Everyone dreams of sleeping under the stars on their camping trip, but no one wants to lose sleep to an uncomfortable sleeping setup.
Fortunately, hammock camping allows campers to elevate their sleeping setup with comfort and simplicity. The ASO Mammoth team is sharing tips to do just that here! Keep reading to see our tips for hammock camping below and then stop by the ASO Mammoth shop for the best outdoor gear and rentals in Mammoth Lakes!
Use Wide Straps to Attach to Trees
In most cases, hammock campers are going to be using trees to support their hammocks. If that’s the case, then it’s important that you use wide straps to wrap around the tree in order to prevent damage.
Securing your hammock with a rope for one night may not make a noticeable difference on the tree, but if everyone who camps there does the same thing then eventually the tree will be damaged from the rope cutting into the bark.
Wide straps designed to spread out the weight of the camper will keep each tree someone connects a hammock to healthy and strong. Fortunately, most hammocks come with their own set of wide straps designed to do just that. All you have to do is use them properly, and if your hammock lacks straps then find some instead of using a rope!
Sleep at an Angle
Your first impulse may be to set your hammock up parallel to the ground, but once you sit in it the straps connecting the hammock are going to angle down.
How much slack you leave in your lines will determine how steep the angle of your hammock is. If you don’t leave enough slack then your hammock will be too stiff. Too much and you’ll sink too deeply.
Aim for about a 30-degree angle between the ground and your hammock straps so that you have just the right amount of support.
Set up a Ridgeline
In hammock camping, a ridgeline is a line that runs parallel to the ground above your hammock. Once you have it installed, you can hang a rain tarp, bug net, or lantern above your hammock and make it more adaptable to the weather and conditions.
Installing a ridgeline is as easy as running a line between two trees but remember that if you set it too high and winds come through then whatever you hang from it will be affected more easily.
Have a Bug Net Ready
Sleeping under the stars typically means being exposed to the elements, but thanks to bug nets you can enjoy them without being eaten alive.
Draping a bug net over a hammock or ridgeline will provide adequate protection, but some hammocks also come with a bug net that can be pulled over the top for complete coverage. We also recommend carrying bug spray with you just in case, but make sure it is fabric safe before spraying down your hammock!
Add a Sleeping Pad to the Equation
A sleeping pad will help insulate you while you sleep just like it would in a tent, but getting it to fit the shape of your hammock can be difficult.
If you can’t fit a sleeping pad to your hammock then try deflating it slightly so that it becomes more malleable!