• Buy material for body of hammock
  • 60 inches wide
  • 1.9 oz rip stop if less than 200 pounds
  • Length: Height + 2 feet + 2 more feet for knots
    • eg: 6ft +2ft +2ft = 10 ft for a 6 ' camper.
• Buy material to tie to trees
  • 5 yards at each end
  • 1" polypropylene webbing rated at 600 pounds
• seal the fabric at each short edge with a torch, lighter, or candle
• make knot in each end of hammock
  • gather up material evenly
  • pull the two sides up about 2 inches
  • tie a secure overhand knot in the material
• attach straps to hammock
  • loop end of webbing around hammock just inside one of the knots
  • use bar stitch in webbing (close zigzag stitch) to trap the knot so it can not slide through the loop of webbing
  • repeat for other end

   Some of these include the following guidelines:
young children should never be left unattended on or near a hammock. They can easily get tangled in the rope or fall off and injury themselves.
- inspect the hammock daily for the condition of the rope (eg. any frayed ropes)
- inspect the condition of the stand daily (any rust spots or cracks)
- inspect how the hammock is attached to trees, posts, building , … (are the ropes/chains/hooks intact, not twisted and in good condition)
- remove any hard or sharp objects under the hammock in case someone falls or rolls off
- do not overload a hammock (the recommended maximum load for a single hammock is 300 pounds and 450 pounds for a double or deluxe size)
- do not overload a stand (our heavy duty steel stands which we started selling in 2000 have a maximum load of 600 pounds)
- if 2 people are sharing a hammock, care and co-operation is required by both parties to maintain proper balance
- when getting into a hammock do not sit on the edge but rather sit in the centre as much as possible to maintain a balance
- when getting out of a hammock, grasp both sides , then sit up and slowly move your legs to the side you wish to exit. Practice getting in and out while someone is holding the hammock is recommended a few times
- getting into and out of a hammock should be done with care to maintain balance

  Attach your hammock approximately 5 feet off the ground at each end. This will give you plenty of room for the hammock to sway down comfortably and you can easily tighten it if desired. Hammocks can be attached to trees, posts, building or other structures as long as they are sturdy enough to support the potential weight of the hammock and it’s occupants. Please err on the conservative side or contact us if in doubt. Wooden posts should be at least 6by 6 inches (metal posts should be at least 2 inches in diameter) and lean away from the hammock if possible. Trees should be hardwood (like maple, birch, beech, oak, ….) and at least 8 inches in diameter. Softwood trees (like cedar, spruce or pine) need to be thicker to ensure safety. For posts we suggest using heavy galvanized (or zinc plated or stainless steel) eye bolts at least 3/8 inches in diameter. This hardware is available at most hardware stores. If attaching to trees there are several options. About 5 feet off the ground, carefully pre-drill a 1/4 inch pilot hole 4 inches into the tree truck. Then fully screw in an eye lag bolt (at least 3/8 inches in diameter and 4 inches in length). An alternative method is to use a tree strap (which we sell) that wraps around a tree without damaging the bark. These straps are very strong(similar fabric to seatbelts). They are 10 feet in length and have rings sewn in and hooks to attach a hammock. Tree Straps can accommodate most trees with quick easy setup and removal.

   Hammocks should be brought inside when possible (especially if prolonged cold wet weather is expected). Hammocks can get wet, but we encourage you to make sure they are thoroughly dried afterwards by hanging them in a sunny location. At least once a year we recommend you wash your hammock (or more often if it gets soiled faster). Lay the hammock on a hard clean surface (like a deck or patio). Using a soft scrub brush wash the hammock with a mild detergent mixed with warm water. Turn it over and repeat.