. say hey to the misses

[gumby]

gumby i use the rope that came with my clark jungle hammock. since i'm a pretty beefy type, i need the assurance that were gonna still be there when we wake up. you could go to their site and check out their knots and rope tensile strength to get an idea of how other companies do it with stuff you can get at the hardware store.

the interesting thing about hammocks is the initial stretch factor....mine recommends setting up and getting the stretch out of the hammock and the harnessing system. once it stretches, it should be good to go wherever you set it up.

also there seems to be an experience curve to hammocking. once you get the hang of it, you'll never want to tent or shelter again, unless she invites you to her tent. say hey to the misses

Actually I have set it up in my backyard a few times. I used tree huggers I made and just plain old polypro rope, the yellow stuff that is braided like a water ski rope. I weigh about 250 now, I wanted to see if it would handle a load sooooo.....get ready,..... I climbed in, got ready and bounced, I went from about 3 feet off the ground to a good hard hit, it bounced back up a few times and finally stopped (needed the dramanine after that) without breaking. Spectra, spectra, I don't need no stinkin spectra.

All in all if it can hold my fat a$$ then it should work well for someone smaller.

I bought the version without the bugnet, I have added the bugnet, an underquilt and skins.

gumby