Hammock Selection Guide
When it comes to choosing a hammock from Hammocks Australia you have a great variety of options to choose from allowing you to find the perfect hammock for yourself or as a gift.
In this guide, we'll break down some of the various hammock options available to give you better insight into what may be the best fit for your situation.
Traditional Hammocks
Traditional hammocks are generally hammocks from Central and South America that come without spreader bars. They are very versatile in that you can lie in many different positions, with the traditional way, lying across on an angle such as displayed in the Mexican hammock image above. Our traditional hammock range is broken up into;
Mexican hammocks come in an open-weave design, which enables these hammocks to spread extremely wide and provide amazing weight distribution and body conforming support. The weave on Mexican hammocks is a very close weave which makes a much much comfortable hammock than those with large open weave bodies.
With a very large number of suspension cords on the arms of these hammocks, they offer greater strength and distribution of weight.
Lengthwise, Mexican hammocks are generally all approximately the same length, the sizing changes by width and amount of cord material used. This is due to Mexican hammocks being handwoven on standard size wood frames.
Colombian hammocks differ to Mexican hammocks in that they are a full fabric, rather than woven, style of hammock. These hammocks are also extremely comfortable, but the span of these is restricted more by the width of the material. This fabric option is a good choice for families with children as there is less chance of damage to the hammock as children clamber in and out and play in the hammock.
Fabric options for the Colombian range include weather resistant material and organic cotton.
Our range of Colombian hammocks varies by length and width with the smaller sizes requiring less hanging distance providing a good option for smaller spaces and small hammock stands.
If you are looking for a hammock to sleep the night through in, traditional style hammocks are the best choice. Generally, the larger the hammock size the better in this regard, as you will have more room to spread out and get most comfortable. Our top recommendation for this is our Mexican queen or king size hammock.
The traditional style of hammock package up small and are easy to handle, so can be a good option when you like to move your hammock about and bring inside at the end of each day. When hanging indoors, by simply taking down one end of the hammock you can free up floor space when not using. Perfect for when using in bedrooms and lounges.
Our Mexican queen size hammock is sometimes referred to as a 'matrimonial hammock' and as the name implies makes a great gift for newlyweds, whilst any cotton hammock is a thoughtful gift option for 'cotton' second wedding anniversaries.
Spreader Bar Hammocks
These are the type of hammocks you often see on travel ads for tropical Pacific islands resorts. They have a lovely open aspect provided for by wooden bars at each end and an open weave rope design.
We call these hammocks - 'resort or spreader bar style hammocks' due to that fact and they are the ideal hammock when you want to bring that relaxed resort feel into your own home or garden. They have a very attractive look to them, are very comfortable and contrary to those comedic videos you may have seen are easy to get in and out of.
These are great hammocks for those that like to lie long ways down their hammock and catch a few rays of sun while enjoying a good book.
Heavier than traditional hammocks due to the wooden bars and large size, they are still easy to hang and take down, and simply roll up for easy transport.
Our range of spreader bar hammocks are all handwoven in Mexico and are likely to be amongst the most comfortable you have ever tried. A big difference with Mexican spreader bar hammocks is the weave is much closer together, this means that your weight is more evenly spread throughout the hammock, resulting in higher levels of comfort and not having rope strands digging into your body and leaving indent lines.
Chair Hammocks
Offering the comfort of a hammock, but requiring much less space, chair hammocks are a very convenient option. Needing only one overhead hanging point and a width span of 1m for the wooden bar, hanging chairs work very well in smaller spaces such as balconies and under overhanging roofs. In the garden, they also work well, as you only need one solid tree branch to hang from.
With included wooden bar and loop end they are easy to put up and take down. All you need to hang is a length of rope and possibly a fixed attachment point when hanging from a beam or ceiling.
Our range of Mexican chair hammocks are an XL size so you can enjoy either in an upright seated position or lie back for a fully extended head to toe relaxation experience.
Hammock chairs are always a popular option for mothers of young babies as they can safely rest and relax together while the gentle swinging motion can help soothe babies.
Travel and Camping Hammocks
Travel and camping hammocks are becoming increasingly popular due to their lightweight and compact size. They are also extremely comfortable and soft thanks to the parachute silk material in which they are made.
These hammocks are perfect for when you want a sleeping option that doesn't require carrying a bulky tent and sleeping mats. Simply find a couple of trees and with the included hanging ropes you can setup your bed for the night. If you want to take a bit of comfort and a portable bed when traveling, these hammocks are your best bet.
Weighing in at under 1kg and not much larger than a shoe they can easily be packed into your pack on your next adventure.