What's the best material for an ultralight hammock?

**scrope** · 05-02-2018, 21:36

I have a bunch of hammocks which I switch out when I camp. Some have integrated bugnets. Some are GE. Some are bridges.

I've been wanting something that I could take with me when I'm out on a day hike to just kick back and relax for a while so I'm not looking for the ideal sleeping comfort hammock (I've got those). What I'm looking to make is an incredibly light, somewhat short, hammock I can stuff in a fanny pack and pull out to take a nap in.

My question is what material to use. I'm about 180lbs and 5' 11".

I've been looking for something similar to:

ENO Sub7 - https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/produ...o-sub7-hammock
ENO Sub6 - https://www.rei.com/product/117445/eno-sub6-hammock
Sea to Summit Ultralight - https://www.rei.com/product/114381/s...alight-hammock

These are 6.5oz, 5.8oz, and 4.9oz. I'm not sure I like the feel of the Sea to Summit though.

Although, as much as I like to DIY, the Sub7 seems like it's close to what I want and at 50% off and $35 I just might pick up one instead.

Any suggestions as to what material I should use?

**kroot** · 05-02-2018, 21:42

HyperD 1.0 and Hexon 1.0 are the two lightest fabrics you can realistically make a hammock out of. An 11 foot hammock made out of either of these materials will weigh a little under 7 ounces without suspension. Both of them should be capable of supporting your weight.

https://ripstopbytheroll.com/collect...-ripstop-nylon

https://dutchwaregear.com/product/hexon-1-0/

**Dublinlin** · 05-02-2018, 23:34

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Hexon from Dutch! Most of my favorite hammocks are made of Hexon 1.6, but last summer I made an 11 foot DIY GE hammock out of Hexon 1.0 and it is super comfortable and feathery light to pack!

**MoldyFrog** · 05-03-2018, 10:24

I'm a fan of Robic 1.2 myself. Pretty soft to me and rated for 250 lbs. Plenty for my 165 frame, gives me a large margin of error and means I can also let basically any one I know borrow it and don't have to worry about failure.

If you use the Sub7 dimensions you can break sub 7oz easy. It's speced at 105" x 47", add in a few inches for the channels and hemmed edges and lets say 118 x 50". That would be 4.5ish square yards. Even with Robic 1.2 that would come in at about 5.5oz without suspension and 4.5oz with a 1.0 weight fabric. Now by the time you buy the fabric, ship it and make it you aren't saving any money but you might save an ounce.

**Wanderlost** · 05-03-2018, 10:42

It's an older system, but Dutch's hammock free suspension is the only way to go.

**Otter1** · 05-03-2018, 10:49

Hexon 1.0 would be my choice, unless you exceed the weight limit.

**scrope** · 05-03-2018, 14:45

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm now leaning towards the Hexon 1.0. I've used it in the past for TQs and UQs and it does have a nice soft feel. Unless I go with the 0.9 I don't think I'll be able to get more ultralight than this and there's a good selection of colors to boot.

**MagnaFabrics** · 05-14-2018, 18:17

The best fabric to use would be genuine parachute fabric. This fabric is 66 inches wide and only 1.11 ounces a square yard/
It is available at Magna Fabrics and other vendors . The wholesale price on this usually runs about 79 cents a yard.

**Intimidator** · 05-14-2018, 18:39

Originally Posted by MagnaFabrics

The best fabric to use would be genuine parachute fabric. This fabric is 66 inches wide and only 1.11 ounces a square yard/
It is available at Magna Fabrics and other vendors . The wholesale price on this usually runs about 79 cents a yard.

Although the "best" fabric for a hammock might be subjective, I respectfully disagree that the best fabric for an UL hammock is parachute nylon.

**Just Bill** · 05-15-2018, 12:54

Originally Posted by scrope

I have a bunch of hammocks which I switch out when I camp. Some have integrated bugnets. Some are GE. Some are bridges.

I've been wanting something that I could take with me when I'm out on a day hike to just kick back and relax for a while so I'm not looking for the ideal sleeping comfort hammock (I've got those). What I'm looking to make is an incredibly light, somewhat short, hammock I can stuff in a fanny pack and pull out to take a nap in.

My question is what material to use. I'm about 180lbs and 5' 11".

I've been looking for something similar to:

ENO Sub7 - https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/produ...o-sub7-hammock
ENO Sub6 - https://www.rei.com/product/117445/eno-sub6-hammock
Sea to Summit Ultralight - https://www.rei.com/product/114381/s...alight-hammock

These are 6.5oz, 5.8oz, and 4.9oz. I'm not sure I like the feel of the Sea to Summit though.

Although, as much as I like to DIY, the Sub7 seems like it's close to what I want and at 50% off and $35 I just might pick up one instead.

Any suggestions as to what material I should use?

For $35... I'd be inclined to just get the sub7.

If you truly want a SUL pocket hammock- Try Membrane 10.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Apygyt54yYPwg7U6RpS1wBYEwQS_pg

I like 9'9" as a minimum... 5.5 ounces with dynaglide whoopies and kevlar huggers included.

That 208g in there is actually a double layer.

But given you're cutting down the size... hexon, hyperD, or hybrid are all winners. You may consider going heavier actually so it's a bit more of a beater hammock.
I use the membrane 10 as SUL nap option or for racers on 100+ mile stuff where you need a minimalist nap.
That said- that's crawl into it for a fairly static nap with fingers crossed. For something you're using as a pocket hammock you may want to lounge or bounce around a bit more so using a beefier fabric is a more durable option... a pocket beater so to speak.