The 8 Very Best Camping Hammocks
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Inherently relaxing, hammocks are ideal to bring along on car-campingand backpacking trips for napping, seating, reading, and even in lieu of atent. Hammock camping is especially nice in the summertime, saysKatya Morzhueva, an avidbikepackerand co-owner ofCool Cat Cyclesin Cinco Ranch, Texas: “Because you have constant air flow all around you, you can feel every slight breeze, and it really cools you off.” You’ll probably want to add a tarp and bug net to protect yourself from rain and mosquitoes and create a complete sleep system. A hammock-specific underquilt can also add optional padding.
Most hammocks are sold separately from the straps you need to attach them to trees, which is annoying when purchasing your first hammock and convenient as you acquire subsequent ones. Will Bowen, a sales associate atAscent Outdoorsin Seattle, recommends theENO Atlas Strapsfor most people. “The loops that you clip the hammock into are spaced much closer together than other tree straps I’ve used, so it’s a lot easier to adjust and get the right amount of slack from your hammock no matter the size of the tree,” he explains. Whatever straps you get, make sure they’re broad enough where they make contact with the tree to disperse pressure and prevent stripping the trunk of bark.
Updated on April 28, 2026
These hammocks have been updated with the latest pricing and availability. We included intel from four additional hammock-camping experts and addedENO’s Sub6 Ultralight Hammockto the list.
Our top picks
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Weight and length
How comfortable a hammock is comes down to how well it holds its shape when you get into it, and that’s about stringing it up nice and taut and about length. “If it’s not long enough, you’re going to lay like a banana in it,” says Rasmus Madsen, a Danish self-described “hammock enthusiast” who used to design and sell his own hammocks and hammock accessories. “A good hammock needs to be at least 11 feet to give you the best flat lay.” Shorter than that and the gathered ends push your feet together and keep your body curled inward along the centerline. If you know you’re just going to use it for a short reading session on a day hike or to sit perpendicularly, bench style, a shorter version may work just as well, but otherwise, go long.
If you’re only going to be stringing it up at your drive-in campsite or backyard, how big and heavy your hammock is doesn’t matter much. But if you want to take it backpacking, or even just on a day hike, think about how much weight and space you’re willing to dedicate to your hammock and choose accordingly. The most ultralight hammock and straps will be nearly as small and light as a grapefruit, while the bulkiest more closely resemble a watermelon.
Capacity
You definitely want a hammock that’s rated for your weight or heavier. If you’re going to be using it for your sleep system, think about whether you want to be able to hang your gear off your hammock and be sure to account for the extra weight. Some people prefer double hammocks over singles even when they’re not planning on using it with a second person — Will Bowen prefers the roominess and flexibility of a double, saying that “it’s nice to have the option if another person is coming along, and it’s not too big or heavy to be inconvenient even when it’s just me.”
Structure
There are two basic types of hammocks: those with rigid structural support on the ends and those with gathered ends. Bridge hammocks — the ones with a stiff frame holding the width of the hammock open, so that the hammock looks more like a bridge than a pea pod — can be easier to set up comfortably and gives you a better view of your surroundings when you’re in them, because there aren’t any high walls curling up around you in the middle. But that added structure will come with extra bulk and weight.
Best overall camping hammock
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Weight and length:19 oz, 9’ 6”| Capacity:Double or single, 400 lbs or 500 lbs| Structure:Gathered ends
Nearly every outdoor expert I spoke with said that ENO’s nest hammocks, which are available in single and double sizes, were the best for camping. “ENO is my favorite brand for anything hammock,” says Morzhueva. Fiorella Yriberry,a travel expert atRVshare, has been using a DoubleNest “constantly” for the past three years and says it shows few signs of use, adding that she likes how the fabric is easy to clean and dries quickly. This hammock is “light, it’s fast, and when you’re exhausted, it’s the most comfortable way to fall asleep,” adds Yasmine Fuller, the lead digital-content specialist atMast General Storein North Carolina. She recently ventured out with hers to the Linville Gorge Wilderness and suspended it over a magnificent view that would never be possible to enjoy from a tent. “It’s one of those pieces of gear that just works,” says Lesa McDermott, vice-president of operations atGirl Camper, who has taken her DoubleNest on multiple multiday river-rafting trips. “Easy to set up, packs down small, and most importantly, I genuinely sleep well in it.”
You can even take your ENO hammock on climbing trips, says Paloma Farkas, an alpine- and rock-climbing guide in Bishop, California. Her partner, also a climbing guide, regularly uses it to sleep on big walls during multiday climbs. While we don’t necessarily recommend using a hammock for this (Strategist associate editor and resident climber Jeremy Rellosa says that given the choice, he’d always choosebivyingor aportaledgefor maximum safety), any hammock that’s enthusiastically endorsed for use everywhere from a state-park campground to the Nose on El Capitan is pretty dang versatile.
Best (less-expensive) camping hammock
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Weight and length:1 lb 7 oz, 9’| Capacity:Single, 500 lbs| Structure:Gathered ends
This is a longtime Strategist-recommended ENO dupe that gets rave reviews for its comfort and included straps. Gold Armour includes straps with the parachute nylon hammock body for a lower price than most sets of stand-alone tree straps, and except for being a bit heavier, it’s pretty comparable to more expensive versions.
Best full sleep system camping hammock
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Weight and length:2 lbs 12 oz, fits person up to 6’| Capacity:Single, 250 lbs| Structure:Gathered ends
Mansen recommends the Expedition Zip for anyone looking for their first dedicated camping hammock. The whole system looks heavier compared to similar hammocks on this list, but that’s mostly because you’re getting a lot more. This one comes complete with an integrated bug net, separate rain fly, a stuff sack, support ropes, and complimentary tree straps. All you need is some extra insulation — your ground pad won’t fit inside very well — and you’re good to camp out in your hammock. “It’s almost an all-in-one system; you don’t need go anywhere else,” says Mansen, who recommends it to anyone looking for their first hammock camping setup.
Best camping hammock with a bug net
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Weight and length:1 lb 4 oz, 10’| Capacity:Single, 300 lbs| Structure:Gathered ends
Few things are more irritating than abug that just won’t leave you alone, whether you’re reading in your backyard for a couple hours or bedding down for a night in the wilderness. And while most of the hammock brands sell bug nets you can string up over and around their hammock, I like having the net integrated, like in the JungleNest, to save having to string up and fuss over another thing. A small support built into the mesh, plus the way the tension is distributed, creates a bubbled cockpit effect (as opposed to the bug net drooping down over you like a blanket). On the rare occasion when I want the net completely removed, it unzips and fits into an integrated stuff sack at the bottom of the hammock.
Best ultralight camping hammock
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Weight and length:11 oz, 10’ 6”| Capacity:Single, 200 lbs| Structure:Gathered ends
This American-made brand is a standby for hammock enthusiasts, and its ultralight Half-Wit is a good option for anyone looking to cut the weight in their hammock without losing the most important features. “I don’t want my night’s sleep ruined by bugs, so I always prefer a hammock with mosquito netting,” says Mansen, who will forgo the lightest option for the one with bug protection. This one offers a nice middle ground: It’s superlight, and the half bug net covers only the essentials. This one doesn’t come with a rainfly but with anultralight Dutchwareone; your whole sleep setup will be just over a pound.
Best ultralight hammock without bug net
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Weight and length:5.8 oz, 9’ 2”| Capacity:Single, 300 lbs| Structure:Gathered ends
For the most minimalist possible hammock option, ENO is again the brand to beat. This, its most lightweight offering, is ideal for thru-hikers and bike-packers who are obsessive about pack weight. “If you’re a cyclist who wears lycra, their Sub Six hammock will fit in your lycra jersey pocket,” says Morzhueva. “That’s how small it is.” She cautions that it works best for people who are on the shorter side (“I’m five-four and I can fit okay”) and recommends investing in the brand’s matching ultralight straps.
Best bridge camping hammock
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Weight and length:1 lb 14 oz oz, fits people up to 6’6”| Capacity:Single, 200 lbs| Structure:End spreader bars
This hammock is designed “based on the mechanics of a suspension bridge,” according to Warbonnet’s website, and is a great option for anyone who may have struggled getting flat and comfortable in traditional hammocks. “It gives you an exceptional flat lay,” Mansen says. “It’s sort of like a cot strung up.” The hammock is modular and highly customizable, available in single- or double-layer construction, with or without an integrated bug net, and has the choice of several different attachment systems, so you can pick when you get it whether you want to deck it out as a tent-replacement system or not.
Best freestanding camping hammock
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Weight and length:15 lbs, 50” x 8.5” x 8.5”| Capacity:Single or double, 300 lbs| Structure:Metal stand for most hammock brands
Anyone who has roamed the park for ages looking for a correctly spaced pair of trees knows what a struggle it can be to find a spot to set up. Even more so if you’ve ever wanted someplace comfy to stretch out while camping in the desert or other treeless environments. A friend brought the Swiftlet to a bonfire-picnic and I was impressed by how easy it was to transport and set up. It was only a little bit bulkier and heavier than your average camp chair, so while it was easy to pack into the car and get to our picnic site, you wouldn’t want to have to carry it much further than that.
Our experts
• Will Bowen, sales associate,Ascent Outdoors
• Paloma Farkas,rock- and alpine-climbing guide
• Yasmine Fuller, lead digital content specialist,Mast General Store
• Rasmus Madsen, former hammock designer,Fimbul Outdoors
• Lesa McDermott, vice-president of operations,Girl Camper
• Katya Morzhueva, co-owner,Cool Cat Cycles
• Jeremy Rellosa,Strategistassociate editor
• Fiorella Yriberry,travel expert,RVshare
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