After a few seasons, you will find yourself hanging very close to the ground when you sleep on your hammock. This means that your hammock is drooping or sagging. A sagging hammock does not have a cozy cocoon and even the right curve.
A sagging hammock does not provide comfort and full relaxation because you are suspended very close to the ground and can lead to back problems. If you continue to apply weight on your hammock in this condition, it will overstretch and be damaged totally.
Causes of Hammock Sagging
- Stretching
The hammock ropes can stretch by themselves when used for a long period. Stretching is mainly caused by excess weight applied to the hammock.
Stretching also depends on the quality of the rope or fabric and the amount of weight applied. A hammock can stretch one foot to two feet in a period of six months. This is how you find yourself hanging close to the ground.
- Extra-long hammock
Some manufacturers make extra-long hammock strings. This will make your hammock sag if you are using a hammock stand because it is hard to get a wonderful hang on the conventional stands.
- Wrong hanging angle
Most homeowners recommend that a hammock should be hung at a 30-degree angle. You should also make sure the two poles are not too close because this will also make the hammock sag. Also, make sure the ropes are firmly tied on the trees or poles or else you will hang loosely close to the ground.
Solutions to a Sagging Hammock
- Adjust the end chains
The hammock ropes stretch out naturally. The first solution is to adjust the end chains to be shorter. You should note that the end chains are mainly found on the hammock stands.
A sagging hammock is extra long for a stand. If you have adjusted the chain but the hammock is still not hanging right then try the other solutions below.
- Tie knots
Try and tie a knot on the ropes between the loop and the hammock bed. Begin with one knot and test the length. Each knot you tie will shorten the rope by about four inches. Continue trying up to when you will get the desired length. Tie a knot around a metal bar or a stick to make it bigger and easy to untie.
- Tightening the ends
You can tighten the ends by wrapping up the ropes to get the best fit. Wrap the extra rope on the sides of the hammock stand and hook up the loop on the stand. Do this also on the other side of the hammock.
If you wrap one side and get a perfect fit then there is no need of wrapping the other side.
- Adjust the hanging angle
Adjust the hanging angle to be about 30 degrees with the stand or the pole. This angle is achieved by untying the ends and trying to tighten them so that the hammock is not sagging at 30 degrees. This angle can also be achieved by increasing the distance between the two ends.
Hammock Stands
Hammock stands are either wooden or metallic and can be portable or fixed. They are designed to hook and unhook the hammock easily. They are stylish and lightweight, making your relaxing environment elegant.
These stands are designed for hammocks, so do not worry about it slipping off or not having a perfect fit.
Hammock stands are somehow huge, so they can take up a big space on your patio. Most hammock stands range between five feet to ten feet wide.
Types of Hammock Stands
- Wooden hammock stand
This is the best hammock stand for your patio. This type of hammock stand is very heavy so it is best if it is close to the house. Most homeowners make the wooden hammock stand as part of their patio furniture because it is not easily mobile.
Always apply wood preservative on your wooden hammock stand to prevent rotting and molds or mildew.
- Metallic hammock stand
This is a lightweight hammock stand and has low maintenance compared to wooden hammock stands. There are some cheap low quality metallic hammock stands made from non-stainless metal that require a lot of care because they can rust.
Those made from stainless steel are strong, sturdy and can be collapsible. Aluminum hammock stands are lightweight than steel ones, but they are less durable.
- Spreader bar hammock stand
This is a stand that comes with a bar, which keeps your hammock flat when hooked on the stand. This bar can be made of wood, plastic, or nylon.
The spreader bar helps to keep the hammock open when you sleep on it. The only downside of such a bar is that it makes the hammock vulnerable to tipping hence you can fall down while you are in deep sleep.
- Collapsible/portable hammock stand
As the name suggests, this type of hammock stand can be collapsed and carried around. It is made of steel, aluminum or fiberglass. It is lightweight compared to the fixture hammock stand. Most of these portable hammock stands have carrying cases best for camping and hikes.
Caring tips of a hammock stand
Regularly clean your hammock stand. This is because when dust and dirt accumulate on the frame, it can rust if it is a metallic stand or have molds if it is a wooden stand.
Apply wood preservative on your wooden hammock stand to prevent rotting and molds or mildew.
Apply paint on the metallic hammock stands to prevent rusting which weakens the metal.
Always keep the hammock stand indoors when it is not in use. Doing this will increase the useful life of the hammock stand.
Conclusion
To fix a sagging hammock, you must first understand what is causing it to sag. Sagging can be caused by stretching of the ropes, wrong hanging angle, or the hammock is too long. Solutions to this is to adjust the chains, wrapping up the end ropes, and tie some knots then you will have a perfect hang.