what the heck is a ridgeline and why do i need one?

[J Ross]

I’m obviously new in this, and I keep seeing people talk about ridgelines like it's a super basic thing!
I have two ENO singles and a Grand Trunk double, but I don't camp overnight yet. I want to know what exactly a ridgeline is, what it is used for, and how the heck do I set one up? Thanks for the help, happy hangs!

 

[cougarmeat]

J Ross, your first post. Welcome to the forum. If your ENO or Grand Trunk Double has a built-in bug nets, then they already have a ridgeline that keeps the hammock ends a set distance apart when hung. The built-in bugnet is sized for the hammock when hung (about 83% of the hammock's physical length). If it were the same length as the hammock, it would have too much slack (be droopy) when the hammock was set up because the hammock ends would be closer together.

Again, if your hammock already has a built-in bug net, this is all pretty transparent to you. Don't worry about it.

Now, let's say you have a hammock without a bug net - just one piece of material gathered at both ends. You want to hang it so you are comfortable. And because you've read ALL the posts here, you know you want to hang it so the ends are about about 83% of the hammock's physical length. For example, an 11 ft hammock would be hung so the ends are about 9 feet apart.

That accomplishes two things. First, it puts enough sag in the body of the hammock so you can turn a bit diagonal to the hammock's center line. That gives you a flat lie. Second, the 83% distance requires the suspension (usually webbing) to come off its support (i.e., tree) at a 30° angle. The physics of that is the weight in the hammock - you - is about the same weight (force) applied to the suspension system (tree, webbing, stitching, hammock material). As the hang angle gets shallower, the forces go up. You can see that when you reference the "Hammock Hang Calculator" mentioned in other posts.

So you set your hammock up, adjust the distances, and you are happy. But what about the next time you set up? Once again, you have to find that "right distance" that works for you. But what if, after you determined the best hung end-to-end distance, you could get back there easily every time?

Enter the ridgeline (ridgeline, take a bow). By connecting the two hammock ends with a ridgeline - at least when setting up - you now have a "measuring stick" so you know when you set up your hammock so that the ridgeline is just snug, you'll have that idea sag time and time again.

If I go further from here, I'll just be repeating what has been said in other posts about removable and structural ridgelines.

 

[ilovecamping]

This is super helpful! I’ve only ever used hammocks with built‑in bug nets, so I didn’t realize the ridgeline was doing all that work behind the scenes. If I add a removable ridgeline to a plain gathered‑end hammock, do you find it changes the comfort much compared to just eyeballing the hang?

 

[cougarmeat]

ilovecamping, if you add a removable ridgeline to a plain gathered-end hammock the next time you set it up, you will say, "What took me so long!"

Because it's removable - NOT load bearing - you could use any small diameter non-stretch line/string. Ace Hardware has some "poly cord" or "snap cord".

For ease of attachment/removal, you could put a small S-biner on each end.

First, spend some time setting up your hammock so it's "baby bear" just right. Then, as it is set up, measure the distance between the hammock ends. That's the distance you want to duplicate. Note that you also have the hammock at your preferred height above ground, and the suspension is angled about 30° (ye old "Make a gun with your thumb raised and index finger extended." The suspension should touch the top of your thumb and the tip of your index finger.) You are not looking for absolute precision. You can use the Angle read-out on your smartphone app, etc., if you want.

So you size the cord length with S-biners so it just reaches your hammock ends.

As you hang more and more, you will be able to "eyeball" tree distances. "That pair will work." With your ridgeline on the hammock, attach your suspension to the trees and adjust until the ridgeline limits the hammock's end-to-end distance. Then you remove the ridgeline cord (or detach just one end and roll it up if you want to keep it with the hammock). Wa La - you've achieved your ideal sag. Again.

Why removable? That ridgeline, for some people, can be annoying. As they get in/out of the hammock, or just sit in the hammock, the ridgeline might brush against their head. Or they just know that it's there - like a little brother who taunts, "I'm not touching you," with his finger 1/64th of an inch away.

Be sure to read the post about removable vs structural ridgelines. The light gear (mini-S-biners) and cord I've mentioned here are not designed to do the job of a permanently attached AmSteel (LashIt or ZingIt) ridgeline.

 

[ilovecamping]

ilovecamping, if you add a removable ridgeline to a plain gathered-end hammock the next time you set it up, you will say, "What took me so long!"

Because it's removable - NOT load bearing - you could use any small diameter non-stretch line/string. Ace Hardware has some "poly cord" or "snap cord".

For ease of attachment/removal, you could put a small S-biner on each end.

First, spend some time setting up your hammock so it's "baby bear" just right. Then, as it is set up, measure the distance between the hammock ends. That's the distance you want to duplicate. Note that you also have the hammock at your preferred height above ground, and the suspension is angled about 30° (ye old "Make a gun with your thumb raised and index finger extended." The suspension should touch the top of your thumb and the tip of your index finger.) You are not looking for absolute precision. You can use the Angle read-out on your smartphone app, etc., if you want.

So you size the cord length with S-biners so it just reaches your hammock ends.

As you hang more and more, you will be able to "eyeball" tree distances. "That pair will work." With your ridgeline on the hammock, attach your suspension to the trees and adjust until the ridgeline limits the hammock's end-to-end distance. Then you remove the ridgeline cord (or detach just one end and roll it up if you want to keep it with the hammock). Wa La - you've achieved your ideal sag. Again.

Why removable? That ridgeline, for some people, can be annoying. As they get in/out of the hammock, or just sit in the hammock, the ridgeline might brush against their head. Or they just know that it's there - like a little brother who taunts, "I'm not touching you," with his finger 1/64th of an inch away.

Be sure to read the post about removable vs structural ridgelines. The light gear (mini-S-biners) and cord I've mentioned here are not designed to do the job of a permanently attached AmSteel (LashIt or ZingIt) ridgeline.

Thank you so much for the detailed tips @cougarmeat! I once tried to measure angles with my phone app and ended up looking like I was surveying land for a highway. The thumb‑and‑finger trick is way more fun