Foot hammocks come in a variety of shapes and styles. So, before you waste precious time and money buying one, you should know what to look for and how to choose a foot hammock. After all, you might as well buy one that will actually meet your needs and desires. With this article, you can buy the perfect foot hammock first time round and save yourself some headaches (or foot aches) too! So, let’s get started!
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How To Choose A Foot Hammock?
When choosing a foot hammock, a defining factor is whether you require an under-desk foot hammock or a small portable foot hammock for use in various locations, e.g., on a plane, train. Next, look for a foot hammock that has a good range of adjustability that will suit your height and personal preferences. The material and size of the hammock should offer enough length and width for comfortably resting your feet while also being large enough to attach to the desk or hooks. The budget you have available will also need to be considered. Foot hammocks range in prices from $12.95 – $29+. Prices generally are cheaper for travel hammocks. However, choosing the cheapest foot hammock is often a poor idea as you will see below.
Once those factors are considered, the remaining items on the below list can also be used to narrow down the perfect foot hammock for you:
- Purpose of foot hammock
- Adjustability of foot hammock
- Size of foot hammock
- Durability of foot hammock
- Price of foot hammock
- Level of comfort from foot hammock
- Weight of foot hammock
- Weight capacity of foot hammock
- Material of foot hammock
There are many factors to consider when choosing a foot hammock. Consequently, it can be easy to pick a foot hammock that is unsuitable for your needs. Read on to get a deeper insight into the specifications that you should look for to ensure that you make a wise buying decision first time round!
Foot hammocks can assist with improving your posture, reducing back pain and increasing blood circulation Source
1. Purpose of foot hammock
A key decision that will narrow down your choice of foot hammock is whether you need a portable travel foot hammock or an under-desk foot hammock.
Airplane footrests are smaller and more compact for easy handling and transporting. They are also easy to use as they simply need to be attached to a support, such as a hook or tray, for it to hang from.
Under-desk foot hammocks are larger in size and generally have ropes and hooks for attaching to your desk. These are generally stationary as some assembly is required to put them in place.
However, the hammock itself can usually be easily removed for cleaning or to relocate it to another area. That’s provided that you don’t need to drill hooks into your desk.
The hooks can also be removed for putting on another desk, even if they are screwed into the desk.
2. Adjustability of foot hammock
When purchasing a foot hammock, make sure it has enough adjustability to meet your needs in terms of height adjustability.
Most foot hammocks offer a degree of adjustability so that you can raise and lower the hammock to suit your height and preferences.
Some foot swings for desks offer as much as 13 inches of height adjustability!
The larger the range of height adjustability, the more certain you will be that it will meet your requirements and preferences.
3. Size of foot hammock
Foot hammocks come in a variety of sizes but are around 17.28 – 18 inches long and 10 – 14.5 inches wide. In general, larger is usually better as you have more space to leverage.
The size of foot hammock that you choose will generally be dependent on your foot size and how wide you want the foot hammock to be.
Pay attention to how wide your foot stance is when you sit down normally. If it’s on the wider side, you’ll probably want a longer foot hammock, so you’re not constricted.
Under-desk foot hammocks will need to have straps long enough to reach both sides of the desk while also offering adjustability to suit your preferred or required hammock height.
4. Durability of foot hammock
The sturdiness of the foot hammock should be a consideration for most people. The last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on a weak, flimsy, foot hammock that snaps underneath you!
The durability of the rope or straps will be a key indicator of how long the foot hammock will last.
Some ropes tend to wear and fray after a while. This could lead to it ultimately snapping.
Other factors to look into are how the hooks are attached. If they are self-adhesive, theses can be prone to falling off.
Alternatively, hooks which are screwed in or anchored off the desk are generally more enduring.
The durability of a foot hammock can sometimes be linked to the price of a foot hammock.
Durability can also be linked to the weight capacity of the foot hammock, which I discuss in further detail below.
If the under-foot hammock foot hammock has a low price, then cheap materials are probably used to make it. These materials tend to be of poorer quality than ones used in mid-priced under-desk foot hammock leg rests.
Furthermore, they are less likely to be capable of withstanding wear and tear. Plus, they are likely to have a poor design too.
Tip: Checking through the reviews can highlight any potential flaws or wear and tear on the product.
5. Price of foot hammock
Foot hammocks have an average price range of between $12.95 – $29+. The price of a foot hammock is usually dependent on the type of hammock. Airplane footrest hammocks average around $3 – $7 cheaper than the average priced under-desk foot hammock.
Airplane foot hammocks on Amazon have an average price of $12.95. In comparison, under-desk foot hammocks on Amazon have an average price of $16.99.
Paying a little bit more for a foot hammock leg rest could mean that you get more durability, cushioning and adjustability.
In addition to considering price, warranty, the brand name and product reviews should also be evaluated. These will help to gauge how reliable the under-foot hammock leg rest will be.
6. Level of comfort of foot hammock
Foam under-desk foot hammocks are generally the best when it comes to offering support and cushioning to your body. High density foam provides cushioning and supports a good posture to keep you feeling more comfortable. It is also softer to the touch and thicker than cotton.
Something you probably won’t want are light foot hammocks that are too weak and cause your feet to sink under them.
The level of comfort that you can expect to have can be found out by trying it out the hammock. If that’s not an option, you could also try reading the product reviews.
Related: How To Use A Footrest? – In 6 Simple Steps!
7. Weight of foot hammock
The weight of the foot hammock is a factor to consider if you intend to transport the unit on a regular basis for travel.
Foot hammocks have weights ranging between 0.2 – 1.1 pounds which makes them very lightweight and extremely portable.
Weight is particularly important for travel foot hammocks as they need to be easy to carry around and not increase your luggage weight too much. That said, practically all foot hammocks are extremely light anyway, but it’s still worth verifying this.
The weight of a foot hammock is primarily based on the size and type of materials employed.
Travel foot hammocks have weights around 0.2 pounds whereas a foot hammock for under a desk tends to weight around 1.1 pounds.
This is due to larger and heavier materials, e.g., wood, steel clips, and ropes employed to make them.
8. Weight capacity of foot hammock
When purchasing a foot hammock, you should see a weight limit provided. This indicates how much pressure the foot hammock can hold without becoming subject to sinking or damage.
Foot hammocks can hold weights as high as around 100 pounds.
This should be more than adequate for the majority of people. However, if you’re on the very tall or larger side, it would be worth checking with the manufacturer to see if it’s suitable for you.
9. Material of foot hammock
Foot hammocks are made from a variety of materials including:
- Foam
- Cotton fabric
- Suede
- Rope
- Steel
- Nylon/polyester straps
The type of material that you opt for will dictate how easy it is to clean and how soft it feels to touch.
If you intend to wear shoes on the foot hammock, then the feel of the surface will be less of a consideration. It should be easily cleaned though, e.g., suede can be wiped down.
If you plan to wear socks or go barefoot, a foam foot swing will feel softer and warmer to the touch compared to a suede or cotton fabric foot hammock.
Can a travel foot hammock be used as an under-desk foot hammock?
Portable foot hammocks can be used at a desk provided they have the necessary length to reach their anchor points while offering enough slack for you to rest your feet on. They will also need attachments or a means of being to connect to desk securely.
Generally, under-desk foot swings cannot be used easily in place of a travel foot hammock.
They are often larger, chunkier and more cumbersome to hang off hooks in the likes of an airplane or car. Plus, in the like of a plane, the foot swing needs to be secured in place around the seat table with buckle clips or similar.
If the under-desk foot hammock is designed to be hung from hooks, then it will be difficult to secure it around a table.
Perhaps tying a knot would work, but what’s to say that it won’t slip from the knot and lose slack?
That said, there are some foot hammocks which can be used interchangeably as both a compact travel foot hammock and an under-desk foot hammock.
If you think that you’ll need to use your foot swing while both travelling and at your desk, then these are probably the best solution to opt for.
One of the best dual purpose foot hammocks I found on Amazon was the Leband Foot Hammock.
Just make sure that the foot hammock you go for has a means of connecting to your desk easily as well as considering how easily it can be setup while you are travelling.
Conclusion
Foot hammocks come in a variety of styles, designs and budget brackets which means there should be an under-foot hammock foot hammock to suit practically everyone.
Adjustability, size and material will be the key considerations to evaluate when choosing the perfect foot hammock for you.
However, following some of the simple techniques and pointers listed in this article can be the deciding factor between your dream foot hammock and a dud!
Foot hammocks are not for everybody, there are also anti-fatigue mats and balance boards too which are a great asset for any standing foot hammock or workstation.
Here are some other useful articles I wrote that you should go check out:
- Are Footrests Worth It? – The Must-Read Insider Guide!
- How To Choose A Footrest – A Fail Proof Guide!
- Anti-Fatigue Mat V Footrest – Top 10 Useful Differences!
- Balance Board Pros And Cons – 10 Expert & Helpful Facts!
- Are Anti Fatigue Mats Worth It? 11 Unexpected Pros & Cons!
Recommended Products:
- Leband Foot Hammock (link on Amazon)
- Task Master Adjustable Footrest + lifetime warranty (link on OfficeFurniture2Go)
- Andyer Portable Travel Foot Hammock (link on Amazon)
- 5Fold Under-desk Foot Hammock (link on Amazon)
- ComfiLife Foot Rest (link on Amazon)