I’m sure we’ve all been there before – you’re laying in your hammock and it feels a little tight around your body.
You try to move, but the fabric is pulling against you and not giving at all.
Your friends are having a blast on their hammocks around you, so what’s going on? It turns out that this feeling of being squished can happen when the ropes are pulled tightly enough that they put pressure on the tree straps holding up the hammock.
If you’ve ever set up a hammock, you know that it’s important to have the material tight in order for it to be comfortable and supportive.
However, the tighter the rope, then more pressure is put onto each hammock strap which prevents them from moving with any give or bend as you move in your hammock.
If your hammock is constantly tight in one spot, or gets tighter over time, then there are some reasons and simple ways to fix this issue.
Read more to learn about how to fix your hammock so that it won’t be too tight in the middle.
What is a hammock
A hammock is a sling made of fabric, rope, or netting that hangs between two points such as trees or posts.
In warmer climates they are often hung indoors for sleeping and relaxing; while in colder areas, they can be used outside to keep people off the cold ground.
Please, don’t confuse it with a neck hammock, which is something different meant for neck pain relief.
Hammocks were originally developed by native inhabitants of Central and South America for centuries before being brought back to Europe during the colonial era.
Many cultures have created hammocks from a variety of materials, such as cotton or wool in temperate climates; palm leaves in subtropical regions; and woven straw or wicker in tropical countries.
The word “hammock” is derived from an Arawakan word meaning “stretch of cloth”. Supporting strings are sometimes referred to as “spreaders.”
The most popular type of hammock is made with spreader bars located at each end that keep its shape by distancing the fabric more widely than would otherwise be possible because it cannot sag between supports.
This style often features additional cord-tightening mechanisms (lacing on one or both sides).
Types of hammocks
Hammocks come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.
There are different types of hammocks such as rope or cotton hammock, camping hammock, Brazilian type hammock and the Mayan style.
There are many features that make each individual kind of hammock special for certain purposes:
- The rope (or Cotton) Hammock requires one to attach suspension cords between two stationary points whereas the Camping Hammock has ropes at each end for easy set up.
- The Brazilian Type Hammock relies on being spread out over an area like a tarp shelter while the Mayan Style hangs from hooks attached to trees with its width usually depending on how much rope is used.
Why use hammocks
- You will never have to lay on the ground in nature again
- There are no springs or bulky apparatus, just lightweight fabric and ropes; no need for a frame stand. Simply find two trees and hang your hammock!
- Save time by being able to swing up into a hammock and read while listening to music
- No back or neck pain with the ergonomic design of the fabric
- Get rid of your day bed as it is not as supportive and instead use a hammock that can hold up to 400lbs and more
- More affordable than a bed
- Stores easily in your closet
- Doesn’t rust like a metal ladder does
What does it mean when my hammock is tight
Let’s face it, hammocks are pretty awesome.
They’re great for relaxation and have a long history.
But if your hammock is tight, then that might not be such an enjoyable experience!
Tightness means the ropes or fabric of your hammock are too taut and uncomfortable to lie on.
When your lawn hammock sags down on one side while you’re sitting in it and feels like there’s too much give under the other end then this could be an indication that your hammock has stretched out over time.
This is what happens with the hammock fabric because they have plastic fibers in them to help make the material stronger over time but those plastics break down after extended use so eventually you can get saggy spots.
Signs of a tight hammock include
- Squeezed shoulders,
- stress lines in the fabric and
- a taut ridge down the middle of the hammocks surface
The best way to know for sure is by measuring your hammock from end-to-end (longitudinally) with a tape measure to see if it meets the manufacturer’s specifications.
This is the best way to know for sure that you are not dealing with an improperly hung hammock.
Why are hammocks tight in the middle
Too tight tied hammock
The hammock is the perfect summertime home for kids.
It’s cool, breezy and comfortable—perfect to relax in any hot weather.
But did you know that if your kids are laying on a hammock set up too tight they may not have enough room?
The tighter grip can also cause minor pain in their backs due to pressure points from not having adequate padding.
So what does this mean for adults who want to use a hammock as well?
If you feel like someone else is pushing against your back, you may be too close to the hammock’s edge.
Too long tied hammock
Ever caught yourself in your hammock, only to notice it’s just so tight because you overslept?
Whoops!
Your day’s plans are no doubt ruined.
That’s why we designed hammocks where the middle is just as comfortable as the ends on purpose!
We’ve seen that the problem with hammocks can be the space in between.
We all know how it feels to have a hammock that’s just too long and with the middle being really tight.
Hogging, they call it.
A hammock that is tied too long may cause the middle to be too tight, which can lead to discomfort.
This will also affect how easy it is for your body weight and movements in the hammock.
Improper hammock angle
Wanting to be stretched out in a hammock is an age-old dilemma.
You love it because the way swaying back and forth feels so natural, but you’re so crammed when you finally get in there that it’s not enjoyable at all.
After one too many book reading sessions, and suffering through the pain of a stiff body afterwards, you will start to realize that maybe relaxing in your hammock may not be such a good idea.
The solution is in finding the perfect hammock suspension angle.
If you’re planning on spending a cozy night in your hammock, we recommend suspending it at an angle of 300 to avoid rocking yourself to sleep.
If a hammock’s hang angle is too steep, there’s a good chance the hammock will be too tight.
A little bit of slack lets you kick back in total comfort while your hammock gear stays quick-and-easy to grab.
Uncomfortable type of hammock
What happens when things don’t go according to plan?
You may be left with a hammock that’s too tight.
This can often happen if you purchase the wrong size for your weight or wrong material for lounging in the backyard.
I understand that finding the right hammock can be hard.
When you hear the word tight, it’s not a good sign about how your hammock is made, especially if you intend to use it to relax on.
Sometimes it feels like you’re being crushed if the hammock is too narrow.
How to make your hammock more comfortable
We all know how relaxing and enjoyable a hammock is to hang out on a hot summer day.
For sure a hammock is one of the most comfortable spots for lounging.
However, do you ever find yourself in your hammock, but with a stiff neck and back?
You know that feeling when you’re in the hammock and your back is aching?
It’s not because you’ve been sitting for too long, but because of an uncomfortable and tight hammock.
It’s hard to relax when you are uncomfortable.
We all want to lounge in our hammock as much as possible, but sometimes you need a little help!
The good news is that there are some simple hacks out there for making your hammock more comfortable and cozy.
There are three main factors that impact the comfort of your hammock:
1) type of fabric
2) hammock suspension
3) size of the hammock
Choose the right type of fabric
The fabric of a hammock can affect the experience.
For example, if your hammock is made from cotton then you may find that it sags in the middle due to its natural weight and the ridgeline.
On the other hand, nylon hammocks do not sag because they are more durable and less likely to stretch and fray over time as compared with cotton ones.
Check on the hammock suspension
When a hammock is not hung correctly, the middle of it will be tight.
This happens because when each side has friction on both ends, there are more coils on one end than the other and this creates an uneven weight distribution in your hammock.
The longer part or wider portion takes up all the slack so that stretching out becomes nearly impossible without letting go of something you’re holding onto with one hand or another area being pulled down from gravity.
When this occurs you need to adjust your suspension system by rigging under tension between trees instead of over them.
As you do this, maintain a hang angle of 300.
This solves for saggy leaves touching your body and allows full extension in any direction possible if needed while still keeping easy reachable access to ground level at all times.
Size of the hammock
Different sizes of hammocks can have different effects on how it feels in various parts of the body, and we’ll describe some specific ways you might experience this according to which part is giving you trouble: For example, if your pelvis is feeling particularly sore or compressed, a smaller sized hammock may provide more relief for that area than something bulkier would.
It also follows that higher-weight humans should opt for heavier materials like canvas (or one with thicker ropes) since they carry weight better and won’t sag under their own weight.
This isn’t always necessary though – lighter weight people who don’t want a heavy blanket enveloping them will prefer lighter materials that can still handle their weight, or a slimmer hammock.
The end goal is to create the perfect balance of comfort and cost without compromising on durability.
To do this, it’s vital for you to know what type of body you have so that your new purchase meets with both your desires and needs in mind!
Some people are taller than others but also carry more weight whereas other individuals may be short but weigh less – this means they’ll need different levels of support depending on where they’re feeling discomfort from underneath them.
In addition to adjusting lengths based on height, there’s another consideration: width!
A hammock that’s not wide enough will feel cramped along its edges even if it’s the perfect length.
When you’re deciding on a hammock size, make sure to look at both width and hammock length measurements so that your body has room to move around comfortably in the middle of the hammock.
Some people find that adjusting their height can also reduce tension along a particular edge or corner if they are tied too tightly.
To relieve tension along the edges or corners, try loosening the knots a bit.
This will allow you to spread out more and redistribute your weight evenly without feeling uncomfortable on one side of the hammock.
Conclusion
So, you’ve found yourself a hammock.
Congratulations!
If this is your first time buying one, it can be tough to know which type and size will best suit your needs.
Keep in mind that while small hammocks are great for lounging around the house, garden or on an island vacation, they’re not as comfortable when you want to relax out under the stars with friends at night-time campsites.
Larger models are better suited for camping because of their ability to hold more people without being too tight (and uncomfortable).
Remember that if it’s too tight then there really isn’t much point in having one!
Try these principles to alleviate this issue by preventing your hammock from being too tight.