Frequently Asked Questions :
Why
are the Mexican hammocks sold by weight ?
We
have chosen this way of pricing cause we find it the most
fair. Indeed, the mexican hammock is still traditionally handmade
in village of Yucatan (south east of Mexico), by the descendants
of the Mayas. Each weaver builds himself his weaving loom,
a wooden frame, of which dimensions vary, preventing standardization.
There are no norms, each hammock being different by its size,
color and weight. We sort them by category, as you can see
in the products page (simple, double, matrimonial, familial),
but of course they come in different sizes in the same category.
The
weight indicates the quantity of material used and so the
size of the hammock : "the heavier the hammock is, the
larger !"
Why
is the Mexican hammock the best in the world ?
First
of all because it gives a perfect position, the back being
flat. You would sleep in the width of the hammock and not
in its length like most people would do.
The
Mexican hammock is made as a net (traditional hand weaving
without knots), and therefore extensible. It curls around
your body, and there is no tension on your spine, and it was
found out that many people with back problems had found relief
using Mexican hammocks.
The
net makes a large hammock from little material used, which
results in a cheaper price and a smaller volume (for the same
size, a fabric hammock will always be heavier and more expensive
!)
Be
careful not to mistake the Mexican hammock with fishnet type
hammocks, knotted on each point. Or hammock made of rope or
large thread, for the finer the thread is, the more pleasant
the contact and the more comfortable the hammock will be.
.................. 
What
is the resistance to weight of the Mexican hammock ?
The
resistance of the Mexican hammock is partly assured by the
polypropylene suspension « arms » (los
brasos), between 100 and 200 threads on each side which can
support 20 kilos by thread ! (do the math !) The arms are
tied to the body (el cuerpo) of the hammock. From each arms,
3 to 5 thread go to the body.
We
have proved on many occasions that a cotton hammock can easily
take a ton !!! And polypropylene hammocks are said to take
2 tons, and probably more.
What
is the difference between polypropylene and cotton ?
Mexican
hammocks are made either in cotton or all polypropylene. We
have chosen polypropylene arms for both.
Polypropylene
is a synthetic material, its resistance has been proven and
used in various fields (ropes, paragliding, climbing, sailing...).
It's more resistant than cotton and rot-proof, what means
it is not sensitive to water and humidity.
Colors
won't fade, but like any textile, it has to be protected from
the sun, what would weaken it.
In
our opinion, despite its main quality : solidity (Mexicans
use it more and more because it's durability is better), the
polypropylene hammock is a little less comfortable, for less
flexible, harder and of course because it is a synthetic material
derived from petrol...
(as
found in a dictionary)
Polypropylene : A flammable gas produced by cracking
(breaking down) petroleum and used to make plastics and isopropyl
alcohol.....hum hum !
Normally,
you shouldn't leave a cotton hammock for too long under the
rain, rain is not a problem, but humidity is. In a dry climate
(Mediterranean like), even if it rains every once in a while,
the hammock dries quickly. But in the north of Europe, and
on the Atlantic coast, the cotton might rot if not dried correctly.
In
any case, protect your hammock from the sun rays or the colors
will fade away and the hammock weaken.
Even
if it's less robust than the polypropylene, the cotton also
has great resistance, and its durability depends on you, if
you treat him nicely, he will accommodate your naps, or even
nights, for years ; several people have kept theirs between
15 and 20 years, but some have also butchered it in 3 days.....but
this is a rare case, fortunately !
Why do some hammocks have spreader
bars ?
The
spread bars were invented for a decorative purpose only, to
keep the hammock open even when no one is using it. We advice
people against those because it makes the hammock very unstable,
you can easily fall over and the sleeping is bad. You can
only use them in the length and it turns your back into a
banana !
Can you really think about sleeping
through the whole night in a Mexican hammock, alone or with
someone else ?
Yes,
it's been made for ever and used for sleeping by the descendants
of the Mayas.
You'll find quiet easy by yourself...not that easy by two or more !
You
should sleep in the width of the Mexican hammock and not in
its length like most people would think and do, because it
gives a perfect position and keeps your back flat.
In Mexico, the
Double is for an adult, the
Matrimonial is for a couple alone or with a child, the
familial is, as the word reads, for the family, a couple and
2 or 3 kids.
Of
course, we, Europeans, not used to this sleeping way and with
a different morphology (bigger, heavier), have to revise those
norms.
We
advise adults of small height the Double size.
An adult of
average and big height would find more space and comfort in
the Matrimonial.
And for a couple, a big Matrimonial (from
1.3 kg) or a Familial seems more appropriate.
How
to set my hammock ?
Set
your hammock indoors, you will enjoy it all year round.
All
you need is a good hanging system (ask in hardware stores,
there's a whole range of fixating devices for any kind of
wall), rope (better use climbing or polypropylene rope) and
a pair of S-shaped hooks or snap hooks. Using the later you
can at any moment hang your hammock on and off. Contrarly
to accepted beliefs, the hammock doesn't take much space and
it will help create free space in your living room and even
in smaller living spaces. And it's an original improvised
bed for friends sleeping over !! And kids love it...
If you like to see some ideas on how and where hang a hammock, clic here
You want more pics ? Go here then !
Numbers
to follow
The
distance between the loops of the hammock is about 3.50 meters.
The
height between the loop and the ground is about 1.80 meters,
and the distance between the two loops is about 3,80m. The larger the hanging spots will be the higher should be the hoocking point so that the hammock "keep on smiling".
A
hammock must always smile, not be too stretched or it will
lose flexibility.
For
a simple and accurate tying knot, clic here
We hope we have answered all of your questions, and if you need more information, contact us by email : info@hamacasutra.net, or by phone : (33) 06 75 57 75 38.
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