Double Hammock

Double means wider, not two sleepers

A double hammock is cut from a wider panel of fabric than a single, and that width is what people actually buy it for. Extra cloth lets one person lie further off the centre line, which flattens the body out instead of folding it into a banana. The range covers gathered-end nylon designs, travel and camping versions with tree straps included, and models with an integrated mosquito net; enclosed designs with a built-in cover sit in hammock tent. Two people can sit in one comfortably, but sleeping two is a different question.

Can two people sleep in one?

For an afternoon in a garden, yes. Overnight, rarely. Two bodies in a gathered-end hammock roll together into the middle, which puts one person underneath the other and stops either lying diagonally. Anyone camping as a pair is generally better off with two hammocks than one wide one. Check the stated load rating before hanging two adults in any case, and treat the straps and the anchor points as the weakest part of the system rather than the fabric.

How should it be hung?

The common mistake is pulling the hammock tight between two trees. A taut hang squeezes the shoulders and lifts the sides into a cocoon; a deep sag opens the fabric out and puts less force on the straps and the trees. Aim for a noticeable curve, with the seat sitting around knee height so getting in and out is a matter of sitting down. Wide tree straps spread the load and protect bark, which is what most sites now ask for.

Why does a hammock feel cold underneath?

Because your weight compresses everything beneath you against moving air. A sleeping bag lofts above the body and squashes flat below it, so it insulates the top half of you and almost nothing underneath. The fix is insulation that is not compressed: a mat inside the hammock, or a quilt hung outside it. A sleeping bag still handles the top, but on its own it will leave you cold from below on a night that felt mild standing up.

What should be compared between hammocks?

• Fabric: parachute nylon is light and quick to dry, heavier weaves feel more stable and pack larger.
• Suspension: included tree straps with sewn loops save buying them separately and adjust without knots.
• Ridgeline: a fixed line between the ends sets the same sag every time and gives somewhere to hang a light.
• Insect net: an integrated net cannot be left at home in autumn, a separate net can.
• Packed weight: a garden hammock can be as heavy as it likes, one carried in a rucksack cannot.

What else is needed to camp in one?

A roof, first. A sheet pitched above the hammock on its own line keeps rain off the whole length, and a diagonal or asymmetric pitch covers the ends where water otherwise runs in along the suspension. Sizes and shapes for that job sit in tarp. Lighter sheets with more tie-out points are grouped in camping tarps. Add drip lines on the suspension, which are short lengths of cord tied so water runs off before it reaches the fabric.