I flip around a lot while sleeping in a normal bed. It seems that a hammock would be restrictive to this kind of sleep behavior, thus not permitting a good night's rest. After all, your "weight" locks you into a certain body configuration when you're in a hammock (If you've ever experienced difficulties in getting out of a hammock, you'll know what I'm talking about). But this is my perception, not having the experience of sleeping all night in a hammock.

All other things being equal, are hammocks more suitable for people that sleep like logs (those people that don't move around in their sleep so much)?

If you're flipping around in your bed all night and you know it then I'd be inclined to think that maybe you're not getting a good night's sleep in your bed.

You need to spend a night or two in a hammock to understand. I'm normally a side sleeper in a bed or on a pad on the ground. In a hammock I do switch between being on my back and sleeping on my side, but don't remember changing positions as often as I do in a bed.

Borrow a hammock and try it...

I toss and turn a bit sleeping, but I will say I slept better and moved around less in a hammock then in my bed, and not because I felt constricted. Laying on a diagonal in a hammock I can pretty easily switch from my side to back. I sleep way better in a hammock then on the ground.

If you can, try out a friends hammock, or look at grand trunk who makes one for $20. Not the lightest, or very big but a cheap way to try one out.

OR... if you can sew even barely...you can get some 1.1oz uncoated ripstop from backwoodsdaydreamer.com for $3.00 a yard and make a super cheap and light whipped end hammock.

The benefits of a hammock keep going; not just a good nights sleep, a comfortable chair, clothesline, can easily attach your gear to the suspension lines and keep it off the ground, super fast setup, and I think they are pretty cool to look at.

Good luck

I tend to find my self rolling over from side to side and some time on my back throughout the night. I rarely fully wake up to do it though, just enough to decide to turn to another position and then I am back out. I will add that I wake more in the hammock than my bed a home, but I am also more used to the bed. It takes time for your body to adjust to a new sleeping arrangement. But even so I sleep better in the hammock and feel more rested each morning I wake up on the trail. That alone counts for more in my book than any thing else.

I'm also a tosser and have found that it takes a little longer to find my "sweet spot" in the hammock but once I do I'm out like a light.

Like Paul said, you're body isn't used to it at first so it takes time to adjust, plus experience in hanging it correctly, etc. but once you do you'll enjoy every minute of it.

Sorry Marc, but i almost choked on my beer there!

English is a funny language. If someone on this side of the pond posted 'i'm a tosser', it would mean something totally different.

Would you post 'i'm a mastur*bator?' :)

That's master debater.

Yeah, it was darn funny to me too (cleans monitor and keyboard).

Cheers,

Rick

Try a asymmetrical hammock or a double hammock. You will likely find in either of those that you can sleep nearly flat on your back, side, or stomach.

Most people don't realize that there is a lot more to a hammock than just laying in it banana shaped. With a small amount of research and effort you'll find there is as many different ways to hang a hammock as there is to pitch a tarp tent and some small adjustments can make huge differences.

Is your Avatar on the bridge over the Manistee? With the big open dirt campsite just bellow you to you left? If so, fond memories for me.

-Tim

Yes Tim that is the bridge up by Hodenpyl dam. I've been up there 3 times this year. I really like hiking that area. Here's my every trail log from hiking the loop earlier this year. http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=657465

Back on topic-
Try a hammock and see if it's for you. I work with a guy that wants in the worst way to sleep in a hammock but he hasn't been able to comfortably sleep in one.

Going there this coming weekend ... yeah!!

I started following this new forum to see what hammocking is all about. Chris mentioned Grand Trunks for $20, and I bought 1 off Amazon. I need to see if I can sleep in one of these. I'm not like Tim, meaning I'm 5'9" tall and weigh 150 lbs.

I went hiking over the weekend and spend some time looking for a clear spot large enough for my Tarptent Contrail. I could've set up a hammock everywhere I looked....heavily wooded up here in the NW.

I shift around constantly in my rig. For me that's why a wide body hammock is crucial..

In fact, there's nothing better than full fetal position sleeping turned sideways in the width of the hammock.

I can even sleep on my stomach somewhat.

It's really a learning process, just like anything, finding which spots and angles in the hammock are comfy for which sleeping mode. All in all though, I find it much more accommodating than ground sleeping

One of the many surprises about sleeping in a hammock is the discovery that my "regular bed" sleeping positions (right side to almost stomach sleeping) are NOT how I sleep in my hammock. When I'm in my hammock, I'm tilted (15-20 degrees??) toward my right side, but otherwise more-or-less sleeping quite happily on my back.

I do find that I move my legs about, pulling one or the other (or both) up to about a 90 degree bend at the knee for variety and a change of position.

In my experience, there is a poor correlation between sleeping position in a normal bed vs. lying diagonally in a hammock.

Edited by Beep on 08/30/2010 11:52:39 MDT.

It's interesting, really. I took to hammocking immediately, no 'break in' period needed. The first time I ever backpacked with one was the best sleep I had ever had in the backcountry. I toss and turn when at home or on the ground, but in my hammock I usually get in, stretch out on my back, and I'm out til morning. Like William I'll occasionally bend a leg, but that's about it.

I still ground dwell occasionally, but that's rare. I simply much prefer the hammock!

I always sleep on my side in my bed at home.
On the ground, I flop like a freshly beached fish.
In a hammock, I lay down on my back, and the next thing I know, it's morning!

There is a learning curve to setting up the hammock for the most comfortable position. But, once you've figured it out, that's it!

If you do pursue hammocking, go to www.hammockforums.com for expert, detailed advice from some of the nicest folks on the internet. And then, attend one of their "group hangs" for hands on learning and camaraderie.

Myself, I only sleep well at home. In a tent on a pad or in a hammock I lay awake most of the night, not tossing, just unable to sleep. I chose a hammock because I'm not sore or bruised when I finally chose to get up.

Very true... but it's really no more different than when you all smoke your f@gs.

I just got back from a short hang trip and really struggled with my legs cramping or pressure on my outside foot against the hammock body. Perhaps, a longer wider hammock would help but i am still very new to the whole thing and have a lot to learn yet. Still i much prefer it to the ground.

-Tim

I've got a Hennesy Ultralight Asym. I sleep like a dream in it. Best sleep I've ever had out on the trail. Took me a few times to get used to it, but once I did; it's great. I toss and turn a lot more at home than I do out on the trail in a hammock.

HJ

Nice one Marc. :)

I keep my f@gs in my 'fanny' pack though. ;)

Tim,

You mentioned that you have trouble with pressure on my outside foot against the hammock body.

When I purchased my hammock, I had heard that complaint from a few people, and that's one reason I ordered a Warbonnet Blackbird. The built-in footbox eliminates that problem.

I am aware of the footbox of the WBBB but would like to make my own, or use what i have now if it is a matter of setup and not just a limitation of all gathered ends minus footbox.

-Tim

How about you guys who have bad lower backs, lower back injuries, etc.? Are you able to sleep in a hammock without it aggrivating any back pain conditions you might have?

i am currently dealing with some serious low back issues. I am up right now at 4:45am because i can't lay in my bed, or stand, or sit because it all hurts too much (not sure what is left that wont hurt right now) I slept in my hammock 3 of the last 5 nights (the last 2 in bed) and slept 100 times better than i am now that i am home. That isn't to say that my back felt perfect in the hammock but it was for sure much less aggravated in the morning and the issues of my legs pressing against the hammock was more frustrating then anything my back felt. The more even support of the hammock forming to me vs laying on a flat bed has helped my pain and i may have to start using it at home.

-Tim

Tim, I've been dealing with lower back issues since I was 22. Take a tip from me. It's all about carefully and in a controlled way, extending your range of movement. Lie on your stomach in bed. prop yourself up on your elbows, and relax into the pain. Then roll over, bring your knees up to your chest, and let your bent legs back down. Repeat three times before rising. Don't be ashamed to stick a pilow under your knees if it eases your back while resting. -Rog-

I switched to hammocks because of my back. I don't generally have problems in normal life - a tweak or two a year usually from doing something stupid - but I was often a wreck during and after backpacking trips. Sleeping and especially getting up in the morning was a major pain. Kept trying different sleeping pads and nothing really changed. Went to hammocking and I actually come home feeling BETTER than when I left. I now use a hammock for "therapy" whenever I tweak my back. I feel it starting to lock up and a couple hour-long sessions in the hammock seems to set it right. I don't really care about the "how" at this point. I just know it works for me. I don't seem to sleep as deep in the hammock, but I'm infinitely more comfortable and physically refreshed.

I have similar experiences. I just got back from a 5 day backpacking trip, and experienced more neck/back discomfort in my own bed since returning home than I did out on the trail. More motivation to get out backpacking! How cool is that?

I have exactly the same experience as Curt. In fact I was starting to have significant lower back pains that kept me from sleeping more than an hour or two a night until I started sleeping in the hammock..

After sleeping in the hammock at home and on the trail regularly, most of my back problems have gone away, and I'm actually pretty comfortable in the bed at night now.

I'm sure this is a YMMV thing, but it works wonders for some of us.

How about you guys who have bad lower backs, lower back injuries, etc.? Are you able to sleep in a hammock without it aggrivating any back pain conditions you might have?


I just had Spine surgery 25 days ago(Lamonectomy/Micro Diskectomy L5/S1)...and the best sleep i had since then (pain free) was in my Warbonnet Blackbird
i can't sleep in the bed..if i do i wake up the next day and i'm in pain all day...i can't even walk down the stairs in the morning

i know a few other ppl with back problems and they sleep pain free in hammocks as well
so yes...a hammock is better for back problems
one of the reasons for this is with sleeping in a hammock there is no pressure on your hips and you sleep with a natural curve this helps decompress your lower back as you sleep

Edited by PA_Hiker on 09/06/2010 05:40:48 MDT.