How To Tie a Hammock
The alternative to a freestanding outdoor hammock is a tie-up hammock. While a freestanding hammock can be set up anywhere, a tie-up hammock needs to be tied between two trees or posts. A tie-up hammock is a practical choice to take along on camping trips, because you do not need any tools to set it up. Better yet, you don't have to sleep on the ground. Aside from being lightweight, portable and durable, tie up hammocks are easy to assemble and can be quite comfortable. They also cost less.
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Things You'll Need
- Durable rope or cord
- 2 6-inch x 6-inch treated hardwood posts
- Cement mix
Instructions
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Look for two trees that are close enough together to set up the hammock. You want to select hardwood trees that have trunks at least 12 inches in diameter. If you are setting up a hammock at home or at a cabin and can't tie the hammock between two trees, set one post the appropriate distance from a tree or set up two posts.
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2
Allow a distance of 7 to 10 feet between the two trees or posts. The distance should be a couple of feet more than the length of the hammock. If you hang a hammock between a tree and a post, make sure that the post can support the weight.
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Set a post by digging deep enough so that the end of the post will be below the frost line, usually about 3 feet down. If you are setting up a permanent place for a hammock in your own backyard, you need to cement wooden posts in the ground. Posts should be treated hardwood, 6 inches by 6 inches. Inspect each post for cracks or other damage that could weaken it.
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Fill the hole you dig with a few inches of pea gravel so that the post will not be sitting in water at the bottom of the hole. Mix concrete to set each post. Let the posts sit for a few days to allow the concrete to dry before attaching the hammock.
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Stretch out the hammock. Tie on heavy, durable rope or cord at each end. String your hammock between the two trees or posts, stretching it tightly. Hang the hammock 4 to 6 feet off the ground.
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Knot a bowline loop in one end of the rope. Do this by making a small loop and then pulling the short end of the rope up through the loop. Next, bring that same end behind the piece of rope facing up from the loop. Take it back down through the loop, and pull the knot to tighten it.
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Wrap the other end of the rope twice around the tree or post before threading it back through the bowline loop. This makes a strong knot that will not slip and is easy to untie. Repeat these same steps to secure the hammock at the opposite end.
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Tie each rope tightly enough so that it will not slip down the tree or post. The ropes need to be strong enough to withstand any weight put on them. Generally, the tighter you tie the rope around the support, the less likely it is to slip.
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Tips & Warnings
A rope or cotton hammock may appear shorter than its actual length when first new, but it will stretch after a few uses.
Tying a hammock tight to a tree and leaving it for a long period of time can case ring-barking. Ring-barking refers to removing bark from a tree in a ring around the trunk. This can kill a tree, because the layers under the bark, which carry nutrients, are damaged. To prevent ring-barking, insert sticks between the rope and the tree.
