Why Hammock Camping ?

Hammocks have become much more popular in recent years and are starting to become staples in camping gear. More people (especially in the Southeast) are opting to set up a hammock instead of the usual tent and tarp, attesting to its packing convenience and ease of use.

1. Comfort

Sleeping on the ground, even with a sleeping pad, just may not be for you. If you have a bad shoulder, back or hip, try one night sleeping in a hammock.

2. Less movement

If you sleep in a hammock, you are less likely to toss and turn while you sleep because it protects you snugly. Once you find your most comfortable position in a hammock, chances are you will stay in that position until you wake up and feel more refreshed, as opposed to sleeping on the ground. A hammock that is properly set up has positive orthopedic benefits.

3. More site alternatives

It's difficult to set up a tent on a very rocky surface and uncomfortable sleep there, so most campers look for flat, level ground first before they set up camp. However, hammocks can hang wherever you can find two points to strap them up. Depending on your campsite choices, you may waste less time and energy with a hammock in looking for a perfect dry spot to sleep.

4. Goodbye critters and ground nuisances

Sleep under the stars without worry about bugs, poison ivy, thorns and small animals that crawl into your sleeping bag at night.

5. Easy set up and multiple use

It only takes about two minutes to set up a hammock. Also, aside from being a good resting place, it makes a great swing or chair.

 

Hammocks can be great gear to bring when you're going camping. They're less bulky and can afford you greater comfort. Just be sure to consider your destination and the weather at that time of year. With shelter systems, hammocks work great in rain and with hordes of insects. But if it's below freezing, you may not want to be that exposed to the elements. Use your best judgement.

Different Types Of Camping Hammocks

Hammocks are made out of a variety of materials in order to match your needs, but also the weather of the place you live or the purpose for which you are going to use it; for example, if you want to use your hammock by the beach, then cotton would be the first choice in order to absorb humidity and maintain a cool environment. However, if you were to get a hammock for general camping in all types of weather, then you should get one made out of strong nylon for flexibility, strength, moisture-wicking properties and fast drying.

Hammock Shelters

Hammock shelters mainly provide direct protection to you and your hammock from the weather, bird droppings, etc. The DryFly Rain Tarp is our recommended choice. A bug net shelter will also keep you safe from any insects and bugs that are mostly out in the summer, which is usually the best time to use your hammock in the open air.

Hammock Straps

The most critical parts of a hammock are the hammock straps. The straps hold the hammock to two points and must be strong enough to support the person and the hammock while being tied at varying angles and to various objects. The hammock straps do more work than any other parts of the hammock. They are constantly being tied and untied to trees, poles and other like objects. Trees can begin to fray the straps and cause the hammock to fail. The hammock straps must be thick enough to hold a lot of weight but supple enough to be tied over and over again. The other part of the hammock straps to be considered is the length of each strap. If they are too short they won’t be very useful, and if they are too long they are costing extra money and material. All of these things must be considered when thinking about the importance of hammock straps.

Reasons For Hammock Straps To Fail

Anything that is made by man will sometimes fail. That’s why hammock manufacturers take extra care to make sure the straps wouldn’t fail unless they came under extreme conditions. This allows the product to be used by a wide variety of people and it will not break under normal conditions. Most of the time, hammock straps fail because of the customer not following directions or not using common sense while using the hammock. For example, leaving the straps tied to a tree all year long while being exposed to the harsh elements of the outdoors can weaken the straps and cause them to fail. The straps can become dry rotted and can potentially snap.

Another thing that can make hammock straps fail is abusing the straps (abrasion, neglect). Also, leaving knots in the straps will over-stress the nylon or cotton and cause the straps to break down internally and weaken to the point of failure while you're laying in the hammock.

We recommend Nylon straps with sewn loops for strength, weather resistance and ease of use. Eagles Nest SlapStraps are a good basic strap. Slapstrap Pros are designed for use where there are less trees. They are almost 2 feet longer.

Setting up a Hammock

Be aware of your destination campsite(s). A camping hammock is meant to be suspended between two trees, so be sure that you have two sturdy trees that are in close proximity to one another for the hammock. Make sure that you suspend the camping hammock high enough off of the ground. If the hammock hangs too low to the ground and someone gets in it, they may end up lying ON the ground, and of course run the risk of damaging the camping hammock. Lastly, be sure that you tie the hammock to the trees tightly.

One good way to get into the hammock with a sleeping bag or liner is to put the bag on, stand next to the hammock pulling one side behind your legs, and carefully lean back into it. Keep a headlamp handy in case you have to dismount & find a bathroom in the middle of the night. You won't need much of a pillow, but you can always make a small one out of a stuff sack or clothing, or an Eagles Nest PakPillow. When it's cold, hardcore hammock users may opt for a bigger sleeping bag, an extra liner and sleeping pads for warmth instead of a tent. Remember that the hammock will compress a down bag, preventing it from doing it's job. But you can use a sleeping pad to insulate you. To get in with all the extra gear, first put the sleeping pad in the hammock to spread it out. Get your pillow set, stand in the sleeping bag, pull one side of the hammock down behind your legs, & carefully lean back. You know the rest...

Buying a Hammock

Prices of camping hammocks vary according to the material they're made out of, as well as how many people can comfortably recline in it at the same time. You should consider getting a hammock shelter for its protection and safety.

We recommend Eagles Nest (ENO) Single and Double Hammocks. They have a built in compression stuff sack and interface with an easy strap system, ready to go and suspend virtually anywhere. Our other products compliment the hammocks by keeping your head padded with the PakPillow, dry with the DryFly or FastFly Rain Tarps, and bug free with the Guardian BugNet.

These parachute hammocks are constructed of breathable nylon micro fiber for strength and wear resistance, they come completely rigged with high quality locking gate carabiner and strength tested nautical grade line. All ENO hammocks are made from semi-porous, breathable, micro-fibre nylon--rated at 400 lbs and carry a two-year warranty.