Best of 2003: Best Hammocks

Paul de Smit, Exotic Hammocks
449 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
www.exotic hammocks.com
760-436-2946

You can choose among 20 different styles from Mexico, Nicaragua, and Brazil. De Smit has his own team from Puebla weaving hammocks in Tecate, but his personal favorites are the Mayan hammocks. Each one takes a family about 40 hours' work, he says. "You lie crosswise. It's very comfortable." You can buy a colorful cotton Mayan for $25 or a large, striped, and scallop-edged "Fantasy Hammock" for $149. He sells extras, too, including hammock pillows ($19.95), tree-friendly straps ($24.95), and drink holders ($7.95). Chiropractors recommend hammocks, he says. "Hammocks spread your weight evenly. They elevate your feet."