Skip the Bulky Tent and Take One of These Hammocks Camping

Are you
heading to the great outdoors? Everyone deserves a getaway now and then. If you
want to embrace the spirit of ruggedness genuinely, why not ditch the tent
altogether? After all, if the weather grows too nasty, you have a vehicle
parked somewhere. 

Camping
hammocks empower you to live the primitive lifestyle and shuffle off the
technology shackle from your ankles. Imagine gazing up at a starlit sky
unblemished by power lines and flashing neons. Drift into dreamland by the
light of the silvery moon in one of these heavenly beds that you can stretch
between two trees. 

Considerations With Camping Hammocks

Hammock
camping shares much in common with its terrestrial-bound cousin. However, you
do need to take some additional considerations. To ensure a safe and pleasant
excursion, you should follow specific safety rules, such as:

• Know your
  gear’s weight capacity: You’ll probably sleep with your backpack in your
  hammock, so you need to calculate your combined weight — lest you risk crashing
  or sliding to the ground in the night. Hop on the scale with your gear before
  you select your hammock model to ensure it can hold you comfortably. 
• Stay warm: A hammock
  alone allows the air to circulate, chilling you when the sun sets. Use a
  sleeping pad and a quilt for insulation, or dress in warm layers and sleep in
  your clothes. 
• Remember,
  bears can climb: Elevating yourself off the ground does inhibit some
  creepy crawlies — you’re less likely to encounter a snake in your bed. However,
  bears climb trees like spider monkeys, so don’t sleep with your snacks in your
  hammock. Store them a safe distance away. 

Five Different Camping Hammocks for Various Types of
Outdoorsy Folk 

Are
you ready to hit the trails? If so, consider some of the best camping hammocks
to bring along.

1. For Simplicity — The
Nano-7 Hammock

Are you
looking for the ultimate in lightweight and rugged adventures? If so, the
Nano-7 hammock is for you. This basic model doesn’t come with tie straps, but
it does have two carabiners to attach it to trees. It weighs
in at only 7.3 ounces, so you won’t have to add much heft to your backpack.
This feature makes it an ideal model for when you want to go deep in-country
and not emerge. The fabric dries quickly, so unanticipated showers won’t leave
you sleeping soggy. 

2. For Rainy Days —
Hennessy Ultralite Backpacker Classic 

Do you live
in an area like the Pacific Northwest that sees copious rainfall? If so, you
might think any suggestion to skip the tent entirely represents madness. Yet
listen — if the ground turns to quagmire, would you rather lie down in it or
rest peacefully above? Feel like you’re sleeping on a warm, dry cloud with the
Hennessy Ultralite Backpacker Classic. This innovative hammock comes complete
with a broad tent cover that keeps the raindrops from falling on your
head. 

3. For Large Capacity —
Hummingbird Double Hammock

Perhaps you
take up a lot of space and value comfort. If so, you need a hammock that can
support those powerful quads. Maybe you’re heading out with your SO, and you
want to snuggle up under the stars. This heavy-duty hammock can
support up to 400 lbs., so it’s ideal if you run with the mastiffs and
malamutes. Plus, this model features a button link attachment system that makes
setting it up a snap. The design came from a parachute rigger, so you can sleep
feeling secure. 

4. For the Sprawl-Out
Set — Amok Draumr Hammock 

If you have
sleep apnea, hammock sleeping can leave fellow trekkers wondering if a bear
wandered into camp. Traditional hammock designs have you lie flat on your back
in a narrow tube, a position that exacerbates symptoms of some health
conditions. This model enables you to sleep on your side or your back and
sprawl — it attaches from the sides, not the top and bottom. Additionally, you
can turn this model upright like a chair with the adjustment straps. 

5. For Those Who Need
Versatility — Blue Ridge Camping Hammock 

Sometimes,
you don’t want to — or can’t — find two suitable trunks to spread out your
gear. That situation won’t pose a problem with this hammock, as it segues
effortlessly from
the ground to the trees, depending on the terrain. This model features a
built-in noseeums bug net and comes with an attached cover for rainy days. The
poles add rigidity and support even when you’re elevated, giving you a wide bed
surface to curl up on your side comfortably. 

Take One of These Hammocks Camping on Your Next
Adventure 

The
next time you head to the great outdoors for some well-deserved R&R, skip
the tent. If you take one of these hammocks, you’ll enjoy comfortable and dry
sleeping conditions far from the beaten path.