What Kind of Knot to Tie on a Hammock?

Single Strand

• If the hammock provides a single rope at each end of the hammock, wrap it behind the tree and over itself. Make a turn around the tree in the opposite direction, over the rope and back around the tree again. Cross over the rope once more, and bring the free end up inside the outer loop in a half hitch. Tighten the half hitch, and tie a second half hitch to secure the line, doubling the free end of the rope in an easy release loop, suggests the website Risk's Ultralight Hiking Page. After securing the other end of the hammock, tighten the knots by carefully putting weight on the hammock.

Bowline Hammock Knot

• If the hammock provides two strands of rope at each end, use a variation of the bowline. Hold one line in your left hand and fold a clockwise loop above it. Bring the free end up through the loop, behind the main strand, and down through the loop. Pull the knot tight. Pass the other rope around the tree, as with the single strand knot. Bring the free end up through the bowline loop and then back over the main strand. Double the line, and pull it up through the new loop above the bowline in a half hitch. Repeat with the doubled strand for a second half hitch. Release by untying the half hitches.

Tree-Hugger Straps

• Wrap tree-hugger straps, with two permanent end loops, twice around the tree and even up the loops. Pass the rope of a single-line hammock through both loops from the right and back over the main strand. Bring the rope up on the left and down between the strap loops. Pull the knot tight. Pass the line over to the left, up between the strands on the right and then down between the strap loops again. Pull tight, cross to the left, come up between the strands on the right and down between the straps. Finish with two half hitches around the main strand. The lashing never fails and it unties with one hand, according to the Hennessy Hammock website.

Tips

• Wide tree-hugger straps minimize damage to tree bark. When wrapping around the tree, wrap the strap over itself to increase friction and reduce slippage. If your hammock uses a double-strand suspension, pass one strand through both tree-hugger loops and secure the hammock with the bowline hammock knot. Healthy trees of four inches diameter or larger should hold a loaded hammock easily, but ornamental trees in yards might fail. Transplanted trees lack the strong root network of trees that grew from seed. Hammock straps can blister trees with tender bark, such as apple and other fruit trees.