First hang, not so pleasant.

**bikegoddess** · 05-16-2016, 19:16

First lay in my hammock. I finished my diy hammock and just layed in it for the first time. I was supposed to be at this point 6 weeks ago but I got sick and then the weather has been crap. I did considerable amount of reading before and a little just now.

What causes and fixes shoulder squeeze? Will a fixed ridgline take care of it? I prepared one but didn't put it in because I didn't believe it would make that much of a difference right away.

After only 20 minutes I can already feel the tension building. I tried changing the type of gather but it was only a minor change.

I plan to put my foot end a few to several inches higher on my next attempts, but I don't want to carry anything extra like a pad. I'm a little worried I need this to work by next week.

I'm a big girl 6' 4" and fairly thin my hammock is made out of 1.9 once rip-stop 60 inches wide and about 11' 6" long after gathered I simple seemed all edges.

**Kroma** · 05-16-2016, 19:20

shoulder squeeze is most likely from an incorrect hang angle. check this page out: http://www.dream-hammock.com/HangAngle.html

I would give it another try, making sure you have a 30 degree hang angle in addition to a ridgeline of about 83% the length of your hammock.

**Campdavid** · 05-16-2016, 19:25

First thing, put on the ridgeline. Make sure its length is 83% of the finished length of your hammock as a starting point. You may think there is enough "sag" right now but it sounds like there's not.

Raising the foot end probably won't help much with "squeeze" but should help prevent calf ridge.

The size of your hammock sounds sufficient for your height...proper sag should do it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**pgibson** · 05-16-2016, 20:26

Originally Posted by bikegoddess

but I don't want to carry anything extra like a pad. I'm a little worried I need this to work by next week.

This sentence always gives me pause.....are you talking about pad to help with shoulder squeeze only? Do you have an insulation plan? Any temp under 70° + any amount of air flow will cool you down significantly. One of my first nights out even with a thin pad I was mildly hypothermic by 4 am. You need something for insulation even in fairly warm weather.

**SilvrSurfr** · 05-16-2016, 20:49

I always associate shoulder squeeze with banana lay. Go to the ENO website and click on gallery and you'll see people laying incorrectly in banana style.

banana.jpg

https://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc....photo-gallery/

You need to get a good diagonal lay, and yes, I'd recommend a hammock ridgeline.

**gunner76** · 05-16-2016, 21:10

I am 6ft 2 and find a 60" hammock too narrow. You might need a slightly wider hammock

**SilvrSurfr** · 05-16-2016, 21:29

Originally Posted by gunner76

I am 6ft 2 and find a 60" hammock too narrow. You might need a slightly wider hammock

I'm 5'11" and find a 55" wide hammock too narrow. I find that 58" or 60" wide hammocks are more comfortable. If I was taller, I'd probably be interested in a wider hammock. I've got some Robic XL 1.0 fabric that's 67 or 68" wide - I think I'm gonna cut it down to 62 or 63 inches and see how I like a wider hammock.

**FourRingCircus** · 05-16-2016, 21:43

Originally Posted by pgibson

This sentence always gives me pause.....are you talking about pad to help with shoulder squeeze only? Do you have an insulation plan? Any temp under 70° + any amount of air flow will cool you down significantly. One of my first nights out even with a thin pad I was mildly hypothermic by 4 am. You need something for insulation even in fairly warm weather.

I was shocked one of the first times I ever used my hammock... it was in July in SC - not a terribly hot/humid day compared to what it could have been, but still, you know that with it being during the day it was NOT a cool temp at all. I was comfortable, borderline cool. Really bizarre! I had no idea it would be like that!

**FourRingCircus** · 05-16-2016, 21:46

Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr

I always associate shoulder squeeze with banana lay. Go to the ENO website and click on gallery and you'll see people laying incorrectly in banana style.

banana.jpg

https://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc....photo-gallery/

You need to get a good diagonal lay, and yes, I'd recommend a hammock ridgeline.

Oh boy, some of those look rather uncomfortable! So glad I am learning alternatives thanks to this forum and other sites recommended on here...

**bikegoddess** · 05-17-2016, 01:05

I will finish attaching the ridge line and fix the angles. I forgot about the 30 degrees and it was nearly flat. Until I got in it. My apartment building doesn't have trees spaced very well either.

I was going to bring a sleeping bag. The one I have claims to be 0 degrees but it's not that good, sleeping directly on the ground at 30 degrees I was cold not hypothermic but not comfortable. I was thinking about buying a cheep light weight one before I head out.