Spreaders on a gathered-end hammock?

[mrmike65]

Has anyone thought of applying spreader bars to a gathered-end hammock?

What if the hammock were shaped and constructed like a bridge hammock, except the fabric extends to the length of the bridge suspension, but gathered? The spreaders would be attached to the sides per the bridge hammock. I'm thinking the spreaders would be 2' and attached 2' from the ends. The aim would be to blend the the best features of of both types. I don't think the hammock would have to be stretched as tight as a bridge, but tighter than a gathered-end. Because of this, the spreaders would have to be clipped to the sides to prevent them from slipping away when moving about in the hammock.

I'll work on some diagrams to clarify. Any thoughts?

[breyman]

flatline did something like this with a custom LiteOwl. You can check it out here:
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=63291

Looks pretty comfy to me...

[olddog]

Redoleary did a post on mini spreader bars.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...=mini+spreader

[mrmike65]

Redoleary did a post on mini spreader bars.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...=mini+spreader

Yes, I read that thread. Some good stuff there.

[mrmike65]

flatline did something like this with a custom LiteOwl. You can check it out here:
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=63291

Looks pretty comfy to me...

Yes, that's something like what I had in mind, but with a spreader bar at each end. The idea occured to me, not because I want to alleviate shoulder squeeze, but to maybe relieve the center ridge against my legs and to improve the flatness of lay.

[pgibson]

I can't find any of his threads about it but SlowHike made exactly that sort of hammock. He used his hiking poles as spreader bars and even built in small storage areas at the head and foot ends.

[flatline]

Yep Slowhike is the origin of the species, so to speak.

I saw is mod and after asking him about the comfort, I had to try it.
At first I had spreader bars at both ends, that was very uncomfortable, I had the hammock suspended normally at 30*. Using only the head end spreader I found to be a very desirable mod.
Perhaps if I had added tension to the suspension, the 2 pole config may have been more comfortable?
I do like the "Slowhike" mod. and I am going to add it to my NO also.
__bob__

[BigHat]

i remember slowhike's mod. if i remember correctly, he hung it fairly tight and put an exped downmat in his hammock, effectively making something like a bridge hammock, almost... looked comfy

[mrmike65]

Thanks, folks.

[Catavarie]

Perhaps you are looking for something like Grizz's Dual Mode Bridge Hammock?