Tie-Dye Hammocks Anyone?

Skylark Hammocks was founded by two close friends to create “epic hang” hammocks and “get a little more whimsy out of life.” Their whimsical vibe is contagious, so hopefully this post does it justice.

Photo: Skylark Hammocks

Product Summary

Skylark Hammocks proudly offers handcrafted hammocks in a variety of tie-dye options along with numerous solid colors.

  • Most Skylark hammocks are 11 feet long, 58” wide and made from 1.9 oz ripstop nylon. Included with a hammock purchase is a double-ended stuff sack, 7075-grade aluminum wire-gate carabiners and Amsteel continuous loops to gather the end channel.
  • They also have a few “double hammock” options that are big enough for two occupants, which are made from high quality Nylon Ripstop fabric (rating of 210t and 70D).
  • Other offerings include:
    • Cinch Buckle Suspension System to make set up a breeze.
    • High-strength aluminum carabiners
    • Light-weight Amsteel continuous loops
    • Numerous Dopp Kits made with heavy-duty 1000 Denier nylon.
    • Branded t-shirts, hats, and a beverage cup

Are All Hammocks American Made?

Short answer, yes, and hand-crafted in the Shenandoah Valley!

100% of our products are assembled in the US. We source fabric by the roll and then individually cut and hand dye each of our hammocks in a small batch process. We then sew the hammocks with a craftsman’s pride. We proudly make our own straps and have sought to continuously improve the design, and feel like we have a pretty great offering at the moment. We hand splice our Amsteel continuous loops to offer durability and weight savings. We use scrap tie dye fabric to sew liners for our dopp kits and other bag offerings. – Skylark Hammocks

Photo: Skylark Hammocks

Skylark Hammocks are assembled by hand in Waynesboro, Virginia, with up to about half of the material used sourced from the United States. Skylark Hammocks noted that Waynesboro is “the perfect gateway to outdoor adventures” given its location just steps from the infamous Appalachian Trail. Moreover, residents have easy access to the South River’s fly-fishing opportunities and it’s only a short drive to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, with both locations being home to endless adventure.

How Did You Come Up with The Name Skylark?

I believe it was said best in an interview that we did for a local organization called Grow Waynesboro who wrote the following words in November of 2017, “Chatting with the co-founders of Skylark Hammocks is a bit like meeting with fraternal twins. High school friends, college roommates, and vocational peers who have both found their home in social work, Jonathan Steck and Seth Blanchard finish each other’s sentences, delight in each other’s company, and seem compelled to invite you into their fold.

And their fold is full of laughter. Skylark Hammocks may be a company, but it was first a verb. To Skylark, according to Naval regulations that forbade the practice, is to display an intolerable lack of seriousness, described by Kurt Vonnegut as a charming and enviable crime.

This youthful, playful, and even mischievous outlook holds the key to everything that Skylark Hammocks, an online outdoor adventure equipment company, seeks to become”. – Skylark Hammocks

Tell Us About How the Company Benefits the Local Area?

Skylark Hammocks is small, but we have been able to integrate into the community of other small businesses. We frequently attend local events as a vendor and whenever possible we will donate products to local fundraisers such as raffles and prizes for events. We have established good relationships with the local outdoor stores, many of whom have since become retailers of Skylark Hammocks. We have partnered with our favorite local brewery, Basic City Beer Company to build and maintain the Skylark Hammock Garden, which offers a space for patrons to kick back and relax in one of 8 hammock spots. – Skylark Hammocks

Skylark Hammocks has four employees as of this posting, creating jobs and local economic activity.

What Challenges Do You Face Making Hammocks in the United States?

Skylark told AmericanOutdoorGearHub.com that they face a few challenges:

  1. Keeping up with ever increasing demand and the associated scale up required (Although a challenge, Skylark is happy to take this one on 😊).
  2. The recent tariffs imposed on imports have adversely impacted them, but they have turned this challenge into an opportunity. They are working to increase the amount of locally sourced products they use and seeking additional ways to reduce reliance on imports.
  3. Convincing customers that having gear proudly hand crafted by someone with individual knowledge of each product outweighs the ease and cost savings of gear built and assembled overseas.

AmericanOutdoorGearHub.com is very sympathetic to the challenges American Gear Makers face, with #3 above being an impetus for this website!

Despite these challenges, Skylark Hammocks can be nimble and flexible in their offerings. They noted that their “time and devotion to craft allows us to stand behind our products and feel confident in our offerings.”

Gear from Another American Made Company

When asked to name a favorite piece of gear made or assembled in the U.S. by another company, Blue Ridge Overland Gear was the response. Their mission is “Equipping you for the journey, with rugged bags and organizers to maximize your outdoor and overlanding adventures.” Their products are being used to help keep the Skylark crew organized and adventure ready.

Before We Go, Some Additional Whimsy

Skylark Hammocks chimed in about their experience and those of others as they spread the word when not working their day jobs.

Honestly, for two social workers who hand craft hammocks in their spare time, one of the best things about owning a small outdoor gear company focusing on hand crafted gear has been being able to connect with like minded outdoor enthusiasts. We love nothing more than being able to help outfit these fine folks for their next big adventure and live vicariously through their stories that they share. We love setting up displays at music festivals, art shows and many other events and when folks who are less familiar with hammocks see our display hammocks hanging tucked up into the small double ended stuff sack they often ask questions such as, “is this a neck pillow” “Is this a potato sack” or our all time favorite…”what the hell is this exactly” and then we pull one end of the hammock out of the sack and reveal the unique hand dyed hammock. – Skylark Hammocks

Photo: Skylark Hammocks

The Skylark founders also mentioned that they don’t leave home without a hammock and cinch buckle straps in tow because they are stashed in their cars, on their bikes, and in their boats. That way when the “need for relaxation strikes,” they are more than prepared.

A big thanks to Skylark Hammocks for being a part of AmericanOutdoorGearHub.com!

Get Your Hang On

  1. We could all use more relaxation and decompression in our hectic, modern lives. A Skylark Hammock is a simple, packable solution to hanging out in all kinds of locations. So, get on board with Skylark’s “Intolerable Lack of Seriousness” and get one or a few for you, friends, and family directly from Skylark Hammocks.
  2. And don’t forget to visit AmericanOutdoorGearHub.com’s The Goods every time you’re looking for new outdoor gear and support local gear makers with your wallet.
  3. Follow American Outdoor Gear Hub on Facebook and Instagram @americanoutdoorgearhub