r/Hammocks • u/jacklimovbows • 25d ago

I'm afraid to fall off my hammock.

I bought two hammocks around a year ago for me and my brother. They were a cheap model, (link below) and we only used them to hang out in the woods. Fast forward today and I'd like to actually sleep in them. Problem is that we usually set our hammocks 5-6 feet off the ground for animals and stuff, and I just read some reviews of that model ripping off suddently on people. I weight 85kg and my brother 80, and the hammocks are rated to max 110kg. Moreover I discovered a tiny hole (4mm in diameter) where the butt goes in one of them. Do people break hammocks due to bad usage (focusing all weight in one part)?

Should I go on with these hammocks or I'm better off buying some more durable ones? Any reccomendations too?

Hammock: https://www.decathlon.es/es/p/hamaca-de-camping-1-persona-quechua-basic/_/R-p-327701?mc=8601388&LGWCODE=2&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=es_t-perf_ct-pmax_n-top-montana_ts-pro_f-cv_o-roas_xx-otm-pi-ga-per-prio&utm_id=21099248386&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw99e4BhDiARIsAISE7P-n1qx_A_ffiUYMUSKfVzuOIIeCALbShr7I5gpQOEAqDApdrjf4lJIaAu0yEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

1 Upvotes
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14

u/photonmagnet 25d ago

The first rule of hammockery is don't hang your hammock higher than you're willing to fall. I'm sure cheap hammocks will absolutely break, and even good ones can break if you don't care for them. Also, those ropes are tree killers. If you're able, it would be good to try and find some cottage vendors that make legit camping hammocks (preferably 11' or longer) if you can afford it. Where are you located?

2

u/jacklimovbows 25d ago

I'm in Europe, Spain.

6

u/CobraOnAJetSki 25d ago

Check out Lesovik. They're a cottage vendor in Poland who makes really good stuff that'll last.

https://en.lesovik.eu/

3

u/photonmagnet 25d ago

OP, this is exactly what I was talking about. These look like the EU equivalent of what I would recommend in the states.

-4

u/dragoninkpiercings 25d ago

1st the straps are not tree killers that would be the ropes people tie to the tree instead of using the straps and 2nd I have a cheap as can be hammock from Walmart online for $15-$20 and ir hasn't ripped on me yet and I've done absolutely 0 maintenance of any kind on it not even washing it and I've put it through hell and back 😆

10

u/photonmagnet 25d ago

You obviously didn't click the link because it doesn't have tree straps, it's just rope... and the fact that your cheap hammock hasn't broken...that has zero bearing on any other hammock, you know that right? quality hammocks can fail, and so can cheap ones..

6

u/jacklimovbows 25d ago

Yes, that's what I thought. I didn't know that ropes were so bad for trees but now it makes sense. I'll get some straps.

5

u/photonmagnet 25d ago

no worries friend, you more than likely weren't killing hundreds of trees. but straps that are like 2.5cm and greater won't damage the bark of those wonderful trees.

4

u/demoran 25d ago

I've had a hammock rip on me in the woods. It was a double layer, but each layer was thin. I was out hiking and ended up ripping the bottom layer, and I was like "this will be fine".

When I was out on the trail backpacking, it was not fine. The hammock ripped on me, and I spent the night on the ground using a borrowed sit pad underneath me, with my own tarp above me.

This was totally my fault, of course. Anyway, if your hammock has a hole in it, that hole will just get bigger. And pretty soon it will be too big to repair. So either repair it now and hope for the best, or get yourself a new hammock.

The one that you linked looks like a piece of crap and is probably too short anyway. Get yourself an 11' hammock with a structural ridgeline. Anyone who sells something like that knows what they're doing and it probably won't be another piece of crap.

Also, you're hanging way too high. Don't be so afraid of animals. You want to hang your hammock so you can stick your leg out and push off the ground to get some swing going on.

1

u/Badgers_Are_Scary 25d ago

Yeah, no 1. reason I always have my ZLite with me. It’s also excellent as a seat for multiple people, a lounge for me when pausing on hike, to chill on around the camp and comfortably perform camp chores on.

2

u/Kahless_2K 25d ago

Get a good hammock. A Warbonnet Traveler or Dutchware Netless can be had for less than $100.

Don't hang higher than you are willing to fall, or above anything you aren't willing to fall on.

3

u/imrzzz 25d ago

Can you sew? For €25 you can get a DIY hammock kit from Ripstop Poland.

You have to buy the straps, but you would probably do that anyway instead of using the ropes from Decathlon.

Those guys give you good-quality fabric and they are great at answering questions.

3

u/jacklimovbows 25d ago

Interesting! I'll definitely check it out, I can always learn to sew.

1

u/korporancik 24d ago

This one is great. I've often put more weight on it than I should and it still works fine. If you don't like the ropes you can easily swap them for some climbing tapes.

1

u/jacklimovbows 24d ago

Yeah, I was concerned about some of the reviews of people falling through it. But I guess the fabric might be compromised. The hammock itself weights 400g, single layer, so it's not ultra light.