Dyneema Netting for Hammoch

John, about ten years ago I bought an 8×10′ piece of knotless (Raschel) Dyneema netting with roughly 1″ openings and 180 lb nominal breaking strength per line. It was for a catamaran trampoline, and I’ve now reused it in several other applications. I actually did string it up between trees and test it as a hammock material, but the openings are much too large. It’s uncomfortable. In my opinion, openings half that size or smaller (maybe 10 mm) would be the maximum size for a comfortable sleeping surface.

If you find a source for Dyneema Raschel netting with smaller openings, please post.

I just pulled my netting out to look at it. The openings are a bit bigger than an inch (40 mm), it turns out. Its the lightest stuff sold by Barry USA (4 ply).

Take some back yard hammocks for a spin if you can. I’ve snoozed on plenty with holes larger than 40mm. Granted, a nap in the sun isn’t quite the same as a full night’s sleep. You might also find a similar net made from a cheaper fiber you could try out. Kevlar and Spectra thread are relatively cheap if you’ve got the time to tie your own net.

Are you going for weight or ventilation? If the former, you should definitely compare against tradition fabric first. I have no idea what the netting weighs.