Is hammock good for your back?

[yesDecaf!]

I'm 40 and going camping with my brother next week. I'm thinking about trying a hammock setup, but I'm nervous.
Has anyone here actually slept in a hammock for more than just a night or two?
Would you recommend it for a longer trip (like a whole week), and why/why not? Is it actually good for your back?

I know the 'sleep at 30 degrees' diagonal lay tip, but what other wisdom do you have for a newbie? hit me with your advice on how to be comfortable sleeping in a hammock for a week. Thanks!

 

[cougarmeat]

I sleep in a hammock several nights a week. In addition to the 30° angle to allow for a sag, remember to turn a bit diagonal - head right, feet left, or vice-versa.

Also, if you are new to hammocks, I don't recommend a week-long trip without bringing a Plan B (tent) or at least spending a few nights, ideally two in a row, so your body can adapt at home. Many turn to a hammock because of back issues; they can no longer find comfort on the ground.

Think on this - you'll need to learn how to hang and sleep in it (the diagonal lie), and you'll need a little time for your body to adjust and realize it's not in a bed. After that, it can be golden.

 

[Alan]

A proper hang angle and a structural ridgeline make a big difference. I’d also suggest trying a few naps in it before your trip. What kind of hammock are you using? Nylon, cotton or something else?

 

[LowTech]

"more than just a night or two?" I'm your man for that. I sleep in one nightly, outside, and have most of the last 4 years. Now sleeping in bed is an unpleasant experience, I wake up stiff and sore in a bed.

I think the main thing is to get a hammock that's both long enough and wide enough. A hammock for sleeping in is usually around 11' long (unless you're a shorty like CougarMeat who can get by w/ a shorter length hammock) and can be as wide as 64" or more. My preference is about 60" - 62". This gets you out of the "banana" curve and lets you lay "flat" at a diagonal.

Next would be adjusting the "sag" (the amount of curve the hammock has) until you find the right amount for your personal tastes. The deeper the sag the more diagonal you will lay. I stop my deepness of sag when I still have a couple inches of hammock material above my head and below my feet while I'm laying in a flat diagonal. That's where the width of the hammock comes in, the wider the hammock the more diagonal you can lay. And if the hammock is made wide by adding another strip of material, like the two color ones, you will feel that seam under you . . . not comfortable.

After that is just cocooning up w/ quilts (or the like) under and over you . . . blissful floaty sleep.

Spending multiple nights sleeping and adjusting these things at home definitely helps w/ the comfort when you're out on a trip.

 

[cougarmeat]

3/4 length = Full Length. "It's a feature, not a bug."