IT LIIIIIVEESS! I actually finished this over a week ago, but couldn't get out to the park to take some pictures until yesterday. (It doesn't help that I live 2 miles from the nearest hang-able trees... stupid urban sprawl...)
This is a hammock of my own design - a combination of the WBBB (gathering method, shelf, fixed bug net) and Switchback (asym shape, hammock body, foot tie-outs). Double layered because I'm a pad person. Suspension is whoopie slings and tree huggers, also DIY, with marlin spike toggles. AKA sticks I picked up from the ground.
Why DIY
Quite honestly, cost. I just graduated college, my rent runs out at the end of the month, and I don't have a job yet because silly Jenna loves birds and wants to be an Ornithologist of all things. SO, as much as I would love to own an HH, SB, AND WBBB - just to compare and enjoy, I cannot pay for them. So, DIY was the only option. I will say that it's a LOT of work - the project took me a full weekend to complete. So if you have the option, and don't value the pride and epic-ness of home-made gear, feel free to go for the cottage industry makes instead!
What I Used:
12" Size 3 Coil Zipper / 2 Double Tab Sliders
10yd of 1.1oz Ripstop Nylon 2nds
4yd No-See-UM Netting
12yd 1" Grosgrain Ribbon
1yd 70D Coated Ripstop Nylon (for Double-Ended Sack and extra for SPE)
10ft Tech Line + 25ft Zing-It (just because I wanted to compare the two, really)
4 Cordlocks
7ft 3/32" Shock Cord
14ft 1" Polyester Webbing (for Tree Huggers)
30ft 7/16 Amsteel Blue (for Whoopies)
Everything but the Zing-It was ordered from DIYGearSupply. Final cost including shipping was approx. $90. Woohoo!
NOTE: I have left over materials. A good bit actually... so your own material needs may vary.
What I Did
1. Cut the material and sewed it together using This Self-Designed Pattern
2. Sewed 1" double-reinforced channels into the top and bottom. Had some trouble with unwanted gathering here. Would like to re-do if I get the opportunity
3. Strung about 3' Zing-it through each channel, gathered, and whipped according to the Warbonnet Whip method. Tied with temporary knots for testing.
4. Made Whoopies and Tree Straps.
5. Attached shock cord and about 4' of Zing-it to the tie-outs on each side, following the Warbonnet technique. Fixed with cord locks.
6. Hung and tested hammock. Measured out ridgeline to desired length. Tied knots to keep in place.
7. Pinned on bug net where I wanted it. Took the hammock home and un-whipped the ends to sew the bug net in place. (Bug net is attached directly to zipper with two rows of stitches)
8. Used grosgrain to finish out the seams on the non-zippered edge.
9. Re-gathered and whipped including ridgeline and bug-net in end "ball".
10. Made accessory ridgeline pouch and double-ended sack.
Finished weight is under 2lbs, but I can't get a precise measurement from my scale. Included a pic of the finished size packed away.
How it Works
Quite well! Very roomy, comfortable, and the two tie-outs on the foot end create a surprisingly roomie "faux footbox". One troublesome problem is that if I don't do the tie-outs just right, they sag and loose tension when I climb in. I've found that if I tie them out as far and horizontally from the hammock as possible, they work much better and give me plenty of room.
The hammock IS a bit big for me, especially in terms of length. I'm only 5'6" and the hammock could easily fit a 6'2" comfortably. =/ Oh well! Better too big than too small.
The most comfortable hang seems to be at about a 15-20 degree suspension angle (similar to what many people say about the Switchback). Gets me a nice flat lay inside. Have yet to put a pad in the double layer, will try to give an update on that when I do.
I biked the hammock down to Meridian Hill Park for some pics. Plenty of staring from other park visitors! Check out the pics below (also in my gallery) for a view.
Helpful Links
The following are links I used to build my hammock. Many thanks!!
Black Goat Gear's DIY DL Hammock
The DIY "Warbird" Thread
Discussions on a DIY Switchback
Warbonnet Whip Method 1
Warbonnet Whip Method 2
DIY Whoopie Slings
DIY Gear Supply
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