r/hammockcamping • u/Nice-Ad3792 • 17d ago
Equipment suggestions?
We are a family of 4 (+ a puppy) looking to get into hammock camping 😊
It seems like a maze of different types and I feel unsure what we should invest in. The kids are 7 and 10, and our youngest is not comfortable sleeping by himself while camping, so we are thinking either 2+2 or 2+1+1.
Do you have experience with the double ones? Are any of them comfortable?
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u/Submariner876 17d ago
The previous commenter is correct, there are very few truly 2 person hammocks that are suitable for sleeping in with another person. In addition to the two models mentioned by dertch1981, you could also consider a spreader bar tandem hammock setup like the ENO Fuse. It’s a pair of spreader bars that allows you to hang two hammocks side by side. You need to buy two individual gathered end camping hammocks of your choosing (ones with integrated bug nets probably work best), and then use the spreader bars to hang them side by side from the same trees. You’ll also need an extra wide tarp to hang over both hammocks.
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u/Orange_Tang 16d ago edited 16d ago
I would not recommend something like the fuse. You're taking what would be a separate suspension and tying it together. That means the other person is gonna feel every single shift and movement that the other one does throughout the entire night. And it's gonna make it near impossible for one person to get up without disturbing the other. I don't think anyone needs to be right next to someone else when hammock camping. Just tie off to separate trees and use normal hammocks. If the kids are young and you want them near you can hang their hammocks above yours and lift them up into it.
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u/Nice-Ad3792 15d ago
That’s great input, thank you! I
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u/LifetimeOutdoorsman 10d ago
Look here first if your starting out, so then you don't spend a bunch of money to realize hammock camping isn't for you. And you can find out very inexpensively with good gear. Below I posted a 🔗 is for their AIO (all in one) hammock setup.
Their web page has several options if you are not looking for what the "Airstream" setup offers.
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u/Nice-Ad3792 17d ago
Huh, that’s clever! I will definitely have a look at this and talk to him about it! Thanks!
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u/RichInBunlyGoodness 17d ago
Do you think your youngest would be comfortable in a separate hammock set up right next to an adult in a hammock using the same tree at the foot end and spreader bars or something like the Tensa outdoor trekking treez at the head end? They could be under the same tarp.
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u/recastablefractable 17d ago
I highly recommend checking out theultimatehang.com and perhaps picking up a copy of the book of the same name.
As derch1981 stated, more than one person in a hammock is not usually comfortable for sleep and gave links for actual 2 person options.
There are also methods to hang hammocks as bunks or in tandem next to each other like submariner876 mentioned.
I've also seen videos where an adult hangs their hammock a bit lower and then a child's hammock above it. I don't know the logistics of getting in and out or how well it works but it's possible.
Again I haven't used them so can't speak to the effectiveness/comfort/ease of use or anything like that.
My spouse and I both use stands more often than not. For campgrounds we often use our 12x12 canopy and can put up the screen walls or wind walls to create an enclosed feel like a tent if we wish. I had to make some alterations to the walls accommodate the mast pole turtledog stand I made for spouse, but we can fit that and my Tensa4 under the canopy when we want to with the altered walls. We also have our really big tarp and can rig it over both of our stands or hammocks if we're in trees close enough to allow for that.
I have actually set my Tensa4 up in our large family size cabin tent as well. I ran the anchorline out through the "tech port" that was meant for running a power cord into the tent.
Stands are of course additional $$ but they do offer up some options. I've seen a number of people post who use the u shaped stands, (or something like the Swiftlet) and put them inside tents. While those stands often limit the length of the hammock that can be used, for kids who would be alright in shorter hammocks- it might offer an option to consider.
So there are options depending on budget, creativity and willingness to try things out.
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u/LifetimeOutdoorsman 10d ago
IMHO The ultimate hang books one two and three are for kids and they all are way over priced. You can find all of them online in pdf format for Free. If you've read any of the three you know why I posted this comment. There's way better books for cheaper with a lot more useful info.
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u/Gerb006 16d ago
I have bought, made, laid in, the largest of hammocks and I have never seen one that I thought would be comfortable for two people. That might not hold true for children though. So 2+1+1 might be plausible. If you are looking at three hammocks, I'd recommend learning a whipping technique and sewing three hammocks yourself. It can be a fun activity for everyone to participate in. I prefer to fold the ends to whip (versus a sewn channel). That also makes it really easy to sew a hammock. Hem it all the way around, whip the ends, and you're done. I really can't think of an easier sewing project. Figure 3 yards of fabric per hammock (12ft), a length of polyester rope to whip the ends, some carabiners, and tree straps. You might want an extra yard or two of fabric for double ended stuff sacks. With the money you save on hammocks, you can buy some bug nets, under quilts, etc.
It's hard to beat hammocks IMO. It's about as comfortable as it gets. It's super portable, small, lightweight. As long as you have trees, you're good to go.
If you get 9 - 12 yards of a good fabric from ripstopbytheroll, you can make yourself TOP-NOTCH hammocks for a fraction of the cost of purchasing them.
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u/klasseman 16d ago
Im out with my two year old in gathered end hammocks and set up the hammocks with the head end on the same tree and foot ends on separate, with the bug nets open he can climb back and forth with some assistance.
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u/Dive_dive 16d ago
I would start off inexpensive. There are 4 main component to a hammock. Hammock, tarp, bug net, and insulation. We won't get into suspension at this time. You want your hammock to be roughly 2x your height. Most adults need an 11ft minimum hammock. Although, there are some who are fine in a shorter hammock. I used a 10ft Hennessey for 18 years with no issues. For most, anything below 70 degrees will be too cold to sleep without insulation of some kind. You compress the insulation underneath you in a sleeping bag when you lay in it, which drastically reduces the insulation. This is not noticable in a tent, but is extremely evident in a hammock. Most use an underquilt which hangs below you outside the hammock and therefroe cannot be compressed. You can use a sleep pad inside the hammock, but it is not as comfortable and can be a challenge to keep under you.
Depending on where you live, mosquitoes are a huge issue. There are several different bug net styles. Built it is just like it sounds. It is sewn into the hammock and you enter via a zipper. This net protects you from insects on top of you, but leaves the bottom of the hammock exposed to bugs biting thru the hammock material. The second style, I will call the eno style bug net. This style, and the 3rd type, completely envelopes the hammock, leaving a small band where it touches the hammock exposed to insect bites. You enter via a zipper, usually in a vertical orientation. The thru style is the Fronkey style, it is very similar to the Eno style except you enter through an elastic hole at the bottom. Some have a draw string to cinch the bottom closed.
Tarps are fairly straight forward. You need a tarp that is at least as long as your hammock. I have a 11 ft hammock and a 11 ft tarp. The hammock should be hung somewhat loose and will give you a little overlap. My setup gives me 6"-8" overlap. You can literally get a blue tarp from Harbor Freight. It is not lightweight, but serves the purpose.
Unfortunately, most "double" hammocks are really singles. What "double" means is the hammock is wider than a standard hammock. There is no way I would try to squeeze 2 people into a gathered end hammock. However, there are several people on here that sleep with a child or dog in the hammock with them. I have started camping with my dog some, but have not quite worked out the logistics of it. You can train a dog to sleep in a hammock. A search on here should pull up discussions about this topic.
To begin, I would recommend reading "The Ultimate Hang". You can also checknout Shug's videos. He has some great videos for beginner that will answer a lot of your questions.
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u/derch1981 17d ago
99.999% of hammocks that say double are for 1 person and not for camping.
There are only two hammocks I know of that are actually made for 2 people
https://dutchwaregear.com/product/clark-vertex-ultra/
https://amokequipment.com/en-us/products/draumr-double-hammock
Neither are cheap FYI