When I saw on social media that June 22 is National Hammock Day in the USA, it made me think about my inability to get in and out of a hammock. So, I did a little research.
First, I learned that this is a day when people get together and hang out in hammocks. Now I don’t think I have any friends with hammocks, and it’s probably a good thing I won’t be celebrating with them because I’ve never successfully gotten in or out of a hammock. Never! Yes, I know that’s sad, but I’m a bit of a klutz.
I found these steps for getting in and out:
1) Stand on one side of the hammock with both feet firmly planted on the ground. That’s simple enough.
2) Put your weight onto your back foot and lift your front foot up off the ground. Got it.
3) Move your back leg over the edge of the hammock and swing it into place. But wait! Doesn’t this mean both feet are now off the ground? And, into place? Into place where? I’m confused.
4) Swing your front leg over the edge of the hammock so that you are sitting on it with both legs dangling off either side.
This is the exact point where the hammock flips me out.
And I think I’ve hit on my problem. I think people hang their hammocks too high. If they’d place them low enough that my feet would touch the ground, I might be able to stabilize the thing.
I found this information: You want it high enough so that you can lay down in it without hitting your head on the ground, but not too high so that you have trouble getting in and out of it.
Hmm, that sounds simple. Right? But let’s do the math.
My leg is approximately 30” long (76.2 cm for my UK fans). The average width of the hammock showed up as 50” (127 cm). Let’s assume that the fabric is soft enough for me to be able to squish it a bit. I’ll be generous and say I can get it down to 36” (91.44 cm), which means half my leg is on the hammock itself. So now, taking into account that my knees bend. I only have 16” (40.6 cm) of my leg hanging over the edge.
It is recommended that for a 150 lb. (10.71 stones) person, the center point of the hammock be hung at least 18 to 20” (45 to 50 cm) above the ground. Do you see my problem? My toes may or may not be touching the ground. Actually, they aren’t touching the ground, ever! But I’m trying to be generous.
The second I lift one leg into the hammock – left or right – the hammock moves, and over I flip! I hear you say, lay back first. That sounds like a reasonable suggestion. But I still have to get my legs up into the hammock, and from that position, there is no way I can lift them simultaneously.
I’ll just take my book to the chaise lounge and read it in comfort. You all go ahead and celebrate Hammock Day without me.
