Hammock Length: the 4 foot rule?

[SavageX89]

Good morning internet's!
Here's the issue. I'm making 3 hammocks this weekend, on for my buddy and each of his kids. My buddy has requested a full 11 ft hammock like mine, lots of room and super flay lay for him. Now for his kids, they are obviously shorter and I want the hammocks to last into their adulthood and still be comfortable. The kids clearly don't need a full 11 ft hammock.
In doing so research on hammock length, I cam across this 4 ft rule. Stating that 'idealy' your hammock should be 4 ft longer than you are. Ex: I'm 6'6" and should have a 10'6" hammock. I actually use a 11'3" and it's perfect.
Have y'all ever heard of or used the 4ft rule? Any thoughts?
Now in regards to the kids, the chances of them breaking or getting near 6' tall are slim. So if I did a 9-10 ft hammock for each, I think that would work. (Probably closer to 10'.
Thoughts? Thanks!

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[Karla "with a k"]

I'm in the same boat as you. I'll be making hammocks for my nieces (4 and 7 years old) and would like the hammock to last until adulthood. I have heard of the four foot rule.

I decided on an 11 foot hammock for both of them because:

1 - there's not much difference in cost between an 11ft and 9-10 foot hammock
2 - if they ever want to sell it, an 11 foot would be easier to sell (in my opinion)
3 - I'm only 5'6" and I still use an 11 ft hammock
4 - I've not heard that a longer hammock hurts comfort, but a shorter one can
5 - you can always shorten a hammock, but not lengthen it later

[pgibson]

In the 6 or so years that my son has been hanging full time in his room, he has gone through a couple hammocks. Kids wear out hammocks and the thought that it will last into adulthood is not very likely. When we changed out his last hammock for the current one I could hardly believe the old one was still holding him. Meanwhile, his older brother trashed the hammock he had been using in under a year...he wanted to be a bit too wild and play in it more than have it to replace his bed. Point being hammocks for kids should be considered something you will likely replace on a schedule if they are A. Growing much and or B. Having fun.

[SavageX89]

Good points all. I'm thinking of cutting off 1ft from the 12 feet I have for each of the kits and using that for making the stuff sacks. This'll give them 10' hammocks.

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[jeff-oh]

Good morning internet's!
Here's the issue. I'm making 3 hammocks this weekend, on for my buddy and each of his kids. My buddy has requested a full 11 ft hammock like mine, lots of room and super flay lay for him. Now for his kids, they are obviously shorter and I want the hammocks to last into their adulthood and still be comfortable. The kids clearly don't need a full 11 ft hammock.
In doing so research on hammock length, I cam across this 4 ft rule. Stating that 'idealy' your hammock should be 4 ft longer than you are. Ex: I'm 6'6" and should have a 10'6" hammock. I actually use a 11'3" and it's perfect.
Have y'all ever heard of or used the 4ft rule? Any thoughts?
Now in regards to the kids, the chances of them breaking or getting near 6' tall are slim. So if I did a 9-10 ft hammock for each, I think that would work. (Probably closer to 10'.
Thoughts? Thanks!

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

This makes no since to me as 96.7% of people recommend an 11' hammock for comfort, you that logic then 96.7% are 7' tall. Maybe the rule should be the 5' or 5 1/2' rule.

I think that rule like the statistics used in this post are made up with no grounding in any real research.

[cricky101]

This makes no since to me as 96.7% of people recommend an 11' hammock for comfort, you that logic then 96.7% are 7' tall. Maybe the rule should be the 5' or 5 1/2' rule.

I think that rule like the statistics used in this post are made up with no grounding in any real research.

The vast majority of hammocks I see in the wild are Eno brand or similar, which are usually less than 11' long. So, many people must be finding comfort in shorter hammocks.

[SavageX89]

Hers the link where I found the 4 foot rule. Again, I'm just looking for opinions. Not claiming anything.

https://sectionhiker.com/camping-ham...how-to-choose/

[TominMN]

The vast majority of hammocks I see in the wild are Eno brand or similar, which are usually less than 11' long. So, many people must be finding comfort in shorter hammocks.

Or they haven't discovered that there MAY be more comfort to be had!

[cmc4free]

Many folks that I see in Eno or similar are:

- Using them for lounging, with a tent set up somewhere nearby (or they are lounging in their yards at home)
- Laying in them banana-style
- Often fairly young
- Perhaps unaware that there are more comfortable options out there

or they have set up their Eno spanning a cliff or whitewater rapids, or they are bunking 20 hammocks with the top one 70' up in the air.

[SavageX89]

So the real, and original, question still stands. How do you go about sizing a DIY hammock to a child?