Camping in a hammock has been a recent craze amongst millenials as they bring their camping to new levels. Finding the heights of trees, setting up over rivers or canyons, this has become a very popular go to way to sleep for camping.

One of the most appealing reasons to go with a hammock tent is its compact and lightweight size. This makes it a great option for those who are going camping with their kayak or backpacking into a campsite and are looking to sleep in something that is compact. The best camping hammocks are designed to mix comfort, safety and portability.

While overnight hammocks are a relatively new trend, they are hitting the outdoor world hard as one of the most trendy camping fads. Due to the popularity, there are many different companies putting their spin on this new type of camping and creating their products. To help you navigate this market, we have listed our favorite options below as well as put together a buying guide to help explain the features to look for.

Ready to get started? Let’s go.

How To Choose The Best Hammocks For Camping – Buying Guide

Camping is one of the most beloved summertime activities out there. This is something that seems to be a staple activity beloved by every age group and almost every kind of person. There is something so calming about sitting around a campfire and connecting with the great outdoors. Especially in our modern technology crazed world, disconnecting can be so powerful. No couch will ever compare to the comfort given swinging between two trees in the middle of the woods on a lazy hammock. Well, now this comfort can be taken a step further with the help of the best hammock tent.

Before getting too far in your search for a camping hammock tent, we recommend knowing what features to look for and familiarizing yourself with the terminology that goes into hammock tents. To help with this, we have put together a list of everything you need to know about the technology used to make these tents. This will help you to make the best decision for you.

Comfort

There are a lot of aspects that go into making a comfortable hammock tent. All of these have been designed with special features to make your sleep comfortable and enjoyable. Companies have essentially designed each of these tents to work for a person of certain height and weight. Looking to ensure the people sleeping in the tent are within these parameters will be crucial for the most comfortable sleep you can get.

If you are traveling heavy with a large backpack full of gear you will have to include this in the weight inside the hammock. With that being said, there are ways you can reduce this effect by hanging your bag with a pulley system.

For people new to hammock tents, you can usually determine the comfort by the size. A wider and longer tent will have more space and be able to accommodate a heavier weight. If you are traveling light, or of a smaller stature, you can opt for a hammock tent that has smaller dimensions and still have a comfortable sleep.

Strength

This is one of the more important aspects of a hammock tent. If it can’t stay attached to its supports it’s ultimately not worth the money. The strength of these structures is largely due to the support straps.

Weight Capacity

When you consider how much weight your hammock can hold, be sure to consider the weight of all your gear too. You will undoubtedly load your hammock up with comfortable camping blankets, pillows, your backpack and any other gear you bring along. This all counts towards your total weight.

Just like you find yourself enjoying watersports with your dogs, you may enjoy camping with your furry friend too. If you plan to bring your pup with you, you will have to account for their weight too. We recommend when in doubt to opt for a heavier weight restriction than you think you may need.

Straps

The straps of the hammock are one of the most important aspects to consider. Not only do the straps determine the strength and quality of your hammock, they also need to be long enough to adequately hang your hammock.

Some tent hammocks sell straps separately. If this is the case, you will want to ensure you take careful consideration to assess the quality of both items individually. Your hammock is only as good as your straps. Straps that aren’t rated to hold higher weights will affect how much weight your hammock will hold.

Paying attention to the length of your straps is important. Straps that are too short will either not be able to fit around all types of trees or will drastically limit the areas in which you can hang it up. Having a length of between 8 to 10 feet is normally a good realm to go for.

You don’t want hammock straps that stretch. Bouncing in your hammock isn’t good for you or for the trees that they sit on. Speaking of the trees you are tying your hammock to, this should be an important consideration. Many popular parks have started to restrict the use of hammocks being used. This is because hammocks that have thin straps dig into and cause harm to trees.

As you are likely using your hammock to spend more time in nature, it is important to protect it. This makes it so important to opt for a hammock that has wide straps that work to keep the trees you are connecting it to safe and not cause harm.

More than just the strap, you will want to focus on the quality of how your straps connect to your hammock. Most often this done with carabiners. It is important to ensure these carabiners are made of high quality and can withstand the heavy weights.

Material

The material will not only dictate the durability and carrying capacity of the hammock but also the weight. All of these are critical aspects you should consider before buying. If you plan on sleeping doubles you’ll need a super strong material with a high weight capacity. Most hammock tents are made from the same material as parachutes. This makes them both extremely durable and also lightweight.

Insulation

Most hammock tents are not the best when it comes to insulation. The hammock material is usually a thin piece of fabric that can be susceptible to cold nights. We strongly recommend bringing along a sleeping bag or blanket so you can have an added barrier between your body and the bottom of the hammock.

The bug net and rain fly actually create quite a bit of insulation for cooler nights. This will trap a lot of your body heat and give your little tent a cozy feel. If you are planning on using hammock tents in cold environments you’ll want to pack accordingly though. You may want to bring a thick pair of socks and some long johns to ensure you don’t get too cold during the night.

Set Up

One of the best things about these hammock tents is that setting them up is easy. For some, it can be as simple as finding a good set of trees, slinging a few ropes and voila. The easy set up remains one of the most appealing parts of hammock camping. These hammocks are a step up from your regular hammock and feature technology that helps to keep you safe from mosquitoes, and the elements.

When considering how to put together your hammock tent, you don’t have to worry about poles and stakes. Instead, these hammocks simplify the procedure by only needing two ropes and a carabiner. Most hammocks can be set up and taken down in a matter of minutes or even seconds.

How Many People

While you may think that looking at the weight rating for your hammock is enough to determine how many people it is suitable for, it is important to actually look at the recommended human capacity as well. The reason for this has to do with how wide the fabric is.

While you may think that going with a hammock tent that fits more people the better, it can have some negative effects if not used. If you think buying a two person hammock will just mean more space for one, you may be disappointed to find yourself in an encompassed taco-like feeling that results in the sides of this hammock closing on top of you. It is best to determine how many people will be logically in the hammock with you before determining the size to get.

FAQs

Q: What Are The Differences Between A Regular Hammock And Tent Hammock?

A: A regular hammock is quite different than a regular hammock. Regular hammocks are usually not meant to be slept in. They put your body in an uncomfortable angle that makes sleeping difficult.

Tent hammocks, on the other hand, have been specially designed for sleeping. Most have strapping systems that pull the material tight making the sleeping area flat rather than curved. These special hammocks will also have bug nets and rain flies. This will protect you from bugs, especially mosquitoes from attacking you all night. Rain flies will also protect you from rain and wind. Also, they will create a cocoon that will actually trap some heat so you stay warmer in cool nights.

Q: What Are The Advantages Of A Tent Hammock?

A: Tent hammocks have many advantages over other sleeping methods. They will keep you off the ground so you won’t have to carry a tarp to create an added barrier. This will help when it rains or if the area is prone to ants. Tent hammocks are also much easier to setup than regular tents. They don’t require lots of poles and stakes so they are also much lighter. This will allow you to hike for longer distances with less strain on your body. But with that being said, most tent hammocks can also be used on the ground as regular tents.

Q: How Should I Clean And Store My Hammock?

A: You will want to consult your specific manufacturer’s instructions on how best to clean your hammock. In general, these cannot handle going into the washing machine. Instead, wiping down with a wet cloth and allowing your hammock to air dry fully before folding up and storing in a safe dry space is important. This will help to reduce the chances of mildew growth while keeping the fibers of your hammock in tact.

Q: Are Hammock Tents Safe?

A: Yes! Hammock tents are very safe in terms of providing you with a place to sleep that you will not fall out from. Especially the tents, as listed, that provide a full bubble of protection, you do not risk falling out of these. With the help of bug nets and rain flys, these tents help to keep you even more protected and safe from the elements.

In regards to animal safety, it can be argued that suspended in the air you may actually come into less contact with wildlife. With that being said, whether you choose a tent or a hammock you will only have a small piece of material in between you and the outdoors making your safety about the same. Be sure to have the right camping gear with you to ensure that you can increase your safety.

Globo Surf Overview

Next time you go camping, considering using a hammock tent is a great way to expand your connection with the great outdoors. Hammocks have long since been a comfortable and great way to spend your day. Now, you can spend your night in comfort as well. All of the camping hammock tents on our list will help you to get the most out of your next camping trip.

Happy camping!

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Have you ever tried camping in a hammock tent? Tell us about what you thought of the experience in the comment section below.