Summer is drawing to a close, and we’ve all had several months to practice getting into our hammocks—which means we slide into them as easily as a hot dog into a bun, right?
Maybe not. As this hilarious (and occasionally wince-inducing) video compilation shows, relaxing can be a risky business. For recreation novices, getting onto a tightly strung hammock can be tough, and staying on can be tougher. The video’s string of falls, spills, and tumbles is what one might expect from watching riders of a mechanical bull, not wannabe nappers. It just goes to show that sometimes there are obstacles to overcome in the pursuit of simple pleasures.
Of course, there are also those who are actively trying to turn leisure into an extreme sport. Many of this compilation’s heroes attempt to turn the gentle swinging of a hammock into the wild loop-de-loops of a carnival ride, with occasionally amazing (00:38), but mostly clunky (1:27), results. We never thought we’d have to say this about an apparatus built for siestas, but don’t try this at home.
We wouldn’t want anyone to be deprived of the joys of spending a lazy afternoon in the swaying embrace of well-placed hammock, we would like to issue a warning: please, relax with caution.