How To: Hammock Camping For Beginners

Written and Photographed by Alisha McDarris

Are you thinking of ditching your tent and giving hammock camping a try? Maybe you're already hooked, but you're on the hunt for a few tips to make it more enjoyable? We've got you covered.

These tips and tricks will make every night spent hammocking outdoors the most comfortable ever. We’ll cover what to consider before loading up the car, a necessary gear list, and tips for staying warm and organized.

Things to Consider

If you’re making the switch from traditional tent camping to hammock camping, there are a few unique considerations to make sure you leave home prepared.

• Trees vs stand: Will there be trees where you plan to spend the night, or will you need to bring a hammock stand? To find out if trees are in plentiful supply, check campground websites for photos if you’ve never been to that particular destination. Likewise, check with the campground or park websites for restrictions, as some don’t allow visitors to hang hammocks from trees or require a minimum strap width (often 2”). If that’s the case, opt for the Nomad Hammock Stand. It weighs 15 lbs and is compatible with all ENO hammocks, rain tarps, and bug nets.

• Who’s camping?: Are you camping solo, with a partner, or with a dog? If several people are hammock camping, will there be enough trees for all of you? Or will you need to bring accessories like a tandem hammock system so you can hang two hammocks from the same two trees? If you’re traveling with pets, consider where they’ll sleep and whether they’ll need warmth and shelter and where that will fit into (or under) your setup.

• Check the weather forecast: Note the overnight low, whether rain is expected, and if mosquitos or other insects will be an issue. That information will dictate what specific gear you need to pack to stay comfortable, dry, and bite-free.

• Does weight matter?: If you’re backpacking, you may want to pack lighter, more compact gear in a more streamlined kit like the SubLink Ultralight Hammock System. But when car camping, you have more flexibility to pack all the gear and accessories you want despite size and weight, like the OneLink or JungleLink Hammock System.

Gear List

Once you’ve made a plan for your hammock camping trip, it’s time to pack up all the gear you’ll need. Here’s a list to get you started, plus tips for choosing the right stuff.

• Hammock: A one-person hammock will do if you’re trying to cut weight, but a double hammock offers more room to stretch out and is a must for tall campers.

• Straps or stand: You’ll need adjustable hammock straps (also called a suspension system) to hang your hammock from trees. Alternatively, a hammock stand is convenient in the absence of trees or in areas with hammock bans.

• Sleeping bag or quilt: Make sure your bag or hammock topquilt is rated for a few degrees colder than the lows you’re expecting. 

• Hammock underquilt: If you’re camping in cool to cold weather, this is a must. Underquilts go under your hammock to keep your backside toasty and eliminate drafts. Look for one rated for the temps you’ll be experiencing.

• Tarp: Especially if there’s rain or wind in the forecast, a hammock tarp will keep you protected from the elements (and offer some privacy).

• Pillow: An inflatable or packable pillow can make sleeping more comfortable.

• Sleeping pad (optional): While not strictly necessary, in cold weather, an insulated sleeping pad can help you sleep warmer. A closed cell foam pad or inflatable pad (not inflated all the way) will do the trick.

• Bug net: You may not need a bug net everywhere you camp, but it will help keep creepy crawlies out while you repose. The JungleNest Hammock comes with a built-in bug net.

• Accessories: A few simple items can help boost your comfort and the accessibility of important items. Accessory organizers that attach to a ridgeline can be useful, as can carabiners to attach items like water bottles or footwear to hammock straps. Utilize the built-in stuff sack pocket on all ENO hammocks to store small items, or invest in a gear hammock that hangs below your hammock to keep gear off the ground and within arm’s reach.

Stay Safe and Comfy

A safe and comfortable hammock camping setup is vital for not only a pleasant night outdoors, but for your own safety.

• Select healthy trees: When picking trees from which to hang, choose mature, healthy trees that are at least six inches in diameter. The last thing you want is a too-small or dead tree toppling over on you in the middle of the night.

• Check your distance: Select trees that are about 10-15 feet apart. If they’re too far away from each other, your hammock will be stretched too tight, and you’ll have difficulty getting in and lying diagonally. If they’re too close together, you’ll end up with too much slack and curved like a banana when you get in. A little, but not too much, slack is key.

• Not too high or too low: Hang your hammock so the bottom hovers about 18 inches from the ground when in use. You may have to adjust the height once or twice, but start with your straps about 5 feet off the ground.

• Sleep diagonally: Laying in your hammock with your head and feet pointed directly toward the ends will leave you bent in half at your middle. Stretch out diagonally in the hammock to lay flatter.

• Sleep warm: If it’s below 65ºF or so (depending on your sensitivity to cold), pack an underquilt, extra warm sleeping bag and topquilt, insulated sleeping pad, and tarp.

Hammock camping may come with a bit of a learning curve, but once you get your gear dialed, your sleep setup sorted, and understand how to stay cozy, it can offer a more comfortable–not to mention more fun–experience overall.

Author Bio:

Alisha McDarris is an outdoor journalist, ultralight backpacker, and co-founder of Terradrift.com, an outdoor adventure blog and YouTube channel that encourages more folks to explore responsibly. She lives in the Wasatch Mountain in Northern Utah where she’s always scoping out good spots to hang a hammock.