Sleeping on the diagonal in an HH?
Do you hammock users sleep in the same diagonal position every time or do you switch up?
most of the time i sleep the same way,which what i have found most comfortable,but any postition in a hammock is more comfortable than any postition on the groundneo
I have always slept the same way. But when I set my HH up in the yard the other day to try out my new JRB under quilt I tried laying in the opposite diaganol postion and I am going to try that this weekend when I sleep out on a trip I am going on. It seemed to be more comfortable.
What diagonal postion does everyone else sleep in? I have slept in mine with my head to the left and my feet to the right.
the way the HH backpacker asym is set up, you can only lay diagonally one way... head to the left of center, feet to the right... but you can lay on either side or on your back from that position...
Every now and then I switch in the HH with my head and feet on the small side, but only for a short time so I can sleep on my left side. For some reason I always feel like I'm sliding if I sleep on my left side facing the other way.
In my homemade Speer, I generally end up the same way as the HH is aligned no matter which side I'm on. Odd.
Do you sleep in a constant curve in a hammock? From the photos it seems like it always 'banana' curved just a bit.
This idea is sort of keeping me from going this route, I'd like to hear more about the actual sleeping benefits - may choose a HH other than a new tent.....
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I sleep in the same diagonal on my back, either side or fetal position. Much better than sleeping on the ground.
Smile,
Once you use the diagonal you are amazingly flat...like the malayan indians...there may still be some minor curve as most of us are a little tall....longer hammocks lay flatter, as do wider hammocks...up to a point...The comfort is supreme...some folk use two pillows, one normally and one under the knees to put a flex in the knees, sorta like being in a laid back recliner...
Find a way to test a few hammocks out...you'll be qickly converted.
Pan
ounces to grams
WWW.JACKSRBETTER.COM home of the Nest and No Sniveler underquilts and Bear Mtn Bridge Hammock
Big Dog... The Asym models of the Hennessy Hammocks are designed for you to sleep on the same diagonal position every time. Most of the HH models use the Asym design.
Smile... Hammockers sometimes say that they sleep flat in their hammocks. What they should say is that some hammocks allow you to sleep much flatter than the traditional banana shape associated with hammocks because they are designed such that when you lay off center your feet drop and your shoulders drop, thus flattening you out some. Not all hammocks have this design feature but you are not laying flat even in the ones that do, you are laying flatter. Most people find this very comfortable... but I wouldn't think that everyone would. You sometimes introduce a mild shoulder squeeze and a mild rotational torque on your body when you lay this way and you might have injuries that this aggrevates or just not find it comfortable. Your best bet is to try out a few hammocks and see for yourself... and that is a major problem for most folks because they don't have the opportunety. Ed Speer of Speer Hammocks has been hosting informal hammock campouts in the southeast for a while and is good way to see some of this first hand. There is one on the 23rd to 25th of this month in Hot Springs, NC. All types of hammocks are welcome as well as tenters. Of course Ed will have his hammocks and usually there are HHs as well as homemade hammocks. It just depends on who decides to come and what they bring.
Youngblood
Last edited by Youngblood; 09-13-2005 at 09:46.
What do you mean, "small side"? Isn't the entry/slit in the center (comparing from side to side) at foot end?,, which would mean both sides are the same. Help me out here. I'm all new to this stuff. From my collection of hammock data, I thought "asymmetrical" simply meant I was able to lay more flat. Does it also have to do w/ which side of center my feet/head are on?Originally Posted by Just Jeff
Designed how??
Imagine a trapezoid, with the centerline of the hammock connecting the farthest corners. That's the rough idea of the Asym.
On one side of the entry slit, a tie-out pulls on the corner where you put your feet. There is more space on that side of the slit for your feet.
On the other side, on the corner near your shoulders, a tie-out pulls the hammock in the other direction.
If you were to lay exactly down the centerline of the HH Asym, you'll have more room to the right of your feet and the left of your shoulders...meaning you should lay that way to get flatter (which, ironically enough, puts your body diagonal across the centerline).
Clear as mud?
Yes that is exactly what it means. There is more space for the upper body on the left and for the lower body on the right.
Doug
big dog...
get a sheet of paper. now lay a pencil in the middle, going the long way... pick up the short ends... pencil wants to slip sideways, right? doesn't want to bend in the middle...
now lay the pencil going across the short way... pick up the paper by the lower left and upper right corners and see if you can sort of 'twist' the paper to move the pencil so that it lays more the long way... those corners are the hammock's support ropes... the paper is still hanging in a curve, like a banana, but your pencil/body is laying mostly flat... why? the non-held corners (upper left and lower right) are where hennessy puts a tie out, to give you more head and foot room... in order to make the pencil lie the other way, you hve to change where the ropes and diagonal tie outs go... since you can't, you sort of have to lay head left of and feet right of center... you can lay on either side, though i find the left side most comfortable...
probably clear as mud, but that's how i explain it to people in the office when they find out i don't sleep on the ground... hope it helps.
in my homemade speer type I sleep which ever way I feel like at the time- I don't think I have a preference. Oh, but in my yard I have to hand from tree to clothesline, clothesline end is higher (foot end then) and I like to put my head to the left.
titanium
just call me TH
woman with altitude
Just Jeff, Dougmeredith, & Seeker,,,,,,,, clear as mud? the mud's pretty clear to me,,, thanks guys!!! I understand now.
Restless Sleeper
I am a somewhat restless sleeper. I have awaken from my HH to find myself on my side, my back, curled up in a fetal position, and even on my stomach. I have to concur with the majority of those who posted that no matter what position you sleep in, the hammock is definitely more comfortable than the ground or the floor of a shelter. It is very important though, in my experience, to get the hammock as level as possible or you will migrate to the lower end. I've enjoyed every night I've spent in my HH and think it's a bargain at twice the price.
actually D'Artagnan (haven't seen you for a while!) a higher foot end is more comfortable, esp. for a hh. Guys have they're center of gravity at the chest, so they seem to feel uncomfortable at completely level. the foot end should be slightly higher- even for girls!
just call me TH
woman with altitude
Hi, smile. You don't feel like you're sleeping in a banana position, even though it seems that every pic of a hammocker looks like there's a banana shape. My wife and I have slept in a water bed since we were married. Laying on my back in a waterbed, the main part of my body is lowest in the bed, with my head, legs and feet slightly elevated. When I'm in my HH, I feel like I'm sleeping in a very similar position. If I lay flat on my back in my hammock, with my feet extended, there is a little extra pressure on the knees, implying that there is a slight banana shaped curve. I usually just slightly bend my knees, which brings my feet in a little and relieves the pressure... this is also one of the reasons i usually use a quilt in a hammock
Steve
Ok, excellent information. What's the total weight usually for a top notch hammock? The sound of quilts and pillows is sounding bulky. But I'm hearing that many of you really dig them - I should go to one of the camp outs and try for myself ;-)
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