Are you a serious camper or a laid back one? If you are the latter, chances are you must have tried hammock camping. More and more campers today swear by hammock camping as opposed to the tried and tested tent camping and for good reason. Hammocks today are not just for lazing in your backyard but are fast becoming serious camping gear for the modern campers and hikers. Not only do they make camping light, they are easy to pack and go and are hassle-free.
Whether you are looking to try out hammock camping or just looking for one to hang around in your backyard or even indoors, you need to pick a hammock that fulfills your requirements. This is where this article would help you. In this article, we look at some of the best retail hammocks available in the market and help you choose the right one for your needs.
Best camping hammock comparison list
Our pick of the best camping hammocks out in the market and how they stack against each other.| Picture | Product | Dimensions (in feet) Length x Width | Capacity (lbs) | Weight (lbs) | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Hammock | 10.6 x 5 | 400 | 1.8 | - Nautical grade carabiners - Starter rope kit - 100% parachute nylon - Mosquito net included - Triple-stitched seam | |
  | Bear Butt Double Parachute Camping Hammock | 10 x 6 | 500 | 1.13 | - Will fit two persons - Fits nicely into a bag of its own - Comes with hanging straps - Great value for money | |
  | Hennessy Hammock Expedition Series | 10 x 6 | 250 | 2.75 | - Made from 210D Oxford nylon - 10 feet long polyester suspension ropes - Detachabe rainfly included - Mosquito net included | |
  | Eagles Nest Outfitters - DoubleNest Hammock | 9.4 x 6.2 | 400 | 1.19 | - Made from 70D breathable nylon - Aluminium Wiregate Carabiners and nautical grade line included - Big enough for two | |
  | Grand Trunk Ultralight Hammock | 9.5 x 4.5 | 200 | 1.05 | - Made from 100% polyester taffeta - Mildew resistant and machine washable - Stainless steel S hooks included - Two years warranty | |
  | Kammok Roo Camping Hammock | 10 x 5.7 | 500 | 1.5 | - Comfortable for 2 persons - Made from LunarWare fabric - 2 climbing rated carabiners and Dyneema slings included - Lifetime warranty | |
  | Legit Camping - Double Hammock | 10 x 6.6 | 400 | 1.2 | - Made from military grade 210T nylon fabric - Fits in a small sack provided - Suspension lines included - Lifetime warranty | |
  | TNH Outdoors Premium Camping Hammock | 10 x 6.6 | 400 | 2.5 | - Made with high quality, lightweight and breathable nylon - Comes with 9 feet long straps, carabiners and carry sack, making it easier to transport and setup. - Comes with lifetime warranty and service | |
  | Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Hammock | 10 x 6.5 | 400 | 1.6 | - Made with high-grade 210T Nylon - Has triple interlocking stitching - Package include Set of nautical ropes and 2 heavy duty steel carabiners - Comes in two-person and one-person model | |
  | Serac Sequoia XL Double Camping Hammock | 10.0 x 5.8 | 500 | 1.13 | - Ripstop Nylon hammock suitable for two persons. - Comes with all accessories included - 5-year unlimited warranty. |
Is hammock camping for you?
If you are looking to opt for hammock camping, whether as a means to go ultralight and lighten up your backpacking load or as a new experience all-together, your hammock will most probably be an alternative to your tent unless you prefer to use the hammock only for day naps or soaking up the sun.
If you have never slept in a hammock, you will need some time to get used to it. So how do you do that? Well for starters, you need to pick one that is perfect for your needs (height, weight, climate etc.). Once you have picked one, take it along during your weekend or a day-long trek and use it for day naps. Try your hands at setting it up, lying in it to get the feel of it. Once you have mastered dozing off in your hammock and you think you can spend a night in it, then you are ready to try it out in the field.
The following video offers some additional tips to get started:
Read on to look at the major factors to consider while picking the best hammock for your needs.
How to pick the best camping hammock?
One size doesn’t fit all and that is true in the case of hammocks as well. With so many different options available in the market, picking the best option for your needs can be a challenging task. Probably the first consideration you have to think about is your budget. Once you have decided on the budget, there is a multitude of factors that you need to look at while picking the best one for your needs. These factors are listed below:
- Weight
- Construction material
- Size
- Strength
- Capacity
- Accessories
Weight
Hammocks are preferred camping gear when you want to pack light. For that reason, you may want to pick one which is lightweight. But the downside is that the lighter a hammock is in weight, the more uncomfortable it gets. The extra weight in a hammock maybe due to extra cushion or insulation padding to keep you warm. When picking a hammock, don’t just go all out in favor of a lighter one. Check out the other features and then make a comparative decision.
Construction material
Most hammocks are made up of either natural fiber like cotton or a synthetic material like nylon. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. While cotton hammocks are cool and comfortable, they are heavy and can soak up water which makes them a bad choice for a wet terrain or during rainy seasons.
Nylon options, on the other hand, are much lighter than cotton ones and do not soak up much water as these are water resistant. These may feel a little warm during the hot weathers but nothing very uncomfortable. Nylon hammocks are the preferred choice when buying a hammock.
Size
The size of the hammock is basically its length and width. Generally, the longer and wider it is, the comfortable it gets. But do not go for very wide ones as these will wrap around you when you lie in the middle and it may make you feel uncomfortable.
If you are a tall person, go for a longer sized one so that your feet don’t hang outside.
If you plan to use an insulation pad during the cold weather, then you need a slightly wider hammock to fit the width of the pad. Some hammocks have a separate zipper below the body to hold the insulation pad.
The size of your hammock also depends largely on whether you want to use it alone or share it with a friend or partner. Hammocks for two persons are also available which are much wider and quite comfortable for two people.
Either way, consider these factors when buying a hammock and pick up the perfect size depend on the accessories you wish to use.
Strength
Your hammock should be able to hold you and a little more or you can land flat and square on the ground and that can be dangerous. The strength of it depends on the suspension system and the number of attachment points in it. A hammock with a single attachment point can just drop you should the point come loose. So do look for the type of suspension(straps or carabiners) and choose one which has more than one attachment points.
Capacity
Hammocks can be used solo or you can snuggle up with your partner. If you want to share a cozy cuddle with your partner, then opt for a two-person hammock. These are much wider and stronger than solo hammocks but they are heavier as well. Some people may prefer buying two solo hammocks to cut down on the weight but also consider that there are only so many trees or suspension points out there to hang your hammock. A two-person hammock is definitely a better choice.
Accessories
Most hammocks do not come packed with the straps that you need to hang them. You will have to buy these separately. When buying straps, look for the total weight that they can hold and the number of adjustable points. We have listed our recommended straps below to help you choose the best ones.
A hammock will be quite comfortable during the hot weathers but it can quickly get cold during winter or at higher altitudes. Sleeping in a hammock as such can quickly become uncomfortable. You need to invest in a good insulation pad or a blow-up pad to feel warmer.
If you plan to use your hammock during the wet weather, you may want to invest in a tarp which can be hung over the hammock to protect against the rain. You will also need an insect net to protect against mosquitoes and other insects.
Popular camping hammocks such as the Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Hammock come with well designed insect net.
Which is the best camping hammock and what are our picks?
Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Hammock – Editor’s choice for best camping hammock
The Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro is what is normally referred to as a jungle hammock or a mosquito hammock. It weighs 28 ounces and has a capacity of 400 pounds.
Measuring at 10.5 feet by 5 feet, this hammock can be used as a two-person hammock. And if you are someone who is well above six feet, this is probably the best camping hammock for big guys.
It comes with nautical grade carabiners and a suspension system.
It’s equipped with a gray No-see-um insect net and has a bungee suspension system to hold the net in place so that it doesn’t fall on you. This ensures that the bug net doesn’t interfere with you when you are reading a book or doing some other activity inside it.
The stuff sack hangs outside and you can place some gear or other things in it.
It has double-sided zippers and triple-stitched reinforcements on the mesh. This increases the hammock’s strength.
There are 2 interior storage pockets which can be used to keep some small gadgets or other things within reach.
It is a pretty comfortable hammock. If you want to sleep without the bug net, just flip the hammock upside down with the net at the bottom or just unzip it and roll the net back.
Bear Butt Double Parachute Camping Hammock review – Best value pick for best camping hammock
The Bear Butt Double Parachute Camping Hammock is made of nylon parachute material.
It measures 10 feet by 6 feet and can nicely accommodate 2 persons. Don’t worry if you are a little on the heavier side, this hammock comes with a rated capacity of 400 pounds, though Bear Butt claims to have tested it for 900 pounds.
The pack comes with 2 nine foot suspension ropes and 2 steel carabiners.
It weighs 1 pound and the entire setup with the ropes and carabiners weighs just 1 pound and 8.5 ounces.
The material is soft and strong and is triple-stitched at the seams.
The best part about this hammock is that it comes with a very generous money back promise which is hard to beat or believe.
Hammock Accessories
One of the major challenge associated with hammocks is finding the right place to hang them. Often the trees are far apart and there is a need of extra long straps and additional carabiners to support these. Moreover, the tree straps that come with the hammocks, especially the cheap ones are made of paracord and can harm the tree bark. You are better off by opting for tree-hugging straps. In such situations you can pick one of the following strap kits:
- Eagles Nest Atlas Strap Hammock Suspension System
- Nature’s Hangout Hammock Tree Straps and Carabiners
- Sahara Sailor XL Hammock Straps and Suspension System
As covered in our list, most overnight hammocks such as Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro come with an insect/mosquito net.
In case you need a replacement bug net or have a hammock without the net, you can pick one of the following bug nets:
- Grand Trunk Hammock Mozzy Netting
- Chill Gorilla All-Hammock Bug Net
- Posh Earth Ultra Mosquito Net Canopy
- Lost Valley Camping Hammock Complete Bundle
Another closely associated accessory with hammocks is the rain-fly tarp. Such tarps help in creating a full-fledged shelter for overnight camping by providing protection against inclement weather while sleeping in hammocks. Proponents of ultralight camping swear by their hammock and tarp arrangement. You can find more details about tarps in our article on backpacking tarps. However, if you are looking for inexpensive tarps, you can check out the following options:
Finally, if you are looking to set up your hammock indoors or in your patio or backyard, you would probably need to get a hammock stand. You can consider the following options. These stands would fit almost all hammocks in the range of 9.5 – 15 feet.
- Best Choice Products Portable Hammock Stand
- OnCloud Portable Hammock Stand
- Sundale Outdoor Hammock Stand
- Zupapa Portable Hammock stand
TIP: You can use your trekking poles, rocks or some sturdy sticks to use your two-person hammock as a makeshift tarp tent. This is a popular technique if you are into ultralight camping and looking for saving some weight on shelter.
Learn more about Hammock Camping
Hammock camping can be a lot of fun if you have the right understanding and know-how. You can generally get some great information online in forums, blogs, and websites- such as the UltimateHang website and Andrew Skurka’s blog. You can also check out the following guide books to learn more about hammock camping:
- The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide To Hammock Camping
- Hammock Camping: The Complete Guide
- Hammock Camping: The Ultimate Guide to Outdoor Camping!
Final thoughts on the best camping hammock
Hammock camping is a unique experience that you should definitely try out. We hope you found this review useful and it will help you in your quest to find the best camping hammock that will suit your needs. Happy hanging!
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Image credits: Amazon.com
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