The joys of hammock camping
Lake Huron overnight
Daytrip lounging
Frosty overnight
I can honestly say that one of the most comfortable nights I spent sleeping outdoors —far more comfortable than any portable sleeping pad— was on the edge of Lake Huron in a packable hammock.
True, my exquisite night outdoors was the perfect storm of circumstances that made the hammock shine. It was during a glorious stretch of mid-October weather, above 45th parallel, which made the night air too cool for bugs, but perfect for single sleeping-bag comfort. And, obviously, it was dry.
Hammock camping can and does work for minimalist adventurers, with a couple of caveats.
In warm weather, you’ll need bug protection. Even if you set up in a breezy area away from standing water, flying and buzzing critters will find you and try to make a meal of you. Most travel hammock systems, including the Grand Trunk and ENO’s (both of which we carry at Cosmic Bikes) have a variety of bug nets available.
If you’re on a multi-day camping tour, you may encounter some rain. A tarp, whether one you already have, or one that’s sold with the hammock, is an obvious and effective solution
In cold weather, you will need something in addition to the sleeping bag to stay comfortable. Hammock manufacturers offer bottom quilts, which go under and around the hammock with you in it, so they don’t compress under your weight. You can combine it with a top quilt (which is similar to a sleeping bag, but zipper-free, less restrictive, and uniquely tailored to work with the hammock) or a regular sleeping bag with appropriate temperature rating.
The above accessories are generally effective and well designed, but their addition will definitely turn your softball-sized hammock into quite a bit more of a package.
So why and when would you choose a hammock over a tent?
For day trips, a hammock is a no-brainer. The easy set-up makes it worth putting up even if it’s only for half an hour. That half-hour will turn your outing into a vacation.
For short (one or two day) overnights, when you can count on weather and conditions to be perfect, as described above.
A hammock will let you dispense with poles, stakes and a sleeping pad, and —even with a few extras— is much more packable than all but the smallest of backpacking tents, and several hundred dollars cheaper.
For longer trips when you may be willing to carry the additional gear, a hammock will give you options to set up when the ground is uneven, sloped, wet, overgrown or otherwise inhospitable to a tent.
and, most importantly—It is far more comfortable! While the ground —even lined with a luxurious pad— is lumpy and unforgiving, a hammock both cradles and yields to your body, so you are floating with no pressure points. You can stretch out on your back, or curl up on your side, and you’ll sleep like a baby. The hammock also allows for better air circulation, so you’ll breathe better and enjoy a a great night of sound sleep.
When will a hammock not work? Well, it needs supports. For an account of my struggles with a hammock in absence of trees, click here. If you’re going to be in the desert, open prairie, in areas decimated by the ash borer, or above tree line, you may need to consider other options.
Setting up your packable hammock.
Be sure to purchase the the hanging straps or tree slings, which make it possible to suspend your hammock in a wide variety of settings, and tension and position it to suit individual needs. These purpose-made straps are also designed to protect tree bark, so it’s important to use those rather than attempting to fashion something out of household rope.
The setup is very simple. Once you locate appropriately spaced trees of at least 4” in diameter, wrap one strap around each tree about 5’ from the ground (or so), and feed through the end loop to secure. Then simply hook the carabiners at the ends of the hammock through the hanging loops spaces over the length of the hanging straps so that the hammock is more or less horizontal, and moderately taut. If you make it too taut, you won’t be able to get in; if it’s too loose, your bottom will drag on the ground when you get in. It will take a little trial and error to find the perfect height and tension for your personal comfort, but you’ll quickly get a sense of how the straps work, and how you can fine-tune the adjustment without starting from scratch.
We now have hammocks available at Cosmic Bikes in store, or online for immediate curbside pickup.