Buy a paracord or something similar that can hold at least 700 to 1,000 pounds (320 to 450 kg). You can buy these at sporting goods stores. Most hammocks come with loops on the ends that can be connected to a carabiner and rope, but you will most likely need to buy the paracord separate from the hammock.
If you’re using a tree as your anchor, the bark will help the rope stay in place and you won’t need to wrap it around as many times. If your anchor is really wide, you may need to have another person help you wrap the rope around it.
Having some excess rope to work with will make it less likely you drop your knot while you’re tying it.
For extra security, repeat this process of threading the working end down, under, and back up through the loop.
An adjustable knot is advantageous, especially if you aren’t sure of how low the hammock will swing once you actually get in it. The taut line hitch allows you to tighten or loosen the slack of the hammock.
Carabiners can be purchased at sporting goods stores or even at your local home goods store.
Taut line hitches are often used for hanging up clotheslines or food bags, so this knot can come in handy for many other things!
These 3 loops are what form the “tube” that allows the rest of the rope to slide back and forth, adjusting the slack of the hammock.
Try practicing these knots several times beforehand to get more comfortable with the process.
Using 2 taut line hitches won’t provide enough stability for your hammock, so if you aren’t planning to use the bowline hitch, make sure you know of another knot you can use on the opposite side.
If your carabiner is starting to get rusty, replace it with a new one from a sporting goods store.
