Hammock Buying Guide

Hammocks offer optimum outdoor comfort, creating a place to kick back and relax while suspended above ground. Choosing the best hammock suited for your needs and location will help achieve blissful tranquility in any outdoor setting. From determining the ideal type of hammock suited to your needs, to proper hanging, and care, this guide will make selecting a hammock for your home a breeze.

Hammock Types

Fabric Hammocks

• Well-suited for cooler climates and seasons
• Best for overall comfort
• Numerous fabric options add a decorative element and various benefits:
• Cotton: breathable, comfortable, not weather-resistant (do not leave outside in bad weather)
• Canvas: most durable fabric
• Polyester: durable, weather-resistant
• Sunbrella: fade-resistant, weather-resistant

Rope Hammocks

• Designed for use in warmer, hot climates
• Plenty of airflow allows breathability for clothing and your body
• Over time, rope will naturally stretch out over time
• Cotton rope hammocks v. Polyester rope hammocks
• Cotton rope is considered more comfortable than polyester rope.
• Cotton rope is great for indoors, but is not weather-resistant for outdoors.
• Cotton rope will deteriorate faster if left in direct sunlight and harsh winter conditions.
• Polyester rope will last many years and requires little maintenance.
• Polyester rope is more durable and better suited for outdoor use: it is not susceptible to mold, mildew, or fading.
• DuraCord rope hammocks
  • This synthetic rope is the most fade-resistant and stain-resistant rope. It combines the comfort of cotton ropes, with the durability of polyester. This quick-drying and virtually non-absorbent material will hold up to heavy wear, and resists mold and mildew. This type of material normally lasts longer than cotton and polyester ropes.

Hammock Chairs

Hammock chairs (and hammock swings) are ideal for customers who want to sit instead of lie down. They are also ideal in small spaces as an alternative to full-sized hammocks. Hammock chairs are more stable and less prone to flipping because they require only one support joint. Hammock chairs are available in the same materials as standard hammocks.

Hammock Suspension Systems

Hammock setup often requires a sturdy suspension system and a pair of carabiners to properly and safely support a hammock. Look for hammocks equipped with many attachment points which will allow for more setup adjustability and more flexibility in the types of post supports you use. Suspension options include nylon ropes (watch out for overly stretchy ropes that will slowly loosen over time) and webbing straps (they should measure wider than .75 inches to prevent wear on the post).

Between Trees or Posts

Trees

1. Make sure the diameter of the tree trunk is at least 1 foot in diameter to ensure that the tree is stable and large enough to support significant weight.
2. The distance between trees to comfortably suspend a hammock should equal the total length of the hammock, plus 1. There needs to be a distance of at least 14 feet to suspend a 13-foot hammock, for example.
3. Once the trees are correctly spaced, how you install the hammock will depend on whether you use ropes or straps as the suspension system.
4. If using ropes and hooks, the hooks should be screwed in about 4.5 feet above ground. To install the hooks, create a starter hole by using a drill or nail that is 3/16 of an inch or smaller (the smaller the better). Start the hook in the hole, then tighten it by sliding a screwdriver through the hook’s eye. Hooks need to be screwed all the way up to the eye to firmly secure the hook. Overtwisting can damage or weaken the tree support.
5. If using straps, thread one end of the strap through the end with a metal ring, and wrap around the tree as many times that allows in the opposite direction. Tuck the metal ring through the loop once more, pulling the strap tight and attaching an “S”-hook to the ring which will hold the hammock in place.

Posts

1. Make sure the posts that are used to suspend the hammock are durable and resistant to decay. Wood posts should be specially treated to prevent rotting.
2. Posts should measure at least 6 inches in diameter, and set at least 2-3 feet deep into the ground.
3. To set up the posts, dig the hole and place the post in the center.
4. It is recommended to add quick-dry cement to the bottom half of the hole around the post to ensure stability. Also, look for soil that is dense and compact enough to provide enough support.
5. Let the cement dry for at least 48 hours before hanging and lying in your hammock.

Hammock With Spreader Bars

Spreader bars are located at the head and foot of a hammock bed, stretching out the hammock laterally which prevents the hammock bed from folding into a cocoon. Hammocks with spreader bars require more accuracy in hanging. A general rule of thumb to follow requires hammocks with spreader bars hang from post supports at least as far apart as the hammock is long. To achieve maximum comfort, extend the hammock the same length in both directions. Never extend a hammock more than 3 feet total.

Hammock Without Spreader Bars

Hammocks without spreader bars create a cocoon-like shape because the material is not stretched out to create a flat bad. Hammocks without spreader bars offer greater flexibility in hanging options. As a general rule, hammocks without spreader bars can be hung from a distance less than the overall length of the hammock, but no smaller than two-thirds of the hammock length. The closer the distance between post supports, the higher off the ground you will need to hang the hammock to prevent the natural dip that occurs with these types of hammocks to hit the ground. Hammocks without spreader bars are not ideal for children to use, as often they find it difficult to get in and out of these types of hammocks.

Hammock Stand

If there is not a proper location to hang a hammock (lacking any support posts), a hammock stands allows you to erect a hammock anywhere, in any location. Consider the size and material of a hammock stand to safely hang a hammock.

Size

• The weight of the stand should hold at least 450 pounds.
• Add 2 feet to the length of the hammock to determine the ideal size for a hammock stand. If a hammock measures 13 feet, purchase a standthat is 15 feet long for comfortable relaxation.

Material

• Hammock stands are available in wood or metal.
• Wood hammock stands are very stable and provide an attractive, natural look.
• Metal hammock stands are often treated with a powder coating which makes them durable and weather resistant so they will not rust. Metal stands are lightweight, easy to move, and are budget-friendly. They are stable and secure.

Hammock Measurements

Weight

Hammock support setups can weigh as little as 7 ounces to a few pounds. Hammocks have weight limits that support weights ranging from 150 to 500 pounds. The weight that a hammock supports refers to static weight.

Width

Hammock widths vary as small as 4 feet, to as large as 9 feet. Hammocks that measure between 6-7 feet will comfortably accommodate a single user or a couple, depending on how much extra room you like to stretch out.

Length

Hammock lengths vary considerably less, and largely depends on personal preference. For taller customers, look for hammocks that measure longer than 8 feet.

Height

The height at which a hammock should hang will depend on a number of factors including whether it is equipped with spreader bars, the type of suspension system utilized, and personal preference. The hanging space should be between 18-24 inches greater than the hammock’s total length, from ring to ring. Keep in mind that the closer the post supports, the more curved the hammock will hang. The following chart shows the ideal height and distance for hanging a hammock.

Hammock Care

• Installing a hammock in a shady spot is best. Less direct sunlight will extend the use of both the bed material and the support.
• Never exceed a hammock’s weight limit. Not only is it a safety hazard, but the canopy material will stretch out faster.
• Jumping up and down in a hammock is a safety hazard, and will also stretch out the canopy material.
• Always distribute weight as evenly as possible by positioning your weight in the center of the hammock, never along the edge.
• To clean rope hammocks, use warm water and a mild liquid detergent to wash. Spread the hammock and soak thoroughly with a garden hose and scrub with a soft-bristled scrub. For more intensive cleaning, use a solution that is one part bleach to four parts soapy water. Make sure to rinse thoroughly before allowing the hammock to dry. Cotton rope will shrink a little while drying but will stretch back with use.
• Make sure spreader bars are out of contact with water.
• If the support is made from wood, normal outdoor weathering will occur. To ensure maximum life from your hammock, refinish the wood, taking special precaution to avoid the canopy material.
• Climate can impact how long a hammock will last. While it is possible to leave a hammock out year-round, it is still recommended to take down and store any hammock during periods of harsh weather. While it is not necessary to take in a hammock every time a light shower occurs, in the case of cotton material, your hammock will remain in far better shape if you routinely minimize its exposure to overly wet weather.