Frequently Asked Questions

  • Current Lead times:
    • Lead times are 15-17 weeks for all new orders.  I thank everyone for their orders. It’s been a crazy crazy spring in terms of incoming orders and I super appreciate the support and the ‘buying local’ and ‘buying Canadian‘. I will continue to update this as orders progress.
  • COVID-19 – Please allow for disruptions / delays.
    Production continues, day to day operations may be shortened on odd days. Never fear, the sewing machines keep on sewing.
    Postal system has been affected (they are saying expect busy ‘like Christmas busy’ longer shipping delays.
  • Previous Lead Times (not including shipping time)
      • April 25 to 29 orders are 12+ weeks
      • After March 9 to April 20 orders  11.5 weeks.

Little Shop of Hammocks is a Custom Shop. What this means is that I don’t stock pre-made items (unless it’s listed specifically as such) Each order is hand made here in my shop by myself in the order it’s received.  To be precise, if I get an accessory order or a small hammock order in there and I have an hour left in a working day I may start the small order and finish it when the time allocates small portions. It’s efficient and keeps things flowing well. Make sure you are aware of the lead times.

Free Stuff? Sorry to those who email me for free gear and Sponsership. The answer is no. There are times that groups that I am involved with or people who actively support my shop will get donations towards a fundraiser or a hike. That being said, this usually means that those people have already bought from me and already send in pictures of them using my gear and showing others. On a similar note, I do not need anyone to Blog for me. Thanks though. This year has been amazing and looking forward to 2020!

Contact infolittleshopofhammocks@gmail.com

E-Transfers can be sent to the above address. Email separately with the E-transfer password.
Prices are in Canadian $
Location: I am located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada
Phone number : 306-477-9478  Please leave a message and your email if I can’t get to the phone at that time.

  • If you don’t leave a message I will not return your call. I get a lot of telemarketing calls which I will not answer.
  • Please email first to get the things hashed out in the email first. That way the phone call isn’t too long. Gotta keep the sewing machine sewing 🙂
  • Online Store hours are Monday – Friday 9-4:30 Central Time (approx). 
  • I do check emails when I can but cannot promise an email response over the weekends or during holidays. 

Any information gathered from you during the ordering process is only for fulfilling your orders. Phone numbers are used only if I need to contact you in regards to your order and also for the shipping of the item.  Meaning I won’t sell it to anyone. It’s private.

At Little Shop of Hammocks every effort is made that all pictures, colors etc are as accurate as possible. We try to update the website in a timely manner. We also reserve the right to change specifications, models etc without notice.

Yes, we get outdoors and use our own equipment. In fact gear testing in the actual environment it’s supposed to be used in is a favorite thing for us to do. So we are away on the weekends and take holidays. Being a 1 man shop (plus an extra now and then) means the shop closes for holidays.

  • Payment : Currently for international orders I only accept PayPal. You can use your credit card through PayPal once your setup.
    Within Canada, at the Check-Out there is an option to use E-Transfer (send money through your online banking via email). Simply send the amount through your online bank, email me and once it arrives I will update the order as paid.  Some people don’t care for PayPal and this is an option around that.
  • Returns:
    There are no returns or cancellations on gear so please make your decisions carefully. The reason for this is your gear is custom cut and made to your specifications. In cases where I need to order printed material for tarps and quilts I have already committed funds to the gear and cannot change those orders. 

    • With lead times being what they are I have to predict and order material / down to cover orders to help keep those times low (so we aren’t waiting). So once your order is received I order what’s needed so it gets here.
    • I don’t allow returns on items unless there is a defect in manufacturing which I will correct. If you have any questions please contact me before ordering to make sure you get all the information needed. You are responsible for caring and maintenance of your gear. It is a given that UL gear is a compromise between weight and durability. The lighter the fabric the more fragile it is compared to a heavier alternative. Any gear that has been used beyond these limitations or through improper care will not be warrantied.
    • Special circumstances do occur and sometimes your order is something I normally stock and I haven’t cut the fabric and we can work with it. In this case it would be a 20% cancellation fee.
    • As mentioned zippers are a normal wear and tear item. Taking care of them will extend the product life.
    • Repairs: Contact me if you have damaged your items. It maybe possible to fix at a minimal or no charge (depending on the circumstance)
  • Shipping
    Is calculated individually since all the items are custom made and have different weights and volumes.Flat rate works for most orders, in fact most orders cost more than the flat rate to ship across the country
    Orders ship using Canada Post and require a signature (so they don’t get left outside)
    Small items that can be shipped letter mail like ridgelines will be if they can. It can vary from 2$ to 5$ depending on the size.
    If the items shipped costs less than the flat rate then I will refund the difference via the way it was originally paid for.
    Please understand that shipping takes into account the actual shipping and the packaging.

    When you receive your package do not use a box cutter or sharp knife to open it. It might take a few more seconds to open but it will save you from damaging your new gear.

    The Gear

    • Fabric: Please choose the fabric with consideration to the use, wear and tear expected and conditions.
      Quilt Fabric15d is a durable fabric that is great for all applications. It has more wind resistance and is tougher than 10d.

      • 10d can serve as an inner and an outer however if the quilt is to be used in colder temperatures consider using a 15d outer and a 10d inner. It will help keep the heat in better.
      • 10d can also have a bit more static cling initially till it’s worn in a bit. This is especially true for the 10d taffeta. Use a slightly moist cloth to wipe the fabric if you want to clean it off. Eventually this disappears. The trade off is that it is a fantastic feeling fabric against the skin.
    • Hammock Fabric : Please choose the fabric weight that best applies to your own weight and usage. The recommendations for comfort and limit weights is only a guideline. Comfort depends on the stretch of the fabric and people have different likes in regards to the stretch. The weight limits I imply for my hammocks are less than the fabric suppliers. It’s a general limit when it comes to the possible give of the hammock and other components that go together to make a hammock.
    • It is up to you, the buyer to make sure that you hang safely and use the gear properly. Following these guidelines will provide a better experience overall.
  • Quilts:
    • The down used in my quilts is sourced and produced here in Canada. Not brought in from China.
      • It’s ethically sourced and collected.
      • Canadian Hutterite Goose and Duck Down
    • You get more down in my quilts.
    • Comfort rated for temperatures.
    • Stitching/sewing is top notch.
    • Closed baffle/cell design. Down stays where is should be.
    • Made in Canada by myself, not outsourced to China or someone who doesn’t have an invested interest in the product.

Pad / Quilt straps and attachments:
The loops on the quilts loop over top of the attachment points on the straps. There is supposed to be some give / ease of release so you can get out quickly if needed. However if you would like them a bit more secure on the attachment points simply use a tiny hair elastic on the grosgrain loops to cinch up to the points. Makes it easy and lightweight.

Hammocks:
My personal designs. Tested and used by myself and gear testers throughout the world.

UltraLight : What does that mean to me? Going lighter isn’t always better. Fabrics are chosen to handle a specific load. If you push the limit the fabric can fail. Period. So instead of picking the ‘lightest possible fabric ever’, choose the best fabric for your specific weight and build.  Treat the gear like it’s gold. Don’t toss it around, don’t drag it on the ground when packing up and never wear your shoes in your hammock. Pets? No, absolutely not. Consider it similar to climbing gear. Check it each time you go out (before you leave), if it shows wear replace it. If your not sure, ask. Dry it, keep it clean and it should last quite a few years. If you want something to be more bombproof choose a thicker, heavier fabric.

  • You, Safety and Your Gear. ( terms and conditions)*Please be careful using your hammock.
    *You are responsible for maintenance of your gear and it is subject to wear and tear. Taking care of it will extend its life and enjoyment as well as your own.
    *Using gear from Little Shop of Hammocks means that you agree to acknowledge and accept all responsibility of the risks of Hanging / Hammocking and hold Little Shop of Hammocks harmless, and indemnify and protect them against all liability arising from from activities using our gear. You accept sole responsibility for your actions.
    *Don’t hang higher than you are willing to fall. This is important.  Make sure anything below the hammock which could create safety concerns is removed. Rocks, logs etc. (clear them out of the way.) In the same breath don’t hang your hammock or gear where it could rub on the ground, rocks or sharp pokey things.
    *Do not fall prey to the pretty pictures on Social Media and think it’s an awesome idea to set up a hammock over a waterfall or on the side of a cliff.  It’s a plain stupid idea. Protect yourself.
    *Dogs, cats, animals in general will puncture hammock material and make a mess of your bugnetting and lightweight quilt fabric. As will knives, keys and sharps objects that have in your pockets or carrying into your hammock with you. This is not normal wear and tear. Just a warning.
    *Treat your zippers with care. Yanking on them, opening / pushing against them with your foot is never advised. When closing your zipper take care to not catch the bug net/mesh in the zipper. Zippers are a general wear and tear item so take care of them. (not covered under any warranty)

All down used in Little Shop of Hammocks  Toaster Quilts are responsibly sourced. Down from the USA is RDS certified and from Canada – Downmark Quality Assurance (source is registered). For more information please go to
http://downmark.com/consumer_information/down_feather_quality.htm
http://featherind.com/about-us/company-policy/

Currently using Canadian Hutterite White Goose Down and 800FP Hutterite SupremeLoft White Duck Down.
The 900FP will pack down slightly smaller than the 800FP and is a bit lighter

  • Non-treated down : I have transitioned away from treated down. I was finding it was lofting poorly compared to the non-treated. Even though the treated was more resistant to moisture it eventually wetted out. Remember, down has some natural water-resistant qualities so it can handle some humidity and moisture normally. Treat it good and it will keep you warm!
  • You will see some smaller down particles come through any material. The lighter the material gets, the more you will see it.  It comes through in clothing articles like jackets and you will see it come through quilt material regardless of the IDFL labs scoring.
  • By it’s very nature all down clusters have spines and will try and work it’s way through material. If you see something coming through the fabric try not to pull it out. Reach through the fabric from the opposite site and pull the down back inside. The fabric will seal itself, as the threads come back together.

Care of your Down Quilts : Treat your quilt with care and you will get many years use out of it. Always air them out after use. If you are on a multi-day hike spread them out on your tent or over the hammock (TQ’s) UQ’s get more air flow hanging under the hammock but still need airing. So if your taking a lunch break and it’s sunny spread them out.

  • Your quilts are made with some of the lightest weight fabrics available so special care is required to prevent any damage to them. If you fail to follow these instructions you can damage your quilts severely.
    • I don’t recommend washing machines, that being said if you are going to use them only use front loading washing machines on delicate setting.
    • Use proper down detergent only (Use less rather than more. It doesn’t take much detergent to do the job)
    • Hand wash in a large basin or tub with warm water. Gently push the air out of the quilt in the water and knead the quilt allowing the water to saturate the down. Then a minimal amount of kneading, pushing the water through the material. Drain the tub and knead out the water. Do no wring or whip the quilt around. This can damage the quilt. Fill the tub with fresh water and repeat to flush the detergent out. Repeat until the water is clear and not cloudy.
    • It make take several rinses to remove the detergent and contaminants.
  • Do not move the quilt around while saturated with water. It’s too heavy and the internal baffles can be easily damaged this way. You can use towels to aid in the moisture removal.
  • Drying:
    • Never hang a wet/soaked down item on a line. Lay it on a drying rack so it’s supported while heavy. Drying outside in dry air with air movement works great.
    • Once the quilt is fairly dry you can move it to the dryer with tennis balls. Only use Fluff / No Heat setting. Minimal heat can cause hot spots in your dryer and melt the fabric. NO HEAT. The tennis balls will help break up the clumps of down. It may take 3-4 hours to dry a quilt.
    • Once the quilt is dry you will need to shift down around with gentle hand pushes.
    • Do not Dry Clean.
  • Storage : Store loose in a large breathable bag. Do not store in the stuff sack.
    If you choose to not store your down gear in a larger storage bag you may encounter loft issues later. This is your responsibility.
  • DWR – Durable Water Resistant coating : Can eventually wear/wash out of the shell material. Feel free to use a spray on DWR revitalizer on the shell fabric. Don’t use wash in DWR solutions. It can leave residues in the down and affect the loft and properties of the down.