I started camping with a hammock a few years ago while on a week-long backpacking trip. I brought my hammock just to relax in, and ended up sleeping in it ever since. if you get the right materials you can also drop a few pounds off your pack weight. i now take it on all of my hikes, to date 3 50 mile hikes and countless shorter weekend hikes.
I have found that once you get used to it, sleeping on a hammock is much more comfortable than on the ground. Furthermore, you will never have to worry about a ground tarp, uneven, rocky or wet ground, and can probably eliminate your tent as well as some other gear.
Please note this is a guide for beginners, and does not cover more of the technical aspects of hamocking. If this guide has gotten you interested and you want more information on hammocking I suggest you go to the Hammock Forums, you'll find a ton of completely neurotic and awesome people obsessed with hammocks, with a ton of information on all things hammocks. I'm currently planning revisions for this instructable based on the methods that I learned from HF and now use myself, but for this guide should be adequate.
I have found that once you get used to it, sleeping on a hammock is much more comfortable than on the ground. Furthermore, you will never have to worry about a ground tarp, uneven, rocky or wet ground, and can probably eliminate your tent as well as some other gear.
Please note this is a guide for beginners, and does not cover more of the technical aspects of hamocking. If this guide has gotten you interested and you want more information on hammocking I suggest you go to the Hammock Forums, you'll find a ton of completely neurotic and awesome people obsessed with hammocks, with a ton of information on all things hammocks. I'm currently planning revisions for this instructable based on the methods that I learned from HF and now use myself, but for this guide should be adequate.
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Signing UpStep 1: Gather Materials
As I will describe you need the following materials:
One hammock
some rope
2 carabiners
one foam sleeping pad (yes, those cheap, foam sleeping pads you swore never to use again after you got your inflatable pad)
I will be providing to you:
a basic knowledge of knots
A note on hammocks: buy a good, light hammock. No heavy braided cotton line. I got a lot of use out of my Amazonas Traveler before it tore through (don't let it drag on the ground!). When I bought it I paid around $20 at the local sporting goods store, look around and you should find one similar. There are also many options for making your own hammock, and plenty of commercial options. I recently got an ENO Singlenest, which I like a lot so far.
A note on Carabiners and rope: use only load bearing carabiners, designed for climbing. These carabiners end up supporting much more than your weight depending on how tight you string your hammock. For this same reason, the golden standard for rope in the hammocking community is Dyneema, or Spectra, which are incredibly strong, low stretch materials. I now use 7/16" Dyneema that can hold something around 5000 pounds and is very lightweight. Paracord works, but Dyneema would be preferable. Nylon rope will stretch and poly rope won't.
One hammock
some rope
2 carabiners
one foam sleeping pad (yes, those cheap, foam sleeping pads you swore never to use again after you got your inflatable pad)
I will be providing to you:
a basic knowledge of knots
A note on hammocks: buy a good, light hammock. No heavy braided cotton line. I got a lot of use out of my Amazonas Traveler before it tore through (don't let it drag on the ground!). When I bought it I paid around $20 at the local sporting goods store, look around and you should find one similar. There are also many options for making your own hammock, and plenty of commercial options. I recently got an ENO Singlenest, which I like a lot so far.
A note on Carabiners and rope: use only load bearing carabiners, designed for climbing. These carabiners end up supporting much more than your weight depending on how tight you string your hammock. For this same reason, the golden standard for rope in the hammocking community is Dyneema, or Spectra, which are incredibly strong, low stretch materials. I now use 7/16" Dyneema that can hold something around 5000 pounds and is very lightweight. Paracord works, but Dyneema would be preferable. Nylon rope will stretch and poly rope won't.
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In many regions of Brazil, people sleep in hammocks - especially in the northeast and the north - but they do it differently, learned from the natives:
http://www.baciadasalmas.com/images/2005/como_dormir_numa_rede.gif
(sorry, couldn't upload the picture, I don't know why)
This is good, because your spine is straight and you can move somewhat and there's breathing space. : )
Hammocks (hamacas) are used from the Yucatan peninsula to Venezuela, some people don´t even have beds!
look up the hamacasutra and you´ll see LOL
Make two "sheet" hammocks, place a separator on one end where the "heads" go and voila... just use good, strong rope and it can probably be done for under $20, minus the rain cover, but even that's not expensive with a tarp.
I just made a simple sheet hammock this past week with cheap rope and had three individuals in it at one time (not sleeping, just testing). The rope was only rated at 120 lbs... but it held.
I like the two man version though from the site; nice idea!
For the end attached to the tree, use a 'taught line hitch'. Wrap the rope around the tree at least twice and then tie a taught line about midway down your rope. Then you can adjust the rope and "lay" of your hammock without having to retie the knot.