Idea for a hanging aid....thoughts?

**Dragonhunter** · 03-22-2022, 08:28

Hung the cheap hammock for the grandkids to enjoy on a sunny afternoon last Sunday. Afterward, I was experimenting with the hang calculator and got things set so it's a no-brain hang. Just clip, clip and done for the backyard.

This got me thinking, though, for camping use, could I make some sort of "set up line" from non-stretching lightweight cord?

My thought is several of the variables in the calculator are fixed for a given setup. I know my hammock length, I know my hang angle and weight. Could I make something that I could run between two trees that would help me quickly figure my suspension length to achieve that? I don't really want to add the weight of my 25' steel tape measure to my pack, but if I could do something with an ounce or two of cord that I marked somehow.....

Anyone done anything like this? Thoughts?

**Crazytown3** · 03-22-2022, 08:43

I get what you are thinking about, but I just eyeball it and give it a good guess, then adjust things as needed.

**Hang Williams** · 03-22-2022, 08:50

I cracked my warbonnet sweet spot level at some point. It was nice, but extra weight anyways, so I've been experimenting with just using sharpie marks on my tarp tie out. Basically the idea is that I know my head end whipping needs to be sternum level. If the ground is level enough, then I know it's about nose height for the foot end whipping, but if not, then I can tie a slippery half hitch on my tarp tie out and let the end hang down even with the head end whipping and adjust foot end up or down until it's level with the sharpie mark. Use your hand to set the 30* hangle before adjusting the heights and all is good.

**FLTurtle** · 03-22-2022, 09:05

I mean, to save grams you measure the length of your hiking boots or shoes then heel-toe it from tree to tree or, measure your average full step. Maybe have an extra 25' foot of cordage with a tick mark at every foot. Extra cordage is handy, especially when you need it. If you use a CRL...just mark it off every foot, then count the tick marks.

I used to step measure it out early on, but now I just eyeball it then fine tune. Might take getting in and out a few times to adjust...but like the kids destroying me in COD games say: GiT GuD.

**cmoulder** · 03-22-2022, 09:16

Originally Posted by Crazytown3

I get what you are thinking about, but I just eyeball it and give it a good guess, then adjust things as needed.

Bingo!

There are people who obsess over angles and distances etc but after a while you learn by looking at things how high suspension straps should be for head and foot end for trees that are spaced closely (lower) and farther apart (higher), and where to attach head end and foot end CLs such that the sit height and suspension angles and centering are pretty close. And you learn that, for the most part, "pretty close" is plenty good enough.

Early in the hammock journey it is helpful to have adjustable options such as buckles or whoopie slings and the like. And some people remain with these adjustable options for the duration. Once I got a feel for things, however, I went with simple webbing (Kevlar) straight from tree to CL and haven't looked back. Of course, the more you do it the better your guesstimating will get.

That said, people have used various gizmos to measure suspension angles and marked pieces of cord etc to get the centering juuuuuust right, so if that's what it takes to make you happy, why not?

**cmoulder** · 03-22-2022, 09:33

Originally Posted by Hang Williams

I cracked my warbonnet sweet spot level at some point. It was nice, but extra weight anyways, so I've been experimenting with just using sharpie marks on my tarp tie out. Basically the idea is that I know my head end whipping needs to be sternum level. If the ground is level enough, then I know it's about nose height for the foot end whipping, but if not, then I can tie a slippery half hitch on my tarp tie out and let the end hang down even with the head end whipping and adjust foot end up or down until it's level with the sharpie mark. Use your hand to set the 30* hangle before adjusting the heights and all is good.

I've also found this (bolded part) to be a most useful metric. Makes for good sit height and appropriately higher foot end.

**Dragonhunter** · 03-22-2022, 09:38

I agree on "simple" and "close enough". Upon some playing with the calculator to see what difference increasing tree distance makes, and realizing my tarp is a fixed length, if I set it up first (usually) then I figured a quick guide for how long my straps should be based on distance beyond my tarp length.

Don't know that any of this will make it "into the field" with me, but it's helping me visualize the geometry of the whole thing a bit better, which should aid the development of my "hammock hanging eye."

**JPCPAT** · 03-22-2022, 10:08

Originally Posted by Dragonhunter

I agree on "simple" and "close enough". Upon some playing with the calculator to see what difference increasing tree distance makes, and realizing my tarp is a fixed length, if I set it up first (usually) then I figured a quick guide for how long my straps should be based on distance beyond my tarp length.

Don't know that any of this will make it "into the field" with me, but it's helping me visualize the geometry of the whole thing a bit better, which should aid the development of my "hammock hanging eye."

I get it: Before you can get a feel for a proper setup, you have to set it up properly, which takes either a lot of hit and miss some sort of measurement.

The two longest lines I carry are my bear bag line (50ft) and the end tieouts for my tarp (20 ft) You could mark either with a sharpie every foot to figure the distance between trees. From there you could have a cheatsheet to tell you suspension length and anchor height above ground. Once you're set up properly, you can pick up on the cues like foot goes at eye height, head a chest height.

**Dragonhunter** · 03-22-2022, 10:14

Originally Posted by JPCPAT

The two longest lines I carry are my bear bag line (50ft) and the end tieouts for my tarp (20 ft) You could mark either with a sharpie every foot to figure the distance between trees. From there you could have a cheatsheet to tell you suspension length and anchor height above ground. Once you're set up properly, you can pick up on the cues like foot goes at eye height, head a chest height.

Exactly.

I've done 3 camping trips hanging so far, and I find I am too easily misled by differing terrain and other variables so far.

I also always carry some extra line, but unfortunately (at least for trying to measure) it tends to be paracord, which, of course, stretches.