Hammocks are a favorite among campers and homeowners
alike. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and many are actually easy to
install. And if you want to know how to hammock, you can definitely build one
yourself!
The first thing you need to do is to find a suitable place for you to learn
how to hammock. There are hammocks out there that enable you to set them up in
just about any place. However, there are always better places to set up your own
hammock for the first time.
If you are just learning how to hammock, determine the perfect campsite.
There are some places you might want to avoid. For instance, you might want to
stay away from the lee side of ridges, hills and cliffs, as these places tend to
invite cold wind. Also stay away from camping by streams, lakes and springs.
Furthermore, avoid places that tend to have heavy dew, because this can cause a
lot of condensation. Instead, consider camping deep in the forest, on rocky or
uneven ground and on beaten tracks. These are great places to practice setting
up your hammock. On the other hand, you can simply practice in your own
backyard.
Now lets learn the actual techniques on how to hammock. There are many ways
to hang your hammock. To hang your hammock the way it had been done originally,
hang it between two trees. Before you do this though, it is imperative that you
find not just any pair of trees, but suitable ones! The perfect pair of trees
would be close to the same distance apart as your hammock's length. If you want
to raise the hanging length, add bits of chain or rope on the ends of the
hammock. To find out if the space is appropriate, open out the hammock and place
it over the ground in between the two trees. Add around 12 inches on opposite
ends and up to 5 feet of clearance on the sides for generous swinging space.
If you just bought a hammock with instructions, it's important to follow
them. Some people try to do away with the instructions and end up with disaster!
You can use some techniques with care. You may screw hooks into the trees or
posts for you to fasten the ropes with more ease.
You may also use posts, which should be around 8 feet in length. What you
need to do first is to dig two separate holes around 2.5 feet deep and then put
a post in each. Fill the holes with mixed cement, and finally brace the posts
up. Make sure the cements have completely dried before hanging the hammock. You
should wait around 3 days.
Make sure that your hammock is well secured. It doesn't hurt to check that
every connection isn't wearing off. The ropes should appear in top condition and
strong enough to carry heavy weight.
Once you now to basics on how to hammock, learn to use it! It's often advised
to avoid making sudden movements and wearing anything that could get stuck in
the hammock like your wristwatch, pins and jewelry. Despite many durable
hammocks available these days, you still need to take good care of your hammock
by folding it up nicely when storing it and washing it with mild detergent when
it gets soiled.
