Best Hammock Designs?

Some people want the traditional hammock bed experience--they want to sling it between two trees, lie back, and soak up the outdoor life while dozing off in the shade. If this is you, your best bet is a hammock design such as the Ecuadorean hammock, the rope hammock, or the quilted hammock. Some of these come with "spreader bars" that keep the hammock open, and others come without, allowing the material to fold up around you. Without spreader bars, the hanging is much more flexible. With bars, the length of your hammock bed is the minimum you'll need to hang it. If you are using posts instead of tree trunks to hang the hammock, it is very important to inspect the posts for rot. Posts should be weather proofed or treated with sealant for maximum longevity out-doors.