Imagine a summer afternoon: icy lemonade, a good book, no Blackberry. All you need is a good hammock. Several contemporary riffs on the classic summer swing have landed on the market, ready to put you in an easy-breezy state of mind.
Here's a quick look at some of the most interesting designs I've seen, starting with the Sling ($744), above, by the design studio Ting and sold through Branch Home. It's handmade from reclaimed nylon seat belt webbing otherwise destined for a landfill. The manufacturer touts the design’s durability and weather resistance, and it's also available in orange, camel, pink and light blue. Photo credit: Branch Home
Hatteras Hammocks’ Quick-Dry Comfort design, above, is made of a synthetic fiber that wicks away moisture, so you can get out of the pool and into the hammock ($200) without worry. Photo credit: Hatteras Hammocks
Keep reading for more designs, from a $33 find from Novica to a $1,300 hand-woven piece of folk art ...
Surevolution sells an unusual imported hammock, above, that’s handmade by the Wayuu people of Colombia and Venezuela, where ancient weaving techniques still flourish. Each oversized hammock is one of a kind, so colors and patterns will vary. Price: $1,300. (212) 255-6928. Photo credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times
Detail of the Surevolution weaving. Photo credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times
The Fatboy Headdemock provides enough room to share it with someone else. The polyester sling comes in eight colors, including cyan, above, and lime, below. The base is powder-coated metal. Price: $399. Photo credit: Fatboy.
An aerial view of the Fatboy design. Photo credit: Fatboy
The Summer Dreams Parachute hammock above is ideal for those headed to Griffith Park, Yosemite, Point Dume or any other beautiful locale that requires some packing. The hammock is made from the lightweight fabrics used for parachutes. Price: $33 through Novica. Photo credit: Novica
The Green Vineyard hammock above is handmade by Maya artists of the Yucatán peninsula. They say a hammock mimics the loving embrace of a mother. Price: $55.99 through Novica. Photo credit: Novica
-- Lizzie Garrett Mettler
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