Choosing a  garden hammock is not easy. While just about any hammock can be used in a garden, it is preferable to do some research about the kind of hammock that would be suitable for the family. The size, length, material, stands and accessories require prior thinking. Going to a sales outlet would mean getting convinced by the salesman and buying just what he recommends. If no research has been done, the prospect of ordering a hammock online also will not be easy with scores of designs, varieties, brands and materials, and the permutations and combinations possible would be unnerving for just anyone. Hence, he best way to select a hammock for one’s garden is to prepare a list of requirements in terms of length, width, quality, weight bearing capacity, budget, color and type.

Hammocks for gardens are ideally made from cotton or cotton blended with polyester for durability. The choice is essentially between a classic rope hammock, which fits in with daytime relaxation or a fabric hammock that is more suitable for sleeping even at night. Rope hammocks last longer especially if they are to be left in the open for prolonged periods of time. Chair hammocks would not fit in for the classic purpose of reclining though they could be ordered additionally as accompaniments to the classic hammocks.

Out of the various hammocks available, Mayan or Mexican hammocks are most suitable as garden hammocks. Bright and colorful, they add to the beauty of the garden with their hues and delicate weave. They are hand woven in villages in the present Mexico and are a source of livelihood for entire villages. The Mayan hammock is often woven in a diamond weave with each piece produced, bearing the stamp of the weaver, which remains distinct. This helps find the difference between the hand made and machine made hammocks. Their loose weave makes them most suitable for warmer climates since ventilation takes place from below, and the addition of polyester yarn enhances their durability. They are space savers and can even fit in places that no other hammock can.

The garden hammock experience can be made even better with the addition of accessories like utility pockets to hold some drink snack and reading material. While they hang perfectly from a tree, their portability can be increased by getting a hammock stand. This would make movement of the hammock easier especially from directly under the sun to a shady place for cooler comfort.

Garden hammocks serve the purpose of allowing the user the calm serene atmosphere, which may be a contrast to the noisy action taking place inside the house. The peace and calm pervades the individual and brings a refreshing feeling not possible anywhere else.

Mayan hammocks are bright, hand made hammocks rated as the most comfortable hammocks in the world. They are a little different from other types of garden hammocks in their style of hanging and they also have a low center of gravity, which makes the hammock experience more relaxing. The thin fibres used for weaving give them the appearance of delicacy but in actual fact they are quite sturdy and durable. Mayan hammocks are hand woven in the Yucatan Peninsula and Quintana Roo in Mexico. Merida is called the hammock capital of Mexico, and 60% of the area is devoted to hammock weaving production. This area has villages full of skilled artisans, mostly women, who weave these hammocks using generations’ old techniques, with vertical rather than horizontal looms. The woven fabric can stretch upto two miles, and remains soft and smooth to touch. While being shaped into hammocks, additional attractions include fringes with beads and knots to enhance the beauty of the colorful fabric .It is a major source of livelihood for the rural folk of the region. The weaving helps the hammock to cushion any body shape and provide total comfort.

The Mayan region was part of the Mexico of today. Long ago the Mayans were conquered and were made part of Mexico and the Spanish Mexican culture by the Europeans who led the invasion. The traditional art of weaving Mayan hammocks was picked up by the Mexicans and the new products were called Mexican hammocks. Mayan hammocks would still be hand woven in the Yucatan region while Mexican ones could be made anywhere, even by Europeans, but with the same technique. Both, coming out of the same country, are called Mexican hammocks.

Often, a diamond weave is adopted for weaving these hammocks. The intertwined sprang weaving pattern is unique to the Yucatan region, and each craftsman leaves his/her fingerprint on her creation. This differentiates the hammocks from machine made ones, as no two hammocks can be identical. Sprang weaving is the art of inter-locking parallel cords to produce very strong fabric. The width is fixed and the length goes on increasing. Not using a loom, the weaving can be done between two trees. This also allows the air to circulate and penetrate from below, enhancing the fresh and cool feeling. Without being aided by a spreader bar the hammocks are designed to take the shape of the body reclining in them. They fit in places where rope hammocks cannot be accommodated.

The use of nylon thread improves the strength and durability of the hammock. These are recommended for outdoors, while pure cotton ones are ideal for indoor fitting. Mayan hammocks come in various sizes and are extremely safe for babies as well. Thick string hammocks are suitable for patios and terraces. Framed hammocks enhance portability and can be placed anywhere. Hammock chairs provide comfort to the occupant and elegance to the area where they are hung.

The nylon Mayan hammocks are ideal for trekkers and back packers, mountain climbers and campers, who need light, compact hammocks. They are strong enough to hold huge amounts of weight without giving way. These open style hammocks can even be used for storage and hung from the ceiling when running out of floor space.

It is easy to find Mexican or Mayan hammocks in retail outlets or on multiple online stores and websites, which give freebies, multiple choices, guarantees, and even home deliver them. Colors, sizes and designs can be selected while placing the order, and the sites also accommodate special requests for specifications to customize hammocks. The Mayan hammock is the answer to everyone’s need for comfort.

A non-traditional method of resting and relaxing in the open, suspended in the air with nothing except a thick cloth for support…this is possible with a hammock. A hammock is a fabric sling hung generally between two trees or two posts at a higher level than the ground. It is a strong resting place and can easily take the weight of the human body. According to popular belief, the first hammock was made out of the bark of hamak tree, and it is due to this that it got the name hammock. Its initial purpose of keeping insects and crawling creatures away, made it into an instant success beyond the jungles of South America and into homes and gardens, hotels and clubs, on ships and ranches, by the seaside and over mountaintops. It proved to be a nice resting place wherever space was scarce, and was also perhaps the safest way to make babies sleep without any fear of their falling.

Hammocks today have evolved in terms of quality and design, making them easy to carry and set up. Many come with collapsible stands and are therefore, more mobile, since they do not necessarily have to be tied between two trees. The variety of hammocks available is mind boggling with hundreds to choose from. However, they are all adaptations of the three basic types of hammocks, rope hammocks, string hammocks or fabric hammocks. Rope hammocks are sturdy and are made out of thick soft ropes of cotton or mixed with polypropylene. Being a little tough, they do not adapt to the contours of the body but remain extremely comfortable. Choosing a rope hammock is easy and all one needs to check is that the smaller the gap between the ropes, the higher the comfort for the user.

Fabric hammocks are the perfect substitutes for beds, as the cloth provides comfort to the body in a resting position, and its close weave leaves no gaping holes. However, this prevents ventilation from below. Made out of thick, strong cloth or canvas, modern fabric hammocks have a synthetic blend, which makes them sturdier, with some that even absorb moisture. The simplest cloth hammocks are used in rural areas to make babies sleep.

String hammocks conform to the Mayan style of hammocks, and have designs similar to webs. They are perhaps the most comfortable as they support the body shape, offer ventilation and are weight bearing to a greater degree. They come in bright colors and the strings are hand woven for added strength and durability.

Hammocks are a great idea for a beautiful garden. Modern ways of life leave little time for people to enjoy the beauties and bounties of nature. Many people have beautiful gardens around their homes but never sit down to enjoy their beauty. A hammock placed in it may prove to be the best way to enjoy the early morning sun or watch it go down the horizon as the day draws to a close. Garden hammocks come with various types of stands and they do not damage the green grass below as the base is always suspended above the ground. The splash of color against the tranquil backdrop is a visual delight. The idea of a hammock is a novelty for children, and it can even be placed close to the swimming pool. Adults can spend hours reading a book lying in a hammock, so much so that they may not wish to get back to the ground. The concept of lying virtually suspended in air is strangely relaxing. Hammock chairs and family hammocks that can bear a lot more weight are interesting adaptations of the hammock. Quilted ones are preferable for children as they provide cushioned support. Waterproof hammocks are ideal for the garden, as they do not have to be removed each time it rains. Current favourites are the earth friendly hammocks that are the first choice of all environmentally aware individuals.

It is ideal to invest in a portable hammock that can be taken for picnics and outdoor exercises and even used in the cool havens of one’s garden. It is an addictive comfort and extremely difficult to give up once one has tasted the kind of relaxation it provides

Even though there are 3 main materials used to make hammocks, there are a wider variety of styles available to today. Some of most popular include the Mayan, Brazilian, Nicaraguan, Venezuelan and the ever popular travel or camping hammock. Each style is different and has it’s own set of pros and cons. But they will all come in a variety of colours and sizes, ranging from a 1 person hammock that can hold up to 350lbs to a 2 or even 3 person hammock, which could easily hold up to 600lbs.
The most common design for a hammock is the spreader bar type which is easily recognisable by pieces of wood at each end of the hammock. These types of hammock make it easier to climb in and out of and they also help to spread your weight more evenly and because of the bars at each end the hammock will not close in around you once you sink into it. These are probably the most popular types of hammock for a garden. But they are not recommended to sleep in , they can also have a tendency to flip quiet easily.
Ever hammock will work on the basic principle and many can seem quite similar but each type will have a slightly different purpose, and will be made with slightly different materials and build in a slightly different way.
The Brazilian Hammock is made from cotton and tend to be one of the more durable types of hammock, they do not use the bars at each end so the hammock can have a tendency to wrap around you. Probably not recommended if you are a sun worshipper and are trying to get a sun tan, but they are perfect for a relaxing day in your back garden.
Mayan and Nicaraguan hammocks are woven from cotton or nylon. When buying one of these hammocks it is important to look at the quality and closeness of the weaver, the closer the weave the more supportive the hammock will be. These types of hammocks will not have the wooden bar at the end so they will tend to wrap in around you.
Venezuelan hammocks also known as jungle hammocks are a very durable and long lasting, they now tend to be made for synthetic materials like polyester or nylon. Many of the higher quality Venezuelan hammocks will use a material called Dacron for the suspension ropes. These hammocks are the best kind to use for sleeping in as you sleep length ways in the hammock instead of many of the larger hammocks where in essence you will lay sideways on the hammock.
Travel or camping hammock. These have become very popular as they are very fast and easy to set up all you really need is 2 trees at a suitable distance apart from each other and if you know some strong knots it will ensure a peaceful night’s sleep. If you are a camping in warmer climes all you will really need in addition to a camping hammock is  canopy which can be erected in much the same way. Many of the better quality camping hammock like Hennessy hammocks will come with a canopy built in to the design of the hammock.
So if you are choosing a garden hammock to spend a weekend lazing in the sun or one to take camping with the choice and variety is quiet something, but there are a few recognised quality brands like Hanteres or hennessy hammocks.