Hammocks are string or cloth slings designed for sleeping or resting in outdoors. They are either tied between two trees or anchored to wood or metal frames. Today you will often see an image of people resting in a hammock in many advertisements for travel and vacation as it is recognized around the world as a way to relax. There are many different brands and styles of hammocks on the market today such as rope hammocks, fabric, handwoven and quilted.

The Mayan Indians of Central America designed the web-like hammock by weaving together strips of bark from Hamack trees. Later they started using Sisal plants as they were more abundant. In the mid-1900s, they started to use cotton. Suspending these 'beds' above helped to keep them away from insects, snakes and other animals that roamed the ground at night.

The Royal Navy used canvas hammocks aboard ships as far back as 1597. This worked because it allowed for more men to have a sleeping area on board crowed ships. Another benefit was that the sling bed or hammock would move with the movements of the ship and kept the sailors from being thrown out of their beds during rough weather.

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• Weight capacity
• Material

These hammocks are all similar in style and shape but the material and construction are different. The Mayan and Nicaraguan are woven with cotton and nylon, although the Mayan weave is looser. Brazilian hammocks are constructed with cotton only and tend to be more durable.