Quote Originally Posted by TominMN View Post
Did you happen to look at it in Shug's video? Based on what he said, and it certainly seems that way, using a spreader bar in that fashion pretty much dictates laying straight in the hammock (and not on the diagonal.) I know I couldn't sleep well overnight like that but it seems to work for slowhike. And I'm also pretty sure that side-sleeping is a no-go. Can't say for certain but it sure looks that way.
I know Shug said I lay straight but actually, I lay at a slight diagonal.
It doesn't require as much diagonal, I guess, because I stretch it with a little less sag than normal and because it's a narrower hammock, at 44" wide.
Also, the insulated air matt, lightly inflated, helps.

Because I don't hang with as much sag, stretched a little tighter, I use a fabric with a little higher weight rating, but the only one I had a fabric failure with, was quite a few years and made from an un-named camo fabric from the Walmart dollar bin, many years ago.
I'm pretty sure I made it from that camo, pictured in 2008.
Camo.jpg

When I do the slight diagonal, I'm flat or very close to it. And yep, I sleep almost as much on my side as I do my back.

Here's another version that flatline, made.

Spreader pole wide.jpg
Spreader bar close.jpg