One of the leaders has gotten into making hammocks lately. He made a few that he took up to High Adventure this last summer and let the boys use and abuse to see how well they held up. They worked great! The boys all wanted to make one, so they spent a couple weeks worth of activities learning how and making their own hammocks! It was great!
They all learned how to cut fabric and sew fabric! It was a fun project for them because it resulted in something they can use for the next campouts!
I wasn't able to make it to the sewing party, so I didn't get a chance to make a hammock for myself. But shortly after they finished, the leader that started it all found plans online that he then modified to a hammock with netting over the top, and a ridgeline, and pockets and everything! It was great! He showed my son and I how to make our own hammocks like that. It took us about 10 hours to get it totally done, but it turned out great!
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| My Hammock with my son's hammock behind - showing the zipper side, and the netting |
The really neat part of these hammocks is that the bottom of the hammock is double layer, with an opening so you can slip in a sleeping pad between the two layers. Then it insulates the bottom side of you while you sleep. Without a pad below you, you wouldn't stay warm even in 40 degree weather. But with the pad, I was able to sleep comfortably in 34°F weather with a 3" foam pad. I tried the next time with a 1/2" blue pad, and a truck windshield reflector. It got down to 19 degrees that night, and though I was cold (mostly my feet since the nature of the hammock puts your feet up and the blood drains out of them somewhat), I survived.
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| Looking from the end shows how wide it is when it has a sleeping pad stuffed in |
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