What to look for in a backpacking hammock

01Weight

02Use

03Standout Features

04Comfort

05Dimensions

06Strength

THE BEST LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACKING HAMMOCKS

Now you know what to look for, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty with our pick of the best hammocks for backpacking and lightweight camping.

Warbonnet Blackbird

Pros

• Easy to set up and adjust
• Comes in larger and double-layered model
• Oh-so-comfortable
• Flat-lay feeling provided by spacious footbox

Cons

• Carabiners and tarp not included
• Pricey

For more information on the Warbonnet Blackbird 1.7 Hammock read our:
Full Review

Grand Trunk Ultralight Hammock

Pros

• The price - by far the cheapest hammock on review
• The weight (340g)
• Quick-drying polyester taffeta fabric
• Carabiners included

Cons

• No tarp or bug net
• Lack of features
• The weight – while light, 340g is much heavier than other ‘ultralight’ one-person models

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

Hummingbird Ultralite Single Hammock

Pros

• Ultra-ultralight!
• Packs down to tiny size
• Solid webbing and rigging
• Well-made
• Carabiners included

Cons

• A tad on the short and narrow side (8.6ft x 4ft)
• Not the most comfortable
• No tarp or tree straps

Find the latest price on:
Amazon

ENO Doublenest

Pros

• Super-spacious for one person
• Easy to set up
• Carabiners included
• Breathable Nylon taffeta fabric
• Tiny pack size

Cons

• Suspension straps and tarp sold separately
• A tad cramped for two people
• No bug net

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | REI | Backcountry

DD XL Frontline Hammock

Pros

• Rugged
• Feature rich
• Very comfortable
• Double-layered bottom
• Double zip on bug mesh for easy entry
• Roomy

Cons

• A little on the heavy side
• No tarp

Find the latest price on:
Amazon

Sea to Summit Ultralight Hammock

Pros

• Lightest backpacking hammock on the market
• Strong – can hold up to 298lbs
• Breathable, rip-stop nylon
• Tiny pack size
• Easy to adjust

Cons

• Suspension straps and bug net not included
• Pricey
• A tad cramped for taller users - at 4.5ft wide and 9 long, this is similar in dimensions to the Hummingbird and, as such, a little bit on the short and narrow side

For more information on the Sea to Summmit Ultralight Hammock read our:
Full Review

Kammok Roo

Pros

• Carabiners included
• Very comfortable
• Strong and durable
• Tear-resistant

Cons

• Insect net, straps and weather shelter/tarp sold separately
• Expensive with the additional outlay required for the above accessories

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | REI | Backcountry

Hennessy Hammock Expedition Series

Pros

• Straps and tarp included
• Very robust, secure feel
• Could easily substitute a tent
• Very well-made

Cons

• Pricey
• Not as easy to set up as other models

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | REI

Grand Trunk Nano 7

Pros

• Only 200g
• Cheap
• Carabiners included

Cons

• Tarp not included
• Less comfortable than other single-person and ultralight models
• Low weight rating
• No bug mesh
• Small (9ft x 4ft)

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

Serac Sequoia XL Double Hammock

Pros

• Only 500g
• 5 year unlimited warranty
• Super spacious
• Easy to set up and adjust
• 10 anchor points
• Diamondweave ripstop nylon fabric
• Straps and carabiners included

Cons

• No tarp/rain fly or bug mesh
• Weak carabiners

Find the latest price on:
Amazon

What are suspended tents and hammock tents?

What to look for in your suspended tent or hammock tent

1Comfort

• Insulation
• Shape
• Size
• Fabrics
• Ease-of-access
• Storage

2Weight

3Use and ease of use

4Standout Features

5Dimensions

6Strength

THE BEST SUSPENDED TENTS AND HAMMOCK TENTS

Ready to take camping adventures to even greater heights? These are your options, and some of the best suspended tents and hammock tents that you could possibly choose to hang out in.

Tentsile Connect Tree Tent

Pros

• Easy to set up and adjust
• Reasonably priced
• Very spacious
• Can be connected to other tents to form a small community in the canopy!
• 4 doors
• Removable fly-sheet
• Comes in 5 colours

Cons

• Heavy
• Saggy rain fly
• Not suitable for ground use in treeless terrain

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | REI | Backcountry

Lawson Hammock Blue Ridge

Pros

• The price – cheap (though straps must be purchased separately)
• The weight (not including straps) – 1800g
• Supports 275lbs
• Comes with detachable rain fly
• Can be used on the ground too

Cons

• Straps not included

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

Flying Tent

Pros

• Wearable!
• Includes rain fly
• Can be used as a bivvy tent
• Well-made
• Max user height 6’7”

Cons

• Doesn’t actually fly…(other than that, we’re still trying to find them!)

Find the latest price at:
Flying Tent

Clark NX-270 Four-Season Camping Hammock

Pros

• Very spacious
• Justifiable four season rating
• Storage – 6 pockets which can be accessed from inside
• Light
• Comfortable and convenient

Cons

• Winter shield not detachable for summer use
• Tarp a little on the narrow and short side

Find the latest price on:
Amazon

Sierra Madre Research Nubé

Pros

• 200lbs of storage
• Versatility – can be used with different sizes of hammock
• Double zip on bug mesh for easy entry
• Roomy
• Can be combined with the Nubé Winter barrier for 4-season protection or the Nube floor for tree-free camping locations
• Very well-made and weather-resistant material
• For each Nubé sold, Sierria Madre will provide clean water for one person in Honduras for a year

Cons

• The hammock is sold separately to the Nube shelter (which can be a plus if you already have a hammock!)

Find the latest price at:
Sierra Madre Research

Kammok Sunda

Pros

• Storage galore!
• Light
• Doors on both sides for ease-of-access
• Two windows in rainfly and tent body
• Incredibly well-made
• Reflects heat, enhances light

Cons

• 400lb weight limit

Find the latest price at:
Kammok

Tentsile Stingray Tree Tent

Pros

• Access – easy to get in and out of thanks to floor-hatch and large front door
• 880lb weight limit
• Well-made
• Spacious, even for three people
• Fly sheet can be pegged out to create 160sqft of sheltered porch area

Cons

• Pricey
• Can’t be used on the ground in tree-free environments
• Heavy (8620g)

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | REI

Crua Hybrid

Pros

• All-in-one camping/suspended tent solution – can be used on the ground or in the air
• Built-in air mattress and tailored sleeping bag
• Good ventilation

Cons

• Only one entrance door
• A bit heavy
• Short on storage pockets

Find the latest price on:
Kickstarter

Essential hammock camping gear

Suspension systems

• 
  
  Tree straps
  Tree straps should be made of wide (1-2 in) polyester webbing that protect the tree as well as providing a very strong system to attach your hammock to. Many have eye loops at one or both ends that are used with a climbing carabiner or similar to create a really simple setup.
• 
  
  Whoopie slings
  These are adjustable loops of strong yet lightweight Dyneema cord. They are more complex to use than simple webbing tree straps, and due to their thin, rope-like nature you’ll also need tree straps to protect the tree. If you like tinkering, or want to cut weight in your setup, then these are a great option.
• 
  
  Hammock carabiner
  There are lots of options for connecting a hammock to its suspension system. Some people use special hammock knots, or hardware such as Dutch Clips, Descender Rings or Cinch Buckles. But carabiners offer a super simple solution that can be used for other things too. A climbing carabiner will do fine, just be sure you check the force they can withstand before you go opting for a mini-carabiner designed for your keychain!

Hammock tarps

• 
  
  Diamond tarp
  These are usually the most lightweight and best suited to camping in fair weather. When pitched corner to corner the coverage will be enough to get protection from vertical rain. But when the wind starts blowing the rain sideways the hammocker will be less protected.
• 
  
  Hexagonal tarp
  Also known as ‘hex’ tarps, the 6-sides provide greater protection from the elements than diamond tarps and are also more versatile when it comes to set up options.
• 
  
  Rectangular tarp
  Rectangle tarps provide the most amount of coverage and protection from the wind and rain, and are also the most versatile of the tarp types. Opt for larger sizes for greater protection or for accommodating more than one hammock
• 
  
  Tarp ridgeline
  Most tarps will come with a ridgeline and a couple of stakes. But if not, you’ll need some cord to hang your tarp up on. Any kind of lightweight rope or paracord will do fine. Cord with reflective threads weaved in are a fun and practical option.

Optional hammock camping gear

• 
  
  Top quilt
  Many hammock campers ditch a traditional sleeping bag and opt for a quilt instead. When you lay in a hammock, much of the insulation is lost from the underside of your sleeping bag due to your weight compressing the down and all the air out of the bag. So take away the bottom altogether and you don’t have to carry so much!
• 
  
  Hammock bug net
  There are some scenarios in which camping without a bug net would be suicide. If you find yourself camping in climates where bugs and mosquitos are a real problem, then a hammock with a mosquito net built in is a good option. Or choose a bug net that totally encircles the whole hammock and zips open. This is a more versatile setup for those not needing bug protection each time they hammock camp.
• 
  
  Hammock underquilt
  If you end up hammock camping at cooler times of the year or at altitude, you may run the risk of CBS (Cold Butt Syndrome). As mentioned, insulation for your backside from a sleeping bag becomes too compressed to be effective. So, many hammockers opt for an underquilt which wraps around the underside of the hammock providing insulation whilst avoiding compression. Clever stuff eh?
• 
  
  Sleeping pad
  Another option for keeping CBS at bay is to add a hammock sleeping pad to your setup. Some hammocks have a double layer of fabric to insert a sleeping pad into. A closed cell foam pad will work just fine – lightweight, doesn’t add much comfort but provides the insulation needed. There are also hammock specific options on the market that are highly effective at providing insulation without adding much weight.

So there you have it. Everything you need to know to get your hammock camping escapades off the ground and in full swing. And just like regular camping, once you’ve got the basics figured out, you’ll never stop learning new tricks of the trade for the rest of your hammock camping days. All that’s left to do is to get out there and get hammocking!