Customer Project: 1.7 MTN XL Dark Olive Netless Hammock

by Chris P.

• OVERVIEW
• HOW DO I MAKE IT
• MATERIALS

• I have completed my 11+ foot gathered-end hammock project made with materials and components from RBTR. I could not be more happy with the results!This DIY venture began after I spent close to $140 on a well-known store brand of hammock with daisy chain / carabiner suspension. I thought I was happy with the initial purchase and then began reading the opinions of backpackers on http://hammockforums.net/ who were actually sleeping in their hammocks while thru-hiking. That is when I realized that an 9'-10’ hammock might not be ideal for attaining the most comfortable and flat position.
  
  I initially heard about RBTR through some of the discussions on the forum and decided to take a look at what was being offered. Needless to say, I was delighted by what I found on the site. That is also when I discovered that I could make my own hammock, custom-select the materials and suspension, and cut the weight and cost by around 50%. That includes the cost of having a seamstress do the hems for me on the hammock.
• Making the hammock proved to be really simple. I followed Kyle’s YouTube video on making a netless hammock ( https://youtu.be/i3Pqu8V4HcQ).On each end of the fabric, I had the seamstress triple-fold a 1.5” fold of fabric and then triple-seam that part, leaving a 1” open channel, so I could thread Amsteel continuous loops or climbing slings through it.

  
  

  Once I got the hemmed hammock back from the seamstress, I decided to whip the ends using cable-ties to create a donut.  The large cable-ties I used (see pic showing details) made the gather very pronounced and really easy to work with. It also was an ideal configuration for whipping the ends with 7/64” Amsteel continuous loops using a larks head. Then, I ran the portion of the continuous loop that connects to the suspension through the inside of the gather. This made the hammock ready for a variety of different suspension options including cinch buckles, descender rings, and the lightest option of all: the Amsteel loop direct to suspension webbing using a Becket Hitch.
  
  Finally, I created a structural ridgeline with the paracord 1100.
  
  In the preceding paragraph, the option of Amsteel loop direct to suspension webbing is ideal for backpacking because it involves no hardware, is infinitely adjustable, and means that I can carry the hammock with structured ridge line and suspension webbing in the 2L dry bag. You can see in the accompanying picture how small the complete setup is.

• Required Materials:

  • 4 yards of 1.7 MTN XL in dark olive
  • 2 ea. 7/64” Amsteel 8" continuous loops (silver)
  • 25 yards of 1” polyester camo pattern webbing 

  Add to the three items, one pkg of 18 inch UV-rated cable-ties and a 50’ roll of paracord 1100 from the local home supply store.

  Related Products:

  • 1" Polyester Webbing 1500 lb - Camo
  • 1.7 oz MTN XL Hybrid Ripstop Nylon
  • AmSteel® Continuous Loop