5 Things We Love About the Liss Go Beach Hammock (That You Will Too)
Updated: 3 days ago
Photo courtesy LISS
I've been on a mission to find a solution to the post surfsession crash, and I finally found it.
I've felt it everywhere I've surfed. On the North Shore of Hawaii, one of my favorite spots to surf was a reef break that took a good 15 minutes to paddle to, and by the time you made it to the lineup, you were already beat.
In Florida, during a typical windswell, I'd catch as many waves as my shoulders could take: catch wave, paddle back out, catch wave, paddle back out on repeat. And surfing in SoCal, in places like Huntington Beach, it was the typical ‘one more’ situation: I thought I was too exhausted to catch another wave, but then I’d see someone score a long one, and I had to go back out for just one more.”
Every time, I came in beat, tired, exhausted, etc, and all I wanted was a comfortable place to lie down. If you've been around me, you know this is something I've talked about often, because if (a big if) someone could find the perfect solution to that post surf feeling, I'd be first in line.
And here's my complaints: there's never a good place to do it.
Lying flat on a towel in the sand isn't comfortable, and since you're still wet, you end up covered in sand. Beach chairs aren't much better. And if you head home and sit on your furniture while you're still wet, the cushions soak up the salt and the metal frames start to rust.
Wouldn't it be great if, after a session, you could grab something from your car and have a comfortable place to lie back, off the sand, in seconds?
Or do the same thing when you get home, whether it's on the porch or in the backyard?
Well, I've finally found a solution to my problem: the GO Hammock from LISS (Living in Sunshine).
Photo courtesy LISS
If you haven't heard of LISS before, you've probably seen their surfboard racks which are all over surf shops. Now, they've moved into the hammock and furniture biz, and their product is a game changer.
The GO Hammock is the antidote to the post-surf-session crash. It's a freestanding hammock with its own folding stainless steel frame. No trees, no drilling and no tools necessary, and it unfolds and locks into place in seconds. Best of all, it folds back down into a super light carry bag you can throw in the car next to your board.
And take it from me: it's the most comfortable thing imaginable. In an era when so many of us are paying more attention to our mental health, having a place to lie back, swing a little and decompress after a session, or after a long day at work, really helps.
And hey, if you aren't going to use it after a surf, it's still worth having. You can take it camping, set it up at the park, at a picnic or at a tailgate, or bring it inside and use it as design decor in your living room, on your balcony or in the backyard. It's the ultimate piece of go-to furniture whether you surf or not.
Here are five specific things we love about it.
#1: The look exceeds the price.
When I first saw photos of the GO Hammock, I guessed it cost close to $1,000, because it looks like something you'd find poolside at a five-star beach resort. Honestly, I didn't think I could afford it...
The GO Hammock is currently $259 on the LISS website, down from its regular price of $400. That price covers the frame, the hammock bed and the carry case.
This is a pretty insane deal, because freestanding hammocks with this kind of finish often cost far more, and some brands sell the stand and the hammock separately.
Best of all, you also get a 90-day trial with a full refund if you don't love it, LISS covers return shipping in the U.S. There's a one-year warranty on top of that.
#2: It won't rust.
If you live near the ocean, you know what salt air does to metal. Beach chairs, bike chains, grill grates, roof racks: anything left outside eventually turns orange and starts to flake. Here in Florida, and back when I lived on the North Shore of Oahu, salt air could cut the life of outdoor gear in half. Brutal, especially when you're on a budget.
The GO Hammock's frame is powder-coated stainless steel, built to sit out in the rain, sun and salty air without rusting.
Photo courtesy LISS
For surfers and anyone living in a coastal town, that means you buy it once instead of replacing it every couple of seasons.
#3: It's built with quality materials.
I'll admit I didn't expect a portable hammock to be built this well. LISS designed and patented the GO Hammock itself, and here's what it's made of.
Photo courtesy LISS
Check out these specs:
Frame: Stainless steel, powder-coated and weather-resistant, with a wood-texture finish that makes it look luxurious
Hammock bed: A breathable poly-cotton blend that goes straight into the washing machine after a sandy day (which is clutch)
Weight capacity: Up to 310 pounds, and it fits adults up to 6'7"
Set-up size: 94.5 x 33.9 x 40.2 inches
The frame is stable enough that you can swing in it, too, so you're not lying there perfectly still and hoping the whole thing holds.
#4: It doubles as a piece of furniture.
Most of the portable hammock stands I've seen look like camping gear: black or gray metal tubing that you hide in the garage once you get home.
LISS went a different way, which is why it's a gamechanger. The team applied a wood-grain finish to the stainless steel frame.
Yeah, it's an expensive process, but they chose it over plain black on purpose: it turns the GO Hammock from a piece of camping gear into a piece of furniture. You can set it up in the living room, on a balcony or in the garden, not just at the campsite.
Photo courtesy LISS
When I first saw the photos, I thought you could set it up in a living room and never use it, and it would still look good, though I'd definitely use it. It fits on a back porch or an apartment balcony as easily as it fits on the sand.
#5: It's easy to put together.
Take it from me, if something takes 30 minutes and a toolbox to put together, it's going to stay in the closet. Or never get bought in the first place.
The GO Hammock skips all of that, since there are no tools, no screws and no instruction sheet spread across the floor.
This is probably it's best feature...
You pull the frame out of the bag and open it, and it locks into place on its own. Assembly takes less than five seconds, and that's not a typo.
Here's proof...
What about taking it down? It's just as quick.
You fold the accordion-style frame, slide it into the carry case and sling the shoulder strap over your back. Packed, it measures 29.5 x 13.8 x 9.8 inches and weighs about 21 pounds.
That's light enough for one person to carry from the parking lot to the sand, and small enough to fit in the trunk next to your board.
Get yours before the holidays
If you've got a surfer in your life, or anyone who's always complaining about having nowhere comfortable to rest after a day outside, this is what I'd get them this year.
LISS is shipping its next batch in late November, so it'll show up in time for the holidays.
Next time you get home from a long session, you'll have somewhere to lie back and let your shoulders recover.
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