Hammock Tent

Hammock tents, judged by the suspension as much as by the fabric

A hammock tent hangs the sleeper between two anchor points instead of laying them on the ground, which is what makes it usable over slopes, roots and wet forest floor where a groundsheet has no chance. The range runs from 3 in 1 convertibles and two-person camping hammocks to ultralight single models, covered builds and versions sewn with a mosquito net, alongside bug nets that go over a hammock already owned.

What separates a hammock tent from a garden hammock?

A garden hammock is a panel of cloth and two ropes. The camping version adds what makes a full night workable: a ridgeline fixing how much the fabric sags, a zipped or integrated bug net, tie-out points for a cover overhead and, on covered models, a sewn-in roof. The 3 in 1 designs convert between a seat, an open lie-flat hang and a closed shelter, and that flexibility is paid for in packed volume; ultralight models drop the extras and stuff down small enough to carry all day.

Why does the layer underneath matter so much?

Body weight crushes the insulation beneath the back, and crushed insulation stops insulating. A night that felt mild on the ground turns cold in the small hours a few feet above it, because moving air strips heat from the whole underside. A sleeping bag rated for the season still covers the upper body, but the layer beneath has to be added on purpose. A closed-cell sleeping mat slid inside is the simplest answer, with nothing on it to puncture. A self inflating mattress is kinder to the hips, at the cost of bulk.

Which details decide whether it hangs well?

• Load rating: read it against body weight plus kit, remembering that a two-person model carries two bodies and the strain lands on the end seams.
• Straps: wide webbing spreads the pull across bark instead of cutting into it, and many woodland sites ask for nothing narrower.
• Net access: a full-length zip lets you get out without the netting landing on your face; a slit opening saves weight and costs patience.
• Packed size: covered and convertible builds bundle far larger than a bare hammock, so measure them against the pack before a walk-in.

How far apart do the trees need to be?

Far enough for the straps to reach with slack to spare, close enough that the cloth still forms a deep curve rather than a tight line. A taut hang squeezes the shoulders inwards; a generous curve lets the body lie diagonally across the weave, which is what turns a banana shape into something near flat. Trunks want to be alive and thick enough not to flex under load: dead standing timber drops branches.

How do you stay dry underneath one?

Covered models bring their own roof, though the usual British answer is a separate sheet rigged above and pegged out wide, which is where camping tarps earn their place. In rain, hang the cover first and set up dry beneath it. Then tie a short drip line onto each suspension strap so water falls off before it tracks along the fabric, and pitch the cover low at both ends once wind drives the rain sideways.