Swinging in the breeze

[Cyanide41]

So anyone use hammocks for camping? Last fall I got this nice ENO DoubleNest hammock. I have used it on one trip but only for relaxing. I still took my tent setup. I have heard of people only taking the hammock, but I worry about comfort, and weather protection.

[n2h2o]

i have only used my mine for mid day naps. i wouldnt want to sleep in that for 6+ hours and would also worry about weather. i have seen some with a shelter or a tarp over them. guess it would work??

[NEJ]

I have one for the back yard at my house, but have never used it for sleeping or camping. I also have one for the sailboat that deploys between the mast and the head stay. It is great for an afternoon snooze when we are anchored in Catalina. A little snorkeling, a little beer, a little snoozing.

NJ

[Wardroid]

i'm afraid of bugs. I think I've seen a ground hammock with a full bug protection, though.

[Kokak]

Me and 2 friends of mine just did a 4 day Yosemite trip (40 miles in backpacks). I will not go back to the ground unless there is no way to hang my hammock.

We did 25 miles on the second day and the hammock was a god send that night. We setup tarps that night and it rained all night and through most of the next day and we were all bone dry and comfortable.

The key to hammock camping is to have an under pad of some type, regardless of how warm it is. The wind hits your back while you're suspended and will suck the heat right out of you, unless you have something blocking the air off of your back.

I would try car camping with a hammock first. This way if it is not for you, you can always grab your tent out of the car and still have a great weekend.

Give it a try, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

[NEJ]

Don't you need to have trees to hang the things from? Plus, I have an old cranky back that I live in fear of messing up by sleeping weird all night. My air mattress works just fine and it doesn't need trees. I do about fifty nights a year on the thing with no problems and it's warm. Wardroid, the tent keeps the bugs away and the rain. That's what it is for.

NJ

[Kokak]

I also have a bad back and shoulders... Man I'm feeling old. I have used air mattress and sleeping pads, but always wake up soar. Since camping in a hammock, I have no back problems while I hike (I wish this also worked for my bad knee).

You do need trees, or at least some big rocks close enough together to hang from (I use passive climbing devices).

By hanging a tarp close enough, you eliminate just about all weather and I have had no problems with bugs.

I'll post a few pictures when I get home.

[Vtec44]

I love sleeping on my hammock at home, but I've never done it while camping. Like NEJ said, the problem for me is that you need something to hang it on and that isn't always available. If you can post up the pictures of your setup, that would be great.

[Cyanide41]

kokak thanks for your Pro-hammock input. I think I need to do a couple of test runs before I decide to leave the tent at home.