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Thinking about replacing my bed with a hammock.
Newtron
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Ok. So.
Last week I was getting over a bad stomach bug. I woke up in the middle of the night last Tuesday, and splotched on roughly half of my bed. I got it cleaned up ok, but it still stank for roughly three days after.
On top of that, I've never really slept well on it. I've been tossing and turning all my life, but it's been especially bad with this bed. I also seem to be waking up in the middle of the night more often, regardless of when I first fall asleep.
On top of that, it's one of those weird, college long mattresses. Finding good sheets for it seems impossible, or at least unnecessarily difficult. Even now I just use kind of a makeshift sheet that doesn't cover the bed all that well, and 90% of the time it's uncovered.
So needless to say, I'm in the market for a new mattress (but not a whole new bed). Right now my mattress is part of a platform bed. The mattress sits on top of some cheap plywood boards, and the frame has some drawers in it which I use instead of a dresser.
Over the course of last week I was looking at getting a simple (but comfortable) twin or full mattress, but then yesterday happened. I made a post on Facebook that I was considering a new bed (mattress), and asked for advice.
In between the serious and not so serious advice, my brother posts "time for a hammock" with a picture of a charming looking hammock hanging in the middle of what appears to be a bedroom.
Now I immediately took this as a joke post. Hammocks don't sound like a reasonable alternative to beds (especially when considering the common backyard hammock). I decided to look into it out of curiosity, and founds some interesting Google links.
It is claimed that an alternative to the bed is a Mayan/Brazilian/Nicaraguan designed hammock.
Proponents of such hammocks claim that beds create points of tension and cause tossing and turning, whereas hammocks evenly support/distribute weight, eliminating the need of the body to toss and turn. It's claimed by some sources that doctors recommend hammocks for people with back problems. There's also the apparent fact that they take up less space, are cheaper, and are easier to move around.
My first point of worry (and skepticism) is around the health bit. I'm worried that if I do replace my bed with such an unconventional means of sleeping, I'll end up with a hunchback (or worse). My other worry is that if I give up my platform bed, I'll need to buy a dresser of some kind. I'm sure I can fit a hammock in where my bed is now if I really want to, but then I'd have to worry about space for a dresser (for which there is none or very little).
On the other hand, I live alone in my apartment, so right now is the best time for me to try something like this out. This is especially since a lot of the price tags I'm seeing for South American made hammocks (which are what is recommended for use, not the typical American backyard type) are much more reasonable than the three to four hundred dollar mattresses (not including sheets).
Additionally, I could rig it up somehow to where the stands for the hammock (wouldn't hang it on the wall in an apartment) would sit under the platform frame, and the hammock would be raised up more. This way I could still keep the frame, but get rid of the mattress.
So my question/need for advice is: Would you recommend trying this? Does anyone have experience with this? I'm always skeptical about "alternatives", so this seems to fall in the "too good to be true" pile. Additionally, if the hammock idea is out to you, what advice do you have on buying a bed (mattress)?
Last week I was getting over a bad stomach bug. I woke up in the middle of the night last Tuesday, and splotched on roughly half of my bed. I got it cleaned up ok, but it still stank for roughly three days after.
On top of that, I've never really slept well on it. I've been tossing and turning all my life, but it's been especially bad with this bed. I also seem to be waking up in the middle of the night more often, regardless of when I first fall asleep.
On top of that, it's one of those weird, college long mattresses. Finding good sheets for it seems impossible, or at least unnecessarily difficult. Even now I just use kind of a makeshift sheet that doesn't cover the bed all that well, and 90% of the time it's uncovered.
So needless to say, I'm in the market for a new mattress (but not a whole new bed). Right now my mattress is part of a platform bed. The mattress sits on top of some cheap plywood boards, and the frame has some drawers in it which I use instead of a dresser.
Over the course of last week I was looking at getting a simple (but comfortable) twin or full mattress, but then yesterday happened. I made a post on Facebook that I was considering a new bed (mattress), and asked for advice.
In between the serious and not so serious advice, my brother posts "time for a hammock" with a picture of a charming looking hammock hanging in the middle of what appears to be a bedroom.
Now I immediately took this as a joke post. Hammocks don't sound like a reasonable alternative to beds (especially when considering the common backyard hammock). I decided to look into it out of curiosity, and founds some interesting Google links.
It is claimed that an alternative to the bed is a Mayan/Brazilian/Nicaraguan designed hammock.
Proponents of such hammocks claim that beds create points of tension and cause tossing and turning, whereas hammocks evenly support/distribute weight, eliminating the need of the body to toss and turn. It's claimed by some sources that doctors recommend hammocks for people with back problems. There's also the apparent fact that they take up less space, are cheaper, and are easier to move around.
My first point of worry (and skepticism) is around the health bit. I'm worried that if I do replace my bed with such an unconventional means of sleeping, I'll end up with a hunchback (or worse). My other worry is that if I give up my platform bed, I'll need to buy a dresser of some kind. I'm sure I can fit a hammock in where my bed is now if I really want to, but then I'd have to worry about space for a dresser (for which there is none or very little).
On the other hand, I live alone in my apartment, so right now is the best time for me to try something like this out. This is especially since a lot of the price tags I'm seeing for South American made hammocks (which are what is recommended for use, not the typical American backyard type) are much more reasonable than the three to four hundred dollar mattresses (not including sheets).
Additionally, I could rig it up somehow to where the stands for the hammock (wouldn't hang it on the wall in an apartment) would sit under the platform frame, and the hammock would be raised up more. This way I could still keep the frame, but get rid of the mattress.
So my question/need for advice is: Would you recommend trying this? Does anyone have experience with this? I'm always skeptical about "alternatives", so this seems to fall in the "too good to be true" pile. Additionally, if the hammock idea is out to you, what advice do you have on buying a bed (mattress)?
Newtron on
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This is one of few things I wish I didn't have a girlfriend so I could do it.
EDIT: Not because of having sex but because she said no.
seems like just limited positions.. i guess just missionary or laying on your side..(spoon)?
Problem solved if you have a couch.
I have a couch (a foldout one at that), but I'd actually be interested in hammock sex.
That is: sex IN a hammock, not with.
Yes, that is one of the things i'm seeing as I go along and do research, so my skepticism is slowly waning.
To offer advice in the other direction, perhaps your old bed wasn't suited to you? I've slept on firm mattresses, and they make me toss and turn like crazy. My mattress is really soft, and I love it. Some people are opposite and love a really firm bed.
This is exactly what I was going to post.
OP hammock sex is not good sex.
From my experience with a waterbed, I had trouble getting used to continued momentum after I moved. I would wake up alot like "why the fuck am I still moving?" If you are one to change position, It might take a few nights to get over that.
Personally, I would just go for a memory foam cover, which made all of my full size college beds magical cloud beds of happiness. I got a 4inch thick one at target, it wasn't cheap but it didn't break the bank. I'm currently sleeping on a queen with a feather down pillow top and I honestly miss my dorm bed.
Plus, there are alternatives available.
Honestly, why not just buy a hammock and try sleeping in it for a few nights/weeks? You can pick up a cheap one, $20-30, in case you don't like it or end up with back pain. If it works out, then go nuts and buy a crazy good one.
I have a Eagles Nest Outfitters Hammock. The thing is fucking wonderful, I sleep in it more then my bed and I have a memory foam pillow top and all that jazz. Also, you're supposed to lay in a hammock diagnoly, so it wont sag in the middle.
Also you can have some of the kinkiest sex in the world in a hammock. Totes awesome.
What you're going to need are some heavy duty S-Screws (You can get them at the home depot) and mount them in the stud. Make sure to get one rated for at least 300 pounds, and you'll be golden.
I'm looking at the ENO stuff now. The single is attractively priced, but i'm concerned about the nylon. How hot is it where you are? My room gets damn hot in the summer, and i'm worried that the nylon will stick to my sweaty skin.
IT'S AN SOMNOLENT SLAM-DOWN! TO HAMMOCK OR NOT TO HAMMOCK?!
For the record, I endorse both Hammock-sleeping(experienced) and Hammock-sex(inexperienced).
I have what a boston doctor would call wicked bad scoliosis which pains me in certain positions, but hammock sleeping ain't one of 'em! Give it a try.
But if that's the direction of inquiry this thread is going to go down, I would instead suggest that you replace your bed with a trampoline.
You just need to make sure you buy one that can carry at least twice your weight. Or three times, if you like fat girls.
My only issue now is cost. Half the reason i'm doing this is because it's supposed to be cheaper than a bed. I need a proper stand and hammock if this is happening, and I'm averaging a price of around $200 total for both. It's still cheaper than a bed, but I was hoping to keep it in the $150 range.
There's a forum I discovered where a handy man built his own stand, which sounds like a neat and plausible option, but I question it's stability for long term use.
In any case, do those with hammock experience recommend buying South American, or would a travel hammock work?
Stand: http://www.hammocks.com/hammock-stands/metal-stands/adjustablehammockstand.cfm
Hammock: http://betterhammocks.com/queen-mayan3.htm
Comes to about 180 bucks. Browse those two sites as both have a wide variety of selections.
For the hammock I linked, just a warning: the color is random based on the four themes you provide. So if you want it to fit in with other stuff in the room then it's a calculated risk. Also, it's not obvious from the pictures, but this thing requires a huge amount of space. It's a lot longer than a bed. Right now mine is 14 feet in length. So if space is a concern for you then don't even think about getting a hammock.
That's an okay one, but I was looking at this originally: http://www.hammocks.com/hammock-packages/handwoven-hammock-sets/largesummersunsetbrazilianhammockwithadjustablestand.cfm
(I love orange.)
Unfortunately, the limed seems to be what's going to kill this whole thing for me.
My bed right now takes up a little less than 8ft in length. Even if I rearranged my room a little, I have a maximum of 10 1/2 ft. Sadly, the minimum I'm seeing seems to be 11 1/2 ft, and that would go from my wall to just inside my closet, so that's out.
I don't believe there are any wall studs in my apartment to hang from, and even if there were I'd be afraid of pissing off my landlord. There also seems to be a 10ft frame by a company called bliss, but even thinking about it now the hammock would max out my space, and I'd have no place to put my clothes (unless I tossed a dresser in my living room as an alternative).
It's not looking good :x
It would be extremely odd to have no studs in your wall. Now, based on the construction they could be far harder to locate, but they're there.
Though, this has got me looking at hammocks as a replacement to my one man backpackers tent. Hm.
But that means that you anchor it into your wall. And that you take it down in the morning, and put it up at night.
Where do you plan on doing your backpacking? A hammock can severely limit your choices for campsites.
On the plus side, depending on how densely forested the area is, it may be easier to find a site appropriate for a hammock than it would be to find a site appropriate for a small tent. That, and you can put some vaseline or natural grease in a glob around your line near where each rope attaches to it's tree and you won't have to worry about insects (well, insects without wings, that is).
Just make sure you use the kind of line that doesn't cause damage to treebark.
I live in Northwest Georgia and it gets very, very hot in the summer here. I can say that my ENO hammock does not stick to me and you can even machine wash it and hang dry it if it gets funky. I bought a double nest and then mounted hooks to my wall and it works great. It's so cool i dont even have to run the AC during the summer while I sleep, i just have two fans, one blowing underneath and one blowing above, cut my cooling bill in half!
You might need to check with your landlord as to if it's cool to drill a hole in your wall, but that's gonna be the most feasible way to do it IMHO.
This is the best thread.
e~ I want a hammock but don't think I could sub one in for my bed.
I happened to wander into Dicks Sporting Goods, and saw a standard, no frills Hammock on clearance for like 20 bucks. Figured that would at least work until I could afford a bed of my own...but I ended up loving it. When I went to bed, it was so comfortable that I would immediately pass out. When my alarm went off, it was so UNcomfortable that I immediately got up rather than keep hitting the snooze button.
I realize discomfort is usually a minus, but I considered it to be a plus, since it got me to work on time.
I wasn't having sex at the time, but I'd imagine that the logistics of even missionary style would be complicated, given that I think the physics involved means that the hammock would constantly be moving in the wrong direction.
My only suggestion is that, if you go with the rope hammock, you might want TWO comforters. One to go on top of you like a normal bed, and one to go UNDER you to protect your back from being pressed against the rope. Beyond that, go for it! I slept in a hammock for over a year and have no back problems.
EDIT: Didn't read the other posts, now I see people are talking about mounting the hammock to the wall. Ridiculous. Get a "self supporting one" with it's own stand. It's only slightly longer than an actual bed, doesn't involve tearing into your walls, and as I said, can be had for 20 bucks.
the clear solution to this is to install some gymnast's rings above the hammock. . .
edit: and in addition to the above poster, you could probably get a thin layer of memory foam to make that hammock fantastic.
You'd probably have a less painful time having sex in the hammock.
as for the hammock thing, I kinda want one now haha
Rugburn - -
Floor, hammock, bed, whatever.
If the dude wants a hammock...love will find a way.