How to Get Your Money’s Worth

For vacationers who purchase hammocks in Mexico or South America, here’s some news: Though it seems you’re getting a good deal on an $8 to $10 hammock, more often than not, you’re not, said Kevin Olenick of Swings N Things in San Diego’s Seaport Village.

“It’s basically a you-get-what-you-pay-for thing,” he said, noting that hammock making is still predominantly a craft industry, which causes quality to vary widely.

Though both Swings N Things and Paul De Smit from Exotic Hammocks buy their hammocks from Mexico and South America, as well as making their own, the quality is strictly controlled, both said.

Well-built hammocks can last three to 10 years, depending on the material--if it’s cotton or nylon--and how it’s used, for example, if it’s out in the elements or indoors.

Cotton hammocks last longer than nylon hammocks.

“They’re organic and do better in the elements,” Olenick said. “Nylon just breaks down faster in the sun.”

But because cotton fades quickly, nylon hammocks are better, they say, if you want the hammock to hold its color in the sun.

Besides texture and color fastness, the quality of the material is an important aspect to consider.

“There are a lot of shoddy products out there,” Olenick said. “Is it tightly woven nylon or cheap rejected cotton T-shirt material that’s been tied together? There’s a lot out there, polyester-cotton blends and polynylon blends that haven’t been UV treated. You need to be aware of the materials you’re buying and the background.”

UV-treated nylon hammocks can last three to five years and untreated cotton seven to 10 years, he said.

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Other things to consider when looking for a hammock:

* Geometry. Is it woven too high on one side or both sides? How are the arm strings? Are they of consistent length?

* Size. In general, the larger and longer the hammock, the more comfortable it will be.

* Stretch. The stretch of a hammock has to do with the elasticity of the material and how much the weave in the material gives. A good-quality cord hammock with good stretch should make you feel like you’re suspended in a soft environment.

* Appearance and practicality. Is this hammock for decoration, for furniture, for the outside or for camping? How much do you want to spend when hammocks can cost as low as $15 and as high as $225. Will children be using the hammock?

The Brazilian hammocks and others with the fringe and the wooden cross bars or stretchers on them are beautiful. Yet the fringe can make them impractical for some situations, and the bars and size of the hammocks can make them unsteady and appear more like a pachyderm in your living room than a hammock. Make sure you have the right room for the right hammock.

If you plan on using it on a boat, look for a string hammock or hammock chair.

* Storage. Some hammocks such as the Yucatan can get down to the size of a bread box and weigh only 3 pounds. Others, such as the Brazilian hammock, are more easily stored on one hook, folded in half on a wall.

It’s hard to fall out of a Yucatan, but one wrong turn on a hammock with a stretcher bar can land you flat on the ground. Think coordination.

* Care. Can you machine wash it if you want? Will it tangle easily if moved? If you spill something on it, how easy is it to get off? The Textilene hammocks are the Teflon of the hammock world--easy to clean and well-wearing.

Also easy to clean are the Tiano hammocks, made of material borrowed from the commercial fishing industry, which developed it for nets to withstand sun, wind and sea. Canvas will stain and may not be easy to clean, depending on the type of hammock and the ornamentation.

Olenick says there’s just one sure way to tell if a particular hammock is right for you: Try it out. Oh, it’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it.