All You Need To Know Before Buy a Hammock

Today we want to share with you something special:

A Brief History of and Guide to Outdoor Hammocks

The perfect Father's Day card shows Dad taking a nap in a hammock while his loving family serves him a cold drink and newspaper while organizing chores like mowing the lawn. A scene from the past, perhaps, but the image of a hammock under a large tree still conjures up dreams of idyllic summer afternoons in its own lush version of Eden, songbirds.

There are many important reasons to own and relax in a hammock. Swiss neuroscientists have shown that networks promote deep, restful sleep, especially for short periods of time. If you really want a chain, what should you think about before ordering one online or adding it to the cart during your next visit to the big local retailer?

Find the Perfect Decor for Your Patio and Garden!

SaleBestseller N° 1

Nacome Solar Garden Outdoor Statues Turtle with Succulent and 7 LED Lights - Lawn Decor Tortoise...

SaleBestseller N° 2

Solar Lanterns Outdoor Waterproof Hummingbird Garden Decor Christmas Gifts for Women Mom Grandma...

Bestseller N° 3

Outdoor String Lights 25 Feet G40 Globe LED Patio Lights with 13 Edison Plastic Bulbs(1 Spare),...

Many, surprisingly.

A History of the Hammock

Yes, even hammocks have a history.

That outdoor swing you're thinking of buying was invented by the Athenian general Alcibiades, a student of the Greek philosopher Socrates, in 415 BC. Somehow, between the expedition to Sicily and the battles of Abydos and Cicico, Alcibiades found time to imagine and create a network. And did you imagine yourself multitasking?

The word hammock, along with canoe, barbecue, tobacco hurricane and Cuba come from the Taino indigenous culture, which lived among the Arawak tribes of the Orinoco Delta. The Tainos gradually spread from what is now Venezuela to the West Indies, beginning around 400 BC. and they interacted with the natives already living in the Caribbean. The Tainos were self-sufficient and settled on Hispaniola, where Haiti and the Dominican Republic are today, along with Jamaica, eastern Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. In addition to inventing the web, the Tainos cultivated cassava, sweet potato, corn, beans, among other crops. Their culture flourished until a European explorer began to show that the world is round, he changed everything, drastically.

The Christopher Columbus connection

Scholars believe that there may be more than 3 million Taínos on Hispaniola when Christopher Columbus stopped in what is now the Bahamas during his expedition in 1492. "They will give everything they have for whatever is given to them, even exchanging things for pieces of china, "Colombo wrote of the natives. Observing that the Taínos were handsome and well-trained, he believed that they would be ideal servants.

In two years, Columbus established the first American colony in La Isabela, on the north coast. The Spanish settled in Taino villages, took men off their jobs in gold mines and plantations, and prevented them from cultivating the crops that have sustained the culture for centuries. Just 20 years later, the New World swept away the Old World, with mixed marriages between Spaniards and Africans enslaved by native Tainos, mostly women. An estimated 3 million, possibly 85% of the Taino population, disappeared in the early 16th century due to marriage and disease (smallpox).

Hammocks in the Latin world

Before Colombo changed things, the Taino used hammocks as beds on the ground and later in Mexico and in Central and South America. Woven from a variety of local natural materials, including tree bark, sisal, and palm fronds, these beds were practical and probably life-saving ways of pulling jungle dwellers out of moist soil, away from water and out of the woods. potentially disease-transmitting insects. and snakes.

Venezuelan or jungle hammocks are generally made to repel insects and rain and are used as suspended, breathable tent-shaped structures. Mexican hammocks originated in the Caribbean and later perfected in the Yucatan region, where cabins have become an important, even symbolic way of life. Often referred to as webs, they are not believed to originate from the Mayans. Hammocks are still popular in the Yucatán.

Sailors, Campers and Hammocks

As a swaying seabed, nets were a sensible way for sailors to sleep on deck. Typically 6 feet long with 14 to 20 inches between each bed, boat nets are made of canvas and are attached at each end with grommets, grommets, and stitches. At the end of the 19th century, the popularity of camping and other outdoor activities required some kind of outdoor bedding, especially for those who did not like to lie on the ground or on the rocks.

The concept is quite simple: a woven "net" with extensions and loops at the end to tie or secure the net between two trees. Lightweight and portable, they can be rolled up and hung in the back or stored with the rest of your camping gear

Things to Consider Before You Go Hammock Shopping

If you live in a Mediterranean or desert climate and an outdoor bed makes sense, but you don't have space, finances, or maintenance time to buy, a hammock may be a smart choice. Before you go shopping, consider:

Location: where are you going? Nets are generally around 6 feet long, with extra length at each end for ropes and loops. The classic rope net at Frontgate is 156 inches long, which is 13 feet long (396.24 centimeters).
Anchors: Are there two trees in your yard about 15 feet apart?
If you don't have trees on your property, can you tie it to something else that's sturdy, like an existing pole?
If you don't have an anchor, you may want to purchase net support, which will take up additional space (15 feet long by about 4 feet wide) and cost additional money, usually more than the net itself.
Shadow, as above. Unless you plan to bake in the sun, will your hammock stay under the trees? If not, will you go up on deck, under a shaded sail or some kind of roof or outdoor umbrella?
Weight limit: generally 450 pounds. This probably means that you, Uncle Larry, Grandma, and your neighbor's cousin's son will not be able to lie at the same time. Good thing.
Where to store the hammock out of season. Like a basement or a garage. Otherwise, it will take up a lot of space in your room.

Types of Hammocks

Like everything else, there are all kinds of networks available, from the simplest to the most elaborate. Some of the various networks available include:

Rope hammock
Brazilian hammock
Pillow-top hammock
Hammock for two (or more)
Shaded hammock
Parachute or sack hammock
Hammock chair or monkey chair: offers the traditional hammock's cocoon-like comfort while allowing you to sit upright -- no deep sleeping here.