View Full Version : Best material for a hammock
I have used ripstop nylon, which is kind of slippery, but very light. Canvas painter dropcloth works well but is heavy and it would probably not dry fast enough.
What do you think of a dollar bin polyester as a hammock fabric?
Maybe I can get one with nice patterns or teddy bear print or something.
My theory is that polyester or nylon will work well, anything else will hold moisture. Stretchy is good. If two layers of paper thin 1.1oz nylon ripstop will hold my weight, then most of the fabric in the dollar bin should be strong enough. Nylon is slippery, I would like to try something else.
I also want to keep it at the full width and not cut it down. I like to sleep/lay/lounge crossways and 48" just barely does the job, 60" is more luxurious.
So I am thinking 3 yards of dollar bin fabric, flame seal the sides, triple fold and hem the ends, accordian fold the ends, and wrap some Spectra around it. Is there any reason to get more complicated than this?
(http://cruisenews.net/backpacking/)
titanium_hiker
02-18-2006, 00:58
have a look at risk's test hammock: http://www.imrisk.com/testhammock/testhammock.htm
the biggest thing with this is bulk. I made on of these (with fabric that I thought was good enough to hold me) and it filled my entire bag. Too big.
Yes, 60'' is much better.
have you thought of silk?
TH
i found some OD Green silnylon in warlmart's dollar bin a couple times... made my daughter a hammock with it... works great, and holds me too. roughly based on Risk's plan. found some mesh to use for mosquito netting there too.
titanium_hiker
02-20-2006, 19:08
silnyl won't breath- ripstop nylon will though. silnyl is better suited for the tarp.
TH
johnnyblisters
02-25-2006, 02:21
1.1 oz ripstop is optimal, breaths, compact, and lightweight. Use 1.9 oz ripstop for heaver folks. www.thru-hiker.com (http://www.thru-hiker.com) had pretty good prices on 1.1 oz.
-milkman
There's some interesting stuff on a silk Speer hammock at http://www.garlington.biz/Ray/SilkHammock/
peter_pan
03-25-2006, 09:29
I have used ripstop nylon, which is kind of slippery, but very light. Canvas painter dropcloth works well but is heavy and it would probably not dry fast enough.
What do you think of a dollar bin polyester as a hammock fabric?
Maybe I can get one with nice patterns or teddy bear print or something.
My theory is that polyester or nylon will work well, anything else will hold moisture. Stretchy is good. If two layers of paper thin 1.1oz nylon ripstop will hold my weight, then most of the fabric in the dollar bin should be strong enough. Nylon is slippery, I would like to try something else.
I also want to keep it at the full width and not cut it down. I like to sleep/lay/lounge crossways and 48" just barely does the job, 60" is more luxurious.
So I am thinking 3 yards of dollar bin fabric, flame seal the sides, triple fold and hem the ends, accordian fold the ends, and wrap some Spectra around it. Is there any reason to get more complicated than this?
(http://cruisenews.net/backpacking/)
Talk to Coy over on hammock camping at yahoo groups....His dollar rack hammock tore and put him on the ground at the Spring hammock hanger meet in Hot Springs last year.
Pan
I am making a new hammock also, so many choices for such a simple thing.
I found some ripstop in the dollar bin which would be a good choice.
Length: I am about 5'11" so a hammock about 11' before hemming will be my choice fabric about 54" wide. Some fabric has a neat edge called a closed selvedge no side hem needed. Longer and wider is better til you know your preferences. I sleed diagonally like Brazilian style. this requires a wider longer hammock, but this is more comfortable.
You can use a soldering iron or a woodburning iron as your hot cut knife.
If you don't like how it turns out, hey you spent $9. You can get portions of yards like 3 yards 2 feet, at most stores .
There is glue and iron on stuff to hem and sew the ends if you are averse to sewing. I have no idea about the longevity of that stuff though.
Silk has been suggested, I like the idea. Risk and garlington have all sorts of info up on the web.