HANDMADE
With weaving techniques dating back to the early 15th century, native artisans, like Ramona, handcraft pure cotton and high-tech nylon into incredible hammocks of unrivaled quality.  

Hour after hour, in tiny huts, on open air looms, in the remote villages of Teabo, Pencuyut, Dzitas, Kanasin and Chomayel, they patiently work the fiber. Each hammock has more than two miles of cord and can take an experienced weaver up to 90 hours to complete. For centuries, hammock weaving has been a major source of income for the Mayans, who take enormous pride in their traditional techniques and color designs.

STRONG
Soft to the touch, a Mayan hammock is surprisingly strong. Some can suspend more than 800 pounds. Most weigh about two pounds and fold into a bundle the size of a loaf of bread. The end strings are finished with nylon thread for added strength and durability. 

COMFORTABLE
According to The Journal of The American Medical Association, woven cotton and nylon hammocks "provide excellent back support" and are, in many ways, the "ultimate tool for relieving stress." 

As one of our satisfied customers once wrote: "Because the hammock was created by the human hands of the descendants of the Ancient Americans, I know I am surrounded by good, healing energy as one is protected and kept safe in the womb."

THE DILEMMA: COTTON OR NYLON?
Which is best for you?
For hundreds of years, agave (hemp fiber), was the material of choice in Mayan hammocks.  Cotton fiber was a major step forward in comfort. Now, modern nylon string has nearly (but not quite) duplicated the comfort factor while adding the additional benefits of durability and strength.

COTTON HAMMOCKS feel like a soft bed. The material breathes and flexes. The colors are natural. If left out in the weather, they will begin to fade in the first year, and the cotton will show signs of deterioration in the second year. They are susceptible to snags. Cotton hammocks are best used inside or on a covered porch, out of the weather. 

NYLON HAMMOCKS feel like a firm bed. The man-made material has very little flex. The colors are vivid. Nylon is more durable than cotton and will last longer in the weather. While snags are possible, the string is extremely difficult (almost impossible) to break. Hammock purists say nylon feels unforgiving. But its durability is unquestioned.

Copyright © 2006 by Ramona's Hammocks. All rights reserved.