Nowadays, hammocks are trendy among campers. People often use it both for scout camps or everyday walks in nature. They are small, light, and easy to pack and take on a trip. Why is my hammock uncomfortable? Let’s dive in to find out more!
Hammocks are fun, comfortable to lie on, and perfect for relaxation. They are also easy to handle and set up. That is why people love it. In this article, we will give you a few tips on how to make the most of your hammock and have fun doing that.
In some events, your body might unaffectedly slide to the center of the hammock. That can periodically be painful and not so comfortable. To stop any sliding, try swinging the foot side of the hammock roughly 8 to 10 inches tall. This helps support your weightier torso from sliding into the center.
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Few Tips for Comfortable Hammock Camping
#1 Hang Your Hammock in a Proper Way
Do not try to string up a hammock too tight between anchor points. This can make you feel uncomfortable and maybe even cause pain in your shoulders and your back.
Try to hang your hammock with good sag at an approximately 30-degrees angle from the horizontal. This is a useful tip for you to remember because this will make your hammock more comfortable. If you set up your hammock as we suggested, you will lower the center of gravity, making it more stable and secure.
Tip: With hammock camping, there’s no stress about this. Nonetheless, always check your sleeping bag for snakes when you go traditional camping!
#2 Lay Diagonally Across the Hammock
Now, we should think about the next step which is rather essential. Once you set it up, lay diagonally across the fabric. You’d be surprised how comfortable you’ll feel in that position.
#3 Raise Your Foot End Higher
The foot side of the hammock should be about 8 to 10 inches higher than the other end. Your torso is heavier, and it will prevent you from sliding when you raise your foot end higher.
Note: Have you been aware of how many things you can make from a Tyvek? Some are fairly interesting!
#4 Use a Pillow for Your Knee
Use a pillow for your knee to relieve pressure and hyper-extension of your knees. If you don’t have a pillow you can put some extra clothes would work instead.
Longer hammocks are more comfortable than wider ones. This is the unwritten rule so try to remember that.
#5 Use a Bug Net
It goes without saying that you should use a bug net for your hammock. Really, don’t forget about it! You can get a hammock with sewn-on bug netting that completely surrounds your hammock. This will allow you to really enjoy peace and quiet without the buzzing of annoying insects.
Tip: It is wise to know how to hang a hammock with one tree. This process is fairly popular, by all means.
#6 Use a Sleeping Pad
To stay warm overnight you will need something more than just a sleeping bag, so get a sleeping pad. A pad is not only for comfort, it will help you feel warmer.
Without some uncompressed insulation underneath, you’ll feel cold in the hammock. Don’t forget to put your pad inside your sleeping bag to avoid it from falling on the ground during your sleep.
#7 Use a Drip Line
Try to keep your hammock inside when is rainy outside but if you can’t, use a drip line on your suspension, and position it under your tarp. That is why water will flow to the lowest point and your hammock will stay dry.
Tip: Definitely be mindful of how cold is too cold for hammock camping. Never forget about your well-being!
#8 Fold Your Hammock Into a Chair
Sitting in a hammock can be very uncomfortable because it can cut the circulation off your knees. If you want to make a flat seat, you have to take the edge of the fabric and fold it toward the center of the hammock.
Hope these tips were helpful to make your hammock more comfortable. Now, let’s talk about safety!
Hammock Safety
Hammock camping can be dangerous if you don’t follow the safety guidelines, suggested by the BSA Health and Safety team:
- Hang your hammock no more than 3 feet off the ground in order to prevent falls.
- Do not hang your hammock over chasms or holes in the ground, over river or lake, or above tables or sharp stones.
- Do not stack hammocks vertically.
- Try not to keep food in your hammock.
Let’s Beat The Curve
Everything is prepared and ready to go. Notably, you have your hammock setup, a comfortable pillow, maybe a nice margarita or a cold beer and you’re planning on taking a nap or getting a full night’s sleep in your hammock.
You take one glance at the hammock and shortly you’re gazing at something that doesn’t make any logic at all – it’s curved! Imagine that! How can you possibly sleep comfortably in your hammock? Here are a few tips & tricks you should know! Evidently, traditional hammock design is why the spreader bar came into reality.
When the hammock first appeared in front of European culture, the bend of the hammock was deemed unsuitable. Moreover, they did what was critical to making the hammock seem as flat as likely.
Yet, the hammock had existed, not as a recreational backyard device but as a totally useful bed, for hundreds of years before the spreader bar came into place.
Sleeping in a huge curve can’t be right. With that in mind, did all of these early hammock users terribly rest each night? Did they perhaps wake up each morning formed like a boomerang but persist in using the hammock because they simply couldn’t think of any way to fix the issue – for instance, using a simple spreader bar?
Avoid The Most Typical Hammock Setup Mistake
Speaking of setting up a hammock, mainly one that’s as fast and easy to set up as Trek Light Gear’s, there’s frankly very little that you should know to do it correctly.
There are just a few things that you can actually do wrong. For instance, hang it too low, and you’ll clearly be hauling it on the ground. On the flip side, hang one end much loftier, and you will be sloped at an irregular angle.
There is truly only one factor to the setup where you’re eager to make a vitally important and not-so-apparent choice – how close or how loose should you hang the hammock? You know you like a rather flat cover to sleep on, and just looking at the hammock’s strong angle gives you back pain instantly.
So, you decide to only pull it as tight as attainable to get the cover nice and flat. You’ve just made a mistake. Notably, the natural curve of the hammock is essential to getting the flat, zero tension point exterior that makes hammocks such a healthy way to unwind, meditate or rest.
One of the greatest errors you can make is to try to drag your hammock as tight as feasible to try to make it flat. When you pull the hammock that way, it’s truly going to seem flattered and more like something you want to sleep on.
What is more, no matter how close you pull it, the hammock will still dip down in the middle when you get in it.
Loosen Up And Hang Loose
It is already familiar to you that the tighter you pull the hammock the thinner it gets. If the fabric of your hammock is loose and flexible, you will feel that. This truly goes without saying!
As a matter of fact, keeping the fabric loose offers you a ton more space to stretch out and take benefit of the width of the hammock. You’ll instantly find that any time you spend in the hammock is much more comfy, liberating, and cushy – all owing to the looseness of the fabric itself.
Tip: Many individuals wonder if it is likely to power wash a rope hammock. The safest stake is to wash it by hand
Hammock Angle Changes All
how will you lie flat and get a sound night’s sleep? The solution to this is the Hammock angle. This changes the game! You will surely need to use the width of the hammock to your benefit to achieve the Hammock Angle.
The Hammock Angle is best defined like this: Start by lying in the hammock straight down the middle as you always would. Then, take your feet and legs and push them roughly 8-12 inches to one side. Do it until you see that they are sitting much lower and more balanced than before.
Now, repeat the same process with your head and the upper part of your body, but towards the opposite side. If you did it accurately, you’re now lying nearly fully flat in a curved hammock.
