What is a Hammock Ridgeline? How to Tie a Hammock Ridgeline like a Pro?
People who engage themselves in outdoor activities are aware of a hammock's benefits. It can work as a tent for you while you are camping, providing you with an equally comfortable and peaceful sleep. Hammock ridgeline is a component of the hammock that allows getting the desirable sag from your hammock. You can get a ridgeline separately or consider buying a hammock that comes with the ridgeline if you want to benefit from this component.
Even though hammock ridgeline is not necessary, it still offers some advantages in certain circumstances that make it ideal for a situation. For example, if you are not using a hammock ridgeline, the sag of your hammock depends upon the level of balance, strap length, and the distance between two trees or poles. Therefore, if the sag provided by these factors is not as comfortable for you, you will need a ridgeline.
If you are confused about the hammock ridgeline, you can continue reading this blog. Hopefully, you will get all the information you have been looking for about the hammocks and the ridgelines.
Why should you prefer a Hammock over a Tent?
Before we start with the hammock ridgelines, let’s discuss the advantages of a hammock and why you should prefer taking it with you while camping. If you are into outdoor activities and have experienced enough of them, you might be aware of the comfort and relaxation that a hammock has to offer.
A hammock can perfectly replace a tent to provide you with a more comfortable sleep. Also, if you have set up a tent, you can still have a hammock that you can nap in during the day or bask in the sun.
With a hammock, the only thing that you have to worry about is to set it up in a comfortable way that suits your body. The tweaking and effort are worth the peaceful sleep you will get in a hammock. Once your hammock has the ideal sag and is hanging perfectly, you must know that nothing can come in between you and your much-needed relaxation time.
What is a Hammock Ridgeline?
A hammock ridgeline is a piece of cord used to connect both sides of the hammock suspension. In simple words, it is the cord tied between both of the ends of the hammock and holds everything while providing the ideal sag. As you lie down in the hammock, you will see the ridgeline over your head.
Most camping hammocks come with clips or carabiners that connect the loops to the suspension traps of the hammocks. Therefore, you should learn to attach the ridgeline to similar loops to make your camping experience more fun.
When you install a hammock without a ridgeline, you will see that the tensions are pulling on either side of your hammock. While if your hammock is installed with a ridgeline, it would look as if it is hanging completely tension-free. This is why you can get a ridgeline to prevent the tension in the suspensions and have a perfect sag.
Do you really need a ridgeline or not?
Now that you know what a ridgeline is used for and the purpose that it serves, it is time to determine whether you need it or not. As mentioned above, ridgeline is a component of a hammock that might not be necessary in every situation or case. Don’t stress out! As we are here at your rescue. We will help you determine whether you need a hammock ridgeline or not.
You might know that if you tie a rope between two trees without tension, the rope will fall towards the ground. Therefore, if there is no ridgeline, your hammock will take in the tension and will hang. If your hammock is not taking the tension, your loops over the suspension will be hanging from the tree.
Therefore, ridgeline is incredibly beneficial as it enables your cord and hammock to be connected at a certain point on the suspension. This cord is shorter and makes your hammock sag freely. Always remember that you need to attach a ridgeline to the area of loops and suspensions and not to the hammock itself.
The sag of your hammock is dependent on the length of your ridgeline. If the length of your ridgeline is the same all the time, you will get a similar range of sag despite the distance between two trees.
So, if you are wondering whether you want a hammock ridgeline or not, you must know that it is unnecessary. You can benefit from the hammock without a ridgeline, but it is indeed worth giving a chance because of the particular advantages that it offers.
Types of Hammock Ridgelines
There are two different types of hammock ridgelines;
- Fixed ridgeline
- Adjustable ridgeline
The fixed ridgelines are the ones that are available in the range of lengths from 100 to 110 inches. This length is ideal for supporting the traditional hammock length of around 11 feet. The length of the fixed ridgelines that you choose must be 83% of the hammock’s length. Therefore, for a hammock of 11 feet, you will need a 108 inches long ridgeline.
However, the adjustable ridgelines are in the whoopie slings and constrictor rope. The ridgeline providers that possess black rings and titanium biners can help you create an adjustable ridgeline of your choice.
They also ensure that it is lightweight to make it conveniently portable. With an adjustable ridgeline, you can set up your hammock according to your liking and detailed requirements. Also, these ridgelines are perfect for hammocks of varying sizes and are not similar to regular hammocks. You can choose between these ridgelines to check what will perfectly suit your hammock.
What are the Materials of a Ridgeline?
Along with the types, you can also find a variety of materials in ridgelines. The various ridgeline materials include:
- Amsteel cord – The most commonly used material for the hammock ridgeline is amsteel as it is easy to grip, cheaper, and is pretty strong. Moreover, it is also easier to grip, making it a viable choice. It is made from Dyneema, another material used for ridgelines, and has the same properties. Amsteel is a sturdy and reliable material with a break strength of approximately 725 kgs.
- Dynaglide – Ridgelines also come in lightweight and are easier to carry around. The break strength of Dynaglide is 450 kg, which is less than that of an amsteel cord.
- Paracord – Another material used to make the hammock ridgelines is Paracord. This is also a lightweight material used when you want a non-structural ridgeline that doesn’t have to support your weight. A Paracord ridgeline might be a little bit stretchy, especially when it gets wet.
You can choose the ideal ridgeline for your hammock by going through the various properties of these materials.
Some Facts about Ridgelines
Some exciting and necessary facts about ridgelines won't hurt. It will just give you a little more understanding of the products.
- Once you tie the ridgeline to your hammock perfectly, you don’t have to do it again and again.
- Ridgeline is responsible for adjusting the hang of your hammock; it is attached to the suspensions of the hammock.
- Ridgeline should be 83% of the length of your hammock.
- You might need to tie knots to adjust them according to the required length.
How to Set Up a Hammock Ridgeline?
Hopefully, you will be familiar with the hammock ridgelines, functioning, and importance. So, it is time to jump into the next part of this informational blog which is how to set up a hammock ridgeline. As discussed above, the hammock ridgeline is the cord attached to both ends of the hammock. The tension in the ridgeline is entirely dependent on the sag you want for your hammock. Even though it is entirely dependent on your preference, the rule of thumb is about a 30 degrees hang. You can set it up outdoors anywhere like while camping, on the beach, etc.
Below are the step-by-step instructions on setting up a hammock ridgeline:
Before getting started with the ridgeline, you will have to set up your hammock at the right place or where you want. No matter what type of hammock you own, you will have to set it up before getting started with the ridgeline.
Now for the ridgeline, you will have to take a cord that is about 83% of the length of your hammock. If you want to make sure that the cord is the accurate size, you can take a cord that is precisely the length of your hammock. After that, you can cut it and make it to the size you require.
You can use a lashing or a knot to tie the ridgeline to the suspension on one side of the hammock. You will have to wrap your cord on one side of the suspension and then wrap it around the ridgeline cord for the lashing procedure.
Now repeat the same process on the other side of the suspension and ridgeline too. Repeat this procedure four times and tie it off using two half hitches.
After wrapping the ridgeline on the other side of the suspension, pull the ridgeline and adjust the tension and sag of your hammock. This is dependent on your personal preference. After adjusting the sag to your requirement and comfort level, repeat the lashing procedure mentioned in the previous step.
By following these steps, you will be able to set up your hammock ridgeline within a few minutes.
How to Set Up a Hammock with a Ridgeline?
With the popularity of hammocks and their benefits, we can see various types of hammocks in the market. These hammocks are ideally created for different purposes and situations. Also, they come in a variety of sizes and cloth materials.
Similarly, we can also find a hammock with a ridgeline. By now, you might be pretty aware of the advantages that a ridgeline has to offer. Considering these advantages, many people prefer to purchase a hammock with its ridgeline to cut the chase.
Therefore, after discussing how to set up a hammock ridgeline, it is now time to learn how to set up a hammock with a ridgeline. For this purpose, you can follow the below-mentioned step-by-step instructions:
Firstly, set up your hammock. You will have to use the three straps and suspensions to do this. After doing it, you will have to attach the ridgeline cord to either side of the suspensions of the hammock.
You can also tie a tree strap to both trees that you will be using and then put the hammock's straps through these rings. Or another way of setting up a hammock is tying the hammock ends to the rings located on the tree straps.
After setting up your hammock, the next step is to adjust it. Typically, the hammock is set up at a height where you can loosely touch the ground while sitting inside it.
Therefore, if the distance between both trees is shorter, you will have to lower the tree straps so that your hammock can be closer to the ground. Similarly, if the distance between the trees is more significant, you will have to set up the tree straps at a higher point.
The last step is to attach the ridgeline. As the hammock already has a ridgeline, the only thing that you have to do is connect the ridgeline cord to either side of the suspension and adjust the sag. Each person might have a different comfort level when it comes to the sag, and you will have to see for yourself what level might be the most comfortable one for you.
Now that you have set up your hammock with a ridgeline, you will decrease the tension between the hammock and the trees. This will result in the hammock holding its sag at a specific level.
Benefits of Using a Hammock Ridgeline
We have discussed in detail when you might need a ridgeline or whether you should get it or not. But we have come here with some reasons why you should consider using a hammock ridgeline. The list below states some benefits of using a hammock ridgeline;
- It makes the setting up of your hammock a lot simpler and convenient.
- A ridgeline is lightweight and easy to carry with you while camping or other outdoor activities.
- You can also use a ridgeline to ensure that your hammock does not tear up.
- It also takes very little space like a hammock, ideal for car camping.
- You can also hang a tarp from the ridgeline that will help you keep the bugs away while having a peaceful night’s sleep or a nap.
- It can also play the role of a rope that you can hang your accessories from. Whether it is your handbag, glasses, pair of gloves, or scarf, this ridgeline can be used to hang such items from it.
- The ridgeline cord will also make your line more secure and robust.
- It will provide you with a constant level of sag that will help you get comfortable sleep while relaxing outdoors.
- A ridgeline can also aid if you walk around at night or in the dark. Even if you have to go to the toilet, this will work as your aid.
- Hammock ridgeline helps get the perfect sag for your hammock even when there is a lot of distance between two trees. With a structured ridgeline, you don’t have to worry about the distance between the trees as long as you can maintain a distance of 0.5m from the ground.
What can be Used Instead of Official Ridgeline?
Even though the hammock ridgelines are specially made to support and adjust your hammocks, you can use other cords for the same purpose. Therefore, if you have forgotten to get a hammock ridgeline while shopping for your camping supplies, you can use some other things to get a perfect sag for your hammock. In such a case, you can use a utility cord or a paracord to suspend your hammock.
Conclusion
As we have discussed every inch of detail about the hammock ridgelines, you might not have any confusion anymore. You might now be aware that hammock ridgelines are not a necessity, but the number of benefits they offer makes it worth it to give it a go. It can help you get a more comfortable and relaxing time while camping outdoors with a perfect sag that your body demands.
The comfort and protection that ridgelines offer make it worth the extra minutes you might have to put on while setting up the hammock. Therefore, it is now time for you to decide whether you want a ridgeline for your hammock or not and what type and material it should be.
If you live on the Gold Coast and love the outdoors, shop MyHammocks range of the hammocks Gold Coast residents count on for all their camping and outdoor activities.