This page contains affiliate links. Far Cornel may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
See the top-rated gear on Amazon →
A good camping hammock turns two suitable trees into a fast, comfortable place to rest, read, nap or sleep under the stars. The right one depends on whether you want a simple camp lounger, a lightweight hiking option, or a complete hammock shelter with straps, bug net and rainfly. Here is how to choose the right setup, and the hammocks worth hanging.
Quick Picks
- Best overall:ENO DoubleNest
- Best capacity (two people):Kammok Roo Double
- Best with straps included:Sea to Summit Pro Hammock Set
- Best all-in-one (net + fly):Kammok Mantis / ENO OneLink
- Best value:Wise Owl Outfitters Double
How to Choose a Camping Hammock
First decidelounging or sleeping. For relaxing at camp, a simplegathered-end hammockis all you need. For sleeping overnight, look for anintegrated bug net and a rainfly (tarp)— and ideally an underquilt or sleeping mat for insulation, because the air beneath you steals warmth.
Checksize and capacity. Asingleis lighter and packs smaller; adoubleis roomier and lets you lie diagonally for a flatter, comfier position (and fits two for lounging). Match theweight ratingto the user — most quality hammocks hold 180–225kg, but cheaper ones can tear, so don’t skimp.Fabric denier(typically40D–70D ripstop nylon) tells you about durability: 70D is tougher, 40D lighter.
Mind thesuspension, because it’s often sold separately. You wantwebbing straps at least 1–1.5 inches wide— both for strength and to protect tree bark (Leave No Trace) — with multiple loops or buckles for easy angle adjustment, so check whether straps are included before you buy. A good hammock packs into its ownattached stuff sackso you’re not chasing a loose bag.
Finally, thehang: aim for a relaxed strap angle (around 30 degrees) rather than pulling the hammock banjo-string tight, and lie slightly off-centre for a flatter bed. Addtree-protector strapsif your suspension is thin cord. Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the camping hammocks.
The Hammocks
ENO DoubleNest
The all-round favourite. Made from durable 70D nylon with triple-stitched seams, it’s roomy enough for one to stretch out diagonally (or two to lounge), packs into its own small sack, and is the most straightforward hammock to hang. The catch: suspension straps are sold separately (pair it with ENO Atlas straps). Best for campers who want a proven, durable lounger.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the ENO DoubleNest.
Check today’s prices on Amazon →
Kammok Roo Double
The roomy, premium pick. An extra-spacious double with one of the highest weight capacities going (around 230kg), made from soft, recycled diamond-ripstop fabric with eight gear loops and climbing-rated carabiners. Suspension is separate. Best for couples lounging together or anyone who wants a plush, high-capacity hammock.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Kammok Roo Double.
Sea to Summit Pro Hammock Set
The ready-to-hang option. From the brand, this 70D ripstop hammock comeswithsuspension straps and a clever 3D quick-connect buckle system, all packing into a built-in compression sack — tough, roomy and quick to set up out of the box. Best for campers who want everything in one purchase, no separate straps to buy.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Sea to Summit Pro Hammock Set.
Kammok Mantis / ENO OneLink
The all-in-one shelter. These complete systems bundle the hammock with anintegrated bug netand awaterproof rainfly, plus suspension — everything you need to sleep out, with 360-degree insect protection and weather cover. Best for campers who want to use a hammock as a genuine tent replacement.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Kammok Mantis / ENO OneLink.
Wise Owl Outfitters Double
The budget choice. A sturdy, triple-stitched double hammock with a high weight capacity that often includes tree straps, at a fraction of the premium price. The fabric isn’t as soft as the top names, but it does the job. Best for first-timers and casual loungers who want to try hammock camping without spending much.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Wise Owl Outfitters Double.
Comparison
| Hammock | Size | Capacity | Straps included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENO DoubleNest | Double | ~180kg | No | All-round lounging |
| Kammok Roo Double | Double (roomy) | ~230kg | No | Two people / plush |
| Sea to Summit Pro | Single/Double | ~180kg | Yes | Ready to hang |
| Kammok Mantis / ENO OneLink | Single | ~180kg | Yes (+ net + fly) | Tent replacement |
| Wise Owl Double | Double | High | Often | Value / first-timers |
The Bottom Line
For most people the ENO DoubleNest (with Atlas straps) or the strap-included Sea to Summit Pro is the sweet spot for lounging and the odd night out. Go Kammok Roo for a roomier two-person hang, step up to an all-in-one Mantis or OneLink if you want to sleep out properly with a net and fly, and the Wise Owl covers it on a budget. Check the weight rating, use wide webbing straps to protect the trees, and add a fly, bug net and underquilt or mat if you plan to sleep rather than just swing.
Round out your sleep options with our guides to the best camping tents, the best self-inflating sleeping mats, and the camping sleep system guide.
A camping hammock is two very different products wearing the same name. One is a simple seat strung between trees for an afternoon with a book, and the other is a full sleep system that replaces a tent. Buying the first when you meant the second leads to a cold, miserable night, so it helps to be clear about which you are after before you look at fabrics and straps.
Lounging or sleeping
For lounging, almost any comfortable hammock and a pair of decent straps will do, and you can be swinging within minutes. Sleeping out overnight is a bigger commitment, because a hammock alone leaves you exposed to insects, rain and, most of all, cold from below. A proper overnight setup adds a bug net, a tarp overhead and insulation underneath, and once you have those pieces a hammock can be more comfortable than the ground. The extra pieces also add weight and cost, so a casual lounger need not carry any of them. Decide which trip you are equipping, since the two gear lists barely overlap.
Fabric, size and weight rating
Most camping hammocks use nylon or polyester, with nylon being light and packable with a little stretch, and polyester holding its shape with less give. A double hammock is wider and more comfortable than a single even for one person, since the extra width lets you lie diagonally, though double rarely means two sleepers in comfort. Always check the weight rating and leave some margin, because that figure covers you plus any gear you bring into the hammock, and a failure a metre up is an easy way to get hurt.
Suspension and how to hang it
The suspension matters as much as the hammock. Use wide tree straps rather than rope or thin cord, both because narrow lines damage bark and because straps with multiple loops make adjusting the hang easy. Aim for a relaxed curve rather than a tight, flat pull, with the straps at roughly a thirty-degree angle from horizontal, which gives the most comfortable lie and stops the hammock squeezing you like a banana. A structural ridgeline between the ends sets a consistent sag every time, which takes the guesswork out of a good hang. Hang the seat low enough that you can sit and stand without a drop, and only ever use healthy, sturdy trees.
Staying warm and dry overnight
The lesson every new hammock sleeper learns the hard way is that insulation under you is not optional. Your weight crushes any sleeping bag beneath you flat, so the cold air moving under the hammock steals heat all night. An underquilt hung below, or a sleeping pad inside, fixes it and turns a cold night into a warm one. Add a bug net in insect season and a tarp with a ridgeline overhead for rain, and pitch the tarp before you need it rather than during the first shower. Small drip lines on the suspension keep rain from running down the straps and into the hammock.
Where to save and where to spend
Save with a simple double hammock and a good pair of wide straps if you mostly want to relax at camp, since that combination is cheap and hard to fault. Spend on an underquilt if you plan to sleep out, because it is the single piece that makes hammock nights genuinely comfortable, and on a decent bug net and tarp for the seasons that need them. Wide, tree-friendly straps are inexpensive and worth buying whatever you do, for the trees and for the easy adjustment.
Common mistakes
- Sleeping with insulation only on top, then freezing from below through the night.
- Hanging the hammock tight and flat, and being folded up uncomfortably instead of lying relaxed.
- Using thin rope that cuts into bark and slips, rather than wide tree straps.
- Ignoring the weight rating, or trusting a dead branch that gives way under load.