Hammock Tips Required

[stooboy]

Hi,

Looking for hammock advice, have followed British Red's really good article: http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24542&highlight=hammock.

But it still seems to take me ages to get the hammock up as i like, the tarp is fine i use an evenk on one end and a tautline hitch on the other, 1 min and is up. Getting the hammock how I like is another story and takes some time fussing around before im satisfied that it is correctly positioned.

I have bought tape from B&Q and double loop it around a tree and use evenk at both end, and have Alpine loops along it but is guaranteed is never a loop at the correct hight at one end or another...

Brittsh Red says he uses the tautline hitch at one end of hammock also, i put this inline tonite in the one tree in the garden but dont have much faith in it.... this is the way in which i Tie it http://www.iland.net/~jbritton/tautlinehitch.htm (http://www.iland.net/%7Ejbritton/tautlinehitch.htm)

I think these are the two main ways people string up their hammocks from what I have read unless I have missed anything.

Oh and have used Pablos shoe lace style with the DD hammock with the orig tapes but found their length to restrictive with regard to tree distance and diameter.

Stoo.

[Ogri the trog]

For tips on hammock camping, try www.imrisk.com, theres plenty of information there, scroll down to the hammocking section.
Specifically, for hammock end knots, try the pages on "Ed Speers Four Wrap knot" and the "Improved" version.
It does take a while to get "the" set-up that you like, but its worth it.

ATB

Ogri the trog

[andy_e]

I use carabiners on my DD and longer tapes because, like yourself, I found the original tapes a little too restrictive and I needed the added benefit you get with crabs of diverting rain away from the hammock.

I find that if I have the time, I can spend ages fiddling with my hammock to get it just right, but to be honest I sleep just as well if I set it up in a hurry and go with my first effort. I think the key is to get a good tension and aim for as level as you can get it, unless you prefer head or feet higher, but it just takes a bit of experience and practice until you find what method works best for you.

[Chance]

Without carabiners, I've not had much luck undoing an evenk hitch in the thinner lines of the Backpacker (and resorted to the Hennessy hitch).
Are my fingers too stubby ?

[gregorach]

The Evenk hitch should just pull out by tugging on the free end (if it's the same Evenk hitch that I'm thinking of).

[andy_e]

Only time I've had an Evenk be difficult is with the thin Hennessey Hexfly lines, they're braided, only a couple of mm thick and especially after high winds can be a pain whatever knot you use.

[stooboy]

I guess your right Andy I am probably too fusy, :)

I think i will try the Four Wrap knot as suggested by ogri.

[Chance]

The Evenk hitch should just pull out by tugging on the free end (if it's the same Evenk hitch that I'm thinking of).
"Undo" was the wrong word. It jams when tugged (using the thin lines).
I'm patient enough for a Hennessy hitch.

[gregorach]

Ah, got you.

[andy_e]

"Undo" was the wrong word. It jams when tugged (using the thin lines).
I'm patient enough for a Hennessy hitch.

Yup, that's what happens on my hexfly lines sometimes too, it's like the braiding on the thin line allows the knot part to cinch too tightly for the bight to slide through easily causing it to jam. It can be a bit tough but I just work it until it releases, if it's a huge problem you would switch to paracord or similar which I've never had a problem with.

I started with the tautline and evenk, then found the falconers' knot/truckers hitch combination a while back and switched to that for a bit, now I mix and match. There are probably dozens of variations and no rule that says one is better than the others, the variety is one of the things that makes this hobby of ours so much fun. :D

[Chris G]

I've used my hammock a couple of times now and the best setup that I use is:

1) Tree,
2) 4m long 25mm wide tape with loop tied in centre (face this towards hammock location) then tape ends wrapped round tree and tied off with in bow (KISS theory),
3) 1.5-2m long 7-9mm rope with loop tied in one end - pass non-looped end through loop in tree tape, then through loop in end of rope, then tie a prussic knot back on the rope. This gives an adjustable length of rope for your crabs to click onto which helps when you realise that you've set your hammock up so that the tarp doesn't cover all of it! (Experience :o ).
4) Crab on hammock,
5) Hammock
4)
3)
2)
1)

Well it works for me!

Chris