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Making your own hammock is one of the most cost-saving projects you can do yourself. It is also an easy project, especially if you are new to sewing. An average hammock from a retailer will cost upwards of $70, but you can easily do it yourself for around $25 depending on fabric type.
One of the questions we receive the most is, “What is the best fabric to use for making a hammock?” The answer is "it depends".
But don't worry! In this post, we're going to break down six different hammock fabrics that are all great for different reasons.
One important note before we go on...
When interpreting the information here, be sure to consider the "weight class" of the fabric. For example, if we say 1.0 oz MONOLITE is "very durable", that means it's very durable compared to similar weight fabrics - not compared to fabrics that are much thicker/heavier (e.g. 2.2 oz HEX70 XL). Said another way, always make sure you're comparing apples to apples. For the purposes of this article, we've created three weight classes: ultralight, mid-weight, and heavy-weight.
Moving right along...
One of the best parts about making your own gear is designing it to your specific needs.
Maybe you are harder on your gear. Maybe you prefer the fabric to breath more for those warm days. Some might need it lightweight and more packable for adventuring or thru-hiking.
Simply put, everyone’s needs are different. That’s why we’re providing as much information as possible to help you make the best decision.
This 1.0 oz MONOLITE mesh is a newer fabric and one of the lightest fabrics we recommend for hammock use. Aside from being extremely lightweight, it’s also see-through.
MONOLITE is constructed with a unique monofilament yarn and mesh weave creating the best durability we've ever seen for the weight. It's strong plus much more resistant to snagging and abrasion than fabrics of similar weight (e.g. 1.1 oz Ripstop Nylon). It’s also insanely breathable with a CFM (cubic feet per minute or airflow) over 1000 of over 1000.
It’s also stiffer with more structure than your typical ultralight fabric which makes it a lot easier to sew. On the other hand, this also makes it a little bulkier to pack down compared to other fabrics. Available in 10 color options.
| | Breathability: Extremely |
| Stretch: Low | |
| Hand Feel: Soft | |
| Friction: Stiff | |
Pros: ultralight, extremely breathable, very good abrasion resistance, easier to sew
Cons: more expensive compared to other fabrics, bulkier compression, lowest weight capacity, more transparent giving less privacy.
This is probably one of the most popular choices for basic hammock building. In short, it’s cheap, lightweight, and packs down well.
This is a lighter weight, yet still fairly durable ripstop fabric. It has also been specifically finished to have a very soft hand feel.
Like most lighter weight fabrics, it tends to be a little more slippery when handling, making it a bit harder to sew if you haven't worked with similar fabrics before. Available in 19 color options.
| Weight Class: Ultralight | Breathability: Average |
| Stretch: More | Durability: Average |
| Hand Feel: Silky | Packability: Smaller |
| Friction: Average | Weight Rating: 200 lbs |
Pros: cheapest fabric option, soft to the touch, most color options
Cons: harder to sew, less abrasion resistance compared to other options, lowest weight capacity
As the name implies, 1.3 oz MTN XL Hybrid uses our unique Hybrid weave ripstop construction.
Compared to most standard ripstop fabrics, we use a much thicker, stronger yarn (80D) for the ripstop grid vs the base fabric (20D). The result is a noticeably stronger and more rugged material with minimal increase in overall finished weight. 1.3 MTN is way more durable than any hammock fabric in its class, but nowhere near as durable as 1.7 MTN.
The diamond hybrid ripstop grid pattern makes the fabric easier to sew, increases comfort for load-bearing applications, and tends to extend the overall life of the fabric.
Like the other fabrics in our XL line, we've custom woven 1.3 oz MTN XL Hybrid to be wider than standard fabrics at 67" versus the more common 60" width.
| Weight Class: Ultralight | Breathability: Average |
| Stretch: Low | Durability: Very |
| Hand Feel: Silky/Stiff | Packability: Slightly Bulkier |
| Friction: More | Weight Rating: 275 lbs |
Pros: durability to weight ratio is exceptional, highest weight rating for the ultralight class
Cons: most expensive
It’s hard to go wrong with HyperD. It’s soft, smooth, strong, and one of our best selling hammock fabrics since 2014.
HyperD is our custom developed line of lightweight diamond grid nylon. Designed for superior performance and feel, HyperD is incredibly strong yet still very soft to the touch.
At 1.6 oz, this fabric fills the void between 2.2 oz and 1.0 oz weights when you're looking for something lighter while retaining maximum strength/durability. Available in 15+ color options.
| Weight Class: Mid-weight | Breathability: Average |
| Stretch: More | Durability: Very |
| Hand Feel: Silkiest | Packability: Smaller |
| Friction: Low | Weight Rating: 300 lbs |
Pros:strong, soft to the touch, average price, lots of color options, stuffs down smaller, easier to sew
Cons: lower weight rating than fabrics that are only slightly heavier (e.g. 1.7-1.8 ozs)
If you are looking for a rugged, yet still lightweight option, our 1.7 oz MTN XL Hybrid is a great choice.
Compared to most standard ripstop fabrics, this fabric has a thicker, stronger yarn (120D) for the ripstop grid vs the base fabric (40D). The result is a stronger, more rugged material with minimal increase in overall finished weight. The hybrid ripstop grid pattern makes it easier to sew, increases comfort for load-bearing applications and tends to extend the overall life of the fabric.
We've custom woven 1.7 oz MTN XL Hybrid to be wider at 74" versus the more common 60" width. With wider fabrics, the extra length gives you more room to lay diagonally, flattening your hang angle and increasing comfort for many people. Available in 7 colors.
| Weight Class: Mid-weight | Breathability: Lower |
| Stretch: Low | Durability: Very |
| Hand Feel: Silky/Stiff | Packability: Average |
| Friction: Average | Weight Rating: 400 lbs |
Pros: strong and highly durable, wide fabric, easier to sew, high weight capacity
Cons: most expensive option, less color options
If you are all about hand feel, this might be the hammock fabric for you.
1.8 oz AIRWAVE was designed and woven from scratch by us with the single goal of delivering a radically new and unmatched next to skin softness.
Unlike standard nylon, AIRWAVE fabrics use a secret sauce called Air Textured Yarn. During processing, an air jet is used to create tiny loops in the yarn that combines the ultra soft hand feel of organic cotton with the high strength of synthetic nylon. AIRWAVE is softer than everything else and every bit as strong.
Like 1.7 oz MTN XL, 1 .8 oz AIRWAVE uses our unique Hybrid weave construction with a much thicker, stronger yarn (135D) for the ripstop grid vs the base fabric (40D). The end result for you is a stronger, more rugged material with minimal increase in overall finished weight.
Due to the thicker, stronger weave, this fabric packs down slightly bulkier. Available in 8 colors.
| Weight Class: Mid-weight | Breathability: Very |
| Stretch: Low | Durability: Very |
| Hand Feel: Most cotton-like | Packability: Average |
| Friction: High | Weight Rating: 350 lbs |
Pros: very breathable, soft cotton feel
Cons: less color options, more “grippy” on clothing when you lay in the hammock (could be good or bad depending on preference)
This is one of the first hammock fabrics we ever made and to this day, it's still offers a REALLY great combo of price point, soft feel, and high weight rating.
Particularly great for those on a budget or making their first hammock.
| Weight Class: Heavy-weight | Breathability: Very |
| Stretch: Low | Durability: Very |
| Hand Feel: Cotton-like | Packability: Average |
| Friction: Average | Weight Rating: 400 lbs |
Pros: lightweight for its weight class, lots of colors, most affordable option
Cons: heavier and more durable than what’s actually needed for the average size person
2.2 oz HEX70 XL is a 70 denier nylon designed specifically for higher strength durability, and abrasion resistance compared to standard 1.9 oz 70D ripstop fabrics.
This fabric has a firmer feel and likely the most support of any hammock fabric we carry. It also looks plain cool :)
Like the other fabrics in our XL line, we've custom woven HEX70 to be wider than standard fabrics at 74" versus the more common 60" width, a good choice for those who want a roomier hammock or more shoulder space. Available in 13 colors.
| Weight Class: Heavy-weight | Breathability: Average |
| Stretch: Low | Durability: Average |
| Hand Feel: Firm | Packability: Bulkiest |
| Friction: Average | Weight Rating: 400 lbs |
Pros: wide fabric, very high weight capacity, extremely durable
Cons: not the lightest weight option, bulkiest compression
It’s strong, soft, packs down small, easy to sew, and has a ton of color options. What more could you want?
The most affordable options for their weight class.
Great if you are harder on your gear or concerned about longevity.
If you want a hammock that feels like a cotton shirt, this is it.
If you want an XL wide fabric with a high weight rating (400 lbs), this is your best bet.
This has the highest weight rating at 275 lbs for the ultralight class.
For those who are counting grams, you can’t get lighter than this fabric. It’s especially durable for its weight class.
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Harley and a hammock
April 05, 2022
Couldn’t agree with you more. I have a hammock with a double layer of 1.6 hyper D. I use it all the time and with the double layer I slide a mat in in the colder months for insulation. The material is silky smooth with the right amount of stretch and gives the best lay and is tough enough for my cat to climb in and sleep, he has learned not to claw but still they stick out somewhat. No issues in the second season so far. RSBTR has the stuff you need to make your gear and awesome support.