Shock cord or not

[JohnD]

I'm just about to embark on a UQ project, I see where most people use shock cord in the channeling around the quilt. I just wonder is this better than light cordage, and why ?

I was going to go with a continuous cordage around the perimeter with mini locs at each corner, then pulling up the excess / slack and looping that to shock cord, for a final run up to the hammock end.
My thoughts are that the U/Q will slide for adjustment better on the cordage than shock cord.

I can see where at the head and foot end of the quilt, shock cord may work better to snug down onto the hammock for preventing air gaps.

[Flynguy521]

I used a diy uq that had paracord through the channels and it hung fine, but had no give getting into the hammock and the s-biner was the point of failure. To reattach I used some spare shock cord and that allowed me to have some give, but still kept it snug. I would go with all shock cord if I were doing a diy. Ymmv.

[Klaussinator]

When I made my IX-UQ I realized I didn't have enough shock cord to go the whole way around. So I used braided mason line to run the length of both sides of the hammock, then transitioned to shock cord up to the attachment points. Of course I did have enough shock cord thru the head & foot ends to cinch it up.

Figured I'd try it this way until I got some more shock cord ... Well it worked so well, it's still set up that way.

-Klauss

[JohnD]

When I made my IX-UQ I realized I didn't have enough shock cord to go the whole way around. So I used braided mason line to run the length of both sides of the hammock, then transitioned to shock cord up to the attachment points. Of course I did have enough shock cord thru the head & foot ends to cinch it up.

Figured I'd try it this way until I got some more shock cord ... Well it worked so well, it's still set up that way.

-Klauss

Yep thats pretty much what I want to do. But I take on board about the give factor when getting in Flying guy

[MAD777]

My partial UQs run about 54"-60" long. I place a length of 1/8" shock cord in the side channels that is the same length as the quilt. To the ends of the shock cord, I tie 1.7mm Zing-it with an Albright knot. There are two pieces of Zing-it, each 4' long. One is at the head the other at the foot,such that the Zing-it /shock cord makes a continuous loop around the hammock. I find that this provides just the right amount of tension to hold the UQ against my 11' hammocks.

[cjayflo]

I used 100% shock cord all around and I don't think it is necessary. I left a gap in the middle of the channel with a cord lock on it so I could snug up the edge from the center. If I had done that with regular cordage it would have been fine.

[hutzelbein]

Using no shock cord at all is a recipe for disaster. I once used some non-elastic line to keep my uq from bunching up, because I didn't have shock cord at hand. Bad idea! I ripped the uq's loops right out. I guess I was lucky, because if the loop hadn't given way, the uq probably would have ripped. You'll definitely need some shock cord in your suspension to prevent that.

[MAD777]

Using no shock cord at all is a recipe for disaster.

+1 on this!!

[FLRider]

My experience is that the average hammock needs between 2" and 6" of stretch in the underquilt suspension (note: I used a fixed attachment point system with elastic loops sewn to the hammock on my DIY, so this is an important item for me to know). Your body is going to deform the hammock to your body shape between those limits most times.

Hope it helps!

[hang em high]

Go with the shock cord.