Best Hammocks for Camping in 2024
Swinging between the trees on a cozy hammock is a wonderful way to spend your weekend. The best hammocks for camping are dependent upon several different situations. How often will you be using it? Is it just you, or do you want to cuddle up with a significant other? Let’s take a look at some of the best hammocks for camping.
- Rusee Mosquito Net Outdoor Hammock Travel Bed
- OnCloud Double Hammock with 9 FT Stand
- Bear Butt Double Parachute Camping Hammock
- Hennessy Hammock – Expedition Zip
- Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Hammock
Benefits of Hammock Camping
Before we get into what to look for in a great hammock for camping, (and in case you’re yet to be convinced that hammock camping really rocks!), understanding the benefits of hammock camping is key. After all, why would you ditch a perfectly good tent that you’ve been using for years over a flimsy bit of material stretched between two trees?
A fair question when put like that! But what about those times when you can’t find a flat place to pitch your tent, or when the ground is so sodden you’d end up waking up in puddles? What about going to sleep and actually feeling really comfortable when camping for a change?
Take a look at these other benefits of hammock camping that may just sway you into hopping in and hanging out:
Best Hammocks for Camping Buying Guide
Material
Years ago, hammocks were mostly made of cotton or hemp rope. Today we have so many options for our hammocks that it may be a little overwhelming. Hammocks come in a number of new sizes and shapes as well, with ones for two and three people not all that uncommon anymore.
So what sort of material is the best to get? Some will prefer the feeling of polyester or rayon to thick ropes. Others desire cotton or resin based materials because they feel that they hold up a bit better to the challenges of camp site weather.
Whatever you pick, read over your care sheet carefully.
Your Camp Site
Take a quick look around your favorite camping area the next time you’re there. You’ll want to do this before you buy a hammock.
Do you have trees you can hang it from? What about poles that are likely to support you? Most importantly: Are hammocks allowed where you’re camping? On occasion, some camp sites don’t allow them for insurance or appearance reasons.
If you don’t have any way to secure your hammock, you’ll need a hammock stand. Most hammock stands are pretty easy to set up, and there is a number of them that come along with hammocks included. If you can’t find a way to secure your hammock without a stand, feel free to get one.
Portability
However, if you grab a hammock stand you probably won’t be going on a fifty-mile hike with it. You also probably wouldn’t want to take it along on camping trips where you’ll need a lightweight pack.
Some hammocks can be rather hard to carry along even if you do have somewhere to string them. Hammocks that require folding or ones with spreaders are a lot more cumbersome than ones that roll up like a sleeping bag.
For those that aren’t carrying along their hammocks, such as RV campers that just want a nice way to sleep outside, do remember that you’ll still have to find room to pack your hammock. And once everyone else sees how comfortable you are, you may have to figure out how to pack more than one hammock next time you’re out camping.
Ease of Set Up
When shopping for a hammock, ease of use is incredibly important. After all, you’re supposed to be chilling out! Relaxing! Who wants to spend an hour trying to set up the things so you can do that?
Most hammocks these days are simply unzipping the bag, untwist the hammock and throw the loops at either end across whatever docking system you’ve rigged up. Try to find one that is as simple as this.
Comfort
If you happen to have a sport and outdoors store around you, they’ll often have a hammock or two out on display. Even those stores that don’t usually have room for a hammock may have miniature models of the ones they stock. This lets you touch what you’re buying and see if the material and “bounce” is satisfactory.
Last but not least, many hammocks come with an assorted amount of extra comfort items to make them feel a bit more snuggly. Pillows to rest your head on that are sewn to the fabric of the hammock are quite common. If you decide to get a hammock with extras like this, try to find ones that allow you to detach them for cleaning purposes.
Rusee Mosquito Net Outdoor Hammock Travel Bed
- Super Lightweight – Fantastic for portability, this hammock only weighs a pound when fully stuffed into it’s sack
- Tough Materials – This nylon is the same grade they use to make parachutes and surf sails. It’s incredibly rip resistant
- Flippable – Don’t like the feeling of having cords over your head? Don’t need the insect cloth? If you flip the hammock over, you can easily use it without
- Low Weight Limit – At only 330 pounds maximum weight, this double hammock seems to be relying on size rather than weight limit to support it’s claim
- Thin Cords – These cords are very lightweight, likely adding to the low weight limit
- Connected Bag – This can make it a bit difficult for stuffing the hammock back into it, since you have to manipulate it so you don’t accidentally rip the bag off
We start this off with a cozy nylon hammock. Suitable for up to two people, it comes with a couple of really nice extras. Not only does this particular hammock disappear easily into an attached sack for storage purposes, it has another little feature
This hammock comes with insect netting, appropriate for keeping off mosquitoes and other biting insects that may make sleeping outdoors a little less than comfortable. The insect netting is hung via cords that can retract into the hammock if you desire to sleep without the netting.
Those cords suspend the netting above your hammock just enough to keep it off of you, giving you a bug-free night’s sleep.
OnCloud Double Hammock with 9 FT Stand
- Huge Capacity – This hammock will hold up to 500 pounds between one or two people. This is pretty high capacity for a hammock
- Cozy – Made of snuggly nylon and with higher sides than most hammocks, this will help keep the wind off during chilly, breezy nights
- Easy Transporter – This hammock weighs all of 1.5 pounds and disappears into an easy to carry sack in seconds
- Tiny Connectors – The carabiner connectors on this are a little short. Though the system comes with extra straps to make it longer, having to connect them is a chore
- Thin Ropes – The ropes on this are less than 1/2 inch in width. They also work a bit like a drawstring
- Somewhat Disposable – This hammock borders on a cheaply made item, which means you won’t feel bad chucking it in the trash if it gets a hole in it. Still, being able to repair something like that would be nice
Not only does this bright hammock come with a stand, it comes with a carrying case for all of it as well.
This fabulous little hammock holds up to two people in a queen sized bed area with a common weight limit of 450 pounds. If preferred, you can easily use this hammock without the stand and tie it on to trees or poles instead.
Bear Butt Double Parachute Camping Hammock
- Integrated mosquito net for bug protection.
- Side zippered entrance for easy access.
- Compact and portable, includes rainfly and suspension straps.
- Structural ridgeline for consistent sag and comfort.
- Option to add insulation for cold weather.
- Slightly heavier than ultralight models.
- More expensive than other options.
- Side zip entry may not be preferred by everyone.
Rather than coming with straps or chains, this hammock comes with loops at the ends. It also has stoppers to keep them from getting absorbed back into the hammock when it’s collapsed. These loops get a big thumbs up from us for making it all the easier to adjust this hammock.
Hennessy Hammock – Expedition Zip
- Built-in mosquito net with a reversible design.
- Durable parachute nylon material, quick-drying.
- Lightweight and packs down small, ideal for travel.
- Affordable price point.
- Comes with carabiners and starter rope kit.
- Requires an upgrade to tree-friendly straps.
- May lack some advanced features of premium hammocks.
- Not ideal for colder weather without additional insulation.
One of the standout features of this hammock is its integrated asymmetrical design. This unique shape allows for a flatter, more comfortable sleeping position, mimicking the feel of a bed rather than a traditional curved hammock. The Expedition Zip also comes with a built-in mosquito net, providing a bug-free sanctuary in even the most insect-rich environments.
What sets this hammock apart is its side zippered entrance, which allows for easy access while keeping the hammock secure and bug-free. The Hennessy Hammock Expedition Zip packs down compactly, including the rainfly and suspension straps, into an attached stuff sack, making it highly portable and ideal for backpacking trips.
The Hennessy Hammock Expedition Zip also includes a waterproof rainfly, ensuring you stay dry in unexpected showers. The structural ridgeline maintains the perfect sag for optimal comfort, regardless of how you set it up. For those chilly nights, there’s even an option to add an insulation system, making this a versatile choice for various weather conditions.
Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Hammock
- Built-in mosquito net with a reversible design.
- Durable parachute nylon material, quick-drying.
- Lightweight and packs down small, ideal for travel.
- Affordable price point.
- Comes with carabiners and starter rope kit.
- Requires an upgrade to tree-friendly straps.
- May lack some advanced features of premium hammocks.
- Not ideal for colder weather without additional insulation.
Next, we have the Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Hammock, an excellent choice for those looking for comfort and insect protection. Designed for solo use, it features a built-in mosquito net that integrates seamlessly into the design, providing ample headroom with suspended cords.
A notable feature is its reversible design—flip the hammock over to use without the netting when bugs aren’t a concern. Made from durable parachute nylon, it includes carabiners and a starter rope kit, though upgrading to tree-friendly straps is recommended. Compact and easy to pack, it’s ideal for versatile hammock camping.
Conclusion
The clear winner today is Bear Butt double hammock. Not only is this hammock the highest rated weight capacity, but it is exceptionally durable and willing to deal with whatever you can throw at it.
Disagree? Have a product you’d like for us to take a look at instead? Toss it in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you