How to Tie the Best Knot for Hammock and Hammock Chair

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A hammock is a sling made of netting, rope or fabric suspended between two or more anchoring points, used for resting, sleeping or swinging. It is an alternative for beds for individuals who want to experience a blissful relaxation during camping, sailing, or even while reading.

Since hammocks are proxy beds, they need to be made from high-quality materials to guarantee safety every time.

Aside from the quality of the material, the way you knot the hammock tie to a base also plays an important role in your overall safety. No matter how durable a hammock material, if you do not tie the knot well, you can fall to the ground the moment you mount on the hammock.

This article explains what the best knot for hammocks and hammock chairs for a secure hammock attachment is.

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The Best Knot for Hammock

1. How to Tie a Bowline Knot

how to tie a good knot for a hammock

This type of knotting system can be used as an extension of rings, carabiners, or chain links of a hammock.

Directions

  • Step 1: Create a loop at the center of your rope. Let there be enough rope on the sides.
  • Step 2: Pass the tail end of the rope through the loop.
  • Step 3: Pass the remaining tail end through the inside loop.
  • Step 4: Allow the rope tail to pass through the inside bottom loop as shown in the image below.
  • Step 5: Pull through until you have a secured knot.

Watch the video HERE.

2. How to Tie a Clove Hitch

best knot for tying hammock to tree

This is an easy way to hang a hammock to a base. This knot can also be used with rings or carabiners.

Directions

  • Step 1: Create a loop by passing the rope over itself.
  • Step 2: Create a second loop on the right by passing the rope over itself again.
  • Step 3: Stack the right loop under the left loop.
  • Step 4: slide or clip around a tent stake.
  • Step 5: Pull both strands to tension.

Watch the video HERE.

3. How to Tie a Taut Line Hitch

best knot for tying hammock

This knotting system is useful in camping when you need to make stops at many places, as you can easily tie and untie your hammock any time you want.

It is good for tensioning guylines, clotheslines, and other light-duty uses.

Directions

  • Step 1: Wrap the rope around a fixed object.
  • Step 2: Cross the short end over the other strand.
  • Step 3: Wrap the right strand three times.
  • Step 4: Pull the short end parallel to the other strand.
  • Step 5: Pass it under the other stand.
  • Step 6: Feed the end through the lower loop.
  • Step 7: Pull the end tight. The remaining loop should slide up and down the rope easily.

Watch the video HERE.


Knots for Hanging a Hammock Chair

The knotting systems explained above can also be used in hanging a hammock chair if the chair comes with O-rings, D-rings, or S-rings.

You just have to ascertain what will work with your hammock type and choose the type of knot accordingly.

1. The Basic Knotting System

The basic way to hang a hammock chair is to attach to a branch of a tree that extends horizontally.

You need a thick branch that is strong, and thick enough to carry at least a 250-pound capacity hammock chair.

best knot for tying a hammock

Directions

  • Step 1: Toss the rope on the branch twice, or till you attain your desire hang.
  • Step 2: Widen the two lines of the rope till it’s enough to spread the hammock.
  • Step 3: Pass the two ends of the ropes through the hang point of the hammock.
  • Step 4: Pull the ropes until the hammock point nears the tree branch.
  • Step 5: Cross the remaining end of the rope, and then pass it through the loop over, first under, then through.
  • Step 6: Repeat step 5 many times until you have a secured hitch.
  • Step 7: Pull the knot tightly. Leave the remaining rope to hang. This will aid in fast removal later. If the ropes are annoyingly long, you can trim them if you want.

2. The Sheet Bend Knot

This system of knotting is commonly used when the hanging point of a hammock chair has loosened, and there is a need to use another rope to fasten it to a tree/post altogether.

To perform the sheet bend knot, you need to use two sets of rope; the first will be the line that attaches to the hammock, while the second is the one that gets attached to the tree.

Directions

  • Step 1: Make a loop on the hammock’s rope.
  • Step 2: Pass the first rope into the opening of the loop, bring it back to itself.
  • Step 3: Pull all the ends to tighten.
  • Step 4: Wrap another round using step 1 to 3 above, to make a double bend.
  • Step 5: Toss the remaining end of the other rope to a post or tree and perform a basic knot to hang your hammock chair.

3. The Wrapped Knot

If you have a hanging point that is not a closed-loop but an O-ring, you need to make an extremely secured knot to make it safe to hang the hammock chair in a tree.

Directions

  • Step 1: Secure a cord of rope on one side of the ring by performing a basic knot.
  • Step 2: Move down a few inches and fold it. Then pull the rope end back to meet the ring upward.
  • Step 3: Wrap the rope end on the cord attaching to the hammock firmly.
  • Step 4: Move the end of the rope downward, towards the fold.
  • Step 5: When you get a wrapped area that is about 2 inches long, pass the rope end through the looped area initially folded.
  • Step 6: Pull the upward and downward end to tighten.
  • Step 7: Perform a basic knot to tie the upward end to the tree.

Conclusion

Consider the type of hanging method that suits your type of hammock.

If you plan on using a permanent suspension, you will need to invest in suspension hardware. If you want to hang your hammock or hammock chair from a tree or post in your backyard or during camping, ropes are the easiest to pack and lightest to carry and are gentle on trees.

Use these knotting tips to hang your hammock safely indoors or outdoors, and have a blissful rest.

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