The Ultimate Guide to Eco-Friendly Hammock Camping

Camping in forests or anywhere surrounded by nature is both freeing and fun.  And aside from the usual tent or sleeping bag, bringing a hammock can be an even more exciting experience.

Whether you choose to sleep in a hammock on those cold summer nights or use it to relax during the day, a hammock is an easy, light accessory that can make camping much more convenient and relaxing.

When shopping for hammocks, look for one that's lightweight, compact, and durable. The size of the hammock is also your choice, as they come in varieties. Your hammock should not only provide you with a cozy place to relax, but it should also be light and portable enough not to add too much to your luggage.

Hammocks for all seasons

You can fully enjoy a hammock in decent weather but don’t forget about the rain, wind, and insects. To avoid any discomfort, the bug net and rain tarp are a great addition. 

For example, from Hammock Bliss, you can find the eco-friendly Sky Bed Bug Free which is designed to be used with an inflatable pad to create a flatter sleeping space and built-in insulation along with built in bug protection.  Hammock Bliss also makes a great all-around netted hammock called to No See Um No More which features a  large unrestricted sleeping space and is fully reversible.  Add to either hammock the Stay Dry Jumbo Rain Fly and you have a complete bug free and rain free hammock camping experience.

Installing the hammock

In general, the best place to set up your camping hammock is between two strong trees with enough space between your hammock tree straps to provide a secure grip.  For most camping hammocks the ideal distance between trees is about 13 feet or 4 meters. Make sure there are no dead branches or loose objects above you that could fall on you.  However, if there are no trees in the area, there are a few other ways to set up your hammock.

Depending on the area, you can tie it between two poles, use nearby building structures, attach it to your truck or RV or invest in a hammock stand.

Bring accessories for your hammock

When hammock camping, it's always a good idea to have a few carabiners and cordage on hand. Carabiner clips can be used to secure your hammock to the suspension system or to hang small items inside your hammock from a ridge-line.

A ridge line is a small piece of rope or cord that connects the hammock's two ends. It runs from head to foot across the top of the hammock and is useful for hanging a bug net, tarp, and other items, such as wet clothes. 

Be sure to bring a good sleeping bag and a travel pillow for extra comfort and coziness.

Always use tree straps to make it easier to hang your hammock and protect the trees from abrasion.  A great choice would be Hammock Bliss Deluxe Cinching Tree Straps which are 100 inches / 254 cm long, 1.5 inch / 4 cm wide and feature a cinching buckle.

How to make your hammock camping experience more sustainable

These steps can guide you to a more environmentally friendly way of hammock camping.

1. Before you go, find out if it's possible to hang hammocks from trees in the area where you'll be camping. If not, see if there are any other options to hang your hammock.

2. Try to buy or rent a durable hammock made from eco-friendly materials.

3. The size and quality of the bark on trees vary. To avoid tree damage, always use wide tree straps that are 1.5 to 2 inches wide.

4. If you hang your hammock between two trees, make sure your webbing straps are long enough to reach the trees. Before breaking branches or altering a site in any way, consider moving to a new set of trees.

5. You can put a piece of closed-cell foam between the strap and the tree for extra protection if you decide to camp at a resident week-long camping ground. This allows you to protect the trees from damage.

6. When not in use, remove all accessories. Animals can become entangled in lines left suspended in some areas. Always leave the site as you found it.

7. To respect other visitors, set up your hammock so as not to  disturb anyone’s view.