Types Of Hammocks

Do you want a hammock for your home, yard or camping trips? Have you looked at a few hammocks but really don’t know what you want? Are you surprised at how many different types of hammocks there are? A little primer on types of hammocks might make your shopping odyssey a little more productive and save you some time and effort in figuring out what you want.

You’re probably most familiar with rope hammocks. These are probably the oldest kind of hammock, and as you would expect, they’re made of natural or synthetic rope, with no fabric in the hammock. These hammocks are very comfortable, as they form to your body when you lie on them. However, they’re not particularly good for yard or constant outdoor use because the rope can mildew, and natural rope will rot and disintegrate if left outside long-term. And if you’ve ever tried to lie down in a hammock like this, you probably know they’re not all that stable; it’s hard to stay balanced in a rope hammock.

Fabric hammocks are the most popular type, for several reasons. Fabric hammocks have a fabric base (what you might think of as the “mattress”), with rope on the ends to attach to the stand or posts. Fabric hammocks are easier to get on and off of, because the fabric provides a wider, more stable base.

Within the area of fabric hammocks, quilted hammocks are made, literally, from a quilted fabric, and are more comfortable for lying on than other types of fabric hammocks. They’re also durable and more stable, so they make great family hammocks.

The other major type of fabric hammock is the Brazilian hammock, which are woven from a particularly thick type of cotton fiber. These hammocks, like rope hammocks, tend to wrap around your body when you lie on them, so they’re very comfortable but not very stable. They’re great for tying between two trees, whereas most fabric hammocks need a hammock stand.

In looking for hammocks, you’ll also find portable hammock swings, hammock or swing chairs, and camping hammocks. Portable hammocks are easy to transport for trips and camping, as are camping hammocks, which are usually even lighter and easier to store. Hammock or swing chairs are great for indoors or on the deck, and are extremely comfortable and fun to sit in.

When you’re looking for a hammock, think about how stable you want it to be, whether it will be used outside or in, how much time it will spend up and assembled, and how weatherproof it needs to be. You will also consider the cost, of course, but you should leave that as the last priority once you know what you need and want in a hammock.

Most types of hammocks come in a variety of price ranges, so your main priority should be to figure out what type of hammock you want, and then go shopping in that type of hammock for the perfect hammock swing for you.