What size hammock should I get?
While a hammock’s size is very subjective, this post will guide you through the different things one should consider when choosing a hammock’s size. When determining what size hammock you should get, there are two main considerations: length and width.
Before diving in, take a look at what size hammock we recommend for your height. Of course comfort is a very subjective and personal thing, but this chart may give you a rough idea of where you should start:
|
Your Height |
Hammock Length |
Hammock Width |
|
5’6” or shorter |
10’ |
58-62” |
|
5’6” to 6’ |
10’ |
62-66” |
|
11’ |
58-64” |
|
|
6’ to 6’6” |
11’ |
64-74” |
|
6’6” or taller |
12’ |
70-74” |
Note: We do not make 12’ hammocks that are narrower than 70” or 10’ or 11’ hammocks less than 58” wide.. This is because the proportions of the hammock body begin to get out of line with those dimensions.
Length
We consider a hammock’s length to be one of the most important factors in a hammock’s comfort. Our sizes provide a wide range
The length of your hammock is possibly one of the most important factors in determining a comfortable night's sleep. We have different hammock models available in 10ft, 11ft, and 12ft lengths.
Generally speaking, a longer hammock will tend to lay slightly flatter and have less "shoulder squeeze" so if you are in doubt, we recommend you go to the longer size. Going slightly too long rarely causes any issues, but going too short can cause comfort problems. Of course comfort is a very subjective and personal thing, but this chart may give you a rough idea of where you should start.
Width:
Hammock width is an important contributor to the comfort of your hammock, but is secondary to length. Your hammock’s length will get you in the right ballpark of what size your hammock should be, your hammock’s width will fine-tune it.
Too Wide:
- Making a hammock too wide can cause extra fabric, which may hang loose and flap around.
- Your hammock will be heavier as a result of a wide hammock.
Too Narrow:
- Making a hammock too narrow can cause what is called “Shoulder Squeeze”, wherein the hammock puts pressure on your shoulders, making your hammock a bit uncomfortable.
- A hammock that is too narrow can also cause “Calf Ridge” because the hammock fabric isn’t wide enough to distribute your weight evenly across your hammock, and a tight section of the hammock body will run along the back of your calf.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s better err on the side of caution and make your hammock a few inches wider than you may need.
How wide can I make my hammock?
Most of the time we try to use as much of the available fabric possible to make the hammock as wide as we can possibly get it. If you are using one of our wider fabrics, we can certainly trim the fabric down to make your hammock narrower. Just indicate your desired width when placing your order. While we can always make your hammock narrower, we cannot make it wider than the fabric will allow.
|
Fabric |
Approximate Max Hammock Width |
|
1.0oz Monolite Mesh |
61 Inches |
|
1.1oz Ripstop Nylon |
58 Inches |
|
1.2oz Mtn-XL |
66 Inches |
|
1.6oz HyperD |
58 Inches |
|
1.6oz HyperD-XL |
74 Inches |
|
1.7oz Mtn-XL |
70 Inches |
|
1.8oz Airwave |
58 Inches |
|
2.2oz Hex70 |
74 Inches |
Something worth noting for double layer hammocks is that the layer widths must match. If you select two fabrics with different widths, we will need to cut the wider fabric down so both layers are the same width. For example, if you choose 2.2oz Hex70 for one layer, and 1.6oz HyperD for the other layer, your hammock will need to be made to the limit of your narrower fabric, so we would trim the Hex70 down to 58 Inches to match the HyperD.