>>1831910>What should I know about them?Step 1: leave /out/ and ask people who actually know what they’re talking about. There are maybe a dozen replies so far and half of them are shit, the other half are the opposite of what you need to know.
Anyway, here’s what I’d recommend
>lengthGet a long hammock. The chinkshit you see on Amazon isn’t designed for an adult man. They’re all 9’ or shorter. You’ll end up curved rather than flat. 11’ is the cottage industry standard. 10’ is really pushing it. ENO makes theirs like 9’ 4” and charges an assload. Avoid at all costs.
>widthYou’ll see hammocks advertised as “double wide” or “two person.” The extra width allows two people to hang out together, but you’d better know them very well because you’ll be smooshed together. It’s fun for a bit but gets uncomfortable after a while. If you’re alone, extra width adds nothing to how you fit in the hammock. Stick to “standard” width.
>suspensionStraps with cinch buckles are probably the most convenient, while daisy chain loops are easier but offer less flexibility. Whoopie slings are lighter but a bit more complicated and a tad more expensive.
>setupTry to hang your hammock so it sags at 30°. Keep the foot end maybe 6” higher than the head end. Lie diagonally rather than inline with your anchor points.
>structural ridge line?Google it and make one. It ensures that you always hang at the sam angle, allows for your anchor points to be lower, gives you a place to hang stuff (drink or whatever), and can suspend a bugnet if used for camping. It’s also a simple DIY project.
