A chair hammock is the perfect place to spend lazy summer days. If you're ready to laze around in a hanging chair with a book and a beverage, make sure you securely knot the ropes to your selected tree branch or existing hardware to ensure a safe and comfortable hammock experience.
Perfect your tying prowess before you attempt to hang the chair hammock. Practice tying a bowline knot several times with a small piece of twine or cording until you get the hang of the pattern.
2
Cut your rope long enough so that the free end is twelve times the rope's circumference. After tying the knot, the free end should dangle to provide additional security if the knot begins to slip.
3
Thread the rope through the hardware or around the tree branch to which you're securing the chair. With one end, make a 1- to 2-inch loop, feeding the end of the rope through the loop as you would when tying a simple knot.
4
Wrap the rope end around the long, straight portion of the rope and back through your initial 1- to 2-inch loop. Pull tightly to secure the bowline knot.
5
Check the integrity of your knots regularly. While the bowline knot is exceptionally strong when weighed down, it can begin to slip under intermittent load weights, such as those that occur with getting in and out of the chair regularly.
6
Ensure your rope looks right by viewing a visual of a bowline knot being tied. The Animated Knots by Grog website has a helpful animation of how to complete the process correctly (see Resources below).
Tips & Warnings
Make sure you carefully test your chair hammock before swinging in it. You need to ensure that your knot will hold when the chair is in a stationary position before adding movement!
If you are not satisfied with the stability of the bow knot, check out the double overhand stopper knot at Animated Knots by Grog. Often used by search and rescue workers, it is also an appropriate knot option for securing the remaining hammock rope after tying your bow knot.
Any sports or leisure activity requiring ropes can be dangerous. Fraying, worn or weathered ropes are a hazard to hammock users. Inspect all ropes for wear and tear before you use your chair hammock.
