Inka XXL Freestanding Hammock Ecru

How to Choose a Hammock Stand Properly.

We are all influenced by the price of items we browse on the Internet, yet there is a world of difference between two styles of hammock stands. Price, warranty, and the advertised lifespan are the main factors that hold us back. And often, comfort gets overlooked even though it is just as important. There are two styles of hammocks: the one with wooden spreader bars (the Western version of the hammock) and the one without them (the Latin American version, our specialty, our passion). The one with wooden bars must be stretched during installation (positioned lengthwise only and on the back), whereas the one without bars must be curved (positioned diagonally flat, curled up, or sitting). However, most offers on the Internet concern stands made somewhat for both styles.

The ratio between the length and height of the hammock stand is decisive for the final comfort. If your hammock is too tight, you will be stuck and confined in its fabric. If it is curved, you will be comfortably flat with a soft and stretchable bedding.

At Tropical Influences, we have long worked directly with stand manufacturers to offer you well-measured stands. Between about 1995 and 2005, we even made our own models in our workshops before hammock stands in arc shapes appeared thanks to laminated wood. Take a close look at the heights of a hammock stand from us and you will see they have nothing to do with the competition.

How to Choose a Hammock Properly.

Just like with stands, nowadays you can find all kinds of hammocks online. As French people, we know how to choose a camembert well, but when it comes to hammocks, we do not have the same knowledge. I would like to say, trust us, we are still just as passionate (since 1988) and will be happy to advise you in your purchase. But I will still explain some important facts to know. There are details easy to compare: the product’s weight (a good indicator of durability), the textile composition (not always reliable depending on the sellers) which should contain as little polyester as possible (for softness and good skin contact), the size of the fabric (trust the measurements and not the labels like "2-person" or "family") because a two-person hammock starts at 160 cm wide and not 100 as can be seen on some sites, and finally, the number of suspension cords.

But there are two things you will never be able to know: the quality of the thread used and the weaving method (will the fabric eventually sag or not?). The thread used is, for me, the most important detail of a hammock. When I arrive at a factory, the first thing I do is test the thread. Then, I head to the dyeing machine (cold? hot? under pressure? Computer-controlled?) to find out if the thread might bleed or not. Today, technology has advanced and we use recycled cottons with very firm colors. Be careful, depending on the origin, you may end up with a hammock that stretches so much you will feel like you are trapped in a pocket!

Also beware of hammocks that are promised to be guaranteed for outdoor use. Their material names sound charming but they are actually 100% polyester. In other words, plastic. These hammocks are hot, sometimes static, UV rays have a negative impact on polyester (premature thread degradation), when thin, they age very poorly after a few machine washes, and mold fungi still settle on them.

Remember that it is your skin that will be in direct contact with your hammock. Give it softness!

For more essential information on using a hammock, I recommend watching our video: the 6 tips.

Quality, ethics, durability, longevity, and comfort. An offer from Tropical Influences! The passion for hammocks since 1988.