Aerial Hammocks Buying Guide

Whether you are purchasing aerial hammocks for your aerial yoga workout at home or you are planning to set up an aerial aerobics studio, there are plenty of options in the market.

Choosing the right one for your needs can prove to be an overwhelming process, especially if you are not sure what you are looking for. The good news is that we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

In this article, we will walk you through all the main considerations when buying aerial hammocks.

And by the time you finish going through this guide, you will be armed with all the information that you need, to choose the right aerial hammock for your needs. With that said, let’s jump straight in!

 

Types of Aerial Hammocks

There are a few types of aerial yoga hammocks specifically designed for aerial yoga practice.

A basic aerial hammock is a no-frills hammock designed for use during asana for correct alignment or to assist with stretching, aerial fitness, restorative yoga and alleviating back pain.

Aerial hammocks are comfortable, highly versatile, easy to clean and maintain as well as extremely durable.

You can use aerial hammocks for an aerial yoga home setup or commercial studio.

 

Fabric

Most of the aerial yoga hammocks you will find out there are usually made of two main fabrics. These are polyester and nylon. Each of these two fabrics comes with distinct stretch, weight capacity, as well as texture.

The Polyester fabric aerial hammocks tend to be simply lengths of material that are tied in knots at both ends around large carabiners which are then hooked onto daisy chains attached to the rigging overhead.

Whereas the Nylon fabric is ripstop parachute material, finished at the ends with firm stitching and either S-hooks or small carabiners are fitted securely.

Polyester fabrics come with a slicker texture compared to nylon. And as you may expect, slicker fabric will be harder to grip.

 

Stretch

Aerial yoga hammocks are available at different levels of stretch. They include low-stretch, medium stretch and high-stretch. So, which type of stretch should you go for when purchasing your aerial hammocks?

Let’s take a closer look.

Low Stretch

Low stretch is arguably the most popular type used for antigravity yoga hammocks and is generally the nylon parachute material.

As its name indicates, the low-stretch fabric doesn’t have much give.

With this fabric, you can easily predict your height from the surface and fix it accordingly.

Low-stretch fabric is ideal for almost all levels, whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced aerial yogi, however the low-stretch fabric is the most recommended for beginners.

Medium/High Stretch

Medium/high stretch fabric is mainly used by advanced aerialists. As you may expect, this fabric will provide additional bounce, especially when you are doing drops.This will generally be Teslon or polyester material.

However, some advanced aerialists still avoid medium or high stretch fabric because it’s harder to grip, challenging to climb and harder to undo the knots, compared to low stretch.

 

Yoga Swings

A multi-functional aerial yoga hammock is a highly versatile piece of equipment known as a yoga swing, which comes with several handles to assist with all kinds of maneuvers.

You can modify it into a basic aerial hammock too, and as much as this type of yoga hammock may be slightly more expensive than some of the other types, its versatility eliminates the need for purchasing many different types of fitness equipment.

Hence, it will be a great choice for aerial fitness enthusiasts who want to set up a home yoga studio, although it is also perfect if you are planning to set up an aerial yoga studio, and it is highly recommended that you go for this type of aerial hammock.

 

Yoga Hammock Sizes

Aerial hammocks come in different sizes. The different lengths and widths are designed to accommodate the needs of different users.

Width

Some of the most popular widths are 60 inches, 75 inches and 90 inches.

As you may expect, the smaller the width, the smaller the amount of available interior space once the hammock has been set up.

Ideally, hammocks with a 60-inch width are mainly recommended for younger adults and children.

On the other hand, adults will use those measuring 75 inches and above, specifically for aerial yoga poses such as aerial cocoon pose.

Length

The length of the aerial hammock that you purchase should largely depend the style of aerial fitness that you will be doing. Also, take into consideration how high your ceiling or attachment point is.

To determine the approximate length, you should multiply your ceiling height by two and then deduct the amount of space that you will want your hammock to hang from the surface.

If you are using the Teslon nylon material which you will tie into knots at the ends, you will also need to add around two extra feet, to cater to the fabric that will be used for the knots.

It’s always advisable to order extra length, in case you are unsure. You’d rather have extra fabric than order a shorter length.

 

Weight Capacity

As much as aerial hammocks are built to handle a considerable amount of weight, you should always check any product before buying, to ensure it can handle your weight capacity.

All reputable manufactures will offer aerial hammocks that will hold a few hundred pounds quite easily, and choosing one with a high weight capacity will ensure that you can do safely do various aerial exercises.

But as importantly you should always make sure you consult a professional rigger or handy-person to advise you on the weight ratings of your ceiling and the brackets and and other rigging you will use to ensure you install the aerial hammock correctly and will comfortably support your weight.

 

Types of Aerial Hammock Setups

There are few different ways you can set it up depending on your preferences.

They usually come pre-assembled, featuring two s-hook and/or carabiners and two adjusters, which you can use to adjust its height by moving the two runners along the fabric.

Also, they will often come with daisy chains which are not only used to suspend the hammock from a ceiling hooks, and A-frame or ceiling beam, they are also used to adjust the hammock height.

 

Standard Setup

What is aerial hammock, also known as an aerial yoga sling or inversion sling, the aerial hammock also comes with two mounting or installation points. Therefore, mounting and dismounting are easy, considering that it doesn’t spin.

For aerial yoga workouts, you will set this sling at hip height. But, if you intend to do some stretching or restorative aerial yoga, then you can lower it slightly so that it’s closer to the ground.

If you have ever walked into an aerial yoga studio, you may have probably come across this type of yoga hammock.

Swivel/Trapeze Bar Setup

This single point aerial hammock set up only has a single mounting point on the ceiling or portable frame and often has a simple swivel attachment or a full spring suspension system commonly known as a trapeze bar.

Single point aerial yoga hammocks are mainly used for aerial dances, circus workouts and various other aerial aerobics, however can be used with aerial yoga hammocks particularly if you don’t have much space.

Because of the ease at which they can spin around with this kind of setup, it is not recommended for beginners.

 

Kit vs. Buying Separate Parts

Aerial yoga hammocks are usually sold in kits. These kits usually contain the hammock itself as well as its rigging accessories like daisy chains, carabiners, and hooks, just to name a few.

You also have the option of buying the aerial hammock and the accessories separately.

The main advantage of purchasing a kit as opposed to different parts separately is that kits usually come with installation instructions, making it easy to install your aerial yoga home setup.

 

On the other hand, buying separately means that you have the option of choosing different components, depending on your preferences.

This may include when choosing the appropriate ceiling brackets you need for your ceiling type, whether concrete or wood.

Likewise choosing the type of bracket depending on whether you may want to also use it for hanging other things such as a kick bag, so you might opt for the toughest option available.

Or if you decide you don’t need brackets at all because you will use daisy chains only over an exposed beam for example, then you won’t end up with useless stuff in your garage storage!

Hence, buying separately gives you more control of what you need and also the quality. But as you may expect, assembling a kit from different components will cost you more.

 

General Price of Aerial Hammocks

Aerial yoga hammocks are available at different price points.

The price can range from as low as $20 up to thousands of dollars. The price will depend on various things like the quality of the product, the fabric used, dimensions, accessories as well as the reputation of the seller.

But on average, a product that costs around $50 to $100 should serve you well.

 

Warranty

Before purchasing an aerial yoga hammock, you should also check to ensure it has a warranty.

The presence of a warranty is more of a guarantee that the antigravity yoga hammock you are purchasing is of a high-quality product.

Secondly, a warranty will also ensure that in case the product fails within the warranty period, the manufacturer will be ready to replace it or fix any issues that may occur, caused by workmanship or materials defects.

Besides, if it fails, you will simply be forced to replace or fix it yourself, and this means you will be forced to spend money you hadn’t planned to.

 

Where to Buy

There are hundreds of companies and individuals, who sell aerial hammocks, both online and offline. So, do your research and choose a seller that aligns with your needs and budget.

If possible, you should only buy your aerial hammocks from reputable sellers. You shop from a brand that has been around for a while and try to avoid mass produced items from China.

Also, check the online reviews and see what previous buyers are saying about that company. If the majority of the reviews are positive, then you won’t be disappointed and vice versa.

 

Wrapping It Up

We know that buying an aerial yoga hammock is not an easy process.

But we hope the information we’ve shared in this guide will help to simplify things for you and help you to buy aerial hammocks that not only suit your needs but also offer the best value for your money.