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What is a Camping Hammock?
A camping hammock is a relatively new take on a traditional hammock. Taking a traditional hammock made from nylon or mesh, and adding a rain fly and mosquito net can build you a portable hammock suitable for camping all year around. Compared to regular ground camping, hammock campers can gain additional comfort and security from using a suspension system to elevate themselves from cold or hard ground, and away from insects and other animals.
The lightweight, simple and portable nature of hammock camping makes it the perfect option for an ultralight hiking and backpacking, or those in need of a simple set-up that can be packed away in a stuff sack to save space.
Being simple and fast to pitch means after a long day hiking you can spend more time relaxing and less time setting up camp, plus the modular nature of a camping hammock set-up allows you to customize your campsite to the needs of each individual trip, opposed to having one ground tent for every situation.
Benefits of a lightweight camping hammock?
Hammock camping is a great way to get outdoors. There are plenty of great benefits, here are our top picks.
Portability
A lightweight camping hammock provides an ultralight, portable campsite that is both simple to set up and versatile to use in many varied situations.When talking about lightweight and ultralightweight hiking hammocks it’s important to remember that the advertised ‘weight’ won’t necessarily be the ‘trail weight’ of the product, as the set-up can be swapped out and changed to fit the adventure ahead. The modular nature of the hiking hammock gives you the freedom to pick and choose what you take for the adventure you’re on.
Going on a long thru-hike such as the Appalachian trail? You can swap out heavier strap fixings for lightweight carabiners, opt to leave the bug net, or pack the hammock by simply folding away and not using the stuff sack, all in the name of reducing trail weight and creating the most packable shelter possible.
On the other end of the spectrum, when going for a weekend of winter camping a hammock tent gives you the freedom to add additional items to provide extra warmth and comfort. Adding a warm underfloor layer of insulation, an inner sheet, or a sleeping pad will increase your hammocks weight and pack size but ultimately give you the additional comfort you need.
Ease of set up and pack away
The simple nature of a camping hammock makes it’s set-up and packing simple and intuitive. With multiple suspension systems to choose from, you can build a strap securing system that works for you and your camping trip.From ratchets and Weblocks, to ultralight hammock carabiners and straps, your set-up choice is personal to you, but will always be quick and easy. Plus unlike regular ground tents, the suspension of the hammock means that you don’t need to search out level and smooth ground before pitching.
The nightmare of fitting the tent back in the bag is a thing of the past with camping hammocks. Using oversized stuff sacks the hammock tent can simply be rolled away after use and placed into the tent bag, ne wrestling required. The oversized nature of the bag also means that if you want to add additional items such as a spare ratchet, strap or mosquito netting, there is room to fit in in a single bag, meaning next time you go to pitch you won’t have to worry about packing multiple items.
Compatibility with other tree tents/hammocks
The modular nature of camping hammocks doesn’t stop at the hammock set-up itself. Lightweight camping hammocks can also be used as an add on to other tree tents and hammocks.A quick and easy option is to hang your hammock tent under the fixings of a regular tree tent to gain an extra spot to sleep or store gear. Even greater campsites can be achieved by stacking up multiple lightweight hammocks under tree tents building Tentsile’s most famous camping set-up, the Tentsile stack!
Not limited by rough terrain
Hammocks are very flexible in the outdoors, but if the terrain gets too tough they work really well in your backyard too. Camping hammocks can be set up with portable stands, or even stable garden posts. The solo hammock also attaches under Tree Tents, Giant Hammocks, or even Stacks.
Better Sleep
Hammocks get you off the hard, bumpy, damp ground and generally provide a higher level of comfort than a tent without using a mat. However you may be a side or front sleeper and in that case you should look at a Tentsile (again). Our UNA 1-person give you the flat-lay you need to sleep any way you want. With our 2-Person capacity or above Tree Tents, we include our built-in lay-flat anti-roll strap system. It creates two separate sleeping bays so occupants can lay back in comfort without rolling into the middle – like traditional hammocks. This creates an extremely comfortable nights sleep!
Lighter than a Tent
Most hammocks are lighter than Tents due to their lack of a ground sheet, poles and stakes/pegs. This makes them a great choice when weight is a key factor such as hiking or long distance bike packing. Our lightweight range keeps the weight down by using sup-relight materials and components and is distinguishable by it's blue fabric floors - so keep an eye out when browsing the Tentsile Range.
Best Lightweight Camping Hammocks for Hiking & Backpacking
Solo 1-Person Mesh Hammock
A Solo mesh hammock looks similar to a regular camping hammock, but is made out of the same mesh fabric we use to build our T-Mini, Trillium, and Trillium XL hammocks, so not only is it ultra-lightweight, but it’s tough as nails too!
It was designed for those who need an extra sleeping bay or gear storage space under their tree tents or hung between trees, and can be combined with a rain tarp, bug net, to provide an all-weather shelter ready to take on any adventure.
The material is lightweight and breathable, making it perfect for camping in hot climates or as a day hangout spot. However, when combined with a sleeping mat and a good sleeping bag the Solo hammock can be used throughout the seasons for any adventure where limited pack weight decides your gear choices for you.
Weighing only 0.9kg/2lbs, this one person camping hammock has a max load of 110kg/240lbs, making it the Solo hammock a perfect option for individuals backpacking or hiking and looking to save grams.
T-Mini 2-Person Double Camping Hammock
The T-Mini is a double camping hammock which easily sleeps two people and features a tensioned underfloor system not found in other brands hammocks. This underfloor strap system is made out of reinforced seatbelt webbing and gives each camper has their own tensioned sleeping berth, meaning you won’t roll into each other in the night.
A double hammock is designed for those who want more sleeping space than a traditional hammock and provides additional underfloor storage so the two campers occupying the twin berths can store all their gear safely off the ground. As with the rest of our hammock range this hammock can be set-up below other Tree Tents, or above/below other hammocks.
The whole set-up, straps, ratchets and all packs down into one bag making it simple to pack and store while hiking and backpacking. Being a double hammock, the load can also be split between two backpacks making it a good option for couples hiking trip.
The T-Mini weighs only 2.4kg/5.3lbs and can sleep two adults with a combined weight of up to 220kg/485lbs, so this double hammock is lightweight and still trail tough.
Find your Perfect Camping Hammock
Still unsure which camping hammock is for you, don’t worry, we have put together a quick comparison table for both Hammocks and Tree Tents, to help.
Still stuck? Contact our team, who will be more than happy to help.
