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| We've all seen pictures and movies of people | | | | In damper climates, there is a different problem |
| relaxing in hammocks on a beautiful summer day | | | | for cotton hammocks – mould and mildew. |
| on an idyllic desert islands with a cooling drink in | | | | Again, a synthetic material will solve that problem. |
| one hand. We probably thought, "How fantastic | | | | |
| that looks," and to be honest, that's what the | | | | However, man-made fibres don't have the |
| movie director or TV ad director wants you to | | | | capability of "breathing" in the same way as a |
| think. | | | | natural fibre does. This can lead to a clamminess |
| And it's actually easy to create for yourself, | | | | or sweatiness if you spend an extended amount |
| maybe not on a desert island but in your garden, | | | | of time on your hammock. However, if you |
| on a beach or in a public park. | | | | choose a Mayan hammock with small diamond |
| | | | | structure weave, then you can have perfectly |
| A hammock is an ancient portable style of seating | | | | adequate ventilation that overcomes the |
| which began with the Mayan people of Central | | | | sweatiness of a fuller surface material like canvas |
| America about 1,000 years ago. As world trade | | | | or polyester. This gives you a much more |
| grew, the idea of the hammock as a simple, | | | | enjoyable and cooling experience. |
| space-saving and comfortable sleeping item | | | | |
| spread around the world. | | | | |
| | | | | These days, there are many different designs of |
| They were originally woven from tree bark but | | | | portable hammock so you can pack-up your |
| these days there are many different materials | | | | picnic, a cold drink and head off to the beach or a |
| ranging from cotton, canvas and rope to different | | | | quiet open space and put up your hammock. |
| man-made materials. | | | | They are light-weight and easy to assemble |
| | | | | providing you with a simple, comfortable relaxing |
| Some hammock sellers still use the expertise of | | | | afternoon in the sun. (Don't forget your |
| the Mayans to weave hammocks. The | | | | sun-block). These portable types of hammock |
| generations of knowledge and skill are still as | | | | come with very stable stand so that there is no |
| relevant today as they were a thousand years | | | | danger of it collapsing. |
| ago. And this trade helps the Mayan people to | | | | |
| retain their way of life. | | | | Another question, and one that's as common as |
| | | | | the desert island image, is "How do you get in?" |
| In some climates, especially those with harsh sun | | | | We've seen plenty of comic scenes of |
| like Australia and New Zealand, the colours of the | | | | hammocks spinning around when someone tries |
| cotton can fade and become damaged by the uV | | | | to get in. But if you follow the instructions, |
| rays of the sun. If this is a concern then you | | | | then you quickly fined that's it's quite easy. In |
| may want to consider an All- Weather type of | | | | short, if you try to kneel on it, then you are going |
| nylon material for longer life. Look for a | | | | to fall out but if go to sit down and pull the |
| hammock with a guarantee of at least three | | | | weave around your back, then you will find it |
| years; some go up to five years. | | | | relatively easy to get in. |