How to Hammock Camp Like a Scout

Scouts might not admit it, but sleeping on the ground can sometimes be pretty uncomfortable, especially after a long day backpacking in the great outdoors. Thankfully, a hammock is a perfect solution for campers searching for sleeping alternatives. At the trail's end, when it's time to organize camp, nothing beats the ease and convenience of setting up a hammock to get a good night's rest. It may be hard to believe, but a hammock can feel as cozy as your bed. If you're planning your next camping trip and want to avoid the hard ground, read on to learn more about setting up your hammock camp on your next adventure!

Tents are synonymous with camping, but you may be surprised to learn that many cultures have adopted hammocks as sleeping alternatives throughout history. Hammocks have been popular for centuries, from pre-Columbian societies in South America to sailors in the Royal Navy in WWI. In a nutshell, hammock camping involves sleeping in a hammock suspended above the ground instead of a tent or cabin. For many adventurers, it's easy to understand the appeal of hammock camping. Hammocks are lightweight and take up minimal space inside your pack, making them ideal if you're backpacking or biking on the trail. Sleeping in a hammock also provides comfort when camping on rocky terrain or wet ground. When appropriately hung, your hammock can provide absolute comfort over a range of conditions you'll encounter outdoors.  

Before setting up your hammock, you must find two sturdy trees with at least 10 to 15 feet of distance between them. Ideally, the trees should be strong enough to support your weight. Then, you can focus on the basics, like finding the right hammock, securing it with a suspension system, and keeping yourself warm with an under quilt.

Of course, the hammock is the star of your next adventure! When choosing the ideal design for your camping needs, you should consider comfort, durability, and surface area if you want to share your hammock with friends or family. If you need a hammock or want to upgrade from the one you already use, we recommend the ENO DoubleNest Hammock, available in dark green or orange. It's big enough for two and made from nylon taffeta material that is soft on the skin, super breathable and fast drying. This hammock supports up to 400-lbs, making it perfect for parents to cuddle up with their little ones at night.

We want to have fun in the great outdoors, but at the same time, we must remember to respect mother nature. Too often, thin straps and bare ropes produce abrasions in the bark, leaving trees vulnerable to insects and disease. Thankfully, there's an easy solution! Bring a suspension system with you on your next trip to protect trees from damage. When choosing a suspension system, consider one that comes with wide straps as your best option. We recommend the ENO Atlas Suspension System because it's just plain excellent and convenient. Each strap is 9-inches long and supports up to 200 lbs. for a combined weight of 400 lbs. The suspension system's straps protect tree bark and only weigh 11 ounces, so it's easy to carry with you on the trail. Suspension straps also help cut down the time it takes to set up camp, so you spend less time stressing and more time relaxing as you swing in your hammock. 

Sleeping in a hammock can be a welcome relief from the heat of a tent during summertime. It can also be ideal if you want to relish the fiery leaves in the fall or the full bloom of spring, seasons with cooler nighttime temperatures. Unfortunately, most hammocks don't provide the best insulation in colder weather. When you lie in one, it can often cause you to experience what's known as frozen butt syndrome, where your underside gets cold due to the lack of insulation inside the hammock. Some of the most practical accessories to fight frozen butt syndrome are the ENO Ember Underquilt and ENO Spark Quilt. The underquilt wraps two layers of insulation around you, while the top quilt’s dual-layer construction eliminates cold spots to keep you perfectly warm and toasty throughout the night.

Setting up your hammock can be a quick and easy process if you know what you're doing. Whether you’re camping in the woods or in the backyard, you should learn how to set up a hammock. When you purchase a hammock, it should come with easy-to-read instructions. Here are some guidelines, however, to help you choose the proper place to hang your hammock. Ideally, the set up should only take a few minutes if you follow these helpful guidelines!

If you're setting up at an established campsite (one that is 200 feet from water sources and popular trails), find two healthy trees within proximity to one another. As previously mentioned, the space between the trees should be between 10 and 15 feet. If you didn't bring a measuring tape with you, one quick and practical way to measure distance is taking 10 to 15 steps between the trees. Choose sturdy trees more than 6 inches in diameter, and before you commit to setting up at any one particular tree, make sure there aren't signs of decay, wildlife, or nests!

After unfolding your hammock, check to see it's clean and dry. The last thing you'll want is to take down your hammock to rinse off dirt or insects lingering from a previous camping trip.

Secure the tree straps around the tree's diameter about 6 feet up from the ground. Avoid suspending your hammock more than 15 inches from the ground to avoid injury. The optimal hammock angle, where your tree straps and suspension hangs compared to the tree, is about 30 degrees. Step back from the hammock. If hung properly, it should resemble the shape of a smile.

After setting up your ridgeline, you'll have solid protection from the elements. Sleeping under the stars is lovely, but mosquitoes and rain can disturb your slumber. Consider bringing a bug net or rain tarp to protect yourself from the minor inconveniences of camping in the great outdoors.

If you're tired of sleeping on the ground or inside a clammy tent, hammock camping can be a great solution to those restless nights on the trail. For the best experience, always remember to check for wildlife nesting in trees, set up camp at least 200 feet away from water sources, and never hang your hammock more than 15 inches from the ground. Ready to relax in your hammock? Shop premier hammocks, bug nets, rain tarps, and more camping equipment at ScoutShop.org, the official online store of the Boy Scouts of America!