UPDATED Review: Onewind Bridge Hammock

Onewind has designed a unique bridge hammock design, but it's not without problems...

I have been testing the Onewind "Brickfielder" bridge hammock. As a side sleeper, I prefer the bridge design that doesn't require me to lay perfectly flat on my back in a standard gathered-end hammock.

Traditional bridge hammocks eliminate shoulder squeeze by employing spreader poles at both ends. This is the obvious difference with the new Onewind bridge hammock - since it only uses ONE spreader pole at the head end. It makes sense when you think about it since your feet don't need extra room either laying flat or when you roll onto your side.

Onewind Bridge Hammock package with suspension

Most bridge hammocks use sophisticated engineering to produce the cuts in the fabric and curved seams - all to mimic the support cables of a suspension bridge.

I looked forward to testing this Onewind bridge hammock design.

This new model is simply a triangular hammock with no catenary cuts or complicated structure. In this regard, the Onewind design has more in common with a standard, unstructured gathered end hammock. Like simple nylon hammocks, the Onewind bridge hammock is superlight - weighing ONLY 10 ounces with the body constructed from strong 40D 1.7oz Silnylon Ripstop.

My first comparison was with the ENO Skylite hammock with its double spreader poles. I selected two trees about 20-feet apart, then hung the SkyLite with the infinitely adjustable and lightweight ENO Helios suspension. The Skylite hammock connects to the Helios suspension with a small aluminum toggle - no carabiner required. (Note: the ENO Skylite sells for about $150.00 and the Helios suspension for $35.00 for a total of $185.00. At the date of this update, the Onewind "Brickfielder" hammock WITH the whoopie sling suspension is selling for only $70.00 when you follow this link: Click HERE!)

The ENO bridge hammock uses two x 36" lightweight spreader poles and includes an attached bug net. The Onewind bridge uses one x 42" slightly heavier pole. To me, the one longer and heavier pole weighed about the same as the two lighter spreaders - so don't think you are slashing your total weight. The combined weight is about 22 ounces or 625 grams. The spreader pole weighs more than the hammock!

This is when I had my first issue with the Onewind Bridge Hammock:

Attempting to make an even comparison, initially I didn't use the Onewind tree straps and suspension. I just disconnected the ENO hammock and attached the Onewind bridge hammock to the Helios suspension with the supplied carabiners. Using the same suspension attached to the same trees, the Onewind hammock laid flat on the ground.

Well that's not going to work! The lines running from the ends of the Onewind hammock were significantly longer. Instead of 20 feet between the trees, the Onewind bridge hammock was going to require 25 or 30 feet!

Was I missing something obvious? Next, I opened the Onewind suspension included with the bridge hammock.

The separate parts of the Onewind suspension

Onewind instructs that the FIRST step is connecting the fixed end of the whoopie slings to the webbed tree straps.

First time set-up: Connect the suspension sling loop to the webbed tree strap.

I attached the Onewind suspension to the same trees and the tree straps, whoopie slings, and the lines running from the hammock body were over 10 feet longer than the ENO bridge hammock - which fits perfectly between trees spaced 20-feet (or less) apart.

Now my favorite tarp is the Onewind 12-foot fly that allows me to enclose the ends in a driving rain. For this tarp and my other hammocks I generally look for support trees about 20-feet apart. With the standard lines on the Onewind hammock and supplied suspension, you would need to find trees 30-feet apart - and that means a ridiculous amount of sag in the hammock and a unnecessarily long ridgeline. (I always use a continuous ridgeline. See the related articles about my favorite tarp and the advantages of the continuous ridgeline.)

Some people would have given up and returned the hammock for a refund. But not me - I am up to the challenge.

I REALLY wanted to make the Onewind bridge hammock work! this lightweight hammock to work! As mentioned, the complete package sells for only $69.90 - and this includes the suspension, valued at $25.90!

I was prepared to invest some labor for this price! Now I also had the advantage of simply laying the ENO Skylight and suspension side by side with the Onewind bridge hammock and supplied suspension. I also have LOTS of experience splicing ropes (having constructed an estimated MILE of ganglines and tug lines during my dog sled racing days) so I wasn't afraid of cutting the stock lines. WARNING: Do NOT attempt this at home if you aren't confident creating a locking splice that will need to hold your weight!

Here's what I did to "improve" the Onewind Bridge Hammock:

1. I shortened the adjustable section of each suspension line by 4-feet and spliced in new loops.

Step 1: shorten the whoopie sling lines

2. I cut off one end of the tree strap. Then my Wife sewed a new loop around the "uphill" section of the whoopie sling loop in the suspension line. This now allows the sliding whoopie sling lines to run through the webbing loop, with the opposite fixed loop connected to the hammock with the supplied carabiners.

Step 2: resew the webbing loops around the whoopie sling

This step is OPTIONAL. If you loop the fixed end of the suspension through the tree strap webbing as shown above (per the Onewind instructions), the whoopie sling line will slide through the carabiner as you adjust the length.

3. Originally, the lines running from the hammock were 60-inches long! I shortened the lines from the spreader bar to the carabiner to 38-inches. These lines simply loop through the gathered ends at the corners.

Step 3: shorten the hammock lines by 22 inches

Again, this is OPTIONAL. However, if you DON'T shorten the static lines running from the hammock, you will be forced to use trees much farther apart, hang the hammock higher, and tolerate much greater sag.

In total, I invested an hour or so plus my Wife's sewing skills to make a useful hammock.

I really like this design and have purchased the matching bug net for the Onewind bridge hammock. This sells for only $24.90 - which is still a bargain. OR - you can order the bug net WITH the hammock for only $10.00 MORE - follow this link: Click HERE! This bug net is self-supporting, attached at the foot end of the hammock and suspended by a line running to the carabiner at the head end.

Onewind Bridge Hammock shown with optional bug net

Here is a video that explains all these features and issues of the Onewind Bridge Hammock:

Conclusion: If you want to mess with fine-tuning the included suspension - or are willing to wrap it around the trees several times - this is a great bargain for a bridge hammock. Better yet, just use another brand of suspension if you aren't a splice-expert!

You can also save time by substituting the Onewind "Ultralight Tree Straps" with a slide buckle for LESS than the included whoopie sling version. Check it out here: CLICK HERE.

The Onewind slide buckle web suspension

Onewind now also offers and underquilt designed for this triangular bridge hammock. I think a standard rectangular underquilt could also be adapted to work. In my case, I am not a cold weather hammock camper and a standard sleeping bag works fine in the summer.

The bridge hammock WORKS with a tapered pad!

Another option that I prefer is using a lightweight tapered air pad covered by a thin liner, and then a quilt on top. This makes a small and light combination for #bikepacking and #kayakcamping!

Despite the issues with the suspension, I still recommend the Onewind Bridge Hammock. You can SAVE and purchase directly from Onewind - follow this link: CLICK HERE.