Which fabric for DIY Bridge?

**Baka Dasai** · 03-13-2018, 21:40

I bought Hexon 1.0 to use in building my first ever bridge (using Bic's design). But now I'm worried that I should have bought a sturdier fabric to withstand the extra stresses a bridge puts on the fabric.

I'm not particularly attached to the Hexon 1.0, so should I go to Hexon 1.6 or HyperD 1.6 or Robic 1.7?

**kitsapcowboy** · 03-13-2018, 21:48

I like mid-weight fabrics (1.6 to 1.7 ounces per sq yd) that don't stretch too much for my DIY bridges; as an experiment, I made an ultralight bridge hammock (6.4 ounces apex-to-apex without the spreader bars) out of Hexon 1.0, and it turned out great for me at 175 pounds and held up fine.

http://hammockforums.net/forum/showt...-Beta-Version)

**Baka Dasai** · 03-13-2018, 21:57

I'm also 175 pounds, so perhaps the Hexon 1.0 will be fine.

**kitsapcowboy** · 03-13-2018, 22:24

Originally Posted by Baka Dasai

I'm also 175 pounds, so perhaps the Hexon 1.0 will be fine.

It will be fine, but if you're interested in longevity -- and after making a few DIY bridges and investing a fair amount of time in each one -- the extra grams of fabric seem well worth it.

The hammock body panel of a typical end-bar bridge hammock 80" long with 7" deep cat-cuts is only about 2 square yards of fabric, so switching to a lightweight fabric from a mid-weight fabric will save you a little over an ounce. For me, that's an ounce I'd prefer to spend if it means never having to worry about that hammock failing no matter how old it gets. There are many small details in a bridge hammock, and each of them is a place to shave a gram, so you can recoup the weight with more peripheral choices.

**Baka Dasai** · 03-13-2018, 22:29

Originally Posted by kitsapcowboy

It will be fine, but if you're interested in longevity -- and after making a few DIY bridges and investing a fair amount of time in each one -- the extra grams of fabric seem well worth it.

The hammock body panel of a typical end-bar bridge hammock 80" long with 7" deep cat-cuts is only about 2 square yards of fabric, so switching to a lightweight fabric from a mid-weight fabric will save you a little over an ounce. For me, that's an ounce I'd prefer to spend if it means never having to worry about that hammock failing no matter how old it gets. There are many small details in a bridge hammock, and each of them is a place to shave a gram, so you can recoup the weight with more peripheral choices.

Thanks, I think I'll heed this advice. My sewing skills are still quite poor, so it's likely I'll be creating a few weaknesses where a better sewer wouldn't, so I need all the robustness I can get

**Danimal9** · 03-14-2018, 07:10

I'm making my first bridge right now as well. I chose 1.6 hexon. I'm a bigger guy (210lbs) and was looking for something with minimal stretch. Was flip flopping between 1.7 robic and the 1.6 hexon.

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**Baka Dasai** · 03-14-2018, 07:24

Originally Posted by Danimal9

I'm making my first bridge right now as well. I chose 1.6 hexon. I'm a bigger guy (210lbs) and was looking for something with minimal stretch. Was flip flopping between 1.7 robic and the 1.6 hexon.

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Right. I have a home made gathered end Robic 1.7 which I find a bit too firm, so I'm considering cutting it up and using it to make the bridge instead. But i have no experience with bridges so i don't know whether I'll prefer them firm or stretchy.

It's all a bit of fun experimentation really.