Can't Get the Sag Right

[convbcuda]

I bought a WB Eldorado and Thunderfly plus a Hammock Gear Econ Burrow underquilt with the intention of trying out hammocking with my scouts this year. Well, that of course went down the terlit.

We are still scheduled to go to Northern Tier this summer and I'd like to take this setup. If all else fails, the other adult will be in a 2 person tent.

I've done some day hikes and set things up. I'm mostly getting things down, but it seems like no matter what I do, the hammock ridgeline is very tight.

Today, I strapped it as high as I could reach (I'm 6'3") and loosening it to the point that the underquilt practically touched the ground still resulted in a very tight ridgeline.

From the many Shug and other videos I've watched, I should be able to twist the ridgeline with my fingers to just about vertical, right? Any suggestions?

[Donfish06]

Try using trees that are closer together

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[stebesplace]

Sounds like you’re not getting that ideal 30 degree hang angle. As suggested above, try getting trees that are a bit close, say, 15’ apart or less, and go fairly high. You need to practice a lot to understand and visualize your angles. Once you get that dialed in, you can look at most any tree setup and have a proper config.

But start with close trees if you can. There should be a little flex in the structural ridgeline, and it should be incredibly taut. Of course, the ridgeline is meant to make up for a less than ideal hang, so keep that in mind that it’s okay if it’s tight depending on the trees.

[blackmagic]

You have a hammock. If you have two trees in your backyard you can use, try measuring the distance between them and then playing with Derek's Hammock Hang Calculator. That'll allow you to hold some things (tree distance, hammock length) constant while playing with other variables. Then you can test it out "in the field" and see how it looks and feels. Repeat until you get the "hang" of it.

[convbcuda]

You have a hammock. If you have two trees in your backyard you can use, try measuring the distance between them and then playing with Derek's Hammock Hang Calculator. That'll allow you to hold some things (tree distance, hammock length) constant while playing with other variables. Then you can test it out "in the field" and see how it looks and feels. Repeat until you get the "hang" of it.

Cool, but I was told there would be no math.

I have the Dutchware tarp ridgeline and I was already thinking about marking it at 15' to get an idea of how far apart trees are until I can eyeball them.

I appreciate all the replies.

[brutalguyracing]

Cool, but I was told there would be no math.

I have the Dutchware tarp ridgeline and I was already thinking about marking it at 15' to get an idea of how far apart trees are until I can eyeball them.

I appreciate all the replies.

I walk them.off
My foot is just about a foot
Once you do it a few times and get her dialed in
It will.become second nature....
You will never go back
This is coming from a stomach sleepers
Pain free wake ups in a hammock

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[SilvrSurfr]

Cool, but I was told there would be no math.

Who told you that?

There's math every time I hang a hammock. I know that a short hang (say, 13 ft.) is gonna be harder than a 15 ft. hang. And if I'm hanging between trees 20 feet apart I know that I'll need to get my tree straps high up the tree. The Hammock Hang Calculator is an invaluable tool that helps you understand the basic mathematical concepts of hammock hanging and how to maintain that 30* optimum angle.

https://theultimatehang.com/hammock-hang-calculator/

[Phantom Grappler]

As a fall back, I use 1/8 amsteel as my hammock structural ridgeline. It’s a fixed ridgeline set at about 83% of hammock length. Like you, I strive for a 30* angle of hang. Sometimes it’s not exactly 30* but it’s close enough.
With a strong suspension, my main concern is pulling a tree over on my carcass. I’m very careful not to have a spang tight flat hang. This would invite disaster. But, many times my hammock ridgeline is real tight. So far, so good. I just try to get straps to be close to 30* , although it’s seldom perfect.
Possibly you can attend a group hang in your area. There you will see all kinds of rigging for hammocks.
Good luck!

[convbcuda]

As a fall back, I use 1/8 amsteel as my hammock structural ridgeline. It’s a fixed ridgeline set at about 83% of hammock length. Like you, I strive for a 30* angle of hang. Sometimes it’s not exactly 30* but it’s close enough.
With a strong suspension, my main concern is pulling a tree over on my carcass. I’m very careful not to have a spang tight flat hang. This would invite disaster. But, many times my hammock ridgeline is real tight. So far, so good. I just try to get straps to be close to 30* , although it’s seldom perfect.
Possibly you can attend a group hang in your area. There you will see all kinds of rigging for hammocks.
Good luck!

There are hammock gatherings? Is that like the juggalos, but with hammocks?

With the plague restrictions, I don't think I'll be able to do that anytime soon. No one in my troop is an experienced hanger, so I'm kind of on my own. One adult tried sleeping in a hammock at one of our campouts. It got chilly at night and he had no underquilt or pad. He didn't know about underquilts.

[convbcuda]

Who told you that?

There's math every time I hang a hammock. I know that a short hang (say, 13 ft.) is gonna be harder than a 15 ft. hang. And if I'm hanging between trees 20 feet apart I know that I'll need to get my tree straps high up the tree. The Hammock Hang Calculator is an invaluable tool that helps you understand the basic mathematical concepts of hammock hanging and how to maintain that 30* optimum angle.

https://theultimatehang.com/hammock-hang-calculator/

Old joke.

That's a cool calculator.