Added: 2 years ago
From: seanmulhall
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  • This is a kind of old comment thread so I don't know if you've learned this already, but one way of preventing sliding is to hang the feet end slightly higher then your head end. The difference in height varies from person to person, so you just have to fiddle about with it til you get it right. But it helps a lot.

  • That technice is nice but a bit of a work. You may try a garda self-locking hitch on one side. Makes everthing very easy!

  • mate your a hero . that make it a lot easier. cheers buddy.

  • This method of suspension with the pulley system puts twice the weight on the rope than it is rated to and the rope WILL fail. it will fail at the knots because knots cut the rating by half or more. THIS IS NOT SAFE

    also the best way to hang a hammock is with sag in it to lay diagonally. to lay flat you would need a Bridge Hammock. This is a gathered end hammock.

  • @JPsaxMIA

    The DD hammocks are quite narrow so its that feasible to get diagonal in them. Also the rope I am using is not 550 and even knotted it far exceeds my 140lb weight, so I am comfortable that this is a safe system for me.

  • @seanmulhall the rope you are using is the DD rope I understand that. Saying that I own one my self and get diagonal in it just fine for a very flat lay. This method of suspension puts far more weight on the ropes than you think. 50% loss of rating is only a rule of thumb, knots can derate rope by up to 80%. Rope is rated vertically, not horizontally. You should really move to a cinch buckle system with strong polyester 1 inch straps. a search here and you will see what I am talking about.

  • @JPsaxMIA

    OK, I will check out the suspension system that you recommend.

  • @seanmulhall Im sorry if i was a bit disrespectful, the internet shows no emotion : [, but I just wanted to share with the person whom I found out about DD hammocks from.

  • @JPsaxMIA

    You have no need to apologise to me. I am learning as much from the advice in the comments as I do from my own trial and errors. I welcome as much constructive criticism as possible. Thanks you for your advice and honesty.

  • Instead of the extra knot it might be better to just pull the webbing through and tie it off with a slip knot above one of the existing knots. Getting knots out of rope can be difficult after it has spent the night under the weight of a body, especially if it gets wet. If you make a new knot to fit every new location you will soon have more knot than rope.

  • @Graeme758

    True, in fact I now use a slightly different system, but still along the same principles, but with only one knot.

  • How can u use a hammock in bear country? Please answer

  • @urflofit2010

    I would not have a clue. Hopefully some one from the US could answer that one for you.

  • @urflofit2010 If you think a tent is safer than a hammock in terms of being in bear habitats then you might as well stay home. A tent and a hammock are equally safe and if you know how to hike in bear country ( hanging food, putting waste 200 yards south of your site) then youll have nothing to worry about. You cant prepare for a freak bare attack, and if it happens then it happens.

  • I camped in a hammock for the first time last week and set up my dd hammock using the twice around the tree and bow method. The hammock sagged a lot and I had to get out and re-adjust the webbing, I also found that I bunched up at the end. The method you show here looks to be a much better solution, I will use this next weekend. Thanks for a great video!

  • nice idea sean ive had a DD hammock for a year now and i do the same system to set it up the only other hammock i would consider having would be 1 from hennessy hammocks but ill never part with my DD tarp :) keep it up

  • Where can i buy that green nylon web rope?

  • At 2:05 how do yo make those knots? tx

  • I would like to say many, many thanks for this video. I camped in a hammock for the 1st time ever this weekend, in a DD hammock, and copied this method exactly. It's fast, effective, and comfortable. I managed to get enough tension to sleep on my side perfectly comfortably. I reckon I had some of the best nights's sleep I've ever had, and that is comparing 99.99999% sleeping in houses :-)

  • @dodgey99

    Thank you for your comment. I pleased you had a great time and a good nights sleep.

  • love your videos mate, after watching this i have no decided on my method of using my hammock, thanks

  • nice job man =)

  • I sleep in a hammock every night, and have done for so long that 'real beds' give me some of the worst backaches. I only had my hammock for about 3 weeks before the friend who got me the hammock as a present came over and saw how I was doing it, which is the way you do it. She pointed out that for my style of hammock (a mexican hammock) you don't sleep from anchor to anchor, but in the middle, perpendicular to the swing axis. This helps align your spine and supports you with no pressure points.

  • @FrancoBear

    I dont think my hammock is wide enough to sleep perpendicular. I am looking to buy another hammock to try this out. Thanks

  • @asannder if you rig a hammock on an angle you will wake up with a banging headache as the blood pressure in your head raises too high. I know as I made the mistake.

  • Suggestion... Just an observer here,.. if you were to lye a body horizontally, then divide it theoretically in half, or at the waist , I am estimating that the "torso-head" half would be 65-70% of total body weight for that individual.Assuming so, if you were to rack the hammock between the posts at a 40 degree angle, rather than a zero degree angle,,and then lye with your "torso-head" half on the elevated side, would you not then have more equilibrium respectively, gravity considered? ya?

  • its crocadile dundee

  • Sleeping on a 1 to 7 line will sort this out pretty much on its own, rather than a 12 to 6 line with a banana back. Having a nice tight hammock will help.

  • Comment removed

  • Excellent.

  • Comment removed

  • @kobudo4

    This is the DD Hammock. Its the waterproof one. These do suffer with condensation issues. The 1 inch tape comes with the hammocks. The Tenth Wonder is the XL and was £13.00 off Ebay. For price the Tenth Wonder is better value but not as well constructed. I use both equally so dont favour either. The DD has the built in mosi net which is really useful.

  • A few questions mate.

    Is that the DD Camping Hammock?

    Are those lengths of para cord you have attached on the topside of the hammock your own additions?

    What are the cord lengths for?

    Also what Tenth Wonder hammock is it you own?

    Which do you prefer?

    Cheers Sean

  • Couldn't hear a word u said

  • i use two carabina i got from cotswolds for £4 each with a snap gate and rated at 23KN thats a Lb 5000 break strain

  • Sean, Good video! I just wanted to add a little food for thought. You may also want to consider taking the opposite approach as well. If you're able to leave your hammock quite loose, you can actually sleep slightly diagonal (on a bias to the centerline) so that your head cants off to one side of the hammock and your feet on the other. I don't know why, but this actually makes you lie flat instead of the "banana". It's what they do in Brazil... So I'm told. Check it out and let use know. Thanks!

  • I will give your technique a try. Thanks.

  • Quite right, but this technique doesn't really work with a DD hammock... can't really say why, except it might be the dimensions of the hammock? I run a DD as well and tighter is better, for this particular rig.

  • Good looking out, Shad0h027! I've never had the opportunity to try out a DD. Sorry for the faulty beta, but thanks for giving it a try and letting us know. I usually use a Hennessy (which is designed for this technique), but I've been successful using it with other hammocks. I am interested to know if anyone can explain the reason why it works with some and not with others. I wouldn't think that hammocks are all the complicated by design... Perhaps another video review is in order??? :-)

  • A DD travel hammock is about 8 feet 10 inches long by 4 feet 3 inches wide. A Grand Trunk single is 10'-6 long by 5' wide (this is a Brazilian-style hammock). A Brazilian-style hammock needs to be bigger. The good news is, with the double bottom you can really put some tension on this hammock, and if you get a little diagonal the lay is reasonably flat. A Grand Trunk "Skeeter Beeter" is a gathered-end with mosi net and sized for Brazilian-hanging, but you don't get the double bottom.

  • Tried this last night with my new hamock, but my back and legs ached! I have never used a hammock before though, was always in a tent on the floor, so first time sleeping in one, are they just a bit of getting used to? Am I being a moaning wimp haha ?

  • I found I ached unitl I got the hammock rigged tight like I have demonstrated.

  • Yeah I had it tight like this copied what you done exactly, but I didn't have it as tight as it really pushed my shoulders in as I'm fairly stocky, but I'll keep trying. I love this technique compared to the standard bow anyway, you can move the hammock if its not in line with your tarp a lot easier and quicker, great set up!

  • what is the DD hammock made of cus i cant find one anywhere so i just make one from a tarp and some para cord it works fine but it dose not look very nice

  • Great tip!

  • Great job Sean..

    I'm not sure how I missed this one.. but I'm glad I found it.. Great tip on tightening the hammock.. I will definitely be using that one! Thanks Bro

  • Comment removed

  • Thanks you for your experience. I should have taken mine apart and measured it correctly.

  • ive heard that the hammocks can be difficult to hang and slide down on some trees with more smooth bark. have you had any such difficulties?

  • Not when using the tree huggers.

  • brilliant video sean

  • Where can i get one of your bed rolls from and the tarp please.

    Cheers

  • My bed roll is a full size thermarest and the tarp is made by DD Hammocks. The hammock is also from DD Hammocks. They are on the web. Please mention my name and they should look after you.

  • I allways enjoy your videos. Hanging your head end lower is a good way to prevent sliding down at night. As for the bananna position, try sleeping at an angle. Imagine the hammock as 12:30 on a clock, you want to sleep at 3:45, another way of looking at it is lay a piece of paper on the table, put a pencil on it and lift the corners of the paper. Hope this helps :)

  • Thanks. Lots of people have suggested this option. I will try it but I think the DD Hammock may be a little narrow. I will try it out and reprot back to everyone. Thanks again.

  • Hey Silver Fox this hammock is in the style of ones used in Honduras.  They hang them in a deep scoop, like the center is 2 foot deeper than the tips or more. They taught us to lay with our bodies diagonal across the hammock, for instance: head near the right edge side and feet near the left edge side. this diagonal placement allows the sleeper to lay perfectly flat. I know it sounds impossible but try it. I bet the DD is supposed to be used that way as well.

  • I will try this.

  • he guildfounder de DD is supposed to be tight, The fabric isn't large enough to lay in the diagonal.

    I'f you hang it in a deep scoop you'll be sleeping like a banana. :P

    I'll make a vid next week how i hang my DD.

  • then the DD hammock is poorly designed. if it isn't wide enough to lay diagonally then it's not possible to lay flat. It's often an inside joke among hammock sleeping cultures. They let foreigners sleep like a banana for a night before letting them in on the secret. good for a laugh. Brazilian hammocks are so wide you sleep in them sideways, with your whole family. the 4 of us just enjoyed the Leonids that way!

  • You could also hang the foot end of your hammock a few inches higher than the head end and you won't slide down to the middle. Also if you lie on the diagonal a bit in the hammock you will get a flatter lie in the hammock and have it be more comfortable. Hanging the hammock that tight puts a lot of stress on the fabric and it will be much more likely to puncture.

  • What a great idea ! Makes total sense. Yeah

  • You have a great collection of feathers there. I bet each one has a story to it.  Great vid

  • Greetings from the jungle Sean! Nice hammoch bro! I always use hammocks in Brazil, cause staying away from the ground at nite here is really important. I´ve made swamp beds before and they work just fine too but I dont like knocking down trees unless I really have to! Thanks for posting it man!

  • i really enjoy your videos but your audio is hard to hear.

  • great idea!

  • I'll probably never sleep in one of these... but I still really enjoyed watching and learning. Thank you.

  • I made me one out of a blanket I get a good nights sleep :-)

  • I've have heard about this but never tried myself.

  • Cheers Sean, ive been using 12 quid beaners, ill use some 2quid mallion rapide`s like yours..

    Nice pause by the way .............did yyour mind go blank : s

  • What a disrespectful thing to say at the end there, bub.

    I learned something that comes to the next level of this thing thanks to Sean, thank you very much.

  • jog on, Dominick, it showed i was paying attention you mean! and i recognised how it just happens like that, disrespectful.. i think not

  • Oh, well, my bad. Just a little spice in your character, I see.

    Cool beans.....

  • nice technique(s).

  • Hello Sean.

    I have a slightly larger hammock by an American company; "hammockbliss" 300 x 150 cm.

    While keeping the hammock tight and low to the ground are important tips, I think advising people to sleep diagonally is more helpful. A diagonal orientation lets the hammock fabric cradle your body in a more natural position: keeping your spine and legs in a more linear orientation.

    This is only an option with wider hammocks, though.

  • I have heard people talk about sleeping diagonally but I dont think the DD ot the Tenth Wonder is wide enough. Thanks for commenting.

  • I made a pair of tree huggers just like that out of paracord, they work great. I only used one hand width between knots though. that gives me more adjustability. 5*

  • True I may add more knots to my setup. Thanks

  • Thanks Sean Great tip and Video!

  • ouch, i suppose if you want to spend £1 on a carabiner it's up to you but cold weather and turning in your hammock can shatter a cheap one and you'll hit the floor. I'd rather pay the extra for a climbing grade karibener and know I'm not going to break a shoulder at 3 in the morning

    adjusting the hammock like that and making it so high means you'd better have a very large tarp to cover the sides

    anyways, just my pennies worth :)

  • I havebt had any problem with the threaded clamps so far but I will bear your comments in mind. As for a tarp the DD tarp is 3m x 3m so is plenty big enough. Thanks for your comments.

  • Another excellent vid, Sean. Thanks for putting it up. Can you put one up with the covering tarp all set up? Do you pile debris under the hammock to cut down on wind under the bottom?

  • nice to see your video sean. enjoyable as always.

  • Good job as usual Sean.... 5*

  • It might be the angle of the camera but it looks like your feet are higher than your head. I was taught not to sleep like that. It's important to remember that the hammock was invented in the tropics as a cool way to sleep in hot weather. In the Northern hemisphere's Winter it's rather like trying to sleep in the vegetable drawer of your chill chest. Cold air can circulate all around you making a -20 bag useless at anything lower than 30 F.

  • in tropical areas, you dont put a low covering over the hammock. in colder climes you position a tarp no more than two feet over your hammock. the tarp acts as weather protection and as an oven. the heat rises and gets trapped around your body.

  • Sleeping in a hammock during wintertime is no problem, for the hammocks there are underquilts which keep you warm and toasty all night

    And feet high in a hammock is no problem, after a long hike you do want the feet in i slightly higher position to move the blood from the feet.

  • That's why people use under blankets or use a camping mat to sleep on, this way you are protected from the cold air underneath the hammock.

  • I'm not saying you can't be comfortable in cool temps. I've saying in Winter when the mercury is as low as it can go you'll be better in a double walled tent on a thick foam pad on the ground and better still with a stove.

    I've slept in a leanto in January in Northern Michigan with a bed of balsa broughs a reflected fire in front and walls of snow around to block the wind and slept snug as a bug in a rug. I had to stay the night it was too cold for my car to start.

    I like hammocks 3 seasons.

  • 5/5m8

  • Sean, Great job man!! Like the hammock mods. You are definitely right about the "sag" as I call it lol. I just got done doing a review on Eagles Nest Outfitters One Link System. I encountered the same thing. I started tightening the hammock and problem solved. Again great job.

  • Great tip :) I also have a dd hammock. But i prefer not to have it too tight. If i have a bit of slack the hammock alovs me to lay in it diagonaly "its spreads a bit more if its not too tight". But I think im gonna try your setup next time just for the heck of it. Great vid

  • your right, if you lay in it on a diagonal its almost like laying flat.

    much more comfortable!!!!

  • nice mod Sean. I use a dd my self and love it.

    I normally use webbing for the straps that I pull tight like mad. but this is very handy in deed.

  • hi sean, just bought a dd hammock but its a basic one,No mozinet,nice to see you making vids again, when i've got some spare time ,how about going out for a weekend? maybe in the new year?

  • Im up for that. PM me and I,ll give you my phone number and we can arrange it.

  • how much was this particular hammock?

  • Under 50 £

    The DD hammock should be rigged tightly for best comfort...  Thats how I rig ours

  • ohhh.....

    i'll get the scout model them cause i'm a short little child.

  • You wont regret that, dont forget that you might need something to protect you from rain, the DD poncho could be used as a tarp, haven't tried it myself but I have two of them and they are good, might be big for you.

  • I'll just buy a tarp from my hardware store.

    i'm only like 5 feet tall but it's whatever.

  • Those tarps are fine. They will tear with time but they are perfectly adequate.

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