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  1. #1
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    head height vs foot height

    Still working on the that "perfect hang" been playing with the foot height being about 12" higher that the head end, but not quite getting a consistent night sleep.

    What are your opinions, I read 18" on the WBBB, I read other just "eyeball it". does the width of the hammock make a difference? I feel if I go higher I get more knee hyper-extension

    Any real world examples will be helpful
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  2. #2
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    I think optimal depends on your height relative to the hammock’s length (and width to a lesser extent.) The longer the hammock, the greater the height difference between head and foot ends can be.

    I’m 5’10 and with my 12’ nightly (more than 2x height), I can have the foot end about 24” higher and be real flat. Shorter hammocks, less so. In the pic, the head end sags further a few inches when I’m in it as the porch swing springs stretch.




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  3. #3
    Senior Member rweb82's Avatar
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    If you hang your foot-end higher, your body should lay more towards the head-end of the hammock. This positions your legs in the wider part of the hammock- which should alleviate knee hyper-extension, calf ridge, etc...

    I've played around with this in the past, and found that having the foot end too high causes more problems for me, because it forces my upper body into the most narrow part of the hammock- which is not as comfortable. For me (at 6'1"), I've found the best solution is having the foot end 8-10" higher than the head end. It still allows by body to lay closer to the head end- which eliminates calf ridge. But I can still keep my upper body in a wider part of the hammock.

  4. #4
    New Member kayakAR's Avatar
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    I used my WBBB (original 10' hammock, standard width) for about a year and a half and got many a comfortable night's sleep by just eye-balling the head-foot angle. I'd estimate the foot end was about 8-12" above the head end.

    I'm 5' 7", and perhaps being on the shorter side gave me a slightly larger "sweet spot" (and room for error) in a 10' hammock than someone taller might be able tolerate.

    Are you are using a 10' or 11' foot WBBB? In a 10-footer, 18" higher at the foot end sounds like a lot.

  5. #5
    cougarmeat's Avatar
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    I'd say 18" is too high - something else is amiss if that's required. BUT - are you indoors or outdoors? The deal is, when outdoors it is difficult to tell height differences if measured from the ground because the slope of the ground and angle of the tree can be subtle. Better to understand the purpose of "feet a bit higher" because it might not matter to you. Because of the slipperiness of the hammock nylon and your body's tendency to melt into a puddle of comfortable ooze, you can find yourself slowly sliding towards the foot end. So, contrary to ground sleepers, you want your foot end just a tad higher. How high? Just enough to stop that foot end slide.

    If you want to experiment, start with the hammock level. Use a carpenter level on the ridge line to assure yourself that it is (put on a temporary ridge line if you don't normally use one). If you find yourself uncomfortably sliding towards the foot end at night or in the morning, raise the foot end about six inches higher than it is at level. Note that I am still referencing level and not comparing the ends when measured from the ground because the ground could have a hardly detectable but influential slope. Try again - if that height stopped the slide and you are comfortable - good. Or you could cut it back to 3 inches above level and try again - to find the minimum height difference needed.

    Maybe you might have to go a little higher than 6 inches - so much geometry in play. But if you have to go up to a foot higher, I'm thinking some of the other dimensions - like hang angle itself - might need attention.

  6. #6
    Senior Member OneClick's Avatar
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    I've gotten to the point where I can just guess by how much I'm reaching up the trees. Then I always stand back about 15' to give it a quick check and see if the ridgeline is at a slight angle.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Groundskeeper's Avatar
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    I use one of the line level bubbles for masonry work. I have also set the tarp ridge line level (but no tarp at this point) and then work on the hammock setup.

  8. #8
    Senior Member cmoulder's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by OneClick View Post
    I've gotten to the point where I can just guess by how much I'm reaching up the trees. Then I always stand back about 15' to give it a quick check and see if the ridgeline is at a slight angle.
    ^^^^^This is how I do it.

    Do it enough and you develop an eye for it (and the hangle) and, after a while, if it looks right it probably is right.
    Five Basic Principles of Going Lighter (not me... the great Cam Honan of OZ)
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  9. #9
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    thanks for all the help, going to just start experimenting indoors and on the back deck until I find "my" sweet spot
    www.3drcparts.com my company

  10. #10
    Senior Member Peppy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by boca1 View Post
    thanks for all the help, going to just start experimenting indoors and on the back deck until I find "my" sweet spot
    Even will all the advice, this is usually what it takes. We all have slightly different preferences which are hard to account for. I have learned A LOT. One surprising thing is I've found I can easily use a 10' hammock. Swore off of them a long time ago, but the more you learn, the more you can apply. I have 6 bridges, 2 10' hammocks, and 2 11' hammocks. I have certain ones I use for certain situations, but love them all! Good luck!
    Hammock Tourist / Hammock Fiend / Hammock Therapist

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