If I'm correct in understanding this, if I make my hammock ridgeline longer, I will lay flatter...? Shorter RL = more sag, longer RL = more flat of a lay?
If I'm correct in understanding this, if I make my hammock ridgeline longer, I will lay flatter...? Shorter RL = more sag, longer RL = more flat of a lay?
Not exactly. You want to have an ideal amount of sag. 83% is the current rule of thumb when it comes to ridge line length. If it is to loose your hammock will be narrow and you wont be able to get a very diagonal lie. I had this problem with my DIY. After I tightened my SRL it become more comfortable.
I see that there has to be a kind of balance. As I'm seeing it though, if I shorten the RL, the hammock ends are closer together and the hammock hangs with more of a bow in it. If I lengthen the RL, the ends of the hammock will be further apart and the hammock will have less of an arc.
I put up my hammock for the first time, in the carport this weekend and experimented with the RL a little. I'm using treehuggers and whoopies (that I made ) and using a marlin spike hitch/toggle between the two. I also made two continuous loops with my amsteel and replaced the rope that came in my GT hammock with the CL. I got two of the cool red desending rings from REI and did a larkshead from my CL's to the rings, then did the double wrap through the hammock end channels. Then I did larkshead for whoopie fixed-eye and the rings.
So, the RL is attatched to the ring on one end and run to the ring on the other end.
I didn't have too much time to lay around and mess with the RL length, but I sure liked how comfortable that was. I guess I have seen the light. I'll never try to sleep in a tent again.
it's a bit counterintuitive, but more sag means you can lay at more of a diagonal which means you lay flatter.
If you really want flat try a bridge hammock.
Live by the sword, die by the arrow
when measuring the length, are you measuring inside the whipping?
Yes, more sag gives a flatter diagonal lay.
Bat
Beginning my NOBO trip on the AT on 2/28/12.
Gotcha, that makes sense. I'll experiment again when I get a chance. I did try laying diagonally in it, and that was really comfortable. My dog even jumped in with me like nothing.
Spydertattoo sorry I didn't notice you are a local when you first posted. Hope to see you at the hang next year.
Bat
Beginning my NOBO trip on the AT on 2/28/12.
Bookmarks