Please mouseover golden words to get additional information.
The authentic Mayan hammocks are hand woven in Yucatan, Mexico using cotton or nylon thread.History
The earliest hammocks were made of tree bark which was later replaced by sisal thread, a more abundant and softer fiber.
The use of hammocks soon spread to every warm weather region of the continent due to the active business relationships between Central and South American ancient cultures.
Hammocks were introduced to Europe by Columbus and became popular with French and British seamen who used them as an alternative to the uncomfortable and dangerous beds on board.
Hammocks have been cotton woven for the last 60 years, and the use of nylon goes back around 30 years.
Mayan hammocks are hand woven in a loom that has two polls, one in front of the other, united with two battens that are adjusted to the desired hammock length. The weaver (often a woman) rolls the thread in a wooden needle called lanzadera (shuttle) and then goes from one poll to the other weaving as she walks and all over again until the hammock's body is finished.
Next the threads that will make the arms of the hammock, at which end will be the loops where the hammock is hanged from, are woven into the edges of the hammock's body.
Nylon hammocks are durable and resistant, but they are not as comfortable as the cotton ones. They are not prone to mildew and can be washed with strong soaps.
To clean out a nylon hammock, immerse it in a bucket full of soapy water for 8 hours, remove water residue from the hammock and hang it to dry with a stick across it.
Both kinds are sensitive to sunlight which fades their colors.
Spreader Bar Hammock
Also known as American hammock, it has wooden bars at its ends spreading its width and allowing easy access for recreational use. The spreader bars make the hammock unstable and unsafe to sleep in.
They are similar to the Mayan, but the weaving is tighter and they have crochet knitted ornaments on the sides. Nicaraguan hammocks are often adapted to the spreader bar system due to its popularity with American tourists.
The Brazilian hammocks are made from cotton fabric and are more durable than the woven ones but not as comfortable.
They are made of nylon or polyester and non stretch suspension lines. The user must sleep along the length of the hammock rather than across it. With breathable false bottom, drip strings and sandfly netting they are the safest hammocks to use in the jungle.
Travel or Camping Hammock
Are made of durable nylon fabrics, some feature mosquito nets and storage pockets. They are light to carry and easy to set.
The best way to lie in a hammock is across it:
And last but not least, here is how to hang a hammock properly: