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Why You Need to Try Hammock Camping

Hammock camping can be a unique and freeing experience even for those who regularly camp using a tent or RV. This article is for potential first-timers and lists a few great reasons to try hammock camping.

Setting up camp with a hammock requires considerably less space than it would take to set up a tent or trailer. Though they aren’t suitable for every environment, camping with hammocks can be done anywhere there are trees from which they can hang.

Not only are hammocks a space-saver on the campsite, but they also lighten the backpacking load to carry in and out. Hammocks are typically lighter than tents–even with extras like a maosquito net or a rainfly–making them ideal for ultralight backpacking. There is often no need for an extra sleeping pad in a hammock unless it’s cold outside.

Most campers know that no matter how carefully they try to pick the ideal sleeping spot there can still be uneven patches of the ground underneath the tent that disrupt sleep and cause discomfort. Using a hammock eliminates the need to search for an ideal area of the forest floor and therefore reduces the risk of tossing and turning on uncomfortable rocks, roots, and debris.

Another advantage to hammocks is that they are adjustable. Each one can be hung at an ideal height and tension for the weight of the person sleeping in it. Though it might seem like a daunting task for new hammock campers at first, tools such as the Hammock Hang Calculator can help with deciding how to hang a hammock in the different environments that campers choose to explore.

Sleeping in a hammock literally eliminates the walls between the camper and nature. There will be opportunities to soak up views the landscape that could not otherwise have been visible from inside a tent. Imagine falling asleep while stargazing or waking up to sunrise without even having to unzip a tent door. These are just a few of the unique experiences that hammock camping can offer.

Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to each method of camping, but don’t let fear outweigh the excitement of trying something new! Once potential hammock campers are aware of the advantages listed here, all that’s left is to go out and experience it firsthand.