Hammock stands and height

**Billy Goat** · 12-14-2016, 13:31

Is there a really good reason that most.of the stands I see are nearly 7 feet high and 13 or 14 feet long? With an 11' hammock it seems like you could get away with a Ridge pole length just a little longer than your ridgeline and CLs. And it would seem that as long as you're not particularly concerned about being 2 foot off the ground, that you could also forgo the taller than a man poles and maybe make them 4-4.5' high? I'm looking at portability as a priority, comfort somewhat second. A bad hammock is still more comfortable than a bed, IMO. You wouldn't get as much swing only connecting to the CLs, but seems like it would still be better than a bed.

Cheers,
the Goat

**TrailSlug** · 12-14-2016, 13:34

Depends on the hammock really. My Tato stand is only 6' tall but my ridge pole is 13 feet because I have a bridge hammock and this is the minimum distance the suspension will reach.

**OneClick** · 12-14-2016, 13:42

Originally Posted by TrailSlug

Depends on the hammock really. My Tato stand is only 6' tall but my ridge pole is 13 feet because I have a bridge hammock and this is the minimum distance the suspension will reach.

Does the 13' work out OK? It's a little over the 12' recommended max but I wondered about extending this a bit myself.

**TrailSlug** · 12-14-2016, 13:44

Originally Posted by markr6

Does the 13' work out OK? It's a little over the 12' recommended max but I wondered about extending this a bit myself.

Thirteen is a bare minimum for my RR and yes that is over the 12' maximum but so far so good. I've used the stand about 10-12 nights.

**Daniel1953** · 12-14-2016, 15:52

I have a 11 ft hammock using stands about 6 ft 8 in. tall. the pole is 13 ft.long The foot is about 2 in. higher than the head end .Would there be a reason to feel more pressure under my heels than I expected ?

**Storytellertn** · 12-14-2016, 17:13

I bought 15' hammock stands from Walmart in March. They do fine for car camping or testing gear in the backyard. I use a Warbonnet Ridge Runner and a Warbonnet Blackbird. My Cuban fiber tarp and 13' UGQ Dream tarp attach fine. When looking at the exact stand I bought, I found Walmart has them on clearance for $65, no tax, no shipping. When I ordered, these stands were shipped and arrived within two days. Great stands. Durable.
PS
I have no association with Walmart, in fact I am really not a fan of them.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Best-Choic...-New/151067786

**caveat** · 12-14-2016, 17:22

I think height is largely dictated by the type of hammock you want to hang as well. My stand works fine for any of my gathered end hammocks at 54" high, but I can't seem to get my 90 degree hammocks to hang properly from it. It seems to be too short to get them off the ground and still have a 30 degree hang. Just a few more inches would have been perfect even. Given the option, I'd want a stand that was at least 60" high as a minimum.

**TrailSlug** · 12-14-2016, 17:22

Originally Posted by Storytellertn

I bought 15' hammock stands from Walmart in March. They do fine for car camping or testing gear in the backyard. I use a Warbonnet Ridge Runner and a Warbonnet Blackbird. My Cuban fiber tarp and 13' UGQ Dream tarp attach fine. When looking at the exact stand I bought, I found Walmart has them on clearance for $65, no tax, no shipping. When I ordered, these stands were shipped and arrived within two days. Great stands. Durable.
PS
I have no association with Walmart, in fact I am really not a fan of them.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Best-Choic...-New/151067786

What do you connect your tarp to on this stand? It looks way to short to hang a tarp from.

**Spiguyver** · 12-14-2016, 18:13

Originally Posted by Storytellertn

I bought 15' hammock stands from Walmart in March. They do fine for car camping or testing gear in the backyard. I use a Warbonnet Ridge Runner and a Warbonnet Blackbird. My Cuban fiber tarp and 13' UGQ Dream tarp attach fine. When looking at the exact stand I bought, I found Walmart has them on clearance for $65, no tax, no shipping. When I ordered, these stands were shipped and arrived within two days. Great stands. Durable.
PS
I have no association with Walmart, in fact I am really not a fan of them.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Best-Choic...-New/151067786

How high off the ground does this leave you? I have an 11' gathered end hammock, so about a 110 inch ridgeline, plus about 6 inches on each side for CL. Wondering how low that would hang.

**goobie** · 12-14-2016, 18:35

Originally Posted by Daniel1953

I have a 11 ft hammock using stands about 6 ft 8 in. tall. the pole is 13 ft.long The foot is about 2 in. higher than the head end .Would there be a reason to feel more pressure under my heels than I expected ?

1. How are you attaching the hammock to the stand?
2. Do you have a RL on the hammock? If so, what length is it? 83% of the hammock body length is a good start.
3. How is the foot end (of the stand?) 2" higher? Get the foot end of the HAMMOCK higher, about 1' or so should help.
4. Do you have a good setup using trees? That's what you're trying to duplicate with a stand.