There’s nothing quite like hanging out in a hammock at the campsite. Imagine sitting in the woods in a hammock, cold drink in hand, surrounded by a bunch of friends. Immaculate vibes.
While most camping folks opt for hammocks to lounge in during the day and then move to their tent when it’s time to sleep, hammocks can actually be a space-efficient way to snooze in the outdoors — if you know what you’re looking for. Most regular hammocks aren’t comfortable enough to sleep in all night, and hammocks designed specifically for camping will have a lot of extra bells and whistles that will keep you cozy all night long.
Whether you’re backpacking, car camping, or just hanging outside for a few hours, we have all the best recommendations. Skip to the bottom to read about the hammocks we’ve tested and researched, or read on to learn about all the features you should look for in a camping hammock before you buy.
What to keep in mind when shopping for a camping hammock
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What are you going to use your hammock for? This is the main thing to address before you add a hammock to your online shopping cart. If you’re planning on using a hammock to hang out at base camp, read a book, or maybe take a nap, you won’t need to worry as much about an included rainfly, bug net, and other comfort-focused features. If you want to ditch your camping tent in favor of a hammock though, these features will become a lot more important. While some dedicated backpackers will opt to sleep in a hammock with no rain or bug coverage, most casual campers will appreciate the extra bug net and rainfly.
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Weight: Whether you’re hiking or driving to your campsite, it’s important to look for a hammock that won’t weigh you down. If you’re used to lugging a 20-pound air mattress on car camping trips, an average two-pound hammock shouldn’t matter, but if you’re backpacking, every ounce counts.
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How small can it pack down: Likewise, if you’re planning on bringing your hammock on a hike, you’ll want to look for one that can pack down pretty small. Most hammocks have the capacity to pack down into about the size of a football or smaller, and many have integrated stuff sacks.
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Weight capacity: Consider what kind of camping you plan on doing. If you’re going with your kids or a significant other, you may want to look for a hammock that can support more weight so you can comfortably hang out in one hammock.
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Suspension system: If you want a fast, easy setup and takedown, hammocks with no-knot suspension systems are a must. These often have to be purchased separately from the actual hammock, but they have the ability to cut your setup time down to just a few minutes and can allow you to set your hammock up on trees that would normally be too far apart. These no-knot systems can also protect trees, whereas rope suspension systems may damage bark on trees. Using rope as suspension is cheaper (and sometimes rope is included with hammocks) but you need to know how to tie knots really well if you want to string your hammock up that way.
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Comfort: While comfort is subjective, we recommend always investing in a high quality hammock that includes suspension straps and carabiners to keep you secure. If you’re planning on sleeping in your hammock overnight, a structural ridge line and the ability to lie flat are important, too.
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Bug net: If you’re particularly sensitive to insect bites or you know you’ll be frequently camping in an area dense with mosquitos, you may want to consider looking into a built-in bug net. External netting is also available but can be more of a hassle to set up.
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Rainfly: When forgoing the tent in favor of a hammock, it’s best to be safe and keep a rainfly handy. A rainfly isn’t just good for when it’s raining — it”ll also keep condensation, bugs, and foliage off of you while you sleep. Even if you don’t end up using it, you’ll be glad you have it.
With that in mind, we’ve pulled together some of the absolute best camping hammocks you can buy. Whether you’re looking for something that’ll take you through all four seasons, or you really just want something that’s quick and easy to assemble and take down, these are the hammocks you’ll actually want to hang out in.