| Here's an important thing to know about hammocks: | | | | rope, woven, and fabric hammocks. When you try to |
| they are not all created equal. The classic image of a | | | | settle into a rope one your skin pushes through all the |
| relaxing summer day spent with cool lemonade in | | | | little openings, and it just isn't really that comfy. A nice |
| hand, gently swaying all your cares away on your | | | | woven surface, on the other hand provides much |
| hammock, quickly goes away if you aren't in the right | | | | more support and allows the weight of your body to |
| one. I know everyone thinks that a classic rope | | | | be more evenly distributed. The material used to make |
| hammock is the way to go, but I have discovered that | | | | some of these woven hammocks tend to be a little |
| there's a better way. | | | | rough so just be sure to think how it will feel on days |
| In 1999 I spent my summer traveling on the Oregon | | | | when you are in shorts and T's. |
| coast for six weeks. I had my family with me, and we | | | | By far, the hammocks I most prefer are the quilted, |
| just stayed at State campgrounds in a little pop-up | | | | woven ones. These come in a wide variety of color |
| trailer. One afternoon we pulled into a camp and set | | | | options, are plenty wide (usually big enough for two |
| up our ordinary arrangements. We got all the food bins | | | | adults), and won't break the bank. You can truly relax |
| organized, placed the lawn chairs around the fire pit, | | | | on these types because your skin isn't constantly being |
| and hung one of our hammocks up between a couple | | | | made uncomfortable from going through any gaps. |
| of trees. My youngest son was one at the time and | | | | The fabrics used on most of these generally holds up |
| he and I got on the hammock together. We rocked | | | | well to the weather and can be left out on the stand, |
| and swayed and generally enjoyed ourselves | | | | or wherever you have it set up. One note of caution |
| watching as the other kids fed a happy little squirrel | | | | on these though, is that if you have a puppy around, it |
| some bread bits. Then, suddenly, we learned a funny | | | | will find the hammock and rip it to shreds if given the |
| thing about rope hammocks, that don't hold up very | | | | chance. It's another story for another time, but I had the |
| well. Boom! In an instant, my son and I found ourselves | | | | misfortune of experiencing that when my retriever pup |
| slammed down to the ground as the rope gave way. | | | | discovered just how fun it can be to thrash the thing to |
| Obviously, not all rope hammocks are the same. The | | | | hundreds of bits. |
| one I was using that day in Oregon was not as hefty | | | | Hammocks serve a variety of purposes, from casual |
| and strong as others. Had I been using a thicker rope | | | | relaxation and entertainment, to camping. Some are |
| hammock, I would have saved myself a bruised | | | | suited for throwing into a back pack, while others are |
| behind. But, I wouldn't have given my wife the comic | | | | intended to be set up in the yard. All things considered, |
| relief she enjoyed that day either. | | | | if it is comfort you want, I would recommend a woven |
| As for comfort, there is a big difference between | | | | or fabric hammock over a rope one. |