gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock Review: The Uncomfortable Truth About Comfort

There’s a universal image of pure relaxation that lives in the back of our minds: a warm, sun-dappled afternoon, a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves, a cold drink sweating on a small table, and the gentle sway of a perfect hammock. It’s more than just a piece of outdoor furniture; it’s an escape pod from the daily grind. For years, we’ve sought out that perfect hammock, the one that balances comfort, durability, and aesthetics. The wrong choice leads to frustration—a hammock that’s too small, too scratchy, or worse, one that gives way and sends you tumbling to the ground. The quest is for that idyllic suspension, a cradle of comfort that transforms a simple backyard into a personal resort. It was this very quest that led us to test the gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock, a product that promises traditional, handwoven comfort for two.

What to Consider Before Buying a Hammock

A hammock is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for creating a dedicated space for rest, decompression, and quiet contemplation. Whether strung between two ancient oaks or mounted on a modern stand on a city balcony, it provides a unique form of ergonomic support that can alleviate pressure points and encourage a state of deep relaxation. The main benefits are stress reduction, improved mood, and a simple, tech-free way to enjoy the outdoors. The gentle rocking motion is even thought to promote deeper, more restful sleep.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone with available outdoor or even indoor space who prioritizes comfort and relaxation. They might be a homeowner looking to enhance their patio, a camper seeking a lightweight sleeping solution, or a student wanting a cozy corner in their dorm. However, a traditional rope hammock might not be suitable for those who need a completely flat laying surface, have significant mobility issues that make getting in and out difficult, or live in extremely wet climates where natural cotton can be slow to dry and prone to mildew if not cared for properly. For those needing an all-in-one solution, a hammock with an included stand might be a better choice.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Measure your intended hanging space meticulously. A hammock’s total length includes the ropes and chains, not just the bed. The gafete is listed as 12 feet, so you’ll need a span of at least 12-15 feet to hang it properly, allowing for a gentle curve. For stands, ensure the stand is rated for a hammock of this length or longer to avoid a fit that is dangerously tight or impossibly loose.
• Capacity/Performance: “Double” hammocks should comfortably accommodate two adults, but always check the maximum weight recommendation. The gafete claims a 450-pound limit, which should be sufficient for two average-sized adults. However, performance is also about stability; spreader bars, like the one on this model, create a flatter, more open surface but can make the hammock feel tippier than non-spreader “cocoon” styles.
• Materials & Durability: The material dictates comfort and lifespan. Cotton, used in the gafete, is exceptionally soft and breathable but is less resistant to moisture, mildew, and UV fading than synthetic options like DuraCord or polyester. Hardwood spreader bars add a classic look but must be well-finished and robust to prevent cracking under load and weather exposure.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Consider the included hardware. Chains and S-hooks offer adjustability but may not be long enough for every setup. For long-term care, cotton hammocks should ideally be stored indoors when not in use, especially during inclement weather, to prolong their life and prevent deterioration.

Choosing the right hammock involves balancing these factors to match your specific needs and environment. Now, let’s see how the gafete model holds up under scrutiny.

While the gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock is an excellent choice for some, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions and Key Features

Unboxing the gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock, the first thing we noticed was the scent of natural cotton and wood—an earthy, promising aroma. The beige rope was neatly bound, and the 53-inch hardwood spreader bars had a smooth, if somewhat light, finish. The 3-PLY, 0.28″ thick rope felt substantial and exceptionally soft to the touch, a clear departure from the scratchy polyester ropes common in budget models. The hand-woven mesh appeared uniform, creating a classic, inviting look. Included in the package were two sets of chains and S-hooks, which felt sturdy enough for the task. The overall impression was one of traditional craftsmanship and immediate comfort. Our plan was to test it on a 12-foot stand, which should have been a perfect, straightforward fit based on the product’s name and specifications. However, as we would soon discover, the numbers on the page don’t always tell the full story.

Performance Under Pressure: A Deep Dive into the Gafete Hammock

A hammock’s worth is measured in moments of quiet repose, not in product specs. It’s about the feeling of weightlessness as you settle in, the stability as you shift, and the confidence that it will be there for you season after season. We put the gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock through extensive testing, and what we found was a complex story of initial bliss overshadowed by serious long-term concerns.

The Siren Song of Soft Cotton: A Deep Dive into Comfort

Let’s be unequivocally clear: the first time you lay in the gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock, it feels fantastic. The natural cotton rope is genuinely superior in feel to synthetic alternatives. It’s soft against the skin, not at all scratchy, and it gently conforms to your body’s contours. As the product description claims, the mesh design does an excellent job of distributing pressure, creating a supportive yet yielding cradle. On a warm day, the open weave is a blessing, allowing for maximum airflow and preventing the sweaty, sticky feeling you can get from fabric hammocks. As one user happily noted, “The material of the hammock is softer than usual so it’s very comfortable.” We agree completely with this initial assessment. My wife and I were even able to lounge in it together (head-to-foot), finding it cozy and pleasant.

However, this exceptional softness comes with a significant, and ultimately detrimental, trade-off: stretching. Cotton, by its nature, has more give than polyester or DuraCord. After just a few uses, we noticed a dramatic change. The hammock began to sag, stretching out far more than anticipated. This was echoed by a user who initially loved the comfort but lamented, “it quickly stretched out.” This excessive stretching has a critical consequence. If you hang the hammock at what seems like a perfect height, you may find yourself brushing against the ground after a week of use. One user reported this exact issue, stating, “when you lay on it, you basically fall to the ground.” We had to repeatedly tighten the chains on our stand to compensate. This constant need for adjustment is frustrating, and it points to a material that may be too soft for its own good, sacrificing structural integrity for initial comfort.

A Question of Longevity: Examining Build Quality and Durability

A hammock is an investment in relaxation, and it should last more than a single season. This is where our evaluation of the gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock takes a sharp, downward turn. While the product boasts a “handwoven” construction and hardwood spreader bar, the real-world performance reported by numerous users, and evidenced in our own careful inspection, raises major red flags about its durability.

The most alarming issue lies with the 53-inch hardwood spreader bar. This component is crucial for maintaining the hammock’s shape and stability. Unfortunately, we found a disturbing number of reports detailing catastrophic failure of this exact part. One user, who weighed only 210 lbs (well under the 450 lb limit), stated, “The first time I sat on it after putting it on the stand, one of the wood spreader bars broke.” Another reported that after just three uses, “the wood splintered where the ropes tie in.” A third simply said, “Two months later – the wooden plank bent and cracked open.” This pattern suggests a potential defect in the wood quality or the drilling process for the rope holes, creating weak points that cannot withstand normal, recommended loads. This is not a minor flaw; it is a critical safety failure.

The rope itself does not escape criticism. While comfortable, its durability is also highly questionable. We observed that the weave, as one user put it, “is easy to stretch out and shift so that fairly large holes appear.” This was confirmed by another user who, after just two months, “developed a big hole in the middle” and felt they were about to fall through. These aren’t isolated incidents. Reports of the item “splitting” or “falling apart” after a month are common. This rapid deterioration is simply unacceptable, even for a budget-friendly model. It suggests that the 3-PLY cotton rope, while soft, lacks the tensile strength and robust weave needed for sustained use. When you can find a better option by checking out the latest price and availability of competing products, it’s hard to justify this risk.

Decoding the Dimensions: Sizing, Capacity, and Fit

Accurate product specifications are not a suggestion; they are a promise to the consumer. The gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock repeatedly falters on this promise. Labeled as a “12ft” hammock, our testing and a chorus of user feedback indicate it runs significantly shorter. One user, attempting to set it up on an 11ft stand, found it to be “a tight fit,” casting doubt on the advertised length. Another was more blunt: “It’s 4 feet smaller than it says it was supposed to be.” Our experience was similar. When stretched out on our 12ft stand, the hammock was drum-tight, leaving no room for a comfortable sag. This required us to use extra chain, a fix another user also had to resort to, noting the included 12-inch chains were insufficient for their stand, which needed 18 inches.

The “Double” capacity claim is equally suspect. While the spreader bar is 53 inches wide (a “Full” size, as noted in the full product name), users find the functional space to be much narrower. One 6-foot-tall user remarked, “I think I would struggle to fit a second person on it comfortably for any length of time, so double might be a stretch.” Another who compared it to a different double hammock found this one to be “narrower and less stable when accommodating two individuals.” This combination of being shorter and narrower than advertised creates a cascade of problems. It doesn’t fit standard stands without modification, it doesn’t comfortably hold two people as promised, and it contributes to the feeling of instability that can lead to being flipped out. This is a critical failure in product advertising that directly impacts usability and safety.

What Other Users Are Saying

The user experience with the gafete hammock is starkly divided between initial delight and eventual, often swift, disappointment. The positive feedback almost universally centers on the out-of-the-box comfort. One happy customer states, “You never really know what you’re going to get when purchasing a hammock, but I’m really happy with this. The rope itself is soft (cotton) and not at all scratchy.” Another family “loves the hammock” because “the material of the hammock is softer than usual so it’s very comfortable.”

However, these glowing first impressions are frequently buried by an avalanche of negative reports focusing on a catastrophic lack of durability. The sentiment shifts dramatically after a few weeks or months of use. A deeply dissatisfied buyer warns, “I bought this hammock in April…it quickly stretched out. It developed a big hole in the middle after a mere 2 months.” The most damning feedback concerns the spreader bar failures. A user weighing well under the limit shared their experience: “The first time I sat on it after putting it on the stand, one of the wood spreader bars broke.” This sentiment is echoed repeatedly, with reports of wood splintering and cracking. These reviews paint a clear picture: a product that provides short-term comfort at the expense of long-term safety and reliability.

Three Alternatives to the gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock

Given the significant concerns with the gafete hammock’s durability and sizing, it’s crucial to consider other options. We’ve compared it to three popular alternatives that cater to different needs, from all-in-one convenience to premium, long-lasting construction.

1. Best Home Fashion EZ Daze Hammock with Stand

The most glaring omission from the gafete hammock is a stand. The Best Home Fashion EZ Daze model solves this immediately by providing a complete, all-in-one package. It includes a collapsible steel stand and a carrying case, making it an excellent choice for those who want portability or don’t have suitable trees. While its hammock is made of a fabric blend rather than traditional rope, this material is often more resistant to the elements and doesn’t suffer from the same excessive stretching as the gafete’s cotton. If you’re looking for a no-fuss, ready-to-relax solution right out of the box, this is a far more practical and reliable choice.

2. Original Pawleys Island Large DuraCord Rope Hammock

For those who love the traditional rope style of the gafete but demand uncompromising quality and durability, the Original Pawleys Island hammock is the undisputed gold standard. Handcrafted in the USA, it uses DuraCord rope—a synthetic material designed to feel as soft as cotton but with superior resistance to rot, mildew, and UV fading. Its oak spreader bars are known for their strength and weather resistance. While it represents a significant step up in price, it’s an investment in a product that will last for many years, if not decades, directly addressing the primary failure point of the gafete. If longevity is your top priority, this is the hammock to buy.

3. SUNCREAT 2 Person Hammock with Stand

The SUNCREAT hammock offers a compelling middle ground. Like the Best Home Fashion model, it’s an all-in-one package with a heavy-duty stand included, eliminating any guesswork about fit. It boasts a slightly higher weight capacity of 475 lbs and often features a quilted fabric bed, which provides a different kind of comfort—softer and without the open gaps of a rope weave. This design is also generally more stable than a spreader-bar rope hammock. For families or users who want a complete, sturdy, and stable setup without paying the premium for a Pawleys Island, the SUNCREAT is a fantastic and highly-rated alternative.

Final Verdict: A Risky Proposition

The gafete 12ft Double Cotton Hammock presents a classic cautionary tale: a product that feels wonderful at first but fails to deliver on its most fundamental promises of durability and accurate sizing. The initial comfort of its soft cotton rope is undeniable and is its single greatest strength. However, this is tragically undermined by overwhelming evidence of critical failures, from spreader bars that snap under normal weight to ropes that stretch and tear after mere months. The inconsistent sizing further complicates setup and usability, making it a frustrating experience for many.

We cannot, in good conscience, recommend this hammock for anyone seeking a reliable, long-term relaxation solution. The safety risks associated with the breaking spreader bars are simply too great. It might suffice for very light, occasional, single-person use, but even then, it’s a gamble. If you are captivated by its initial comfort and low price point, we strongly urge you to manage your expectations for its lifespan. For a truly worry-free backyard oasis, you are far better off investing in one of the more reputable alternatives. If you’ve weighed the risks and still feel it’s a fit for your specific, light-use needs, you can check the latest price and availability online.