Hammock Stands
In many cases, there are no conveniently located trees from which to hang your hammock. Porches, lawns and many other locations don't offer a nearby pair strong enough to support your fine piece of outdoor furniture. Digging post holes and erecting supports is an option, but a lot more difficult to get right than it looks. One of the best choices is to opt instead for a hammock stand.
There are two basic types, wood or metal, with a wide range of choices within those categories.
Wooden hammock stands are sturdy, stylish and complement your colorful Mayan or Brazilian hammock with a design all its own. Any shape that supports the two ends and provides a stable base on the ground can be and has been tried.
They're available in a variety of woods, with cypress a popular choice. Oak is very dense, hard and sturdy but correspondingly expensive. Teak is a highly expensive option, but one that offers great beauty and long lasting support.
But wooden hammock stands have some drawbacks. As a natural product, even when processed and coated with modern techniques and materials, they will deteriorate. UV radiation, moisture and other natural environmental factors will cause wood to age and eventually rot. Though with proper coatings (re-applied as you would to your home) they can last years, their lifetime is shorter than metal hammock stands.
Metal hammock stands offer long-lasting support and come in an array of designs.
Inexpensive aluminum or stainless steel stands are an option. Painted in an attractive color that complements your hammock and home design, they can be a lovely addition to the decor. But unpainted, they are prone to oxidation. If painted, they may eventually look old due to chipping or fading. Expect to exert some effort to care for them.
Regular care to keep your metal hammock stand clean and dry will extend its lifetime and beauty. Keeping it rust free requires that it not sit in or be exposed to continual moisture. Grass, rain or sprinklers, and other sources of water that make their way onto the stand will promote rusting. If the paint or coating has wear spots, scrapes or chipped areas, that process is accelerated.
Whether selecting wood or metal, stability is fundamental. Any hammock stand worth buying should support at least 500lbs. Even if you weigh only 100lbs, you exert much more force when sitting down or getting back up again than you do simply lying still. Also, you never know when someone is going to want to join you on such a relaxing piece of furniture. You want a wide margin of error in any case.
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