Backpacking: Hammock Camping

Camping Elevated

I love to camp. No, really… I love camping. I enjoy camping in tents, in campers, and even in my hammock.

I find all sorts of camping scenarios enjoyable. I think it is perfectly wonderful to camp for a night or two at a campground with electricity and bathrooms or somewhere in the back-country away from all civilization.

When it comes to backpacking, I choose to sleep in a hammock. I find it that it is not only comfortable to sleep in a hammock but it is easy to transport and setup as well!

What many people don’t realize is that when someone says they ‘hammock camp’ they are not (usually) just walking into the woods, finding a couple of trees, and plopping down between them in their hammock for the night.

Hammock Camping requires some unique camping gear and attention to detail that other types of camping doesn’t.

When camping in a hammock one needs to have the obvious, a hammock and hanging gear (tree straps), but in order to do it comfortably it requires some additional things. I personally use:

  • An ENO DoubleNest Hammock
  • Ridgeline made from Paracord
  • An inexpensive backpacking tarp
  • Tent stakes for the tarp tie downs
  • A synthetic underquilt (basically a blanket that attaches to the bottom of the hammock)
  • A bug net for warmer weather
  • A backpacking pillow
  • Either a sleeping bag or a lightweight top quilt depending on the weather.
  • A mesh ridgeline organizer (to hold my phone, wallet, and such)

What is nice about backpacking is the fact that you can do it on almost any budget. All of the items which I use can be swapped out for various levels of quality. You can go backpacking on with just a couple hundred dollars invested or you can go all out and spends thousands. It is really up to you and what your personal needs are.

All and all I would highly recommend backpack camping in a hammock.

Be Bold. Go. Adventure.
-Nathan