Road Trip Ready: Why ENO's Nomad Hammock Stand is a Campervan Essential

Written and photographed by Erin McGrady and Caroline Whatley of Authentic Asheville

We travel a lot in our campervan for work and for fun. Over the last eight years, we've crossed the country several times and it never gets old. There’s always something new to see and do and the shared experiences we create bring us closer. 

One takeaway from our travel experiences is that we’ve learned to incorporate comfort whenever we can. After a long day on the road, our bodies often crave the ability to laze around somewhere beautiful. ENO’s Nomad Hammock Stand helps us do just that.

We can lounge around in our camping hammock with a book or our dog, Maggie, take a nap, or watch the sunset. Plus, due to the shock-corded poles, the setup for this portable hammock stand is ridiculously easy and fast. No tools are needed meaning we spend more time hanging out than setting up. Because the reality is, when we’re on the road if something is a chore to do, we just won’t do it. 

ENO’s Nomad Hammock Stand is one of our must-pack pieces of road trip gear because it doesn’t take up a ton of space and it’s the perfect balance of sturdy and lightweight. The frame is made with anodized aluminum, is weather-resistant, and weighs just over 15 pounds. 

It packs down neatly into a custom backpack with shoulder straps and side handles, making loading and unloading from the van a breeze. The new and improved backpack design allows us to take it on short hikes, which opens up the possibility for adventures with it. 

The shoulder straps adjust for a comfortable fit so it doesn’t bounce while walking to your destination. The backpack is also made of a rugged and durable material so you don’t have to worry about snagging in on a branch or even pilling. Internally, the backpack’s padded sleeves neatly organize the hammock stand. The designers have cleverly left room inside it to store an ENO hammock and even a snack or two. 

We love that the Nomad Hammock Stand also works within the ENO ecosystem of accessories. It’s compatible with gathered end hammocks up to 10 feet, plus you can quickly and easily attach ENO bug nets and rain tarps for the full hammock camping experience. 

The clever design of this camping hammock stand means not only do you not need trees, knots, or tools to set it up, you do not need those things to use hammock camping accessories. The ENO Guardian Bug Net and the ProFly Rain Tarp both attach directly to the stand and work together to keep you comfortable, bug-free, and protected from the sun and rain. 

Don’t have an ENO tarp? It’s no problem. The adjustable tarp poles on the stand mean that it’s compatible with most tarps so that you have both privacy and shelter wherever you set up camp. 

Plus, the versatility and adjustable nature of these tarp poles mean that you can set up in either low mode or high mode. We’re 5’4” and 5’6” so low mode still gives us ample clearance underneath our tarp. But we love that taller folks can set up higher for added clearance. 

For extra protection and privacy, low mode is our go-to. This is our mode of choice when taking an afternoon nap on a hot day (we experienced several on our trip to the Southwest) as we still had ample airflow. The one drawback is that it will not protect the rest of camp from any snoring within!

Finally, it can’t be understated that the ENO Nomad Hammock Stand is in line with Leave No Trace Principles as it leaves a minimal footprint in the outdoors. We’ve set it up in on dirt, mulch, gravel, grass, concrete, and even rock. And when it’s time to pack up, no one ever knows we were there as the feet of the stand don’t leave any marks. 

This is one piece of gear we can easily recommend for the adventurer in your life.

Author Bio

Erin McGrady (she/her) and Caroline Whatley (she/her) are the creators behind Authentic Asheville. They share stories that increase BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation in the outdoors. Keep in touch by following them on Instagram at @authenticasheville.