Rope Hammock - Spreader Bar Hammock

The nature of the thing: What's the difference between a rod or spreader bar hammock and a 'soft' hammock, er...the wooden bars. The rods hold it open which makes this type (appear) easy to get in and out of with the added advantage that when they're empty they still look good rather than a length of fabric curiously strung up between trees in the garden.

Almost all rope hammocks like the one shown, come with spreader bars. When a fabric hammock has spreade bars, the width of the fabric is pretty well restricted to the width of the rod, although with gathering, the fabric can be wider than the rod and still work. The largest size in a rod style is therefore a double. Once a spreader rod exceeds about 1.5m in length the hammock becomes a rather cumbersome piece of kit, not easily conveyed!

How to use them: These are designed to be lain in from end to end, that is, head at one spreader bar and feet at the other. The secret therefore to hanging the rod style is to keep it tight. Hanging it in too short a space or with too much slack on the rope has the effect of bending the occupant in half at a right angle looking directly across at his feet. This is neither comfortable nor good for the back.

Suspension height: As the occupant's weight is distributed by the rods these don't need so much height to hang in. Generally 1.25m is sufficient and closer to the ground if children are to use it.

Suspension width: When the fibre used is cotton, always allow for stretch. So if the full length from end to end is 3m allow another 0.5m distance between each of the fastening points. Join to the fastening points using rope (preferably nylon) and gradually tighten the rope as required. After initial use the stretch will stop at a maximum size.

How to get in: Stand half-way along, turn around and place your bottom about one-third to one-half way across the...this is where the tricky part comes in. The minus side of the rod design is it's narrowness. If you look at the number of ropes or 'brassos' coming from the body to the rope or metal ring at the top there are always far fewer with a rod than a soft hammock. Fewer brassos means greater 'tippiness'. Rods have a great tendency to tip you out when you try to get in, unless you know the secret of how to! Balance your bottom in the middle, sit your weight down with your feet squarely on the ground and then slowly lift your feet in and at the same time swivel and lie your head back so you are lying evenly in the centre. It's like riding a bicycle, very simple when you keep your balance centred.

Mexican String Hammock

The nature of the thing: String or Mexican hammocks are like nets. There are no wooden bars and they are designed so that you lie across the way and not end to end - the opposite way to the above design. These nets are like concertinas so that your body acts as the 'rod' to keep them open. Hold one side up and let it drop open - you'll see that the net is at least the length of your body and probably a good deal more. When you lie in these there is ample room on each side of you and no chance of tip out.

How to use them: Don't lie in these end to end, lie in them diagonally. When you do so you are then lying against the weave and the effect is that the net stetches out precisely to your length and the weave goes tight beneath you, supporting your back firmly. If you want to sleep the night in one of these then lie diagonally across it and your back will be level and you can roll from side to side in your sleep comfortably and safely.

These are designed to be slept in like a sling. If you lie end to end, not only will you be wrapped up like a sausage but as you're lying with the weave instead of against it, the net does not open out to support you. In effect, the weight of your feet and you head cause ridges. Either a ridge of net appears between your feet or at the back of your head.

This design is incredibly strong and as long as the fixing points are sound and you have the space, there seems to be no limit on the number of people that can climb into one. Depending upon the size, 7 occupants is quite common - not to mention the occasional Volkswagon Beetle!

The only minus point to these is that as they are made of a fine string in a fairly loose weave they can catch in buttons and buckles or can be torn with sharp objects. It is best not to wear shoes in this style (or any hammock if you can help it). They are also not designed for impact so jumping into one of these off the top of the wardrobe will definitely result in a hole. Lie in them ordinary fashion and don't leave them out at the mercy of the weather and they should last indefinitely.

Suspension height: Fixing points need to be at approximately 2m in height to avoid bottoming-out. Remember for multiple occupancy use the closer the ends are together and the steeper the sides, the more roll-together ensues.

Suspension width: As they aren't lain in end to end, these should not be hung tight. You need to leave a drop between the highest and lowest point of about 1m. Hanging distance is not as vital with these as with rods, but height is of the utmost importance. In fact, if you don't mind having very steep sides and have the requisite amount of height, the ends can be fixed as close as 2m apart - although this won't work for multiple occupancy. Generally, 3m or 3.5m is a good span for one of these.

How to get in: Standing about half way along take an edge plus a handful of net in either hand. Open it out a little. Turn around and sit down. Pull it up behind you and lean back, at the same time draw your legs up and hook your heels into the edge. Stretch you legs out straight and you'll be lying flat and totally supported.

Tip: When it isn't tied up, always pick up this style by the brasso loop. This will avoid the spaghetti produced when you collect it by the middle and the 150 or so nylon brasso strings become enmeshed.

Washing: always before washing either take the nylon brasso by the loop end and knot the brasso through itself or tie elastic bands down the length of the brasso to prevent it from tangling through itself and becoming hopelessly knotted.

Handwash in cool water, or place in a wash bag or pillow slip and machine wash on a gentle, cool temperature cycle.

Dry by hanging it up and stretching it open with a cane. It will have shrunk during washing but with use will stretch back to its former size again.

If made of cotton these will last if you don't leave it out of doors when not in use.

Fabric Hammock

The nature of the thing: Fabric hammocks come in all shapes and sizes and fabrics. They are usually made from cotton and we are in the process of transferring our entire range to fair trade organic cotton hammocks. There is also the all-weather hammock, which is made from a yarn that is resiliant to sun and rain and more easily washable. Whatever the fabric, these hammocks are more akin to the string hammock than the rod in design. Note there are more brasso ropes to these than with a rod but not as many as with the string style. The fabric varies in width from single to multiple occupancy sizes and will generally be wider than any single rod but nowhere near as wide as the net described above.

Many fabric hammocks are 'soft' rather then rod - and are designed to be lain in diagonally. If there are no wooden bars that's because there aren't meant to be. Given the tightness of the weave, they don't have the same stretch as the string style but they are still not designed to be lain in end to end. Lie in one of thse end to end and it will enclose you like a baguette, you can't see out and your back is rounded and unsupported.

When you lie diagonally your body holds the fabric open and the weight of your head at one edge of the fabric counter-balances the weight of your feet at the other. So the fabric is stretched tight and flat and your back is beautifully supported. As you are in effect held in a sling, there is no danger of topple-out and with ample fabric to support you on either side you can roll from side to side in your sleep quite safely. This has to be the most relaxing piece of garden furniture available, ideal for relaxation and stress reduction!

The fabric soft hammock style is a good choice for children as they have the width to contain a few small bodies when they are rough and tumbling but the material is not prone to snagging as with an open weave.

Suspension height: Your suspension points need to be at a height of about 1.5m - 1.85m but this always depends the size you are using and personal preference as to how close to the ground you like to be. Again, these should not be hung tight, they need a generous drop to allow the fabric to be stretched open. A drop of about 1m, depending upon size, from the highest point of suspension to the lowest point is good.

Suspension width: Suspension width depends upon the size. Some soft single sizes can be suspended in as little as 2.9m of width. A double will require approximately 3.5m of width to comfortably hang in with allowance for increase of size after initially stretching.

Washing: always before washing knot the brasso through itself or tie elastic bands down the length of the brasso to prevent it from tangling through itself.

Handwash in cool water or place in a wash bag or pillow slip and machine wash on a gentle, cool temperature cycle.

Dry by hanging it up and stretching it open with a cane. The fabric will have shrunk during washing but with use will stretch back to its usual size again.

Every hammock is for use both indoors and outdoors but if you have a cotton hammock, it will last much, much longer if you don't leave it out of doors when not in use.

Hammock Stand

The nature of the thing: These are a great way to suspend a hammock if you have no trees, walls, posts, gazebos or even the odd pergola. Our Adagio hardwood stand is made up of a base bar, 2 'arms' or uprights and 4 feet (short pieces of wood on which the stand balances). These connect together in a metal 'boot' which sockets into which the wood slides.

Suspension height & width: Most hammock stands are adjustable, either in height or width and often in both. Our Adagio hammock stand adjusts in width by sliding the boots out towards the ends of the base bar and in height by means of sliding the metal 'cuffs' onto which the hammock hooks, up and down the uprights or arm bars. This means that you aren't restricted to any one hammock.

If you already have a hammock (but never had anywhere to hang it) and have finally concluded the only way you're ever going to use it is with a stand, you will need to measure your hammock carefully. Remember, a fabric hammock without spreader bars to hold it open needs about 1.5m - 1.85m (about 5 feet) of height to hang in. Measuring this type of hammock end to end will not allow for the height needed. Soft hammocks do not hang 'tight' like spreade bar hammocks, they need to hang loosely with a drop of a couple of feet. They need height so that with the 'drop' of fabric and your weight in the hammock, you're bottom doesn't scrape along the ground.

Moveability:The beauty of a hammock stand is also that it can be moved around the garden into the sun or shade so you aren't limited to tying your hammock up to that lime tree where you'll covered in insect waste -although of course you can if you want to...

Care & Storage: Whether your hammock stand is made out of metal or wood, it's a good idea to treat it with some TLC now and again. Metal stands, such as our Chair Stand should be oiled in the joints just to reduce the occurance of rust should the rain get in. Wooden hammock stands need to be oiled with a lubricant such as teak oil and in fact we enclose a bottle of this with our stands. This keeps the wood moist and the result is twofold. Firstly, it avoids the appearance of surface cracks or 'checking' in the wood and secondly it brings the wood back to a beautiful lustre if it has been 'greyed' down by the weather.

Because most hammock stands are assembled from a number of compents, they can be easily disassembled for winter and stored in the shed.

Hammock Chair

Suspension height: Most hanging hammock chairs need at least 2.2m to hang in. There's really no way around that - much less and your bottom will be scraping the floor. Also, allow about 1m behind the chair to allow for spinning. As always allow for some stretch with a cotton chair.

Your cotton chair will last if you don't leave it out of doors when not in use.

Hammock Fixing Kits

Snap-Hooks: These work well when used between trees or open beams, a pergola, gazebo or hammock posts. Use them with nylon rope. They hinge and can be opened to provide a hook then snap shut to hold the brasso eye fast even when swinging.

Coil the rope around the tree etc and either knot it into a final loop through which the snap-hook can pass or leave a tail and knot your snap-hook onto the end of this. Use the snap-hook as a connector between the brasso loop and the rope. This saves wear on the suspension loop and means you can put up and take down really easily leaving the rope and snap-hooks out.

Eye-Bolts: Use these when you're fixing into wood or with a masonry plug into solid stone or concrete. Screw these in to the requisite depth and as the eye is closed use a snap-hook again to connect the brassp loop to the eye-bolt. If added rope is needed tie the rope between the eyebolt and snap-hook rather that the brasso loop and snap hook as this will save wear on the brasso.