Hammock - How to Find the Best One for You
Thinking of buying a hammock to relax and unwind? With so many
hammocks on offer, it is difficult to decide which one is best.
Discover the pros and cons of different types of hammocks and
which hammock will be the best for you.
Hammock retailers offer hundreds of different hammocks, but all
of them can be divided into three groups according to material:
fabric, rope and string hammocks. Each material has its pros and
cons.
Fabric hammocks can be quilted, or made of cotton or mesh. A
well-made fabric hammock is durable and doesn't require much
maintenance. Fabric hammocks are comfortable, and cotton fabric
offers the most comfort. Unlike rope hammocks, there will be no
prints on your body. Fabric hammocks are also very good for
young children - their little fingers and toes won't get caught
in the holes. On the downside, fabric doesn't provide much
ventilation. So if you lie in a fabric hammock on a hot day, you
might get a bit sticky. On the other hand, fabric is an ideal
choice for cooler climates.
A rope hammock is the first thing most people think of, when
picturing a hammock. Rope hammocks offer the most traditional
look. They are usually made from cotton or polyester rope. They
are very durable, don't require much maintenance and cost less
than other types. A big advantage of a rope hammock is that it
"breathes", letting you get the most benefit from breezes on a
hot day. Rope hammocks are reasonably comfortable, but the rope
might leave impressions on your skin. Hammocks with smaller
spaces between the ropes are more comfortable.
The last type is string hammocks, which are also called Mayan
hammocks. String hammocks are hand woven, and most of them come
from Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua or El Salvador. They are
reminiscent of tightly woven webs made of fine cotton, in a
weave that might take more than a mile of string. String
hammocks are the most decorative - they come in exotic, tropical
colors, to create a relaxing holiday atmosphere.
Mayan hammocks are extremely comfortable and provide good
ventilation, but don't leave any prints on your skin. They are
also very light-weight, so string hammocks can be used for
camping or taken to the beach. There is one disadvantage though
- it is easy to damage a string hammock. Any sharp object can
easily cut the string, so they are not as durable as rope or
fabric hammocks.
One more thing you should know is that rope and fabric hammocks
can have spreader bars at the ends or be stave-less (traditional
hammock without bars). You might think that spreader bars add
comfort, but in fact it is the other way around - hammocks
without the bars are more comfortable, because they wrap around
your body better. If for appearance reasons you prefer hammocks
with spreader bars, go for hammocks with 3 hanging points
instead of just 2 - these have much less chance of tipping over.
How much a good hammock would cost?
You might be surprised to find out that a good hammock might not
cost much at all. Rope hammocks are usually the cheapest, but
you can also find a very good Mayan or fabric hammock for under
a hundred dollars. That is of course if you already have
suitable trees. If not, you will also a need hammock stand. In
this case, you would be better off buying a package (hammock and
a stand together). You can get a good-looking, safe and
comfortable package for 200-250 dollars, even though some
decorative wooden stands cost as much as 500.
The best way to shop for hammocks is to look at online stores
that sell discounted hammocks.