DIY Camping Hammocks??? Oh yeah, I'm making them.

[wirerat123]

Now some people are always skeptical about camping in Hammocks.  Those of us (My girlfriend included), can't fathom ever going back to the ground except in certain circumstances.  I already own 2 Hennessy Hammocks.  But why would I want to DIY myself some more camping Hammocks?  Well, 2 are for good friends of mine who are really amped about hammock camping, and the other is for myself (It's the R&D one so I don't mess up theirs).  

DIYing your own gear allows for personal customization.  You decide what you need, what you don't need, how tall, short, long, etc etc.  Plus the savings are insane.  All you have to do is learn to become handy with a sewing machine.  And to be honest, learning to sew with a decent sewing machine is a breeze.  If learning to sew with a sewing machine intimidates you then camping in the woods should have never made the list of things to enjoy lol.

Once you learn to sew properly (In less than a day you can learn enough basics to make ANY gear) you can make gear every bit as good and durable as the big ticket manufacturers for 1/10 of the price in most cases.

I'm a member of hammock forums, and while I totally plan most of my ideas around those designs, I brainstormed a mixture of other designs into my Frankenstein design.  It's a two layer, structural ridgeline, integrated bug net camping Hammock.  We haven't decided on tarp options yet, simply because I'm leaving the type of tarps I make up to the individuals recieving them.

So far I have collected the following:
14.5 yards of 1.9oz Ripstop Nylon (4 Yards needed per hammock.) $23 (Found in the Wal Mart $1.50 Bin)
12 Yards of no see um netting (We all know what that is for) $18
130' of climbing rope (I get 10' to 15+' scraps for dirt cheap)  $6 (yes $6)
1/2" Gromments $2
12 yards of polar fleece $36 (second inner layer of the hammock.)

Total materials for 3 camping hammocks thus far = $85 (Less than buying a single hammock).  Per Hammock investment is less than $26.  Compare that to buying a reputable manufactured double layer camping hammock and we saved at least $75 PER HAMMOCK!  Granted these will likely be a little heavier (Fleece inner liner eliminating need for a warm weather underquilt), I'm right now figuring on about 1.5lb without the tarps, and a good designed silnylon tarp should add much more than a pound if even a pound.  Bringing the likely load for this shelter system to be less than 3lbs.

I have the plans I designed on powerpoint and in JPG format.  If you would like a copy, PM me if you would like a copy of the design.  This weekend I will begin putting one together, and taking pictures of the process.  Going to try to video some as well.  These will work as the designs integrated into this hammock are all proven designs, I have just taken different design aspects from different hammocks and put the ones I wanted onto mine and removed that I didn't see necessary, it's just up to you and me to implement the instructions I created correctly.

So keep an eye out on this thread, I will be uploading pictures of the steps as I go, then uploading pictures of the item in use.  I'm hoping to have the first finished this weekend.  Can't wait!

[Bankheadboy]

Good luck with this I cant wait to see your finish products. Making a 121"Long X 60"Wide RL 101"  hammock is the easy part. Sewing on the bugnet ? I've made lots of hammocks but my go to hammock is my Blackbird from Warbonnet. Staying warm with a fleece liner ? Hot weather only. There is lots and lots of good DIY info. on Hammock Forums. As far as tarps go I'm not sure walmart $1.50 ben material will help with keeping you dry. I've made them too! They ended up in the closet I dont trust them. I just tryed out a DIY hammock made out of the thin rip-stop gray from walmart with a single layer and it worked but made me nerous, two layers would be fine. Gook luck and post pictures! Bankheadboy

[wirerat123]

I'm still sourcing Silnylon for tarps, but am also considering giving the home made Sil a try since I have a good bit of material.  I'm leaving tarp options up to the others recieving hammocks I am making since they may have a color preference or something.  Myself, I'm planning to try everything from Tyvek with Gorilla Tape to home made SilNylon, to purchased Silnylon.

For now since the first one will be my car camping hammock (Hence the fleece second layer) it's is really just a test hammock with a few more bells, whistles and conveniences like extra pockets and such.

I will be using the 1.1 ripstop for the WM bargain bin to make a super light double layer in the near future as well to see if I can lighten my load up from my Hennessy Exped ASYM.  Judging from info I am gathering from Hammock Forums, I can likely pull an additional 3+ pounds out of my pack weight just by DIYing a simple gathered end hammock and DIY down over quilt rather than my sleeping bag.

I have 29 yards of the Wally World 1.1 Grey Ripstop Nylon (I found more in Guntersville), 8 yards of Green 1.1 Ripstop Nylon (Found in Arab), and my favorite find thus far is 5 yards of 1.6oz Digi Camo SILNylon ripstop I found at the Wal Mart in Guntersville Alabama.  Got the last bit they had, and I'm saving it for my UL project down the road.

The 1.1 first layer, and fleece second layer I'm working with now is to make them a little more comfy in warm weather and extend the range a little.  But adds a lot of weight and bulk so they will mostly be for kayak and car camping.

Here is my current plans I created.
Hammock Plans

I'm thinking about possibly shortening them down to 10'x60" because none of us are 6' tall or taller...

[Tacky Hiker]

Nice. I would love to make one, but I don't think I have the skill. I love my Warbonnet 1.1 DL Blackbird and Big Mamajamba Tarp. I am about to order a Yeti Under Quilt for this season. But I may attempt a DIY Top Quilt using a clearance down sleeping bag I find online. That is a big maybe.

Can't wait to see the final product !!

[wirerat123]

I've done 3 double layer open hammocks.  I'm currently gathering all I need to make 3 Blackbird clones.  I just need to cannibalize some zippers from some thrift store sleeping bags, and I'm ready to start sewing.  I'll post pics of them when I get them done.  But the 3 I have made thus far have been comfy.

[JC785]

Where's the best place to get silnylon?

[squidbilly]

Where's the best place to get silnylon?

http://www.rockywoods.com/

[squidbilly]

Now I gotta learn how to sew. 

[wirerat123]

I will say that silnylon is only really good for tarps.  It doesn't breathe well enough to make a hammock with, unless you don't mind waking up lying in condensation.  I have bought a lot of ripstop from Wal Marts for $1.50 a yard.  Part of it I intend on silicone treating it myself for tarps.  Saves a lot of money.  But you might have to visit several Wal Marts to find enough.

I've got about $50 in all of my ripstop.  Some where around 40 yards of it.  I do have one made out of coated ripstop, and it doesn't breathe well.  But I'm making a semi vapor barrier hammock for cooler weather.

Here are instructions for making a Hennesy Clone.
http://www.hammockforums....orum/showthread.php?t=670

Here are the ones for making a Blackbird clone.
http://www.hammockforums....um/showthread.php?t=19358