The History Leading To The Double Hammock Swing
The image of resting peacefully in the shade of a backyard willow tree while a warm breeze flows over your face and fills your mind with a sense of bliss is a relatively recent adaptation of this portable bed made popular to the public during the last century.
Prior to that, the hammock (before the double hammock swing) dates back over 2,000 years to ancient South America. Once it was adopted by those sailors, sea-goers used the hammock as a way to provide a bed for the crew that would stay level even with the rocking of the ship. And, after a sea battle, sailors used their hammocks as canvas caskets” to bury the dead at sea. As sailing ships traveled the world over the idea has been adopted and adapted by people from various parts of the world. Sailors became so accustom to sleeping in their hammocks that they would often take their hammocks home with them as their beds.
Enter – The Double Hammock
Most of us are familiar with a single hammock but not the double person hammock. The double hammock swing is a 20th century adaptation has all of the features and qualities of a single hammock. The double hammock swing is made for two and is typically used for restful “quiet time” swaying gently in the breeze.
A large majority of the worlds’ double hammock swings are still hand crafted using knots and techniques that are hundreds of years old. They are made of either cotton linen twine or nylon. A worker will extend the main ropes through the familiar ring or wooden “spreader bar “and then feed a wooden “needle” back and forth “weaving” the webbed body of the double hammock. This type of double hammock swing is less stable and does not provide as restful a sleep as other parachute style hammocks. Tighter weaves generally provide for a more comfortable and durable hammock.
The dimensions of a double hammock swing are 11-14 feet long and 11 feet wide and can generally hold between 400 and 600 lbs and can purchased with tubular supports designed to suspend the double hammock swing at a comfortable height.
For campers and hikers who follow a policy of “no trace left behind”, the hammock and double hammock are perfect for camping since they can weigh less than 2 pounds, which is considerably less than a tent and mattress pads. In forested areas mature trees provide ready-made permanent posts to tie your double hammock to. When you’re ready to leave, fold up your double hammock and stow neatly and easily into your pack with no poles or heavy tent. Hikers who are wary of excess weight will be happy at how lightweight the hammock is, and the speed at which a double hammock can be hung. Many double hammocks now come with mosquito netting to assure a pest free nights rest as well as pockets to store miscellaneous gear.
So if you’re looking for a perfect way to unwind from a day’s chores, or to spend the afternoon reading your favorite Stephen King novel by the pool with your husband or wife, you may wish to consider swinging in a double hammock.
Tags: Backyard
