Other good cloth besides RIPSTOP for hammock making ?????

**jcdflint** · 03-02-2016, 11:20

Just wondering what other cloth is good and strong for hammock making ? Thanks ...Jeff

**Eidson** · 03-02-2016, 12:43

There are a variety of fabrics that will work for hammocks. It doesn't have to be ripstop. A lot of people went down the tablecloth hammock route (made from a taffeta fabric) and I've also constructed them out of non-ripstop nylons; nylon taslan, nylon taslite as well as various polyesters.

Here are a few other threads about the subject and they have some good information in them...They'll give more more information than I could summarize.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...-ripstop-nylon

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...-Ripstop-Nylon

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ylon-polyester

**pgibson** · 03-02-2016, 13:12

Just about any fabric will work....lots of folks have hung in cotton bed sheet type material. It will work and is a reasonable option for indoors....remeber cotton will rot with much moisture...and it's comparatively heavy. For outdoor use synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester are better choices. Plenty of nylon and poly out there in the world that are not made with a ripstop grid, though that helps with durability and stretch. As Edison stated taffeta is not a bad choice....it's what all those "parachute" hammocks like eno, ticket to the moon and others use.

**jcdflint** · 03-02-2016, 16:30

Thanks a bunch

**geneaut** · 03-02-2016, 18:33

I've had luck with taslan, and of course the taffeta tablecloths.

**chromedome** · 03-03-2016, 12:17

The taffeta tablecloth hammocks are very comfortable.

**Billy Goat** · 03-03-2016, 16:09

Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with ripstop?

**jcdflint** · 03-03-2016, 16:31

Originally Posted by Billy Goat

Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with ripstop?

Its great stuff.. Just wanted to try something else too ...

**Jeff Myers** · 03-03-2016, 16:46

Sportsmans guide used to have the surplus parachutes. Huge pile of Nylon taffeta. So much hammock potential

**MikeDaz** · 03-04-2016, 02:55

Hi there been making hammock s from polyester lining 59 in width 4 yard made them 10.5 ft extra fabric made Bishop bag for it . 16$ Joan Ann fabrics made 30 + hammocks for camping with boy scout 200/300 lb boys working good with a whip finish ends and a loop..tested tuff.