Therm-a-Rest Slacker Hammock Single
I’ve had the pleasure of testing the Therm-a-Rest Slacker hammock for the past few weeks and I’ve been loving it. My first impressions, based on the available material, was that the polyester-based hammock would have a firmer lay than the typical parachute nylon hammocks that are in the market. The reality is that the Slacker hammock has a very comfortable, light stretch—something I wasn’t expecting.
Slacker Hammock Single Details
| What they say | What I say | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 116 x 63 in (295 x 160 cm) | 120 x 61 in (305 x 155 cm) |
| Weight | 20 oz (567 g) | 15 oz (425 g) (hammock only) |
Listed Features
- MSRP: $69.95 (Single)
- Soft, 100% diamond ripstop polyester fabric
- Superior wicking and dries faster than nylon
- Included carabiners
- Capacity: 400 lbs (181 kg)
Like other basic hammocks, the Slacker comes with end loops that help gather the ends and provide attachment points for the hammock. Unlike these other hammocks, however, the Slacker uses 3/4 in (2 cm) wide webbing that is sewn into a twisted circle. Two carabiners were included with the hammock, but there was no other suspension system included. From the hang tag, it looks like Therm-a-Rest is planning to retail “Slacker Suspenders” —tree-friendly webbing straps that boast “knot-free adjustability.” It is difficult to tell from the photos how this is achieved, whether the Suspenders will be daisy-chain style or use some other hardware device for adjustability.
The hammock stuffs into its own pocket that is sewn on the long edge, right in the middle, similar to most every other basic hammock. This stuff sack has a pillowcase design with a flap that helps keep everything stowed. A small red webbing strap on the stuff sack provides a handy carrying or attachment point.
The overall build quality is excellent: straight, even stitching, no loose threads, tight hemming. Even the interior of the stuff sack has been neatly edged.
The Cool Stuff You Should Notice First
Here are the stand-out items of the Slacker hammock that I really love:
- The Slacker hammock is made from one (1) solid piece of fabric. Why is this great? A lot of basic hammocks (with only a few notable exceptions) are made from three (3) pieces of fabric. This is done, in part, to provide colorful options. But the seams used to join these pieces together can be uncomfortable, and in my experience and observations, most folks avoid sleeping on these ridges. The single panel of fabric (on both the Single and Double versions of the Slacker) provide a much larger, unobstructed lay area when sleeping diagonally.
- The Slacker hammocks is BIG for a single and HUGE for a double. The Slacker Single that I have measures out to be 10 × 5 ft (3 × 1.5 m)—this is as big or bigger than most “double” hammocks on the market today. For most folks, the “double” hammock is the standard, but not for Therm-a-Rest. They have appropriately sized the single and made it the perfect dimension for one person.
- The polyester fabric is easier to imprint, and Therm-a-Rest has already promised different colors, patterns, and designs when they hit store shelves.
- The Slacker hammock fabric is soft, cozy, and comfortable. Let’s talk about this fabric in more detail, shall we?
Comfort and Feel
The diamond-ripstop polyester fabric that Therm-a-Rest is using is remarkable. As I mentioned before, I was expecting a firmer lay based on other polyester hammocks I’ve tried. This fabric has a much softer feel with a nice stretch that I haven’t experienced in synthetic fabrics before. The fabric is almost cotton-like in how it stretches, providing a nice pocket for my head and ankles that really reduces common strain points.
I love this new fabric because it has the soft feel and flex of a natural fiber but with the wicking, quick-drying, and lighter weight of synthetic. My slumbers in this hammock have been deep and comfortable. In fact, this hammock has the same comfort compared with longer hammocks, such as one of my other favorites, the Sheltowee Boone hammock.
Recommendations
The Therm-a-Rest Slacker Hammock Single is surprisingly light and comfortable. Instead of just copying the “parachute nylon” crowd, Therm-a-Rest did their homework on this design and hit a home run with the final product. I’m very pleased with this hammock, particularly the fabric—the feel is soft and the lay is comfy. Matched with a bug net and tarp, this hammock will make a great camping hammock or just a backyard lounger or indoor bed replacement. It’s definitely a top contender against the established brands.
Disclosure of material connection: The author (Derek Hansen) was provided with a free sample from the manufacturer for testing and evaluation purposes. The comments in this post (written & spoken) are of my own opinion, which I formed after personally handling the gear. I was under no obligation to publish a review of this item.
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