I loved the concept of the Draumr, a brilliant innovation so much I ordered one, and showed it off to my friends, etc. However I simply cannot sleep in it. The main problem for me is lower back pain that will develop into an intense knot in my lumbar area after an hour or so. That's not the fault of the hammock, but a personal "defect". I've tried stitching a pillow pocket in the lumbar area for an inflatable pillow, and experimented with the pressure. I've tried also placing a pillow under my knees. I've experimented with mattress pressure..... the lower the better it seems, but I just cannot sleep more than a few hours before I'm in pain. Interestingly I can lay my Big Agnes air mattress in my gathered end hammock and get a reasonably good night's sleep, which is counter intuitive, but the sag seems to work for me though I could use some lumbar support.
The other issue with the Draumr is the tendency to slide down toward the foot. While I prefer upper body elevated, I don't want my feet pressed into the foot box, but no matter what I do, I seem to end up down there.
The third issue is temperature control.... In cool weather........ which is the rule here most times other than the past "summer from hell" when we went from May to August, August, and August. The openness of the Draumr does not lend itself well to tucking a top quilt in around you, as compared to my gathered end hammock
*********** These observations are specific to me, and your mileage will probably vary. We are all different. I've slept in a recliner for many (about 25) years since I fell asleep reading one night and woke up pain free. I use Lazy Boy recliners because the back and easily be removed and I can add padding to optimize my lumbar support. It also helps with reflux which no longer bothers me.......... and I'd like to keep it that way! Perhaps I need to see a chiropractor... but I've never trusted them. I've seen them enslave too many people. Lying flat, I can feel the tension build in the muscles of my lower back, with my butt and shoulders and lower legs on the ground, that tension gradually builds into a knot of pain. I've had lower back pain problem most of my life, and find that working on my feet on a concrete floor without a lot of motion is brutal, as is sitting at a desk. I need motion and flex to stay limber. I used to run around with a friend in his 1978 Ford F250, and we would travel hundreds of miles. The bench seat was firm, and shaped right, and the constant motion of the stiff suspension pickup kept my muscles in action countering it. I stayed flexible and limber. When we traveled in his mother's Lincoln Towne Car, I'd sink into the beautiful soft seats that hold you, against the minimal motion of the soft ride......... After 100 miles I would get out and could hardly walk. It would take a few minutes for my knees to unlock and free up, and my back to limber up and feel normal. I don't know if this is some kind of "disorder". I'd like to be able to sleep well in a bed, as it's hard to explain to friends and family why I need to sleep in a recliner......... For me beds are for recreational / reproductive activities, and recliners are for good sleep.
I'm reverting to my idea of the hammock consisting of two side panels with the bottom (stitched between the sides) contoured to a comfortable shape (for me). Spreaders at the top, and a lateral tube air mattress in the bottom
Bookmarks