CAMPING HAMMOCKS

Trying to sleep on damp ground with bugs crawling around is a miserable experience. After a while you start to feel bugs that aren’t really there, and then you start to think about snakes. So much for sleeping! If you want to sleep, or just relax, out in the open air without any worries, consider taking a hammock along on your next camping trip. We’re not talking about the kind made of canvas with big, heavy stands. There are hammocks made just for camping use that are lightweight, portable, and very comfortable.

Portable Camping Hammocks

Portable camping hammocks are a great way to sleep up off the ground. These are the lightest of hammocks, starting at just 10 ounces. Fabrics are usually polyester taffeta or nylon silk and come in many colors and patterns. Hanging hardware and cords often are included with the purchase of a travel hammock, and a few include a mosquito net as well. Some “portable hammocks” also come with stands that break down for packing in a carry sack along with the hammock, but they weigh 27 pounds. For real portability, stick with the hammocks that fasten to trees.

Double Camping Hammocks

Double camping hammocks are wider than the regular ones to accommodate two, or sometimes more, people up to the weight limit, usually in the 350- to 400-pound range. Some double-hammock packages include everything you could need: ropes and straps, hardware, mosquito netting, and a rain fly. It’s almost like having a tent, hanging in the trees. You can also add a foam or inflatable pad to sleep on for extra warmth and stability.

Blue Ridge Camping Hammock

Made by Lawson Hammock, the Blue Ridge is truly a tent in the trees, sized to accommodate just one sleeper up to 250 pounds in the 7.5x3-foot bed. The Blue Ridge includes arch poles at each end to support the mosquito netting, while spreader bars keep the hammock bed level. The set also includes a urethane-coated nylon rain fly, but hanging hardware is sold separately. Altogether it weighs 4.25 pounds and folds down to a pack measuring 16x22 inches.