It’s been long since campers and hikers have abandoned the old ways of camping with tents and have flocked to hammocks. From getting a clear view of the sky to better sleep, a hammock offers many advantages over regular tents; therefore, there is no surprise why hammocks have become so popular.
But still, many people are new to the shift to the hammock, and some worry about damaging a tree while trying to hang a hammock. Well, in this blog post, we will learn how you can hang a hammock without damaging a tree and go through some hammock safety tips as well.
The ideal height of the hammock
If you are new to the world of hammocks, then the first lesson you need to learn about hanging a hammock is the importance of curves. While trying to hang a hammock between trees, you must make sure your hammock has a nice loose curve, as it will help you lie at an angle across it and get flat without any issue. But in case you are using a hammock with a wooden spreader or a metal spreader, then these tips won’t be helpful.
After finishing up the setup, the amount of curve will be decided by the distance between the end of your hammocks. If you are going to measure this distance, you have to measure the space between each end of the hammock. Well, this distance is mainly referred to as hammock ridgeline length by campers and hikers.
Using the tape
A tape is never a part of the camping bag, but if you plan to hand a hammock while following hammock safety tips, you have to hang hammocks by the books instead of relying on your instincts.
The overall factors involved in hanging a hammock can be crucial in understanding how everything will come together. And using tape can prove to be helpful if you are planning to hang a hammock more permanently.
So, make sure you use tape for complying with the standard measurement while hanging the hammock (for example, the ideal distance between the ground and the hammock should be 18 inches).
Important points
While trying to hang a hammock, you need to keep the following things in mind:
- Hammock ridgeline length
- The actual height of attachment points
- The total distance between the two objects, and
- The height of the hammock from the ground
Another important hammock safety tip you should follow is to always consider the amount of force applied to the suspension and anchor points when you are lying down on your hammock. This might be one of the essential hammock safety tips you will ever come across.
But the common misconception here is ‘the amount of force being applied is the weight on the hammock.’ Many other factors contribute towards the overall force being applied, like the angle between the tree and the cord.
It’s obvious that the tighter you pull your hammock, the more force you will be applying on the suspension. Still, many people forget this fundamental yet essential aspect of hanging a hammock. Just follow the simple thumb rule of keeping the ridgeline length around 108 inches for both single and double hammocks and around 96 inches for a compact hammock.
Hanging a hammock is not rocket science, as you need to clear the basics and know about the ideal measurements while trying to hang a hammock. Teton Hammock Company builds high-quality hammocks that can perform even in the harshest weather.
