Hello all! New to the forum as a reader and poster. Looks like a great community. Here's my somewhat long winded issue.
I Want to Love Sleeping in a Hammock
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Hello hammock loving community. In advance, thank you for your thoughtful responses and helpful advice.
Quickly about me… in 2019 I backpacked well over 1000 miles (most of it during an 800 mile Arizona Trail thru hike). I found myself struggling to find a comfortable position and overall difficulty with sleep which lead to fatigue and the like—not ideal when walking with a loaded pack for 20 miles (ish) day in and day out.
In spite of my ground sleeping woes, I still have a great love for backpacking and in fact was planning a NOBO hike of the CDT this year—Covid 19 has put that on hold.
Anyway… my sleeping difficulties have lead me into the world of hammocking. I have spent many a youtube hour with Shug and Derek Hansen (The Ultimate Hang) and others.
I borrowed a hammock from a hammock enthusiast neighbor and tried to sleep the night out in his Outdoor Vitals Solo Plus (10’x4.5’). Although it held some promise; I like the “cuddle” (support) the hammock provided, I did not make it through the night. Despite my best efforts to “sleep on the diagonal” my feet and legs were just too high to be comfortable. Well, I’m not a quitter and based on my reading I knew that a 10’ hammock was too small for me. And so, with a hopeful heart, I ordered a Hummingbird Hammock Long (11’ x 63”). With a weight rating of 350lbs at only 8.2 oz I was thrilled. Being a long distance hiker, weight is crucial, especially considering the need to be able to go to the ground and carry a duel system over the course of a 3000 mile hike.
Using the hammock hang calculator I have my hammock hung in my house, I have attempted to sleep in the hammock perhaps 7 times and without fail, the comfort clock runs out after 3 hours; despite my best efforts, I am unable to find a position of comfort and I end up abandoning the hammock for my bed, which I promptly fall asleep in.
I am a nearly exclusive side sleeper in my bed. In the hammock I feel forced to be on my back or in a partial side position or in a fetal position, which I cannot maintain, my legs insist on straightening. The main complaints are feeling like my butt is being compressed (equivalent to tired butt syndrome from sitting way too long) and then my legs being forced upward (even worse when trying for the side position). I’m not finding the concept of a “flat lay” to be actually true and as a newbie to the world I feel that term gives a false expectation. Particularly when trying to sleep on my side with my legs straight it is horribly uncomfortable and untenable.
I have played around with the length of my structural ridgeline as well as having my head end lower.
So… to the heart of it.
1. I am 6’3” and 150 LBS (yes, think of a string bean, that’s me!)
2. Hummingbird Hammock Long (11’ x 63”; 350 lb limit)
3. Pack weight is among my top priorities (quality of sleep is right up there too)
4. My suspension angle is 30 to 40 degrees—structural ridgeline is 110”
5. Any suggestions for a primary side sleeper? 3 hours on my back is all I can do and I wouldn’t even say that I love it for that long.
6. I understand the concept of diagonal lay and yet my legs still seem to be hyperextented with my feet higher than butt. This appears to not just be me either (see Dutchware Cameleon product screenshot)
7. Are tall side-sleepers not well suited for hammocking?
8. Are there qualitative differences in hammock comfort—obviously the Dream Hammock and the Cameleon and the Blackbird are highly loved.
9. Would a 12’ hammock or an extra wide hammock help with the lay for 6’3” me?
10. What about materials? Do some lay “flatter” than others?
In closing, I really do want to fall in love with hammock camping. But I am not there. Please help!!! Advice from taller folks would be extremely helpful.
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