Guide · Hammocks
How to set up a camping hammock
Updated October 5, 2026
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Pick the trees
You need two living trees a reachable distance apart, and permission to use them. Dead trees drop branches. Thin cord cuts bark. Wide straps are the default until you have a lighter suspension you trust.
If the site has no trees, or the rules ban hammocks, the tent comes out. Do not invent a marginal hang.
Lie on a diagonal
A gathered-end hammock feels like a banana if you lie along the centerline. Lie diagonally so your shoulders and feet are offset. That is the whole trick, and it is free.
A bridge hammock lies flatter and weighs more. Try the cheap diagonal before you buy a new geometry.
Insulate the underside
Cold air under you is the failure. An underquilt wraps that side. A 40°F quilt is a summer tool. Full length matters.
Pitch the tarp so it does not drip at the head or the foot. Practice in the yard, including a door you can close.
Gear for this guide
FAQ
Can I hammock in the rain?
Yes, with a tarp you have pitched before. The first rain should not be the first pitch.
Is it colder than a tent?
The underside is, until the underquilt is right. Then it is a preference.
What about bugs?
Use a net. A beautiful breeze is also a mosquito highway.