Hammock Problems

[Humakt]

Hammocking.
I want to like it. But...
You see the problem is, I don't like sleeping on my back - I have to sleep on my side.
I have tried a hammock, and I can sleep on my side in one, but I find that it makes my hips ache.
I saw something about this and someone explaining why and what to do. But I can't find the advice anywhere.
Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

[garethw]

Hi there
I too sleep on my side or often on my front, so I had to find a comfy way of hammocking also. I find making the hammock quite taught helps when you sleep diagonally. Using a thermarest has helped give a flatter base to lie on.
I've not found a problem with my hips like this, but it does compress my shoulder somewhat. What I do to help here is to find a sort of half back and half side position, which so far has been working well for me. Funnily enough I often wake up on my back feeling very comfy, which never happens in a bed.
cheers
Gareth

[antithetic]

Hi,
I haven't tried this personally yet but this video had a method for increasing the tension on your hammock. The first comment claims he was able to sleep on his side perfectly comfortably.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ag9he2Z8w

[basicbushcraft]

i used that set up in the video i personally i dont like it
my mate as his like that set up and he loves it i suppose its everybody to there own

[jbrown14]

Hennesey hammocks are made asymmetrically so that you can sleep on your side or even stomach. Picture suspending the opposite corners of a rectangular sheet of paper. This will form a flat pocket at an acute angle to the axis of the corners. I've used my Travel Hammock "Skeeter Beeter" in this fashion as it has generous enough fabric to push my feet to one side, and my head to the other. If I sleep on my back too long, I get a raspy throat the next day from snoring like a chainsaw! :O I have a bad back too, so sleeping on my stomach is most often the more comfortable position.

[footsore]

This is gonna sound as mad as a box of frogs, I cant sleep on my back either, cant, wont, wont even try, a few years ago we were on exercise in "Germany", it was very cold, and sleeping on the back of a bedford is even colder, the steel draws away every degree of heat, so having one of those army sleeping beds, (Not the american cots) the scabby british spring steel and canvas jobs, i suspended it from the roof with para cord and hey presto stayed flat and you can turn round in them, its an idea im thinking of trying again for a laugh, about £17-£19 for the bed but much,much more for the bedFORD, better still kip on the floor good luck!!!

[jbrown14]

This is gonna sound as mad as a box of frogs, I cant sleep on my back either, cant, wont, wont even try, a few years ago we were on exercise in "Germany", it was very cold, and sleeping on the back of a bedford is even colder, the steel draws away every degree of heat, so having one of those army sleeping beds, (Not the american cots) the scabby british spring steel and canvas jobs, i suspended it from the roof with para cord and hey presto stayed flat and you can turn round in them, its an idea im thinking of trying again for a laugh, about £17-£19 for the bed but much,much more for the bedFORD, better still kip on the floor good luck!!!

That's a fantastic kludge! Ha! Sounds very comfy!