How to Hang a Hammock with Posts: A Useful Guide
One of the great things about backpacking or camping is to bring a hammock. Whether you are hammock camping or just relaxing a little bit, sitting in a hammock is something super relaxing. Most people also like it hanging at home. However, you don’t always have a real viable way of hanging a hammock. You don’t have any trees that are close together or you found a couple of trees but they are not big enough to support your hammock.
Now there are a variety of ways to hang a hammock without trees like hammock stands, which is a kind of banana shape that you can use to hang it in between. Installing a hammock post does not require any specialized skills. Just follow the below-mentioned steps and you will be able to set your hammocks in minutes.
Dig a Post Hole
Dig a post hole using a post hole digger or shovel or both. The hole should be twice the width of the post and at least 24 inches deep. Depending on the ground, make the post hole 30 inches deep if the ground is sandy or unreliable. You will need a solid base for your post so fill the bottom with pea gravel (6 inches in case of the sandy ground) or if the ground is solid, skip the gravel. Ideally, the distance between the two post holes should be around 14 feet, which will work for most hammocks. Also, if you’ve got one tree at the right place, don’t dig the second post hole. Use the tree and one post.
Put Up the Hooks
Drill a hole near one of the ends of the posts and screw your desired hammock hook. Repeat the process for the second post.
Stand the Post
Stand one of the posts (hook side up) into the middle of the post hole and position it correctly (vertically straight). Make sure the hook is facing the desired direction for hanging the hammock. The hammock post should be around 8 feet long. Now get some concrete, pour it around, wet it, and let it set. Repeat the process for the second post.
Hang your Hammock
Once your poles are all set up, use the hooks and the straps to hang your hammock. If you have a quick deployment set up, you will be able to set your hammock in just 5 minutes. Also, use high-quality straps because they are not too expensive.
Removable Hammock Posts
If you are setting up your hammock in your backyard and you don’t want random posts in your backyard, you can also go for the option of a removable post. So I am going take you to a step-by-step process on how to be able to make one of these for yourself if you want to and it’s fairly cheap. If you already have some of the items such as a post hole digger, it is going to be even cheaper.
So all you need a post hole digger, pea gravel, a 5-foot section of PVC pipe (4-inch), 2 x 8-foot long round posts (4-inch), and QUIKRETE cement because they are the fast-setting. You don’t need to mix them with water first. Just pour it in the hole and then spray it with water and it will go ahead and set.
Dig two post holes about 14 feet apart or whatever distance apart you want. Make sure you dig them deep enough around 35 inches deep and you got a good solid base down there in the hole. Now dump 5 or 6 inches of pea gravel in the bottom. Cut the PVC pipe in half, set it down in the hole, and try to center it in the hole. The upper part of the PVC pipe should align with the ground or a little higher because once the concrete set, you can’t raise it. Cover the pipe with a cap or something and then take the QUIKRETE cement and pour round it. Now take your hose, wet it down and let it set really well. Stand one of the poles in the PVC pipe and repeat the process for the second hole.
Once both of the poles are ready, set your hammock and you can lay in it with no problem. You can always take these posts down real quick. Just pop those posts out of the ground and cover the PVC pipe.
How to Comfortably Sleep in a Hammock?
Comfort is subjective and what works for one person may not work for another. It’s important to experiment to see what you find most comfortable.
Hammock Length
Make sure that your hammock is long enough to be comfortable. For most people, the longer a hammock is the more comfortable it feels. Many hammock camping experts prefer hammocks that are 11 feet long. It’s a great length for getting comfortable but not too heavy or bulky for camping or hiking. If it’s much longer than 11 feet, it gets more difficult to find a spot to hang because you will need more distance between the trees or posts.
Lay at a Diagonal Angle
This helps flatten out your body position and allows you to bend your knees, similar to the position when you’re sitting in one of those zero-gravity chairs. Many try sleeping straight down the middle of a hammock in the banana position. But their knees usually end up hurting because they’re hyperextended. Some people, however, say they’re comfortable sleeping in the center of the hammock. So give it a try if you want.
Use a Structural Ridgeline
The ridgeline is the rope that runs from one end of the hammock to the other. In addition to supporting the bug net, it also sets the sag of the hammock for maximum comfort every time. Hanging a hammock with the same amount of sag each time isn’t easy without a structural ridgeline. So I recommend using one.
Drop the Head End
I recommend starting by setting up your hammock with the head end 6 to 10 inches lower than the foot end. This moves your body closer to the head end, which helps reduce calf ridge. Many people, who try this, find it much more comfortable than a level set up. Try different heights for the head end and foot end and see what you like.
Hammock Height
Set the hammock up at a comfortable height for sitting. This makes it easy to get into and out of plus a hammock makes a great chair. You want to make sure that the hammock is low enough so the edge of the hammock isn’t digging into the back of your knees while your feet are on the ground but also high enough so it’s easy to stand up from the seated position.
Try using a Pillow
I always use a small pillow when I am sleeping in a hammock. I find it much more comfortable with the little extra head and neck support. A pillow makes it a lot easier for me to find a comfortable position.
Find your Hammock Sweet Spots
After you follow the above tips and have a very comfortable set up, it’s time to find the sweet spot. A sweet spot is a place in the hammock and a body position where you experience next-level comfort. It’s like floating on a cloud. How do you find the sweet spot? By experimenting with minor adjustments like increasing and decreasing the diagonal angle, moving your body a little closer to the head end or foot end, bending knees or shifting your weight slightly to one side or the other, and so on. Try this over a few days and once you’ve found the sweet spot, you will probably be a hammock camper for life.
Conclusion
So, this is how you hang a hammock without trees. Use this method for your backyard or whatever you plan on putting your hammock Now there is no right or wrong way to set a hammock and the above method I showed you is what works for me. This is my personal choice and yours maybe a little bit different.
