The Hammock as a Tiny House Bed

Hammocks are a great idea and so very comfortable.

I’m currently building a Tumbleweed Fencl and, when installing the joists, I doubled up a couple of them that will be hammock width apart.

I’ll have a local metal shop fabricate some through-joist hangers. This way I’ll have room for a guest, or for lounging around on a very hot day. 😉

Eda in Victoria BC

I tried several nights to sleep on a hammock when I was in Mérida in the Yucatan. It just wasn’t for me. It was nice in the heat to have air circulation under you, but I only managed a really little sleep the last night there before again moving back to the bed in the room.

I tend to sleep on my side or stomach, I think that was a lot of my problem with hamacas. I would definitely have to re-learn sleeping in order to have one.

Intriguing idea. Since the vast majority of loft space is for sleeping, a hammock makes a loft unnecessary (or at least a lot smaller and no longer of comfortable height for an adult to sleep).

This could make a tiny home much shorter and much easier to tow. Something like a P.A.D. can become a lot more of a full time dwelling.

I’m so glad to see this post! I’ve been reading about hammocks as a traditional bed alternative recently and am very interested. My husband thinks I’m crazy.

For anyone interested in hammock camping, Shug has posted a ton of informative and funny videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/shugemery#p/u/27/d7NZVqpBUV0

This is an idea I am also considering. But it seems that a lot of space is needed to hang the hammock.

Does anyone know the minimum distance from hanger to hanger? It seems to be around 13 ft so a tiny house many paradoxically need to be longer to fit a hammock.

The camping type hammocks make good low-impact or temporary tree houses too.

I once considered buying a hammock instead of a mattress, but they wanted $300 for the stand and $300 for the hammock. I got a brand new mattress instead for $280. The new mattresses don’t seem to require a box spring, I noticed, so they don’t take up as much space as they used to. Also, from what I remember reading, they were not as wonderful as they are made out to be here… Still, maybe I should get a hammock. I guess I’d have to try it, and mattresses themselves vary quite a bit, so it may be unfair to say they are generally better than mattresses. Mattresses can be designed to address the pressure point problem to some degree.

But I think the force exerted on the anchor points must be pretty high, a couple hundred kilos easily, would have to know the precise geometry to be sure… but it’s a lot for a 2 by 4 stud, I bet. Something to remember.

The hammock to get is a dreamweavers. I have a Mayan 2-person I bought in Cozumel, which I like but it is not as comfortable, sturdy or easy to hang as the dream weaver. I’ve met the owner, Gilbert Guransky, and he has done a lot of work to develop these hammocks. They are being used in medical therapy for MS, Autism and Aspergers. He runs a really nice site: http://www.dreamweavershammocks.com

DanO

If you do buy a mayan hammock buy it in cotton and not polyester. They are much more comfortable. And the tighter the weave and the smaller the cord the better.

The definitive resource for hammock camping and hammocks in general is hammockforums.net. Check it out. Theres a whole world of different types of hammocks, suspension systems, insulation, underquilts, etc.

Really interesting solution. Would save an incredible amount of space and be less work to put up and take down than a sofa bed. Probably the most minimalistic solution there is.

This could work really well for a lot of people, unfortunately, I’m not one of them. Turning over would seem to be impossible. Is a person stuck on their back all night?

I sleep on a hammoc, strung under a 20′ climbing strap strung as a ridgeline for the pancho staked out to the corners. You might need some bedding, but the above fits in just about any two cargo pockets.

Huh, who would have thunk it. I lived in Sao Paulo Brazil for two years and for 6 of those months I slept off and on in one and it was comfortable but I didn’t notice any difference. I mainly did it because it was hot and sleeping in a hammock keeps you cool. I bought a hammock and brought it home but unfortunately I left it at my brother’s shortly after my arrival and when he moved it disappeared. I want an excuse to go back but for a hammock is a little bit of a stretch.

When I lived in SE Asia I slept in a hammock for about 2 of those years. It was super basic, a military style hammock made out of nylon that would roll up into a small ball. I’m a side and back sleeper and still felt comfortable turning. WIth these old school nylon hammocks, the fabric is actually very wide, so even though it nests around you, it gives you room for turning, and because the nylon is a bit slippery you move easily. Never an issue with feeling like you are going to fall out. And, if there’s some breeze, you will sway a little bit which is super soothing. In cooler months I would use a sleeping bag in it, but you could easily layer a twin feather bed or something similar to provide insulation. The more taught you tie it up, the flatter the surface, so while it would never be as flat as a bed, you can make it fairly horizontal if that is more comfortable.

Other choices could include Asian style Futons that can be stored when not in use. Many are hung on the walls in Asia. Light weight folding camping cots are also very comfortable if you are looking for air circulation,and you can sleep on your side comfortably if you like. Camping cots are easily storable as they require very little storage space.

Many of the style are slept in, incorrectly. Instead of sleeping in them lengthways try siting down, laying back perpendicular and then stretching material out beyond your feet. this way you don’t feel like a buritto or an ear of corn. Two people can sleep comfortably on one. I had bought my last one more than 30 years ago at an earth day fair, hiked through Big Sur with it and used it for a bed in my 12’X 15″ palace when my wife and I were first married, it then became a place to store blankets and bedding. Mini hammocks are a great place t hang fruit and produce.

Get a large (king size) puffy comforter, fold it twice lengthwise (making it 4 times as thick), then lash it to the underside of the hammock. Keeps you very toasty. Attach a 2′ rope to the wall next to the hammock; pulling it makes you rock.

I love this idea and I am going to do it. Thanks so much for posting this.

When hanging your hammock be aware that because of the angles involved the forces on the hang points are MUCH more than your body weight (over 600lb for an average sized person).

Hanging from rafters/studs comes with the risk of bowing your walls/ceiling.

I’m not an engineer, but the physics of it is explained on the Hammock Forums more than once:
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/index.php

i have been sleeping full time in a hammock for quite some time, keep in mind that a mayan hammock will require about 13 feet wall to wall and longer for a ceiling hang, the brazilian will hang in a shorter space and is easier to attach an underquilt, which to me is a neccesity for staying warm even in moderate temps, also the health benefits of a hammock are too many to list, i can toss and turn as much as i want , but find that there is no need becouse it takes about 1 minute to get incredably comfortable and then i don’t want to move

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This would be a great solution for our tiny home, if the distance to hang wasn’t so large. (Our bedroom is 10×10.)

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I am considering switching to a hammock as my regular indoor bed. Can anyone make any recommendations? Guess I would need a stand as well. (I’d be sleeping alone).