Hammock Camping

"I stirred awake at 4 a.m. to the vibrant Milky Way resting on my face"

Hammock camping? I don't know, man that sounds pretty uncomfortable. Laying in the same spot all night exposed to the elements, who would find that appealing? From afar it might not look like a relaxing way to camp. But dive in a little deeper and experience a night in the woods suspended between two trees and you might just change your mind. Let's take some time to discuss hammock camping and the potential it has to alter your time outside in a positive way. Sure, there are some obvious benefits you'll be giving up but there are some hidden benefits as well that you will uncover.

But, what are you gonna gain from it?

Deciding to give up the luscious space in your tent and the comfort of the ground just to sleep outside in a hammock....why? Fair question. One worth asking. Hammock camping offers a unique camping experience regardless of the weather conditions you find yourself in. In fact, that's part of the appeal. EVERY weather condition offers something for the hammock camper. Raining? Tent fly up and you're covered. The rain gently pats your fly while it drips down along the sides and you stay completely dry while sleeping halfway between inside and out. Snowing? Cozy is as cozy goes. Layer yourself up and watch the snow build up around you. Crystal clear night with n

Gear Up

Alright let's get into it. What are you gonna need to start hammock camping? This is a wide ranging question with an answer that depends on where you'll be doing your camping. The bare minimum is a hammock and hammock straps. Duh, right. This'll get

you there. Meaning, this'll get you there if you are camping in warm, dry areas with no chance of cold weather or rain...or mosquitoes. When I'm hammock camping here in

the Pacific Northwest I never roll the dice and just bring my hammock and straps. No one likes a cold, wet camper. But, a hammock and straps is of course your starting point. Bring that bad boy out to your local park or in you backyard and start swinging. See how you like it. Get a feel for how your straps work and how slack or tight you prefer your hammock to be. For overnight sleeping, the tighter the better. If this is as far as you take hammocking that's great! You got yourself outside and can throw this in your backpack anywhere you go, just in case. String it up at the top of a hike and kick it before heading back down.

"The world would swing if hammocks were King"

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If you're liking what you're feeling so far and want to kick this up a notch and sleep overnight in your hammock you might want a couple more pieces of gear. One being a sleeping bag. There are those rare nights that stay warm until the sun rises again but in

most cases you'll want to bundle up. Unlike sleeping in a tent, in a hammock the air has the ability to sweep under you adding a cooling effect. This is great in the hot summer sun but at night it can make even 60 degrees feel cool. In addition to staying warm you might find you also want to stay dry. Get yourself a rain fly. These come in a wide variety of options but simple works. They're easy to set up, eliminate the worry of rain or morning dew and they create a pocket of heat around you. Plus you feel like you're in a fort. In addition to a rain fly, hammock manufacturers also offer bug nets which string up around your hammock. This can be a make or break deal if you're camping in an area heavy with mosquitoes or flies. Or just creepy crawlers that you don't want to wake up face to face with. When it comes to cold weather camping...well, that's a topic on its own. I'll dive into that a little below. Scroll down if you're down!

Stringing up your hammock while standing in snow...what are we doing here? Hammock camping in the winter and cold weather is done solely for the sheer joy of it. Bundling up and hopping in your hammock knowing it's 30 degrees outside and snow is covering your rain fly creates a moving experience in the woods. You connect not only with the nature around you but with the seasons as well and gain a greater appreciation for them. You'll want to add another piece of gear to your arsenal for this and that is an under quilt. This clips in under your hammock and is basically a taco shaped sleeping bag. It cuts down on wind and creates a necessary layer of warmth. When it comes to layering myself I hold nothing back. Start out with a few base layers, then my fleece onesie, warm pair of pants, a sweatshirt, snow pants, down jacket, warm pair of socks, gloves, beanie and hood up! That's all there is to it.

String it up! Get outside.