Hanging Out

For a few seasons I slept on the ground. After a particularly uncomfortable night’s sleep, I decided to investigate other sleep systems to soothe my aching back.

Car camping isn’t an option when you are miles into the woods. A fairly lightweight solution was needed. I decided to investigate the world of hammock camping. I soon found there’s a quite a few hammock enthusiasts in the hiking community.

Following too much research and reviews, I purchased a Hennessy Hammock. This gathered end hammock was sturdy, and featured some special bells and whistles that made it an ideal choice for backpacking. The asymmetrical design is made to allow the sleeper to lie diagonally rather than placing your head end to end. To keep me from being eaten alive by the mosquitos in the deep woods, It’s sewn-in mesh cover meant I would not be donating blood to the thirsty pests that hovered beyond the protective netting.

The hammock also came with a tarp to keep the rain out if weather was nasty. I loved the idea of not sleeping on the hard ground with ticks and bugs. Being elevated is wonderful if it’s raining as well. No worries about being swamped or searching for an even surface to bed down.

There are some caveats to the hammock system. Getting the proper “hang” is important. Tying the support lines so they have a correct angle to the ground and distance apart requires a bit of practice, and can make a difference in a good night sleep. I found the hammock favored back sleepers, not side sleepers. The curve of the hammock could cause over extension of the muscles in the backs of my knees too.

I gave this system a year or two, but just couldn’t get the “hang” of it. I decided to make a switch to an ultralight lay-flat hammock made by Warbonnet Outdoors.

The Ridgerunner is very comfortable, and the setup is as quick, if not faster than the Hennesy. It also featured mesh netting to keep the bugs off, but I needed to purchase a tarp separately. I do love the hammock, but it’s still a bit heavy for backpacking at 2lbs with a light sleeping bag. It’s my preference for summer camping. There’s always the issue of considering climate and season when using one.

Hanging suspended in a hammock without insulation under your body can cause you to be cold, especially when the temps dip at night. A sleeping pad in the hammock can be necessary or if temperatures are very cool, extra outer quilts can be required to retain heat in the hammock.

I love the hammock’s comfort, and being able to set up without concern of ground conditions. As long as you have two sturdy trees at a proper distance apart, you can sleep above the wet, muddy ground without worrying about the presence of twigs or stones. Breaking camp in morning means an unsoiled piece of equipment can go back in my pack.

I still go back to ground in the fall, and sometimes consider shelters as well. Are you a hammock camper? What’s your secret recipe to a good night’s sleep?