Calf pressure

[mountaindreamer]

I am trying really hard to sleep in a hammock. Having trouble. A few questions. I have the Blackbird with webbing and buckles and cannot get the hammock adjusted to prevent the calf pressure. What are the adjustments to make? I'm thinking my ridge line was too tight?

A few questions:
1. If I want to raise the footend of the hammock do I do this at the tree or by tightening the strap with the buckle?
2. For continuous ridge line does the line run on the outside or inside of the tarp?
3. If i get in the hammock and cannot "bend" the ridge line with my thumb, because its too tight, what is the proper way to adjust?
4. Advice on why I am having calf pressure?

Thanks

[OneClick]

Move the foot end higher on the tree, maybe as much as a foot higher. The ridgeline on the blackbird is fixed and installed by warbonnet, so leave it as is. If it's too tight, let some slack out of each end on the buckles. If that gets you too close to the ground, then raise the straps on each tree. This is a hammock I can never get 100% comfortable. I make it work since it's a nice all-in-one setup when I need bug protection. Otherwise I try to use another hammock.

Slide around in the hammock, left to right, front to back. I find getting a little closer to the head end helps.

[Shug]

I'll offer this as some possible solutions....
Shug

[TrailSlug]

Do you have the Blackbird or Blackird XLC? I'm only 5'9" tall and had this issue with the BB. Traded that and got the BB XLC and it's been great. That extra foot makes a world of difference.

[drsolarmolar]

I am trying really hard to sleep in a hammock. Having trouble. A few questions. I have the Blackbird with webbing and buckles and cannot get the hammock adjusted to prevent the calf pressure. What are the adjustments to make? I'm thinking my ridge line was too tight?

A few questions:
1. If I want to raise the footend of the hammock do I do this at the tree or by tightening the strap with the buckle?
2. For continuous ridge line does the line run on the outside or inside of the tarp?
3. If i get in the hammock and cannot "bend" the ridge line with my thumb, because its too tight, what is the proper way to adjust?
4. Advice on why I am having calf pressure?

Thanks

1. Like OneClick said, move the strap up the tree to raise the foot end.

2. Generally you would run the continuous ridgeline outside ("over the top") of the tarp. (You're talking tarp ridgeline and not the hammock ridgeline, right? Obviously the hammock ridgeline goes under the tarp as does the hammock.). Another option which I prefer is two separate ridgelines, one on each end.

3. If you cannot bend the hammock ridgeline, it's too tight. Let some slack out at the buckles.

4. Calf ridge pressure is common with gathered end hammocks. It could be the length of the hammock. You could try a longer hammock. It could be the hang angles...getting the head and foot ends height adjusted properly. Shug's video is good. I've tried several gathered end hammocks and calf ridge pressure has always been there to one degree or another. There are ways the mitigate it--again see Shug's video. If it is absolutely driving you bonkers try a Ridgerunner!

[mountaindreamer]

Do you have the Blackbird or Blackird XLC? I'm only 5'9" tall and had this issue with the BB. Traded that and got the BB XLC and it's been great. That extra foot makes a world of difference.

I have the Blackbird. I'm 5'11"

[OutandBack]

I have the Blackbird. I'm 5'11"

The way I fixed my old 10' BB was to take a small carabiner and wrap the BB's CRL 5-6 wraps.
This will shorten the RL about 2 inches and gives you a nice little hook to attack something to.

I also started side sleeping with slightly bent knees. This got the tight fabric (source of the calf ridge) off of my leg.

When 11 foot hammocks came out I sold the 10 footer and never had calf ridge pressure again. I am 5/9" 192#

[mountaindreamer]

Is the Blackbird an 11' hammock. The site is confusing

[hewittdallas]

I'm amazed at how much Shug's advice to just spread the fabric out with my feet has helped. I think a good bit of calf ridge is actually the result of a gathered end hammock not fully spread out. The bunched up fabric was the culprit for me and has made all the difference between good sleep and really good sleep.

Moving from a 10' to 11' hammock also helped as well like others have indicated.

[hewittdallas]

Is the Blackbird an 11' hammock. The site is confusing

The Blackbird is a 10' hammock.
The Blackbird XLC is an 11' hammock.