ENO JungleNest Hammock
I finally got my first look at the new ENO JungleNest hammock today, and I am pleased and impressed. ENO has been in the hammock business since 1999, but it has taken them nearly 15 years to come out with a hammock with an integrated, zippered bug net. Honestly, I think the JungleNest is about 10 years late in coming to market, but I am pleased with how ENO has put this hammock together. It has all the right trimmings and attention to detail I’ve come to expect with the ENO brand.
As of this writing, the JungleNest is out-of-stock; a testament to the demand (and popularity) of hammocks with integrated bug nets. They make hammock camping lighter and less complicated.
The JungleNest follows in the footsteps of the Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro, Byer of Maine Moskito Kakoon, and Hammock Bliss No-See-Um No More in the basic design where the bug net is cut as long as the hammock body and gathered up at the ends (it isn’t fitted like the Hennessy or Warbonnet hammocks).
But, the bug net isn’t just one flat piece, as it is one the other brands. ENO has engineered it so the seam matches up where the shock cord clips are located, and they’ve also added some fabric reinforcements on the side.
ENO has added a few new features and modifications that set it apart. First, the bug net clips are adjustable from the inside, much like one of my favorite bug nets, the Equinox Mantis. The line is shock cord (a touch, which reduces strain on the fabric) and actually runs through the bug net. There is one of the ENO-riffic mini cord locks that allows you to tighten or loosen the netting while inside.
One of my favorite thing about the JungleNest is that the fabric is one solid piece. The fabric feels a bit lighter than the crinkle taffeta nylon (“parachute nylon”) ENO uses on its other hammocks, and it features a ripstop pattern.
As much as I like the simple gathered end hammocks from ENO, Grand Trunk, and others, I really do not like how they use three panels of fabric in the construction. While it is nice to see the fruity color combinations, the seams where the fabric connects are uncomfortable to lay on, and I’ve noticed that most folks (myself included), tend to lay in the main center panel to avoid the ridge under head and foot. The JungleNest, in contrast, uses ONE LARGE PANEL! I can’t tell you how much I love that (am I repeating myself here?). In fact, up to this point, the only other manufacturer to do this with a hammock at this price point[1. Higher-end netted hammocks have been doing this for years, including Hennessy, Clark Jungle Hammock, Warbonnet, and DreamHammock. One large panel is much more comfortable not only because there are no seam bumps, but the seams also create tight ridges because they don’t stretch along with the rest of the hammock.] is the Hammock Bliss No-See-Um No More. I’ve favored the No-See-Um No More for this reason alone. Now I have a new favorite.
Also on the inside, and nearly easy to miss, is a small zippered pocket located near the gathered end. Inside this pocket was a length of cord that is designed as a ridge line where you can clip the bug netting. The line isn’t long enough to be used as a continuous ridge line that some folks are probably familiar with, but it will reach the hammock suspension, which works fine. The line is actually really stiff—similar to the line I found on the ENO tarps. I loved that ENO included two small cords, each about a foot (30 cm) long, that they had tied and used as prusik knots along the ridge line. Someone has been paying attention.
The prusiks were made out of the same line as the ridge line itself, which normally isn’t recommended (it’s best to use a smaller diameter line on the prusik because it holds better).
The prusiks themselves were very loose, and I found it was difficult to get them as tight as I needed to get them to grip. I took them off and retied the loop with a Fisherman’s knot and then tied on a Klemheist knot instead. This worked great and held very well.
The stuff sack actually has a smaller pocket on the inside. This is a great addition to hold smaller items such as head lamps or smartphones, etc. It’s a nice touch.
But How Does It Lay?
The JungleNest is roughly the same dimensions as the Hennessy Hammock line, about 9.5 × 4.5 ft (3 × 1.4 m), and thanks to the single panel hammock body, has a great lay. Of course, this all depends on how you hang the hammock. If you pitch the JungleNest too tight, the lay will be constricted, contributing to shoulder squeeze and laying like a banana. With about a 30-degree angle from the anchor points, the hammock provides a nice diagonal lay with an ergonomically flat lay, just like all gathered-end, Mayan-style hammocks.
I really liked the lay. It was comfortable and had clean lines. The bug net held up high and off my head. A side pull out near my shoulder would be a nice touch to keep the hammock and netting fully clear.
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