Catastrophic hammock FAIL!

**Redoleary** · 12-14-2015, 05:17

Through no fault of its own, my daily driver finally gave up the ghost. This hammock has hundreds of nights in it and has had numerous mods to it through the years, not the least of which were a series of holes burnt into the end channel for some bad idea I had a couple years back that I couldn't resist trying. Anyway its was just Joann Fabrics polyester suit liner material and I've had it strung extra tight as you can see in the photo there isn't much angle from the hammock to the hammock stand, but thats because the stand has so much flex that the hammock sags like crazy when you get in. As it happened the night prior to the failure I had heard some strange sounds when exiting the hammock and the morning of the failure just as my feet touched the ground and I rocked to get out, RRRrrrrrippp! The whole end channel failed except for a tiny spot in the very corner. The good news is I get to make a new hammock now.

**gargoyle** · 12-14-2015, 06:22

Jeessh, Red! And to think you were just getting that hammock broke in..

Farewell, old hammock.

May your fabric be used in many a stuff sack.

I cant wait to see what you come up with.

**Phantom Grappler** · 12-14-2015, 07:15

Cool, Red! No harm no foul. I'm glad you're ok--now you get to have more fun hammering together a new hammock.

**Oms** · 12-14-2015, 07:23

It's all good since you didn't hit the floor. Will you be doing mini spreaders on the new one? I thought that was pretty comfortable.

**TominMN** · 12-14-2015, 11:09

Or, it could be a hammock that's now 6" shorter than it used to be!

**Redoleary** · 12-14-2015, 13:42

Originally Posted by gargoyle

Jeessh, Red! And to think you were just getting that hammock broke in..

Farewell, old hammock.

May your fabric be used in many a stuff sack.

I cant wait to see what you come up with.

I may just go standard issue hammock for the replacement. Pretty boring, I know.

Originally Posted by Phantom Grappler

Cool, Red! No harm no foul. I'm glad you're ok--now you get to have more fun hammering together a new hammock.

Yeah, it could have been worse had it failed while sleeping.

Originally Posted by Oms

It's all good since you didn't hit the floor. Will you be doing mini spreaders on the new one? I thought that was pretty comfortable.

I may just make it spreader bar capable, as they don't pack up that well, but they're fine for home use.

Originally Posted by TominMN

Or, it could be a hammock that's now 6" shorter than it used to be!

I didn't think of that, I could just fold it over and sew a new channel into it, but that's not as fun as starting over.

**TominMN** · 12-14-2015, 13:44

Originally Posted by Redoleary

I didn't think of that, I could just fold it over and sew a new channel into it, but that's not as fun as starting over.

Just think of it as your new lounging hammock to go with the new one that you're going to make.

WV · 12-14-2015, 14:40

As you used that one for a long time, there are plenty of new fabrics with fancy names to choose from for the replacement. I bet you've had lots of new ideas for hammock design, too. Go wild!

How many folds in the fabric for that end channel? Any lessons learned?

**canoebie** · 12-14-2015, 14:43

You know you need more than one more.

Go for it. I keep thinking I am done and another pops into the "need" category. Now I have my eyes on a new internal frame pack after a great 4 day trip last year on the NCT. It never ends. Have fun with it.

**Redoleary** · 12-14-2015, 19:23

Originally Posted by TominMN

Just think of it as your new lounging hammock to go with the new one that you're going to make.

Prolly just gonna steel the ridge line and other goodies off of it and put her out to pasture.

Originally Posted by WV

As you used that one for a long time, there are plenty of new fabrics with fancy names to choose from for the replacement. I bet you've had lots of new ideas for hammock design, too. Go wild!

How many folds in the fabric for that end channel? Any lessons learned?

Only had one layer where it failed, but that's also the same layer I had melted a bunch of holes in.

Also I won't string it as tight on the stand next time. I'm on the fence with regards to fabric I like the idea of the Poly D because I like a firm hammock but the 72" 1.6 Hyper D has caught my eye as well. Decisions, decisions.

Originally Posted by canoebie

You know you need more than one more.

Go for it. I keep thinking I am done and another pops into the "need" category. Now I have my eyes on a new internal frame pack after a great 4 day trip last year on the NCT. It never ends. Have fun with it.

Even before it failed I was pretty sure I "needed" a new hammock. After all, I'm worth it.

Come to think of it I wouldn't mind a new backpack too.