Hammock chair success - but why?

[pdxhanger]

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Here I am with my wife this weekend taking an extended relaxing lunch at a lovely mountain meadow during our hike. This was the first field test of my newly constructed hammock chairs, and it was a great success – at least, I think having my wife get relaxed enough to be reluctant to start back equals success

The two chairs are my first prototype and a considerably refined version. The prototype is just a rectangle, made of some fairly hefty but soft nylon material, with a couple of triangles for the seat/leg area to attach to, and a lumbar strap added.

Version 2.0 is made similarly, except it is made from 1.1 ripstop and with a catenary (or at least curved) cut on the sides. (I don't know why 2 of these photos are rotated - sorry)
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The pattern for version 2.0 looks like this:
Hammock chair cutout.jpg
My wife and I agree that version 2.0 is considerably more comfortable, and she has informed me that I need to make another 2.0 chair so we both have one. (It’s also much lighter: half a pound including tree protector straps and Amsteel UCR suspension.)

The question is: what is the next improvement I can make? To decide that, I want to know how much of the comfort of version 2.0 is due to the design and how much is due to the material. Mainly: does the curve on the sides actually pull the back straighter like a bridge hammock (my goal in doing it that way) or is the back straighter because the material is stretchier and my butt sinking in pulls the back tauter? Or some of each? I’ll have to build the next version to test it, but should I test the 2.0 design with heftier fabric, or a rectangular version like the prototype with the 1.1 ripstop?

And if I do a variation on the 2.0 design, I want to improve it. With the 2.0 design, the transition from the straight seat sides to the curved sides is sloppy, and impossible to sew nicely. I thought about trying something like this, but I suspect the fabric would be pulled tight in the seat area and therefore not be nearly as comfortable and chair-like as the 2.0 design:Hammock chair 3.0 cutout.jpg

[Dutch]

That is a great job there. I did something similar with spreader bars but your wings are the missing piece.

[Artful]

The question is: what is the next improvement I can make?

For myself I always want a place to test my head/neck.
And if material is inexpensive enough I'd go with the lightest/strongest for weight available to me.

[ofuros]

Nicely diy'd...
I'll get my dibs in before everyone else
does...can you make me one ! ...only joking.
Looks good though. Well done.

[Tikker]

Really like the idea of these. Like someone else said a head rest of some sort maybe..

Altho a pocket to hold a drink too would be good

[Dynamystic]

A beautiful and elegant design! Add one to my project list. Well done!

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[TrailSlug]

Nice! I envy you DIYers.

[jellyfish]

That looks cozy. Well done!

[Flash Grundelore]

I think that the stresses are reduced up the side of your back with the cat-cut. Great improvement.
Could we hope for a full deetz, sized rendering when you get satisfied.
I think there will be a lot of these getting made.

[DannyII]

Very nice! Perhaps some mesh across the top as a head rest?