Not a day goes by where we don’t get asked a question from a customer who’s curious about how to best setup their hammock.
Whether it’s setting it up on a balcony, in a bedroom, between two Jeeps, or just in the backyard – the situations are always different but the questions are often the same:
How far apart should the attachment points be?
How high do they need to be to make sure the hammock isn’t touching the ground?
Is __ feet apart too short/long to hang the hammock?
If you’ve read our post on The Hammock Angle (part of our Sleeping In A Hammock Guide) you know that you should be hanging your non-spreader bar hammock with a nice loose curve so you can lie at an angle across it and get flat.
[NOTE: If your hammock has a metal or wooden spreader bar at each end then this guide won't apply to your hammock - to find out why you should probably switch to a new hammock, check out our post on How You've Been Hammock Brainwashed.]
When your hammock is setup, the amount of curve (also referred to as sag) is going to be determined by the distance between the ends of your hammock. That distance can easily be measured by measuring across the empty space between each end of your hammock. This distance is commonly called the Hammock Ridgeline Length.
You’re probably already thinking, “Wow, there’s a lot more to hanging a hammock than I realized!”. Well, yes and no.
Hanging your Trek Light Hammock between two points can and should be as simple as eyeballing it once you’re used to it (and you can always make easy adjustments with our Go Anywhere Rope Kit). A tape measure definitely isn’t part of our backpacking kit!
But, simply knowing the factors involved can be extremely helpful when it comes to understanding how it all comes together. And, if you’re looking to hang a hammock in a more permanent way (such as installing eyebolts in your wall or posts in your backyard) doing it ‘by the book’ with measurements is definitely the way to go to make sure the hammock hangs exactly the way you want it in the end.
To break it down, when hanging a hammock you’re dealing with a combination of each of these factors to determine the final outcome:
- Distance between the two objects
- Height of attachment points (where you put the rope, straps or eye bolts)
- Hammock Ridgeline Length
- How high off the ground the hammock sits (think of it as chair height)
Another important safety factor you should take into consideration (especially when attaching to a wall or ceiling) is the amount of force being applied to your anchor points and suspension when you’re lying in the hammock.
The amount of force being applied isn’t just dependent on how much weight you’ve got in the hammock as many think. It’s actually a combination of factors including the weight and the angle of your suspension (the angle between the cord and the tree as shown in the picture to the right).
In a nutshell, the tighter you pull your hammock the greater the forces will be on the suspension and anchor points (another reason to hang loose!). An approximate 30 degree angle is considered ideal.
But don’t worry, you don’t need a protractor in your pack either, the angle will always be correct if you just follow the guidelines below. Exactly how tight or loose to hang the hammock can be a matter of personal preference, but there’s definitely a ‘sweet spot’ that creates the ideal hammock curve.
For our Single and Double Hammocks that ridgeline length is around 9’ (108 inches) to get an ideal hammock curve. On our Compact Hammock, which is a foot shorter, it’s closer to 8’ (96 inches).
So, how do you take all of these variable measurements and figure out how to hang your hammock?
Lucky for all of us hammock hangers, there’s a hero in the hammock community by the name of Derek Hansen and he created The Hammock Hang Calculator.
Derek is a hammock enthusiast, author and talented illustrator who has broken down the physics of hanging a hammock and designed an easy to use and understand calculator.
Using The Hammock Hang Calculator
All you need to do is plug in a few of your known (or desired) factors and the calculator will take care of the rest. It even opens with several default options preset that work perfectly with your Trek Light Hammock – the Ridgeline Length is already set to 108 inches and the Sit Height is set to 18 inches (average chair height for most).
If the Ridgeline Length and Sit Height is what you want, all you need to do is plug in the distance between your points - and your weight if you’re concerned (or curious) about the amount of force being applied - and you’re ready to go!
The Hammock Hang Calculator will show you how high to set your suspension points (rope, straps, eyebolt, etc.) to get the perfect hang every time.
Many thanks to Derek for putting together such an amazing tool for hammock lovers. Keep in mind that all of these numbers can be approximated and hanging your hammock doesn’t need to be an exact science, it’s all about what feels comfortable to you.
As it says in the disclaimer on the page, please keep in mind that the calculator is designed for ‘estimating and entertainment purposes only’ and the same goes for the contents of this guide. You should always get a professional opinion when hanging your hammock indoors, make sure any object you’re hanging from is strong enough to support your weight and double check all equipment.
Neither Derek nor Trek Light Gear can be held liable for damage or injury that results from hanging your hammock incorrectly, from an insecure object or in an unsafe manner.
The Ultimate Hang!
You’ll be hearing more from us on the blog about Derek Hansen soon as Derek recently just published an incredible book on hammock camping called The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide To Hammock Camping. We sell it in our shop so you can buy it immediately and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to learn more about the world of hammock camping.
Derek uses over 200 illustrations and a wealth of knowledge to explain everything you need to know about topics such as staying dry, keeping warm, and, of course, setting up your hammock properly.
I hope this guide, along with the Hammock Hang Calculator, has been incredibly helpful in helping you determine how to hang your Trek Light Hammock.
If you’ve got any questions about hanging your hammock or feel we missed anything just post your question in the comments below!
(P.S. You can also download a mobile version of the Hammock Hang Calculator for your iPhone in the Apple store!)
Comments (73)
I have been sleeping poorly for some years. My back is not as good as it once was and I have a fairly good mattress. I’ve tried several different pillows: memory foam, contoured, etc. but still don’t get great rest, so I started thinking about a hammock. I didn’t know if people actually used them for normal everyday sleeping and I didn’t want to be a member of the weirdo club, so I searched. I was encouraged to find that many people do recommend it and even say it’s good for the back.
So I plunged into buying one after doing some research on models, especially since they are so much less expensive than mattresses. I had to get one with a stand so I did some research and decided on a “Vivere Double Hammock with Space Saving Steel Stand”. It is 100% cotton and the hammock bed is 63 × 94-Inch, with a total length of 130-Inches. I figured I’d better go for a double since I’m 6’6".
I tried it the first night and made it through about 4 hours before I crawled out and back onto my bed. I was restless much of the night and my back had started feeling tight. I often sleep on my stomach so that was definitely out with the hammock. I sometime sleep on my back or sides as well and figured I turned because the bed wasn’t comfortable. I figured I could make it in the hammock without needing to be on my stomach. That first night, I had tried putting in a blanket first, thinking it would soften the material and I could cover with it. I found this very difficult to do because of the curling and wondered if that had contributed to the poor rest.
I tried it the second night but just laid on the hammock fabric and draped the blanket over the hammock, much easier to achieve. I also use a pillow this time. I made it a little over three hours before going back to my bed. Again, my back was not feeling good. I did notice then that the pressure from my mattress seemed very intense for awhile.
So I started wondering about the adjustments on the hammock. I figured the tautness of the hammock must play a big part in this. I wasn’t sure if both ends were supposed to be the same height or one should be lower. This Vivere frame has a wide U-shaped bar on the top of the uprights were the hammock ropes rest on and a hook on the pipe to secure the loop. This is adjustable with six holes that you change where the hook goes. I think I had it on the third hole down previously. Then I read you don’t want the hammock strung too tightly, so I lowered it to the second holes. The very top hole is useless because you drag the floor (and the bar) if you get in (I’m about 220). Using the second holes places me about 3 inches from the frame bar beneath me when I’m lying down so I can’t make it any less taut than this.
If you, oh guru of the hammock, can give me any advice on this, that would be great. Am I just too tall for this or am I doing something else wrong? I do lay at an angle in the hammock.
Hi all. Hammock newbie. Have a stand which I would like to use but not sure how to calculate for a hammock. Between hooks 114". Height of hooks 41". Any chance of getting something to fit this and let my 6’ 215 lb. body fit in? Would appreciate any help. Thanks
Hi Scott – I haven’t tried every hammock stand out there so it’s difficult to give you and accurate answer – the calculator can be difficult to translate to a hammock stand since every one is designed a bit differently. My concern with the stand you referenced would be the height of the hooks. The height of the hammock stand we currently sell is 54" and the length is 124" at its shortest. I’d be worried that you’d sink too low in the stand you’ve got so you’d be on the ground. Some hammock stands aren’t as tall because they’re designed with spreader bar hammocks in mind – those hammocks are meant to be pulled tight with little sag, unlike a hammock like ours (and what the hang calculator is geared towards). I wish I could give you a better answer, if you order one of our hammocks off of Amazon you can always take advantage of their free shipping and easy returns to give it a try!
Thanks Seth. The stand was a gift and in reading your blogs I was trying to go away from the spreader bar. But it sounds like my stand specs won’t work with your style. I do appreciate the quick follow up!
The calculator is amazing! Now I know since my straps are only 54" long, not including the diameter of the tree, most optimal hang spaces is right around 10-12ft for me (~double my arm span) which is pretty easy to measure. I also should hang my straps at about 5’ or my shoulder height. I’ve been hanging them much higher (overhead) which reduces my ridgeline length and increases my suspension length. You should only set your hang point higher to reduce cord tension which might be a factor when trying to sleep two in the same hammock.
What’s the minimum distance needed between hooks for a single
Typically you’ll want ~8.5ft as a minimum (either for our Single or Double). You can definitely use the hammock comfortably with less span but I’ve found that to be a pretty ideal minimum if you plan on spending a good amount of time in the hammock, using it for sleeping, etc.
Thank you Seth, I am wondering about the height of the tie in. I have two posts 10’ apart built under an ivy covered gazebo type thing. The hooks are 48" high. I built it to fit a single spreader bar hammock a long time ago. Will it sag to the deck?
That should work. If you plug those numbers into the calculator it recommends a height of ~52in. to get the hammock to hang at a ‘seat height’ of 18", which is ideal for most people. Working backwards you wind up with a seat height of 13-14 inches when your anchor points are at 48" high. That’s a bit lower than your average chair but it should still keep you high enough off the ground (provided your suspension isn’t stretching further when you get in).
Wow, thanks for the quick answer. Perfect enough. Even my little grandkids will be able to get in and out