Advice om making a hammock

[FishyFolk]

I am playing with the idea of making a hammock for the winter. It would not need a mozzie net.

I can't afford the likes of parachute silk, so it will have to be some cheap reinforced plastic tarp. But I have no idea what size I would need. I.e what minimum length and widt should the finished product have for a 5.9" bloke have for me to be comfortable in it?

The plan is to lay the tarp double, whip the ends together with paracord, and improvise a suspension system. I wan't to double it in the hope of getting a sleeping pad sandwiched between thelayers if at all practiclal.

I have seen some youtube vids on the actual production of one so have an idea how to do it, just need some measurements.

[Hathor]

I've been having similar thoughts and found this...

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1676

If you click on the link See also TeeDee's multi-volume article "My Bridge Hammock System" published in December 2007. there is even more detail. Way beyond my ability.

[happybonzo]

I tried a Hammock using a plastic tarp. I got very sweaty. I'd try some other more "breathable" material if you can.

[FishyFolk]

I tried a Hammock using a plastic tarp. I got very sweaty. I'd try some other more "breathable" material if you can.

Since this is for cold weather, I'd be inside a winter rated sleeping bag, that would be inside a bivvi bag to keep the sleeping bag dry from snow blowing in....so I think there won't be much
of a sweat problem...the problem would be snow blowing into it and melting, as well as avoiding bringing in snow from clothes etc...

[AL...]

Sounds like a great wee project Rune Im lookin forward to seeing what ye come up with :)

Cheers
AL

[Tigger004]

Take a look at this easy hammock knot, I have used it on a standard cotton bed sheet, sheet was still servicable afterwards too, maybe of some use and is very easy to do..
Youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJlEQpcbM1I

[FishyFolk]

I was thinking more like this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm2yT_zQGTM&feature=related

[FishyFolk]

Well, the plans are firming up....just ordered some bit's and pieces to make this thing that is a little hard to come by in my home town...so that will come from your little island out there cross the seas :-)

[TreeCamper]

Hi Rune

Something you really should consider mate is an Underquilt. Even if homemade they will improve your cold weather comfort imeasurably.

People spend a lot of time trying all sorts of other ways to avoid having one but in the end you just can't beat them.

They are worth their weight in Gold and you can do away with some of the other stuff in your hammock.

Look forward to seeing you brave the Norwegian winter mate.

ATB TC

[FishyFolk]

Hi Rune

Something you really should consider mate is an Underquilt. Even if homemade they will improve your cold weather comfort imeasurably.

People spend a lot of time trying all sorts of other ways to avoid having one but in the end you just can't beat them.

They are worth their weight in Gold and you can do away with some of the other stuff in your hammock.

Look forward to seeing you brave the Norwegian winter mate.

ATB TC

Allready got that sorted. Got no less than 4 sleeping bags tucked away in the shed that are completely useless as sleeping bags. But would do okay as under quilts.

I worry more about where to find a winter sleeping bag I can afford that will be warm enough. But I got time. Ain't gonna do any snow camping until late february, or even march. In just a month or so, we'll have only a couple of hours of twilight mid day, and the sun won't rise at all for close to 2 months.

But I will get this project done before the snows come I hope. And that could be any day now. So I hope I get to test hang this before that. I only have the weekends now. It was easier to get time to get out in the summer with 24/7 daylight....

Mountains of south Norway today...

http://static.vg.no/uploaded/image/bilderigg/2012/10/09/1349805780547_895.jpg

[jus_young]

Check out this one for DIY gear

http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGear.html

I have some parachute silk going spare if your interested Rune. Its not a huge amount but will give you a 2.8 - 3m long hammock double thickness at about 1.4m wide which should be ideal. Got to be a whole lot better than that stuff your planning on using, breathable too. Just let us know if your interested and I will package it up and send it over.


Edit - Just watched that vid and realised that this is the site he refered to!

[FishyFolk]

Check out this one for DIY gear

http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGear.html

I have some parachute silk going spare if your interested Rune. Its not a huge amount but will give you a 2.8 - 3m long hammock double thickness at about 1.4m wide which should be ideal. Got to be a whole lot better than that stuff your planning on using, breathable too. Just let us know if your interested and I will package it up and send it over.


Edit - Just watched that vid and realised that this is the site he refered to!

I would be pretty daft if a was not!

Sending a PM!

[f0rm4t]

Rune, have a look at the thread on bags here : Down/compact sleeping bag for £50 or less. (http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?4203-Down-compact-sleeping-bag-for-%A350-or-less&highlight=sleeping+tesco)
If you find one that you fancy from any store over here that won't dispatch abroad, I'd be happy to purchase it on your behalf and post it over to you. (just an offer).

[FishyFolk]

Rune, have a look at the thread on bags here : Down/compact sleeping bag for £50 or less. (http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?4203-Down-compact-sleeping-bag-for-%A350-or-less&highlight=sleeping+tesco)
If you find one that you fancy from any store over here that won't dispatch abroad, I'd be happy to purchase it on your behalf and post it over to you. (just an offer).

Thanks for the offer, but these things tend to by priced the same way all over the place. And there is plenty of good offers here.
And some things are just better to buy here. While others are impossible to find. Hammocks for example have not quite reached us here yet.
Hence you can only get cheap garden variety hammocks, or very, very , very high end hammocks that costs hundreds of pounds...
Sleeping bags on the other hand, is sold everywhere at all kinds of prices. I just have to save up for a good one that I can keep for a few years.

[jus_young]

PMed back

[FishyFolk]

Just recieved what must be 15 meters worth of parachute silk from Jus_Young. Now I have to figure out how to make that into a a hammock. Ok, have a sewing machine to set up, and figure out how to do this without ruining anything....lol

Anyway, this is much apreciated, and I got your adress :-)

[AL...]

T^

Cheers
AL

[f0rm4t]

Love it! :D

[FishyFolk]

By the way, have I ever told you that Bushcrafters are nice people?

T^

[FishyFolk]

Well, after four and a half hours I have something that looks like a hammock cobled together. It was a right b!¤##¤ to sew that parachute silk!
And I made LOTs of mistakes along the way. And this will be the first and LAST hammock I ever produce by myself. My two year old probably learned a few words that will raise eye brows in the day care centre as well. Even in North Norway...

Tomorrow morning...: test hang!

Anyway the wole thing, including suspension system fits in a 4 litre Highlander waterproof bag :-)
But I do woorry that I may have made it too short. And most of you would have nightmares if you saw my stitching.

But okay....video tomorrow :-)

Good night :-)

[AL...]

Look forward to the vid Rune :)

Cheers
AL

[jus_young]

Glad it turned up, I was starting to get a little worried. Parachute silk is not the easiest stuff to sew but, like you say, it is very compact which is why I got hold of the stuff in the first place but just have not got round to finishing my DIY bugnet hammock. Too many other things on the wishlist/to do list.

[Ferrell freddy]

THREAD RESSURECTION!

Do you have any pics Rune? Also does anyone have any pics/plans for the construction? I have recently taken delivery of 2 x square reserves that are begging to become something new.

Cheers in Advance Guys.

[jus_young]

http://gear-report.com/make-your-own-diy-hammock/

May be of some use.

Click on the DIY tab for more stuff.

[FishyFolk]

THREAD RESSURECTION!

Do you have any pics Rune? Also does anyone have any pics/plans for the construction? I have recently taken delivery of 2 x square reserves that are begging to become something new.

Cheers in Advance Guys.

Hi,

Here is a video of me testing it. I still use this hammock. Not for overnigheters, but when we go to the beach it always comes. Nice to lunge in the shade in it, and the runt have his naps in it :-)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp00W7X4TfU

And here is the way it was made.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_TrVzbB06w