Camping is a time-honored summer tradition. Growing up, I got to go camping a lot. I loved catching trout from the lake, chasing fireflies and roasting marshmallows by the fire. A trip to the woods always promised to be a great time.
A couple years ago, I was camping at Zion National Park as part of a long road trip through the American Southwest. While I struggled setting up my tent, I noticed my camp neighbor gently rocking in a hammock. But this wasn’t like the backyard rope hammocks that we’ve all seen hanging in backyards. This hammock was made of nylon, had a mosquito net and featured a large tarp to ward off the rain. It was basically a floating tent.
He noticed me staring and called me over with a laugh. I explained that I had never seen anyone camp in a hammock before. He smiled and offered to let me try it out. I got in and I immediately knew that I couldn’t go back to sleeping on the cold hard ground of my tent floor.
Nowadays, I use my hammock exclusively when I go camping or backpacking. From weekend getaways with friends to long multi-day treks through the wilderness, my camping hammock has always been my faithful companion. If you’re a lover of the outdoors or thinking about planning a camping trip in the future, here are just a couple reasons to try camping in a hammock.
1. It’s amazingly comfortable
One of the most common problems when camping is that it’s just not very comfortable to sleep on the ground. Every pebble, twig or bump on the dirt seems to poke you in just the wrong way. Even with an extra thick sleeping pad, spending a night sleeping on the dirt isn’t very comfortable.
When you go camping in a hammock, you’ll get a relaxing night’s sleep each time. By lying down diagonally, you can achieve a flat lay and eliminate any worries of sleeping on a curved surface.
2. It’s easier to set up than a tent
Instead of fiddling around with stakes and tent poles, setting up a hammock is almost effortless. Many popular camping hammocks feature a daisy-chain suspension system where you simply wrap the strap around the tree and clip the hammock in with carabiners. No complicated knots to worry about.
3. You can set up anywhere
When you go camping with a tent, finding the right campsite can be a challenge. You need a flat surface with minimal rocks and no vegetation for you to put your tent on. With a hammock you only need two trees. The ground can be rocky, uneven and full of sticks, but it won’t matter to you as you rock back and forth safely suspended above them.
4. Hammocking is low impact on the environment
Hammock camping has a very low impact on the environment when properly used. With a set of tree straps to hang your hammock, you can avoid damaging fragile undergrowth. Since you’re suspended in the air, you also don’t need to clear out the ground and further disturb the natural terrain.
5. It’s lightweight and compact
For backpacking trips, having a hammock shaves off a lot of weight from your pack compared to a tent. Hammocks weigh little and can pack down to a tiny size. Hammocks come in many styles, but even the most heavy duty, feature packed hammock will rarely outweigh a comparable tent.
6. You can sleep under the stars
One of the simple joys in life is sleeping under a sky lit up by stars. On clear nights, you can forego a tarp and relax in the hammock as you fall asleep stargazing. With a tent, your view is obscured and you’d have to literally just sleep outside on the ground to get the same view.
7. You’re just as protected from the elements
There’s no reason that your hammock can’t be a complete shelter outdoors. There are many options available for lightweight tarps that you can use to cover your hammock for protection from small squalls to fierce winter snowstorms. With a rainfly, bug net and proper insulation, you can camp out in your hammock all 4 seasons and never feel exposed to the elements.
8. It makes a great lounger
Even if it’s not bedtime, having a hammock is great for just lazing around the campsite. Lounge around while the fire is crackling. Take a break while dinner is cooking. Get comfortable and read your favorite book. There’s no better piece of camp furniture than a hammock.
9. Everyone gets their own hammock
Instead of piling into the tent and sharing the cramped space, everyone gets to sleep in their own hammock. No more questionable smells and fighting for space. Each time you go camping, enjoy having your own little world, while still keep your friends close by.
10. It’s just plain cooler than a tent
Let’s face it, spending a night out in a hammock is just a cool experience. We’ve all camped in a tent before. Step out of the box and try something different! If you want to learn more about camping with a hammock, check out the Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Hammock Camping.
Jeff Zhang is co-founder of Serac Hammocks, and a guy that likes being outdoors. Hit him up at jeff@exploreserac.com if you want to learn more about the wonderful world of hammocks.
