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The Truth About Hammock Camping: Claim #2 – Hammocks Are Comfortable

It wouldn’t be honest not to admit that I occasionally have a bad hang in a hammock. Some comfort issues are common enough to become regular complaints among avid hangers. So, without further delay, let’s jump into the next claim.

Claim #2: Hammocks are comfortable.

The Truth Is: They are, most of the time. But I would say that hammocks are a kind of learned behavior. Unlike sleeping on a flat bed at home, hammocks have a way of moving, especially if you’re hanging it in different places every night, say on a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Differences in hang height, distances between anchor points, and the angle of the hang can all influence the shape and lay of the hammock bed. Hammocks are still new entrants in outdoor recreation, so the learning curve is a little high compared to more “traditional” shelters. Here are the most common complaints regarding hammock comfort:

Hammock Cold Butt Syndrome

 

Cold Butt Syndrome — One of the most common complaints and challenges to a comfortable hammock’s night’s sleep: your backside gets cold when you should be warm. Even with that 20°F (-7°C) rated sleeping bag can’t keep you warm when it’s 40°F (4°C) at night.

Shoulder Squeeze — That nagging problem when the sides of the hammock wrap too tightly around your shoulders causing discomfort through the night.

Calf Pressure — Some hammocks can create a stiff ridge of fabric right in the center line that puts pressure on your legs.

Ankle Strain — In some positions, the hammock will provide a lot of support directly under your feet, putting pressure on your heels and ankles, and can lead to the next discomfort: leg hyperextension.

Leg Hyperextension — When you have great support under your feet, but not under your legs, you’ll feel pain in your knees and legs.

Fear of Falling Out — Some folks worry about staying securely in a hammock all night, especially for those who toss-and-turn a lot.

Motion Sickness — When demonstrating hammocks to a group of friends, one of them got in and immediately complained of getting sick from the swaying. His stay in the hammock was short-lived.

Claustrophobia — That trapped, close feeling you get when the walls are pushing in toward you.

Multiple People In One Hammock — Almost anyone who’s tried to sleep with a companion longer than a 5-minute nap will agree that discomfort level correlates with the number of people in the hammock: more people, more discomfort.

The Solutions

I’ve experienced almost all of these discomforts while hammock camping, yet I still prefer hammocks over sleeping on the ground. Why? Because most of these discomforts can be resolved, though some more easily than others. When hung correctly, hammocks offer superior comfort over a range of conditions. Indeed, overall comfort is the number one reason people stick with hammocks, even if they experience one or more of these problems. Comfort is the main reason people pick hammocks in the first place. At all of my hammock presentations, it only takes moments for investigators to convert once they get a chance to lay in a properly hung hammock. However, therein lies two weaknesses for hammock newcomers: getting a perfect pitch and having a guide nearby to coach them.

Do you need a coach in order to hang a hammock correctly? Of course not. In fact, many camping hammocks today have simplified the process with daisy-chained tree straps, such as the KAMMOK® Python Straps™, or fixed-length ridge lines, which allow you to quickly attach and hang a hammock. I won’t deny that practice helps perfect hammock hanging, and having a mentor can really help. More often than not, the universal solution is proper hanging technique. As I mentioned before, hammocks can be finicky, and for some there is a learning curve that makes it difficult to consistently get a good hang. Here are some quick tips and solutions to the problems stated above.

Cold Butt Syndrome — Whether inside a hammock or sleeping on the ground, you compress the insulation under you. A closed-cell foam pad or self-inflating pad are low-cost solutions to insulate you underneath. Purpose-made under quilts that hang under the hammock ensure fluffy insulation keeps its loft and keeps you warm. Around 70°F (21°C), you’ll start to feel cool beneath you. Depending on the conditions, sometimes a sleeping bag is enough, or maybe a fleece bag liner. I find that when I am warmer underneath me, I stay warmer overall and often need less insulation on top. Fight cold butt syndrome with adequate insulation and don’t rely on a sleeping bag alone.

Shoulder Squeeze — When a hammock is strung too tightly, it pulls the edges tight, creating what I call the “canoe” effect. I literally cringe each time I see this happen because it can cause other problems like a high center of gravity and a tippy hammock. Some people actually don’t mind that tight, snuggly feeling, so your mileage may vary, but hanging a hammock with a nice curve (a.k.a. “deep sag”) is one key to getting a good lay and avoid the “squeeze.”

Hammock, sleep diagonal

Calf Pressure — Like shoulder squeeze, one culprit of calf pressure is the angle of the hang. I usually hang longer, wider hammocks with a deeper sag and narrow hammocks with a tighter pitch (but still with a good sag). When you run out of time or patience to get the perfect sag, one way I eliminate calf pressure is to sleep with my legs crossed. This creates a space for that hammock ridge to run without hitting my calf. Side sleeping also cures the calf pressure problem.

Ankle Strain & Leg Hyperextension — Just like calf pressure, you can relieve this problem with a good sag or by adjusting your sleeping position. However, there are some hammocks on the market that feature “foot boxes” and/or are created with an asymmetric piece of fabric. These hammocks require that you sleep in the same diagonal direction (e.g., head on the left, feet on the right), but the comfort is remarkable. Notable hammocks in this category include the popular Warbonnet Blackbird and the UK Hammock Woodsman X.

Knee pillow for hammock camping

Another way to eliminate this strain is to place a pillow under your knees. Alternatives include a flexible water bottle (e.g., 2.5 L Platypus), extra clothing, or other soft items in a stuff sack.

Fear of Falling Out — This one is easy: hang your hammock with a deep sag! With a lower center of gravity, it is nearly impossible to just “fall out” of a hammock unless you really mean to. Laying on the diagonal also provides high walls that keep you centered in the hammock. I toss and turn sometimes in a hammock when shifting from my back to my side and have yet to involuntarily fall out. However, I also find that the hammock takes away the pressure points that are the cause of most tossing and turning, meaning you’ll thrash around less and sleep more..

Some people fall out before even getting in. I had this happen at a recent hammock demonstration because the person didn’t follow my instruction to sit in the center of the hammock. Consequently, this person leaned back off the edge and fell out. To avoid this “sit-and-fall” problem, make sure you spread the hammock fabric WIDE and sit in the CENTER of the hammock. Swing your legs in and lay on the diagonal. I can’t help irrational fears.

Motion Sickness — I’m one who can get motion sickness while sitting in a motionless car and watching nearby vehicles pass, yet I’ve never been motion sick in a hammock. Motion sickness can be such a problem for some folks that nothing can be done, however, there is medical evidence that the gentle swaying of a hammock is beneficial and contributes to a deeper sleep. Some hammocks have side tie-outs that help prevent swaying, and I’ve also reached out and grabbed the ground to stop the swaying when it was more than I preferred. If you have a serious medical issue with motion, it may be best to avoid hammocks.

Claustrophobia — This is an issue mostly with hammocks with integrated bug netting, or with add-on tube-style netting around the hammock. Sometimes it just takes some getting used to, but if the bug netting is just too close for comfort, I recommend getting a simple gathered-end hammock and use a large bug “tent” when necessary. There are some add-on bug nets that provide lots of room (e.g., Hammock Bliss Sky Tent, and the Grand Trunk Mosquito Net).

During times when bugs aren’t a problem, gathered-end hammocks are wide-open and very roomy. In fact, some people take issue with the openness of hammock shelters. People that are used to enclosed tents sometimes find the wide open view “less protected.” When I first transitioned to hammock camping, I preferred the closed in feeling of my Hennessy Hammock until I got used to the simple tarp tent concept. Now, I prefer having the extra room. In fact, hammocks can offer the most headroom of any tent since you can decide how high or low to pitch your tarp.

Bunk style hammocks

Multiple People In One Hammock — Unless you and your partner can sleep like synchronized swimmers, it can be very difficult to move without disrupting the sleep of your partner. On occasion, my kids have joined me in my hammock when they couldn’t sleep. In these cases I slept horribly while they slept soundly. If you want to be close to your camping parter when you hammock camp, I recommend you find a spot where you can pitch your hammocks side-by-side, in a triangle, or bunk bed style. In some cases you can even share a tarp. There is only one camping hammock on the market that is designed for two people that is even practical for backpacking: the Clark Jungle Vertex. If you are car camping, you might be interested in the Tentsile hammock line; they offer a few 2- and 3-person hammock platforms.

Hopefully you never experience any discomfort in your hammock, but if you do, there are solutions that don’t require you to go back to the ground (unless you really, really want to).

Have you experienced any of these issues? What were your solutions? Are there other discomforts you’ve experienced that didn’t make my list?

141 thoughts on “The Truth About Hammock Camping: Claim #2 – Hammocks Are Comfortable”

  1. One of my biggest problems was waking up with cold feet. Basically my feet were pushed up higher then the UQ. Come to find out my body was seeking its center of gravity and with my torso being heavier I would slide down. Solution of course is to hang the foot end higher.

    1. I, too, have colder feet! I don’t recall where I got this tip from exactly but it works great. When hammock camping, just prior to hitting the sack, boil up some water and fill a hot-water-proof nalgene bottle or similar and make sure it is tightly sealed. Slip this into a large wool sock. Put that down at the bottom of your bag or end of your hammock so you can play footsies with it. This not only keeps my feet warm but on those super cold nights I can make 2 of these and keep one up near my chest to really warm me up. This worked great for me down to negative 10 ish 🙂

      1. I wear socks to bed when camping, regardless of whether it’s tent, hammock or hut. I always carry a dry pair to change into at night – it’s amazing what a fresh pair of dry socks does to increase your warmth.

    2. I’m getting the stiff ridge of fabric in the middle of the hammock even in a Warbonnet Blackbird…now I know I’m doing something wrong, but what? 🙁

      1. Check out the Chrysalis for your next hammock. It provides lift under the knees to eliminate hyper extension and calf pressure. It also relieves shoulder squeeze and ankle strain.

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  3. a real easy trick for cold butt is to put a space blanket
    (emergency blanket, yea know the silver ones) under yer sleeping
    bag in the hammock. It blocks any cold air from hitting you and
    keeps yer butt heat in.

    1. Mylar blankets can help, but they do have a few drawbacks. First, they aren’t breathable so moisture will collect that can chill you. Mylar doesn’t stop conductive heat loss, so while evaporative, radiant, and convective are lessened, your heat can still be sapped away. Some have used those car windshield sun shades that are wrapped in Mylar in hammocks. They are a little better because they have some padding. The Hennessy super shelter is based on this product.

      1. I use those foam-backed windshield blockers with reflective material. They’re light, cheap, and add a bit of insulation as well as reflectivity. The ones I get even have that can be used to attach to the ridgeline. Oh, and they don’t crinkle much.

        1. I used one of those early in my hammock career and I’m now testing one from Hennessy. It’s an interesting option, but prone to condensation. What’s been your experience?

          1. I used the hennessy deep jungle which has the double layer for the windshield reflector on my a t thru hike attemp and it works well but it is prone to condensation. Every time i took it out of my bag it had moisture on it.

            1. I have the same hammock. Did you use the reflective bubble pad? If so, that is the culprit. That pad doesn’t breathe or allow for air flow so condensation is a problem. In colder temps the dew point varies and condensation issues fluctuate. Their super shelter padding is much better, or an under quilt for warmth.

            2. I still use an Exped airman on top of windshield blocker on top of a foam pad. I use my Marmot Sawtooth as a quilt. Just slept in 25F. Had to sleep in my shorts because I got too hot.

      2. I sleep in a kammok. I finally solved the cold butt issue with a more durable version of the space blanket I found on amazon. It’s sort of a lightweight plastic tarp with one side coated in a silver mylar finish, very durable and rectangular, with the width almost identical to the kammok at the middle. I added some extra grommets to match the loop points on the kammok sides and to make a drawstring with shock cord at each end. I also added a few grommets in the center field for added breathability. It is wind proof, water proof and on it’s own with no blanket or anything in the hammock it prevents cold butt at 60 degrees in the wind. For colder weather I add a surplus quilted poncho liner between the mylar and the hammock and sleep in a warm bag. No pad needed.

    2. hey. I’m in a design school and I’m doing a project on problems faced while in a hammock. The above information is very useful, but i would like some more. For example: how its difficult for overweight people to get out of hammocks due to the sag. General and simple problems like these. Could you help?

      1. I don’t think it is any more difficult to get in or out of a hammock just based on your weight. If you are doing a scientific study, I’d be interested, but just gathering subjective opinions might not be very useful for a report. If a hammock is hung correctly, at chair height, it will be access. You need a control study where the only variation is occupant weight (if you can control height, that would be important too). Feel free to send me an email if you have specific questions.

      2. Just as long as the hammock is rated for the weight, it’s no problem. I’m 6’8″ and 320lbs. I get a little extra sag that I’ve fixed by either using two trees closer together or supplementing with static climbing robe for further distances.

      3. Something I have wondered why hammock manufacturers don’t do: The DD hammocks (which I use, being UK based) have a double-layer base between which you can push a sleeping pad. I use an Exped Downmat 7 in mine, but why not make the BASE OF THE HAMMOCK as an inflatable or self-inflating mat from scratch? How simple would that make things?

        1. I’ve thought the same thing. The challenge is huge, however. Construction could involve a fairly complex curved shape with baffles, etc. It would increase manufacturing costs significantly.

          1. I agree it would increase costs, however many current sleeping pads have a complex curved shape with baffles (see the Thermarest NeoAir xLite, for example), and because you are only adding the baffles, effectively, as the skin of the pad is the twin base layers already built in, there shouldn’t be a great weight penalty. I can’t imagine it would add more than 50-100 dollars to the cost of the hammock, which you’d spend on a good airmat anyway, and you’d have the choice of inflating fully, not inflating at all, or anywhere in between. This would also make the hammock more suitable for use as a “ground nest” as I often do with my DD (no trees in much of Dartmoor…), perhaps with the addition of a protective groundsheet, piece of Tyvek or similar.

            1. This is a great idea!, I put a thermarest pad, I sleep great, but, would be great not to carry the thermarest and have it included in the hammock. I will avoid the isue I have to put the thermarest and keep it in the right place when entering or moving inside.
              I think that the main problem could be to fix or repair holes, etc…. Sometimes is almost imposible to fix, and you will loose the hammock, or you would have to add the thermarest anyway.
              But… may be with care… it can last forever…

        2. I could be wrong but I think most hammock sales are intended to be used for more temperate/warmer climates. Once you put an integrated pad on it, you eliminate a hammocks ability to be used for it’s primary purpose.

          But a hammock without a pad can always have one added in. Besides I think it’s easier to add a pad than to take out an integrated one. It could also be a much bigger risk to raise costs to make a hammock that less of the demographic who wish to buy one would be interested in.

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    4. I actually use open cell foam padding and it is comfortable! Just don’t get it wet. Even in the wind, the open cell foam keeps me very warm.

    5. I had to chuckle at the “Motion Sickness” reason. I’ve been toying with the idea of tying a string to an adjacent tree and keeping the other end with me in the hammock just so I can give it a tug now and then to rock me to sleep. Hammock camping is awesome. I can’t imagine ever going back to being a ground dweller.

      1. There are places where hanging is just not feasible, legal, or appropriate. I want to scream when I see people hanging on softwoods – and there’s a forest in NJ that is nothing but Pygmy Pines, a rare species. Some idiot posted a picture on hammocksforum showing a hang between a pair of them, as well as some sawed poles to support the porch on his tarp.

        However, I can tent camp, there. And I daresay it would be even more comfy than hanging; it’s sugar sand under six inches of pine needles. Very nice. Usually don’t even need a pad.

        1. No matter what our recreational pursuits, it is important to follow posted guidelines and rules. I’ll admit that hanging on softwoods can be a contentious subject. More research is needed to determine the long-term impact of hanging a hammock from a softwood. A working “rule of thumb” would be to use wider straps and pads on softer woods. The first principle of Leave No Trace is to plan ahead and prepare, so if a trek takes you into a pine forest, for example, plan accordingly. If a hammock is your only shelter, it can be pitched on the ground like a tent. Sleeping on the sugar sand and pine needles sounds cozy!

          1. Funny how people are “leave no trace” with the environment, concerned about the well being of trees [who they “support” in life shows the irony] and forget to practice this care when they dine on corpses. Same for sports fishing, not keeping them, like they are doing the fish a favour, leave no trace just a hole in their face. The embarrassment of being a human ….
            As for hammock design, I’de like to see more wedge like platforms. Three anchor points may need more time in finding a good spot though. Like the treeztent minimalist, but their weight, cost and complexity is to excessive imo. I’de even sleep in a modified hammock chair, lean it back a little, include a net and fly, one anchor point yet stabilized by the fly pull outs, use your walking stick as the brace.

            1. With all due respect, Stan, apart from a percentage of cultural exceptions, it is appropriate to our species to eat as omnivores.. no less than other opportunistic and witty scavengers like Crows, Mice, Bears and Raccoons. In any case, almost everything any of us eats comes from a living being.. we’re all soaking in it, the chain of life and death.

              ‘Leave No Trace’ sounds like an extreme requirement, but the spirit of it has really been one of staying in balance with our contact to the wild lands, and trying to compensate for our blind excesses and our blunt impositions. Naturally, it’s going to be complicated, and fraught with contradictions.

        2. Pygmy pines are one thing, but the whole notion of “leave no trace” is complete nonsense, and not something anyone who really knows nature would ever say. People, and animals, and Mother Nature, have been leaving intense traces for thousands of years, and almost all are invisible within months, even when severe. You do a forest no favors by not touching it, by not cutting saplings, or by worrying about the damage a hammock strap can do to a softwood. You are, in fact, causing that forest to stagnate, to die, and quite possibly to burn to the ground. Those who really believe “leave no trace” is a good idea need to stay home and look at photos of nature.

          1. As if “home” leaves no trace. What is home made from? Doesn’t the exhaust of electric power plants injure plants, and animals great distance down stream? Our friends who eat only plants impact the inviorment every time they power up their phone.

    6. I am really enjoying my new hammock, it is so comfortable. I also like the option of throwing off the tarp and taking a nap while staring up into the trees, it’s such a peaceful experience. I have 30′ of 1″ uncut webbing that I use as the tree strap and tarp hanger, works out great, I can hang my glasses and headlight from the strap a few feet over my head. I think I need to add a carabiner to the ends of the straps for easier tree mounting, plus a better sleeping bag to stay warmer. My eno double has extra material to allow diagonal sleeping and also to disappear beneath the upturned edges. I also thought about obewise’s idea of a swing string. I want to find or make some sort of hammock sock that is 1/2 solid and 1/2 mesh along the axis to provide either rain cover or bug cover, and to be able to squish it either down at my feet or above my head to deploy when needed. I am using a cheap plastic tarp now and my wife likes to call me a squirrel in a doritos bag when I move around.

    7. Thanks so much for this info! I will be hiking the AT next spring and I am now convinced about doing it hammock-style. Do you have any tips or websites for building your complete hammock? I’d like not to spend more than $100 or so… I saw that the Henessee scout was that price, but if I could make one as good, I’d rather do that!

      1. Tecti, you can make a hammock for far less than $100. I’m making hammocks with my scouts next month and we spent about $25 for all the materials (this does not include the tarp). I’ve got some DIY articles here on my blog and I’m planning on posting a few more in the next few weeks, but if you’d like to send me a PM via email, I can send you more details sooner.

        1. Great article… I have been camping in extreme cold and heat with a hammock (wind, snow, sleet and rain). It makes things a challenge at times, but with a little creativity, it can be extremely comfortable and rewarding on those long hikes.

          A tyvek bivy sack (home made) helps with water proofing, cold drafts and it i$ cheap!
          A down throw carefully tied to the under side of the hammock (becomes a 10 dollar underquilt) is helpful for cold bottom problems.
          A cork, stake and 550 cord fasten to your hammock and then to the ground (both sides) keeps you from excessive rocking.

          1. Thanks for the great tips Jeff! I just made a Tyvek under quilt recently — an easy, fun, practical addition to my hammock portfolio.

          2. I use those rubber bouncy balls as toggles, and then 550 to shock cord to 550. I’d found that guying to the ground with static line can cause little jars when the wind blows, and can bounce a little when you move. The shock cord acts as, well, a shock absorber.

    8. One of the things I have found to be very helpful in sleeping in my hammock is using a sleeping pad. I fold it in half in put it in the sag of the hammock. This helps level it out as well as give myself insulation against the cold.

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    11. So I just got a Hennessey Asym Zip Deluxe because I’m 6’4″/250 Lbs. Rigged it the first day I got it because I was excited – whoo new toy :O) . Thought it was great, decided to sleep in the yard that night. Conditions this weekend are similar when I’ll use it most – in the fall when night temp will get down to 0C. Read up on the subject and put a thermarest inside to combat getting a cold butt – that night I kept sliding off of as I moved and getting very cold butt syndrome. I used an oversize sleeping bag (not sure about it being too big) + a pillow (way too big and comfy) form the house. I had also played with the setup (tighter and was not comfy). Slept for about 5 hours. Second night, swapped big pillow for my small camp one (way better), put in two overlapping thermarests (mistake) and tightened the hammock more (mistake). That night I woke up with cold but syndrome again but this time two thermarests had slipped around so my whole sleeping arrangements were one big bundle of stuff, upside down back to front and in my face. Rearranging my setup inside mainly meant me twanging my nose off the overhead rope and/or grabbing handfuls of fabric to rearrange myself. The extra effort and stuff in my face made me claustrophobic so I stuck my head outside for a while. Fell asleep, woke up cold @ 1am, gave in and came back inside. I think getting in and out of a sleeping bag keeping a thermal barrier in place as you get in will take some practice. Glad I didn’t experience all that in the back country :O)

      1. I feel your pain! Thankfully I began hammock camping in the summer in Virginia when nights were warm and cold butt syndrome easier to fix. As temperatures dropped I experienced several nights of what you describe. One tip that may help with a pad is to put the pad inside your sleeping bag. This keeps it from moving around. Claustrophobia can be a problem with a sleeping bag since the hammock hugs you more so more fabric is pulled around you. This is one reason quilt style bags are generally preferred in a hammock. You can do this with a regular bag by keeping it unzipped to the foot box. When I used pads, I cut one in half and tuned it sideways for full shoulder coverage where this hammock touched.

      2. Three ways to go.

        Persevere with your current set-up

        Keep ya HH and invest in a under-quilt

        Trade in the HH and get a double skin Warbonnet which would accommodate your pads

        One day it will all make sense 😉

          1. Hi – slept out again last night and had a much better sleep. Didn’t get cold butt as it was warm enough with no pad. Hung the hammock much looser – a bit too droopy judging by the ridge line (shorten it/take up the slack if it’s more comfy?) and was waaay more comfy – slept pretty well. Sleeping bag is hard to manoeuvre in and takes some contortion to get the huge head hood up past my shoulders. Got lots of practice getting out and going for a pee. I am working towards a lightweight camping setup to take backcountry kayaking. :0)

            1. One reason I prefer to use a quilt style sleeping bag (one without a back and a zipper) is that it is far easier to get in and out. I’m glad to hear you were able to get a better sleep with a different sag in the hammock.

      3. I used to sleep in a Hennessey with a Thermarest. The sliding pad nearly made me ebay the hammock. The fix was so simple I felt like a fool when it was handed to me. Get a sheet of that rubberized mesh for lining tool drawers or keeping rugs from sliding on hard floors. It’s super cheap and easy to cut to size. Put it under your Thermarest and the slide will stop. If you Thermarest has a sleeve/cover you can even sew the mesh right to it.

    12. I camped with a friend last year who used a hammock and I was frequently jealous so i am considering making the switch this season from my tiny “two” person (dubbed the ‘bear burrito”) tent to ‘hanging’. I am totally enjoying the info on your site and have, well.. a ‘girl’ question… Even in my bear burrito I can sit up/lay down change my clothes and such. The hammock just seem a lot less convenient for ‘personal privacy’ needs. Any thoughts / comments?

      1. Not just a “girl” question — we want to provide privacy for our Boy Scouts in the same way. Hammocks can provide a huge amount of space and screening for privacy or very minimal; it all depends on the tarp you use. With large tarps, you can get 360-degree coverage and have stand-up clearance — much better than any backpacking tent. Smaller tarps make it difficult. I’ve changed clothes inside my hammock with a small tarp, but it can be challenging doing the “inch worm” movement 🙂

    13. Derek-

      thinking hard about making the transition to hammock camping, (been in a tent and ground pad for many years). And those years are catching up to me in the form of 4 bulging disks and moderate stenosis of the spine. I can still hike all day relatively pain free but getting a good nights rest is increasingly difficult. Have looked at the Hennessys, Clarks and the Eno double.

      Would anyone in particular be more suitable for someone with my back issues?

      1. All hammocks share a common trait of relieving pressure points. The goal is to get a hammock that is the right size for you. Generally, a longer hammock provides a flatter diagonal lay. Send me an email and we can talk more about your individual needs.

        1. Well, here is the outcome-

          have spent 5 nights in my new ENO doublenest and my back has NEVER felt this good! NO morning stiffness or pain, and am sleeping better and longer than I ever did on a bed or my recliner. Wish I tried hammocks earlier, but better late than never. Am using one of my thermarest pads with a light quilt over it under me and a light 3/4 zip sleeping bag over me. Look forward to bedtime every night! Have 4 bulging discs in lower back and stenosis and this is better than my pain meds (which I rarely take lately).

          Now, just have to figure out what I am going to do this winter!

          1. I’m with ya. I have arthritis. My daughter started sleeping in a hammock for no particular reason. I followed suit and dread the day I have to sleep on a bed again.

        2. I’m only 5 ft 10 inches, but was thinking of getting a double sized hammock, what do you think? I usually sleep on the floor at home so a flat diagonal lay would be good for me as i don’t want the sides coming up. ( I get easily claustrophobic) . What do you think? Also I have a rab expedition sleeping bag that is bit too constrictive for me. I’m thinking a better idea is to get a quilt for above and below the hammock. Whats the best setup in your opinion?

          1. A double hammock is a good choice. Bigger (longer) is better than just wider. Grand Trunk over ENO for that. There are many others. Dutxhware sells a great hammock for less. Any sleeping bag can be converted to a quilt by unzipping down to the foot box and using it as a top quilt. An under quilt is another matter. Best setup? Whatever works best for under the conditions you encounter.

      2. It depends to some extent on your preferred sleeping position. My DD lets me sleep on my side and, strung slightly tauter, on my front. But I’m 5’7″ not 6′ plus.

    14. Hello Everyone: I am shopping for my first hammock. I’ve done a lot of reading and researching. I am leaning toward the Lawson Blue Ridge. I like the idea of versatility as sometimes I do camp above the tree line or on a broad summit. I will consider changing this practice if this is not really the best hammock for me. Yeah, I’ll go down to tree line if I have to, to have a great sleep.
      I have not seen comments about deep sag hammocks vs the flat spreader bar type like the Lawson Blue Ridge. If anyone could make comments regarding this, I would appreciate it.
      Thanks

      1. Welcome Richard! Having a “convertible” hammock is appealing, and there are several hammocks that will do this. Indeed, all hammocks that have sewn-in bug netting work great as ground bivy sacks, although the Lawson with its tent poles makes it easier and a bit more tent-like than most (the DD Jungle Hammock and Clark Jungle Hammock also have tent poles that work this way).

        The Lawson hammock, while it does employ spreader bars, still has a sag. It’s isn’t a “flat” hammock as you might guess. The spreader bars and poles help open up the hammock, but it still sags in the middle a little. Indeed, one of the first things I remember when getting into the Lawson was how “big” it felt inside. Some folks really prefer that open feeling of the Lawson. Plus, that hammock doesn’t hug you like other hammocks do. It is a great hammock and folks love it.

        1. Thanks for your comments. I still haven’t pulled the trigger on a hammock yet, but it’s constantly on my mind, and I will have one before my next overnight trip. I know once I purchase a hammock, I’ll need to practice setting it up and maybe even spend a few hours in it or even an overnight. Having said that….I don’t have a suitable pair of trees to set it up at home with!! I do have a super large cedar that would have adequate limbs to suspend the hammock from. The anchor ropes would have to hang vertically from each limb for several feet to clear other limbs and to allow the hammock to be low enough for me to get inside. Can you explain any issues with hanging this way? Does your book cover it? What are the other hammocks that are “convertible”? I read that the Lawson is “tent” material, and that other hammocks are parachute material. What’s that about? Do you have a digital copy of your book? I’ve shopped a little on craigslist for one of those free standing hammock stands. Do those work for these types of hammocks? If I find one that’s cheap enough (I don’t want to spend a bunch on this) what should I look for? I saw an old foldable hammock stand for $10. I know I gave you a ton of questions…thanks in advance. I will have a look at your book.
          Richard J

          1. Nearly all outdoor camping hammocks use nylon or polyester fabrics that are commonly used for making tents. The term “parachute nylon” is used to describe some of the physical characteristics of the fabrics, specifically the crinkly appearance that you see with parachutes. In the industry you’ll hear it called “crinkle taffeta” nylon. You can “convert” any hammock into a ground bivy, but some are easier than others. The Lawson, DD Hammocks, and Clark Jungle Hammocks are all hammocks that use tent poles that make for pretty easy self-standing ground shelters. Always use a ground pad to protect the hammock fabric from holes and abrasion.

            You can get pretty creative on where and how you hang a hammock. If you have one tree that has long, strong limbs, you can hang a hammock on a single branch. When I was in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, I did this using a single, long branch on a Saltcedar or Tamarisk tree. It was pretty cool.

            Yes, I have a digital copy of my book. You can get it for the Kindle, Nook, and Apple devices.

            Most hammock stands will work with camping hammocks, but the best ones are those designed for Mayan hammocks, such as the Byer of Maine Vario Stand. I wrote an article that shows multiple styles of portable hammock stands that might interest you.

            I hope I answered all your questions 🙂 Let me know if different, and feel free to send me an email.

            1. thanks once again for excellent reply. Now, I sent a copy of your book to my kindle cloud reader. Thanks !

    15. One thing that just hooks me is the fun that ‘tweaking’ a hammock is all by itself. I never felt like playing around with different ‘pitch techniques’ with a tent, because it seems that it is either up or not up. To improve a tent much at all, it involves ditching one and buying another. But with a hammock there are just so many things that can be played around with that can be seemingly insignificant and subtle but can make a huge difference to the comfort, weight, ‘weather proof-ness’ etc. Tarps, suspension, tie-outs, insulation, etc. etc. etc. can all be changed and experimented with, many being very cheap and DIY friendly. This makes hammocking a science in itself and a great reason to get out in the bush regularly – ‘I just have to try out my latest mod in real life’.

    16. Here are some concerns I’m having about switching to a hammock setup. Please do set me straight if I am incorrect with any of these assumptions!

      1.) Some of the hammock “benefits” really seem to offer no advantage over a tent. Ex: Getting away from bugs, snakes, scorpions, etc on the ground. If you’re in a tent, these things can’t get to you anyway and it seems to me like a tent is much easier to tightly seal than most hammock arrangements (close one zipper) and requires less time, energy and components to attain this secure environment.
      2.) A tent provides you with a very large, dry, and STABLE area to do things out of the elements and free of pests regardless of the season. You can easily change clothes, repair gear or craft something needed in camp, play cards with a friend and wait out the rain, etc. You can also bring your pack and any other gear inside and keep it completely dry and free of critters (not just setting it under a fly that only protects from what falls from directly above.
      3.) A hammock can be comfortable to sleep in but seems useless for anything other than maybe reading. It also can’t be shared if another person should need to join you for any reason such as damaged or stolen equipment or for people who bring a their pet camping.
      4.) You need appropriately sized and spaced trees. This seems like an equally foreseeable issue as being unable to find a spot for a small tent due to some rocks or roots and typically an area prone to flooding is easy enough to avoid or find a slightly higher area within.
      5.) In cold weather a hammock does not retain heat or block wind as well as a tent and requires bulky top and bottom insulators in addition to your heavy/bulky sleeping bag.

      At the end of the day, comfort during sleep is a benefit for SOME people while others may say the opposite. While a hammock is an extremely versatile concept, it seems to me like these varying options must be exercised not so much to take advantage of an opportunity where a tent could not serve you well, but simply to function on par with a tent in a given environment or circumstance where a tent would already be inherently functioning well. Please do set me straight here! I would like to try and switch to a hammock if I can justify the change. Sorry for writing this book!

      1. Great comments and observations. At the end of the day, a hammock either works for you, or it doesn’t. The primary reason folks transition to hammocks is that it provides superior comfort over sleeping on the ground (in their experience). As you will read in this series of articles on hammock camping, I explore some of the counterpoints to hammocks — they certainly have their downsides, drawbacks, and tradeoffs.

        In order to be as fair as possible, you need to compare hammocks that are designed for camping and have a more equal footing with a tent. For example, a hammock with a zippered bug net and a protective tarp. I know folks take just about any hammock camping (I know; I’m one of them), but it isn’t really fair to compare an open hammock straight across. Even with a fully-outfitted hammock, the systems have some fundamental differences, but as long as we understand that, we can start to make some comparisons, although not perfect.

        With that said, here are a few points to consider:

        1. A tent can seal you away from critters, so long as you are vigilant about door access, but it isn’t fool-proof. Hammocks with zippered bug nets are arguably just as quick and easy to seal out as a tent, but being suspended above the ground, you run less of a risk of crawling bugs getting inside. This is an experienced-based concern, only validated by experience in a hammock. Having been on the ground and in a hammock, I can say that they both can protect you from critters, but the hammock has some protections that are inherent to being elevated above the ground that the tent does not have.

        2. This, again, depends on the shelter. “Very large” and “dry” are subjective, and in the world of backpacking, the joke is wondering what person is used to determine occupancy in a 2-person shelter, as the space is usually cramped and suitable only for sleeping in very tight accommodations. And while the ground may provide a stable (e.g., non-swinging) platform, there is no promise that in a deluge the impacted ground won’t become a reservoir of water. I’ve been in multiple situations where tents were drowning in water, soaking occupants and equipment alike. Not fun. Yes, tents can provide a cubby for changing clothes, but all the other examples you shared are easily done in a hammock. My scout troop, for example, on our 50-mile backpacking trip last year, set up their hammocks in close quarters (side-by-side or stacked) so they could play cards, talk, and wait out the rain. A single tarp protected multiple hammocks and was far more roomy than any tent, with standing room. Tarps are much more versatile for protecting against the elements and can be pitched to match conditions. Tents, in contrast, are only as good as the rain fly provided. If it’s a single season with a “bikini” top, your chances of getting the sidewalls wet are very high. Tents with full-coverage tarps tend to be hot and muggy with poor ventilation. Take your pick, but tents aren’t all fun and games.

        3. It’s clear from this point that you haven’t done a lot of reading yet on hammocks. First and foremost, people LOVE hammocks because they are comfortable and provide a pressure-point-free sleep all night. I rarely toss and turn in a hammock. I will admit that the comfort is dependent on personal preference on one hand, and pitching the hammock correctly on the other. When done right, the hammock provides a very comfortable, ergonomically flat lay. I read books all the time in my hammocks, but I also sleep in them too. All night in fact. 🙂 There are two-person hammocks available; I used one this summer during Boy Scout camp. But hammocks can be pitched side-by-side or stacked in any combination you want. While there isn’t a perfect comparison between the shelter and sleep systems between hammock camping and tent camping, I often think of hammocks as being a cross between a shelter and a sleeping pad. Let’s say you have a two-person tent where you sleep side-by-side. Unless you are in a family-size tent, the proximity to the other person is usually pretty close. Hammocks can be pitched equally close together, so there is very little you are missing out on. I prefer to have a little more room, and yet I can still be protected under the same tarp if desired.

        Pet’s are great with hammocks. Unless you want to bring your pet in the hammock with you (many do), they can lay underneath you, undisturbed, and perfectly content.

        Your hypothetical situation of offering “room and board” to another camper who lost all their gear is rare indeed. I’m sure it happens, but if that’s your reason for sticking with a tent, all the more power to you 🙂 The one thing a hammock can still provide is shelter from a storm. If the person sharing your shelter has truly lost their gear, are you going to share your sleeping bag with them? 🙂 I would say that the hammock camper is in a better position to offer shelter to a random stranger as that person can be sheltered while you and your gear do too.

        4. Yes, having anchor points in the right proximity is important, but I have rarely been in any location where that has been a problem. It’s a perception, but not reality. Unless you spend most of your camping trips above the tree line, you’ll be fine.

        5. Hammocks in the summer offer superior comfort due to the convective heat loss. But you are correct in assuming that they can be more difficult to stay warm in the winter. But you missed a point about insulation. You don’t need top and bottom insulators AND a sleeping bag. The insulators you are referring to–a top quilt and a bottom quilt–are designed to replace your sleeping bag completely. In fact, a quilt system can actually save you weight and bulk compared with a conventional sleeping bag and pad. Consider that most sleeping bags are less effective because the insulation underneath you gets compressed and is useless (synthetic bags, depending on the fill type, may compress less and provide some insulation). This is the main reason you need a sleeping pad. The pad is hardly suitable for comfort, but plays an essential role in preventing conductive heat loss. Without a pad, even tent sleepers will get cold. Indeed, in the winter, most mountaineering books recommend using both a closed-cell foam pad AND a self-inflating pad to protect you in the winter.

        Imagine a sleeping bag that didn’t get compressed? Where both the top and bottom baffles remained fully lofted? This is the concept behind the top and bottom quilts. What’s happening is the sleeping bag is being effectively cut in half. The bottom half is hung under the hammock where it remains fully lofted. The top portion is draped on top. It’s so effective that hammock campers have camped in sub-freezing temperatures and been perfectly fine. In the deep winter, regardless of what shelter system you use, you will bring more gear, more food, and more insulation than in the summer.

        In terms of blocking the wind or creating a micro-climate, hammocks offer the same degree of protection as a tent. There are “winter” tarps available that provide “floor to ceiling” coverage, 360-degrees. Lightweight winter covers provide smaller micro-climates closer to the occupant that mimics what a tent provides.

        The big difference, of course, is that a hammock is much more modular than a tent. For example, with a stock hammock, I can mix-and-match components to better fit the environment I’m exploring. A winter cover and a larger tarp during the winter are easily exchanged for minimal tarps in the summer. In contrast, a tent is designed as a stand-alone kit. They are sold by a season (e.g. 3-season, 4-season). A 4-season tent is horribly muggy, hot, and hard to vent in the summer, and a 3-season tent may not provide the wind and moisture protection in the winter. You end up spending a lot more buying “single-use” tents than individual and exchangeable components on a hammock.

        You are correct that comfort is only important to some folks. When those folks get a little older, however, I guarantee they will either 1) complain more or 2) stop camping. Most folks I meet who converted to hammocks did so because they still wanted to camp and were tired of complaining about it. Comfort wins over in the long run.

        Another thing to consider is culture. Tents are a relatively “new” concept in outdoor adventures, but they have become quite engrained in our minds as the ultimate in shelter and protection. Prior to stand-alone tents, folks were happy with just a tarp. Culturally, folks in other countries see hammocks as normal and natural, and anything else seems silly. At that point, using a hammock isn’t even really an argument about comfort or convenience, but rather what is the societal norm.

        If you are truly interested in switching to hammock camping, the only way you’ll really know is to try it. This cerebral exercise of bantering back and forth over the pros and cons can only go so far. At the end of the day, you’ll just have to try it. Find a buddy who has a hammock and give it a go. I won’t promise anything. I for one have learned that hammocks can be fickle. Hang them wrong or get the wrong size for your size/weight and you end up like a pretzel. Do it right, and you may never go back. I was converted after just one night. Oh, I’ve had plenty of bad experiences in a hammock, but I kept going back because I consistently have better rest, better REM, and better energy after sleeping in a hammock than I do on the ground.

        1. Thank you for all the information! You really made some excellent points and I definitely am convinced the Hammock idea is definitely worth a try. I apologize for coming off somewhat negative as well. One thing you said really got me thinking… you mentioned that tent camping is the “new” method of camping. I found that funny because a lot of the reason I have been so skeptical about the hammock idea is because in my mind, HAMMOCKS were the new fad, not the other way around! Looking at a longer and worldwide history, you are absolutely right. There just seems to be a cult following all of the sudden and I was imagining maybe it was based more in trendiness than functionality. The less-than obvious “tent culture” we all grew up in does make it hard to imagine a hammock being functional for anything more than a nap in the yard. I also found your comments on the underquilts/ topquilts and insulation loft vs a pad and bag setup to be excellent points. I’m really interested in cold-weather camping and after clearing up the sleeping-bag/extra gear issue, I can see how the insulated hammock could be a better platform than a tent and sleeping pad. Looking at the ENO type quilts though, I am concerned there would be some cold drafts and air leaks without an additional sleeping bag due to the open seams. Is that the case in your experience or is there a better quilt option? Also, just to be clear, I too put a lot of value on sleep comfort and was actually just suggesting that maybe not everyone would find that a hammock provides a better nights sleep. It does sound though, like those people would be few and far between from what I have read and heard recently.

        2. Hi.. Just dropping in one more ‘pro’ argument for Hammock Camping, which is the reason I was introduced to it back in ’87 as a Tripleader, leading 12 year old boys through the Mahoosucs in Western Maine. It’s a flexible tool to offer very low-impact camping options, since it allows people to break away from the overused flat, cleared areas in established campsites, and requires little to no underbrush disturbance or soil compaction on heavily travelled routes. It also opens up your options to hillsides, and rocky or rooty ground, while you will still enjoy a level, smooth sleeping surface.

          As far as comfort, I think it is key.. I was getting sore lower back, and various bumps and grinds from ground camping even in younger days, but in a Hammock, have been able to sleep easily, and wake with NO stiffness or aches. Especially when hiking or boating, etc.. and really needing a good solid rest, I find it hard to imagine that this is a minor concern to ;any but some truly exceptional people.

          Regards, Bob

    17. Update-

      have spent MANY restful nights in my Eno since last posting. Even went so far as inserting 2 eyebolts in my large family room to accommodate interior hanging. I use my Python straps with carabineers on the Eno and just unclip it when not in use. Great for watching movies, naps and of course a good nights sleep. My little dog (a Yorkie) has even taken to jumping up on top of me for a nap too. My German Shepard has not quite figured out how to join us (which is a good thing as he is pushing 100lbs!)

      It’s also a big hit when the grandkids come over……they all fight to see which one can play in grandpa’s hammock! Sometimes they just all climb in (3 boys). Might have to get them each one for X-mas!

      1. I’ve hung my hammock in the back yard a few times, and one of our cats loves to join me in it. I have to pick him up, but he’s quite comfortable “hanging out.” I don’t envision taking him into the backcountry, though.

    18. just bought a ENO deluxe double this thanksgiving for a cross country bicycle ride I’m taking.
      I had been using a Marine corp bivy, whick I like, I cant wait to try my new eno out.
      california to canada and parts north, as far as I know. I really appreciate all of the first hand information.
      you all put my heart much more at ease
      thank you all
      Bob

    19. Hi Derek

      Loving your work. Can I ask, do you know of any ways that two hammocks can be hung together side by side? I’ve seen Dutch’s double hook but I wonder if there is a DIY approach?

      Thanks
      Dave (UK)

    20. I kayak and bring my hammock with me. One way I’ve found to stay warm and keep from falling out no matter how much I toss or turn is to take my life jacket and loosen it up so it slides down over my core on the outside of the hammock. Its water proof and provides a good bit of insulation for your chest and butt area.

    21. HI,

      When I use my Hennessey Hammock, things tend to gravitate to the lowest spot: cloths, shoes, pillow, ect and end up underneath me. I Don’t want to leave stuff outside. That’s one thing I don’t like about hammock tents, I can put all my gear in a regular tent no problem. I am also a stomach sleeper and toss and turn a lot which sets it swinging. Its also hard to get in and out of the sleeping bag having to inch worm my way in. Being an older male I need to get outside several times a night, which is not nice in stocking feet and dewy grass. It’s hard to find and put on shoes in the hammock. Mosquitoes also bite though the bottom and sides, if you happen to a have your arm against it. On colder nights it feels like the wind is blowing right through the bottom. I am thinking of sewing in a fabric bulk head at the end to put gear into. I need minimal size and weight, on my last bicycle trip I used a home made bivy bag made from Tyvek which including the airpad was lighter and packed smaller then the Hennessy. Still desiding what to bring on my next trip.

      Tony

      1. Hey Tony!

        There are lots of solutions to keeping gear inside your hammock without it occupying the sleep area. Mini gear hammocks are popular and light. You can hang them inside or next to your main hammock, keeping everything within easy reach. Peak bags, which are specially-designed or applied stuff sacks on the ends of a hammock are also convenient storage areas. The Hennessy comes with a ridgeline organizer, which is good for smaller items.

        I’ve got a few tips for getting into a sleeping bag while using a hammock too. It doesn’t have to be difficult, but you do have to get in different than you would on the ground.

        Is your Hennessy a zip-in model, or bottom entry? The zipper models are much easier to work with and I would recommend them over the bottom entry.

        The Hennessy tends to be small, and some folks “rediscover” hammock camping when trying different models. The Dream Hammock, Warbonnet, and Hammeck brands all have very comfortable hammocks with zip-in bug netting and a nice open bed in comparison to the Hennessy.

        A sleeping bag and pad are usually enough protection from biting insects below. However, as you mention, any exposed area when pressed against the hammock can be prone to bite throughs. One easy solution is to treat your hammock with Permethrin. It’s an easy solution that lasts at least a whole season. Keeps the bugs away, which is nice on hot, buggy nights when you don’t want or need a pad and/or sleeping bag.

        I’m a lightweight backpacker myself, so weight and bulk are prime concerns. I keep my weekend pack weight (including food and water) to 17 pounds, and that’s not as light as I can go; it includes a few creature comforts. The number one reason people choose hammocks is the comfort, so if that isn’t working for you, I would recommend trying other hammock models. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Hennessy Hammocks, but by-and-large they are a little smaller in dimension and some folks just don’t fit. Most Hennessy models tend to be bulky as well. The Hammeck brand, for example, packs down half the size and is larger. Just different materials and construction.

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    25. My cure for cold butt or feet was ditch the sleeping bag and use wool blankets. Sooo warm. Makes getting in and out of the hammock a snap. No zipper to fight with. Just need blankets wide enough to hang over the sides and warm air will be sealed in just fine. I use a rope hammock. Provides lots of friction to keep the blankets from sliding around. Only draw back is you have to make your bed. 🙂

    26. BTW, Comparing sleeping in a tent to sleeping in a hammock is like comparing driving a car to riding a motorcycle. Does the same thing but it’s just not the same. If you don’t get it you just don’t get it.

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    29. Hey great forum; I’ve had my eno doublenest now for about four years and haven’t touched a tent since! I bring along my two person tent to music festivals in case a friend forgets their tent (happened last November in western md and was quite cold). With a proper pitched tarp, you’ll never be wet; provided you tie strings off your straps for the water to follow. I have also hung out in -12 degree weather in upstate ny in the st lawerence river region and had 18 inches of snow dumped. With my king sized down comforter, $4 at local thrift store, and my sub 0 sleeping bag I was toasty. While hanging might not be for everyone it converted this glamper into a multiday, ultralight hiker.

      Happy hanging!!

    30. Question guys, So, for a 275 lb. dude(dropping weight slowly but steadily) it can be hard to hammock. I have always loved a tent, but I think I’m going to try the hammock this year.

      When I use my hammock in my house, it’s fine but I’ve run into some problems with hanging my hammock on trees. I go to a park and set up a hammock between two trees about 20-25 feet apart, with about 4 or 5 feet of climbing rope as extension on both sides.

      I always try to put my straps a little below 6 feet on the trees. The problem is that when I get in the hammock, it sinks a ton, and I have to constantly raise the straps and lessen the extension rope length. And sometimes I can finally get off the ground, but barely. The trees don’t move much when I get in. What is the problem here? is there too much extension rope, the wrong kind? do I need to use my hammock more and stretch it out a little? Or raise the straps?

      I need help, so I came to the experts.

      HELP!

      1. Corey, have you checked out my hammock basics article and the hammock hang calculator? Both give good tips on hanging that would help solve these issues.

        First, you’re hanging too far apart. The furthest I recommend is 15 feet. At that distance you should be able to attach about 6 ft high. The further apart your anchors, the higher you need to hang your straps. Hammocks should be hung with a sag. A good starting point is around 30 degrees. This lowers the forces on the hammock and consequently the stretch on each component.

        Speaking of stretch, both nylon and polyester materials will stretch, nylon a whole lot more than poly. The longer your suspension, the more cumulative stretch you’ll experience. This is another advantage of a closer hang.

        Send me an email if you have further questions, after you’ve reviewed those posts I referenced. Oh, and my book is another great resource!

        1. Thanks Bro! That might explain a lot, I have a parachute nylon hammock and the walls I hang the hammock between is only about half the length of the trees.
          I might take a look at that book of yours, could help me in some pretty tight situations.

          1. I recommend a combination. First, a 1 to 2 inch strap for the tree. This creates an anchor point that protects the bark. A rope or line (the suspension) can then connect between the hammock and the strap. A lot of folks use a long webbing strap that doubles as both tree protection anchor and suspension. A classic example is the ENO Atlas strap. This webbing strap has daisy chain loops every 4 inches that makes clipping in a hammock easy. There are too many suspension options to list here, but I have most listed in my book. Spectra line is strong and light if you’re looking for a line. Also, dyneema based amsteel is very popular with hangers.

    31. Hi Derek, first off thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge about hammocks!
      I am looking to buy a hammock to go biketouring on bromptons with my gf and to cut down on weight and also because we thought it was a good idea we were about to buy an ENO DoubleDeluxe hammock thinking we could both sleep in it with our heads in opposite directions. I’m 6″4 163 pounds and my gf is 5″5 and 92 pounds. Initially we wanted a Kammok but realized the DoubleDeluxe is much wider
      I went to look Clark version which looks lovely in their promo video but seems huge and ridiculously heavy (even though I know it includes the tarp and all)

      What are your thoughts? are we truly making a terrible choice?

      1. I would not get the Double Deluxe. When it comes to a comfortable sleep in a hammock it is the length, not the width, that contributes the most. Nearly all of ENO’s hammocks are the same length: 9’4″. It’s arguably one of the shortest hammocks. The main difference between their styles is width. ENO is know for lounging and recreation, but when it comes to sleeping, I think there are better options. A Kammock Roo would serve you better in this instance.

        But even then, I would hesitate to put two adults in the same hammock–especially the ENO Double Deluxe–and sleep through the night. Sleeping two in a hammock is one of the most sought after and requested inquiries I receive. It is the holy grail of hammock camping and there isn’t a perfect, one-hammock solution that meets everyone’s needs.

        What you describe, sleeping in a single hammock opposite each other, is doable. It’s often done in large hammocks. The Mayan Matrimonial hammock is just one example, but it is HUGE and not really convenient for backpacking or bike touring. It would require a very large tarp and bug net to cover and the hang point is high.

        If you are new to hanging, I would first master hanging separately. Hanging two hammocks side by side is not difficult and is actually my recommendation for any couple looking to hammock together. You can share a tarp to save weight, and two hammocks with built in bug netting can be lighter than trying to get a bug net to cover both.

        1. Thank you for your quick reply.

          I’ve owned actually several hammocks since I was a kid, a gigantic mayan hammock I got in mexico which is great but not movable, one made cotton cloth from colombia which is the one we use the most and it stays put as well and the least comfortable is a rope one with a wooden bar which we never use.

          I’ve done long naps 1-3 hours as a couple in the cotton cloth one not necessarily opposite each other that were great but have never gotten the chance to go camping with them, or even simply stay out over night for that matter as they’re in our backyard.
          so I am new for sure to hammock camping but not hammock all together 🙂

          otherwise given my 6″3 height would you recommend any particular length or brand of hammocks I should look into? And would a 9″4 long hammock do for my gf who’s 5″5?

          finding hammocks sold online on european websites to avoid getting import fees and shipping seems to be a challenge so maybe to start with we will try to make our own.

            1. thanks, they do look great but they’re even shorter than the ENOs ones even though their website says that they fit up to 1,95cm tall. I’m 1,92

        2. seeing your video on making one, I think I’m simply going to make my own 12 1/2 feet hammock 🙂
          found a great website that sells all kind of ripstop and breathable fabrics in the UK

          I have a question regarding the use or not or ridge line directly on the hammock?
          I understand it fixes the sag or depth of the hammock but I don’t really see you using that on your set ups, so I wanted to have your feedback

          Thanks for your help!

          1. I love DIY! Best of luck on your hammock! I don’t often use ridge lines on open, recreational style, gathered-end hammocks much. Yes, you can use them and it may be personal preference, but I don’t use them much. I think part of it is my own proficiency in hanging hammocks and getting the most utility out of the hammock.

            1. I’ll build hammocks with one ridge line to see if I have any use for it or not, I can always remove it quite easily.
              I want to figure out how to include a removable bug-net, I like how DD frontline has a tiny pole on top to keep it open and out of our face

              last question: I’ll be also building a large tarp for our two hammocks do you think 4 x 3 meters is large enough to cover two hammocks side by side? probably from 3 trees and not both on the same trees in the bunk bed formation

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      1. Maybe to supplement a real insulation system, summer use, or in an emergency. Those emergency bags are nice when used as designed but I don’t recommend them for regular use when you want 3-season comfort.

    33. Pingback: New sleeping bag - For hammock.

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    35. I would like to see the following test done by Ultimate Hang:
      Take a hammock of adequate length, let’s say 11 ft, and 6+ft width, in the widely used nylon 3 panel format, and make observations on the comfort aspects of a diagonal lay based on a range of structural ridge-line lengths.
      Perhaps start with the oft suggested “hammock length x 0.83” and compare lengths of up to 5in longer to 5in shorter for their effect on the aspects of comfort in the hammock.
      Many of us are now using an adjustable SRL, and an objective guide to the effects of ridge line length on specific aspects the lay. EG: flatness of the lay, shoulder squeeze, foot comfort, leg positions, would be very useful and allow us to make adjustments on-the-fly in that particular hang.
      Yes, all these observations would vary with hammock occupants of differing height and weight but I still think the findings would be useful.
      Does sound possible?

      1. To a degree, but all of those “objective” observations of flatness, shoulder squeeze, etc. are all inherently subjective. What I find comfortable is not universal and shouldn’t be used as a guide. Some folks lay inline and love it, but it drives me insane.

        1. Got it. Good response. And MLB, I’ve indeed been spending several hrs in past few days experimenting with differing SRL lengths and am getting some fairly reproducible results. I guess I was thinking that the experts would more likely get it right. But now I’m realizing each of us is really his own best expert!

          1. When it comes to your comfort, you are the only expert that matters 🙂

            I will tell you that I’ve been working on a calculation that could approximate the ideal hammock size for a given occupant height and hang angle. But it really only addresses a concept of ratios and relationships of hammock size, lay angle, and hang angle. Comfort compounds the equation because you have to factor in fabric stretch, body weight, shoulder width, and ridge line length. It gets complicated and at the end of the day, it is easier to tweak to what feels good than to rely on a strict calculation.

    36. Pingback: 2 Person Hammock For Double Outdoor Jo | LittleRiverCo.com

    37. Thank you derek! As for making hammocks, I used tablecloths from a wedding that were to be discarded. Very durable and wind resistant. I took them to a local alteration shop and the ends were sewn with HD jeans stitching 3x. All are still intact and used regularly. As for me my grand trunk double hammocks are my go to.

    38. I recently (couple months ago) experienced resting in a hammock while vacationing at a resort and immediately had to buy one…now I have 4 and a stand! I actually use it at home though I have experienced the cold butt syndrome. Haven’t used my sleeping bag or any insulation yet though although I do have them and some camping pads.

      Just starting to look around on the site but you guys seem pretty knowledgeable and experienced on this subject. Although I don’t do any hardcore hammock camping like you all seem to do, I was planning to possibly take the stand with me on future road trips to national parks and camping there with it at the local campgrounds in between the day hikes and exploration. Any tips on extra essentials to take and/or setup for hammock camping (i.e.: tarps for rain, bug netting, etc.)? Links to websites with good solid info on this would also be welcome! Thanks!

      1. Thanks and welcome! Lots of info in my book on all those subjects. Getting a good tarp and bug net will be essential to camping. I’ve reviewed a few here.

    39. Pingback: How Hangin' In A Hammock Can Help Your Health

    40. Wondering about condensation on my bug net and getting my sleeping bag wet when not using a fly.

      Set up:
      eno double nest
      Eno bug net
      Klymit insulated v luxe pad
      Sierra designs front country 600 s2

      If I don’t pitch a fly, will I get condensation on my gear when the sun sets and temp drops? On nights when no rain is forecast it would be great not use the fly.

      Thanks,

      Nic

    41. Hello, I loved the post, very explanatory and clearly mentions the experiences of those who love sleeping in hammocks. We are Brazilians and sell handmade and different hammocks that can also be used as decoration. They are comfortable and because it is made of cotton already eliminates many of the problems listed in the post. We export to over 250 countries. If are interested in knowing our hammocks, secu the link to our online shop. Hugs!!!!

      http://www.redesbrazil.com.br

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    43. Tentsile hammock tents are great for 2 or 3 people, but you’re right, they’re just not light enough to make sense for trekking use. For that reason, I think it’s best to bring a hammock each for yourself and a partner, no matter how close you might be. A good night’s sleep is vital, after all.

    44. I can get pretty badly motion sick. When I first settled into my hammock for the night the swaying caused a mild sensation of motion sickness that quickly passed and didn’t recur – still puzzled about that.

    45. I’m a 35 year-old female (active, non-smoker, no medical issues)and lately mattresses, all of them, just seems so uncomfortable. I’m entertaining the idea of getting a Kammok Swiftlet and using it full-time in my bedroom and ditching my bed. Would I be better off with a single or double? Other thoughts or advise?

    46. I recently started sleeping in a hammock hung in my bedroom, and the only disadvantage is that I wake up with (sometimes by) a pain in my heel. I’ve researched it a little and most of the symptoms point to fasciitis. Idk why that would be, though, I’ve never had it before, and don’t see why sleeping in a hammock would cause it, as opposed to a flat bed. It usually subsides with a few minutes of being awake and vertical, but it’s bad enough to warrant looking into, obviously, and the hammock is the logical cause (In fact, it was in researching it that I found this website). Has anyone else had this problem, or heard of it? I sleep diagonal most of the night, on my back. I would normally attribute it to a circulation/pooling issue, but my feet are slightly elevated.

      1. I’m not a doctor, but I don’t think it’s fasciitis. Heel strain, calf strain, and knee strain are all common in hammocks. Usually when you have these symptoms, the culprit is the hammock, and usually how it is being hung. If the hammock is long enough, you can get a sag that will allow you to lay diagonally and minimize the heel / calf / knee strain. You can also try putting a small pillow or material under your knees to take pressure off your heels.

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