So, you bought a hammock. You bought this hammock with the intention of using it to relax in the spring beauty and summer breeze. So why does it have to be so maddeningly difficult to hang up?
Hammocks may look easy to handle at first but can be deceptively difficult, especially when it comes to hanging them up. That is due in no small part to the fact that they require a delicate balance of string tension.
You don’t want them to be too tight or too slack.
What’s more, you don’t want the materials holding them up to accidentally pop out of the area to which the hammock has been attached. If you do not secure the hammock properly before lying down and putting the full weight of your body on it, this is precisely what may happen.
You therefore need to ensure that you are installing your hammock correctly, which in turn means making sure that you have the right tools for the job.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best hardware to hang a hammock.
First, Decide Your Approach
Whether you plan on setting up your hammock inside or outside (which is easily more common), you need to know how you’re going to attach it to the surface in question. This will likely involve either drilling or attaching the hooks and screws necessary for hanging up a hammock. When we evaluated the best hardware for porch swings, we simply assumed that you’d be drilling directly into the joist or other surface. We can’t make that assumption here!
If you aren’t using a drill, skip ahead to look at some of the other options. Hooks, screws, rope, and other hardware are great for securing everything in place.
Hanging A Hammock — Using a Drill
If you are using a drill, make sure that you use drill bits properly proportioned to the size of the holes you need to make. You will therefore need to measure any hooks and screws that you plan to use first and then see which drill bits best fit that size.
Reasons Not To
However, there are many reasons why you should skip using drills to hang hammocks, including:
- Drilling holes in a rented property is a definite no-go so if you rent, this is definitely not a possibility.
- Repairing drilled holes once you’ve drilled them can be tedious.
- It may be undesirable to drill holes in a brand-new home or wall.
- You don’t own a drill and do not wish to purchase one.
- You are not good at drilling.
- The surface to which you plan on attaching your hammock is too thin for drilling.
For all of these reasons, you’re likely better off hanging your hammock without resorting to drilling. Thankfully, this shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience.
Hanging A Hammock — Without Drilling
Rope and Cords
One method of hanging your hammock without resorting to drilling is by using rope and cords to secure the hammock in place. This can work especially well when hanging a hammock outdoors.
That is due in no small part to the fact that the places where we tend to hang up hammocks outdoors are woody areas with lots of trees, perfect for hanging hammocks.
No one wants to drill into and harm a tree; doing so likely won’t produce the best results anyway. Hanging up a hammock outside using rope and cords tied into knots or secured in place via buckles is better for trees (and better for the hammock).
Not to mention, doing so with rope just feels more “natural” and closer to traditional camping.
You will want to check any rope or cord you purchase for this purpose and make sure that it is sturdy enough to support your weight. Chains may be substituted for rope if you want to make extra sure that everything stays in place. Just be sure that the chain is thin enough to fit through whatever hoop your hammock offers for attachment while being sturdy enough to support your weight.
Hammock Stands
An alternative for indoor methods is using a hammock stand. These offer metal bars that attach at a base on the bottom. The bars are separated far enough apart to allow you to attach the hammock in place and let it go slack. While these are typically designed for indoor use, you may consider them for outdoor use as well if they are lightweight and portable enough.
S-hooks and J-hooks
In addition to those main pieces of hardware, you’ll also want to consider some hooks. If so, both S-hooks and J-hooks can be useful for hanging hammocks as long as you make sure that they are properly sized for your model. They can be used to secure the anchor points of your hammock to the ceiling or wall beams.
Having the right hardware on hand can make it that much easier to set up your hammock, ensuring that you have more time to actually enjoy it.