When most people think of shelters for taking camping, they think of a tent. But there are actually quite a few other options available, like a bivy sack, or a hammock. Hammocks for camping have a few advantages over the average tent. For one, curling up in a hammock can be a lot more comfortable than inside a tent on a sleeping pad. A hammock also gets you up off the ground, and makes it so that you don’t have to worry about things like ground water.
Hammocks for Camping
What to consider when you're reviewing hammocks for camping.- Tarp – Unless you can be sure that it’s not going to rain while your camping, one accessory that you’re likely to need for your camping hammock is a tarp. Some hammocks will come in a package with a tarp, but many don’t, and so you should make sure that you’re either getting a hammock with a tarp, or else get a tarp to go along with your hammock.
- Bug Proof – A tarp will protect you from the rain, but not from the bugs. Some hammocks come with a bug proof roof built in, so that you stay protected from the bugs at night, and can get a good sleep, but some don’t. You can always wear a bug net to bed, of course, but many hammocks come with a bug net ceiling built in.
Best Hammocks for Camping
Some of the very best hammocks to take camping with you.- Byer of Maine Moskito Traveller Hammock - This is an ideal hammock to take along for a little casual camping, especially if you're not expecting any rain. It's a full hammock with a maximum weight of 250 pounds, and importantly, a built in mosquito net, to keep you bite free while you sleep. What it doesn't come with is a tarp, to keep you dry, or a hanging system, though Byer of Maine does make ropes, called MicroRopes, that work well with this hammock. So a good basic model for taking camping with you. It weighs 1 pound, or 453 grams.
- Eagles Nest Outfitters SingleNest Hammock - The SingleNest is just a hammock, nothing else. You're not protected from bugs, rain, and it also doesn't come with ropes for hanging. So an ideal hammock if you want to buy the rest of the gear you will need separately, or else if you already have some of that gear. One nice thing about the SingleNest is that it will hold 400 pounds, which is considerably more than most hammocks, which typically go up to 250 pounds. It weighs 18 ounce, which is 510 grams, and there's also a two person version available.
- Hennessy Hammock Explorer Ultralight Asym Classic Hammock - The Explorer is what you want if you want to be fully protected from the elements and the bugs, and you don't want to have to shop around. The hammock itself will hold 250 pounds, and has a built in bug net on the top, to keep mosquitoes and everything else at bay. It also comes with a rain fly that works well with the rest of the hammock, and ropes so that you can properly hang the hammock. So a great package of everything you need to get started with hammock camping.
