Not the kind of email or phone call we want to receive. A disappointing feeling, no matter the reason behind the breakage.
Fortunately for us, and more importantly for our customers, this isn't a common occurrence due to the high quality standards we insist on from all our manufacturers (ISO 9001, for example).
So, hammock lovers, why would a spreader bar hammock even think about breaking? Let’s look at some reasons.
Twisted cords
Take a careful look at your hammock before you slide in. The ropes from the material, through the bar and up to the hammock loop/eye should be aesthetically pleasing to the eye and should also look symmetrical.
Ensuring the cords aren't twisted allows the weight loaded into your hammock to be evenly spread through the material, up along all the cords, across the spreader bars and up out into your chosen fixing/hanging location.
This even distribution of weight prevents any slight weak points from being amplified, which will only ever result in a release of pressure.
we cannot control the wind but we can direct the sails
A little tip for you Spreader Bar hammock owners who leave your hammocks outside. Anyone who remembers standing on the school playing field with their coats forced up over their heads, leaning into the wind, will be aware of the power of the wind!! Put this force onto a spread surface area of an Aruba Juniper Hammock (approx. 2.52 m2), for example, and you can only imagine the consequences.
During the high winds (thanks to Hurricane Ophelia) that swept across the UK recently, we were contacted by one of our customers to say his Samba Marine hammock had span so much on its smart ropes (attached to two trees) that it strangled the cords too tightly, the spreader bar snapped. THAT'S SOME FORCE!!! The Samba Marine is tested to a 600kg load capacity by Amazonas back in Germany.
Overloading your hammock
Yep, there’s a little kid in all of us. I'm always tempted to dive from a distance into my Brasilia Tropical.
And don't get me wrong, our hammocks are strong. They're tested far beyond the load capacity we suggest, but they're not unbreakable. The hammock design itself is based on the user gently climbing onboard, nestling in and relaxing. When we test the hammocks, by means of filled sand sacks, we evenly lay each sack in the hammock. Over-applied energetic force will certainly increase the stress on the hammock components.
Also, don't be surprised when, one sunny July evening, after Julie has cracked open the second bottle of Pinot and Janet decides to hop into the huge Simply Hammock, followed by Sarah...then Julie...then Helen...then snap!!!!!
Badly manufactured.
Being in the business of hammocks, we've seen some bizarre and downright dangerous products. Drill holes are severely offset, bars are too long for the material, and even ropes are at the wrong lengths. We've learned who and what to avoid. We scour the world looking for only the best quality hammocks so you don't have to. All our hammocks come with a 12-month warranty, too!
In summary, the spreader bar hammock is a wonderful design, loved all over the world. The Aruba Juniper is our best seller, and when looked after, it will guarantee to give you endless joy. Look after it and everything's going to be HamOK!
Can a snapped spreader bar be fixed?
In my case, a snapped spreader bar cannot be fixed. Having only one spreader bar on your hammock pretty much halves the structural integrity of the hammock and can also lead you to be quite uncomfortable. Should you have a snapped spreader bar, contact us, and we'll see if we can help.
