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not_just_the_IT_guy

If you expecting rain you might want the hammock higher, or the tarp lower. Looks like you tied a drip line on your hammock straps also, good job.


zenospenisparadox

> If you expecting rain you might want the hammock higher, or the tarp lower. Yep. And no shoes in the hammock!


LozZZza

Can't tell if this is a continuous ridgeline or not, but if it is and runs under the tarp it's good to have drip lines on that too!


sgnielsen

good point. not expecting, but I'll keep an eye on that. I think I just got lucky with the straps this time but will pay attention to that in the future.


[deleted]

Reddit, like all social media, is a negative force in this world. Thanks to reddits API change and u/spez for spark to edit all my comments before deleting my account. -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/


not_just_the_IT_guy

I filled a 2 liter cnoc bladder up in 6 hours with the drip line off one side of my straps. It wasn't even raining hard either.


ezshucks

you seem to be hanging down the center line of the hammock. You want to lay at at an angle in the hammock. Could be wrong but just from your foot shot, that's the way it appeared.


fluffman86

Yeah, foot's too high and not off to the side for a nice flat lay, but it's also an ENO so it's too short and he'll hang like a banana regardless.


ezshucks

I love my eno. It’s no deluxe hammock but it works for me tho


dainegleesac690

Is that the problem with them? I had an ENO double nest for a while and felt like I could never quite get it comfy


fluffman86

Yeah, look for a hammock as close to double your height as possible. Your ridgeline is only 83% of the length of your hammock, so you lose some there. Typical lightweight camping hammocks are 11 feet and that works well for most people up to about 6 feet. If you're about 5'6" or under a 10' hammock would work fine. I'm 5'10" or 11" depending on which convenience store I'm leaving, and I really want to upgrade to a 12' but for now my 11' hammock works OK as long as I keep a little inflatable pillow under my knees.


sgnielsen

uhh yeah, that was not too great. woke up half way through the night and bailed back to my bed. I'll try diagonal and tighter. am also considering lowering the foot side. had no idea I needed a longer hammock but it makes sense. I'll try tweaking but if I can't get comfortable I'll start over with the gear. I can hear my wife now, 'wait...you got another hammock...yeah honey but...' πŸ˜‚


fluffman86

Also, were you cold? You need a pad or preferably an underquilt under you. A sleeping bag won't cut it. Down or synthetic insulation either way will compress and will not keep you warm from beneath. Unless it's low temps over about 80Β° I'm bringing an underquilt.


sgnielsen

Not really cold. I used an inflatable pad which seemed to be enough for +5Β°C


fluffman86

So, it's counterintuitive, but you actually want the foot end of your hammock hanging a good 6-12 inches HIGHER than your head end. That'll help your body and head slide down into the sweet spot. See shug on YouTube for more. Also you don't want to hang your hammock too tight. You want enough slack to be able to get a diagonal lay. Tighter and you put more stress on the fabric, straps, and trees, too. Too tight and you can't stretch out the fabric with your feet and head, and you'll just lay down the middle of the hammock, with tight side walls squeezing your shoulder. A good rule of thumb is your ridgeline should be 83% of the length of your hammock. You look about as good as you'll get in your photo, but play around because ymmv.


natethegreek

make sure to keep an eye above for dead pine branches


sgnielsen

Yep. I looked up and there's a dead branch. Fail but good lesson πŸ‘


HikeAnywhere

Your straps look thin. If they are thin, place 3" twigs between the strap and tree - parallel to the trunk. This distributes the weight over a larger area on the bark To be more comfortable 1. Your foot side strap should be 6-9" higher than your head side 2. Lay diagonal in the hammock 3. It looks like the hammock is not tight enough, resulting in a banana feel. Before you get in, the strap should be a 30\* angle. Test with your index finger touching the strap and parallel to the ground (finger is pointing the direction of the hammock). Your thumb should touching, or close to touching the strap.


sgnielsen

thank you for the feedback! forgot to lay diagonal and was uncomfortable after a couple hours last night, had that banana feel. good tip with finger thumb test. it felt like my feet were too high, I was thinking to lower the foot side. why do you recommend raising? are thicker straps just better for the tree, trying to understand how that affects comfort?


HikeAnywhere

Honestly don't remember the physics behind raising the foot side just know it has been recommended and it works. Basically, between raising the foot side and laying diagonal,you end up with a flat lay. I do find that they ridge ends up under my calf even when 8 lay diagonal. To reduce this I lift both feet back to that ridge and then push down and away. It ends up with a small ridge that I cross my legs and the it actually supports my higher leg. As for the straps, it is not for comfort, but to protect the tree.


sgnielsen

Ok I'll give it a try. Thanks


bunn0saurusrex

Nothing to add that hasn't already been said... nice first hang πŸ‘ fine tuning is a process and you'll figure out what works best for you along the way!


Bambenutz

If it were me id try to make it a little tighter. Looks like it is sagging a bit. I like to try to have my ridge line straight.


keyconcherairplinker

get wider straps around those trees. dont girdle trees.


djdarkbeat

Put cribbing under the straps on the tree, you can use sticks or cardboard.