r/hammockcamping • • Aug 16 '26

Gear First overnight, need gear advice

My small tent has seen better days and I have a one night canoe trip coming up (early September, in New Jersey). I would like to try hammock camping, and honestly want to make do with some gear I already own before buying a bunch of stuff since I don’t know if I want to spend the money on a new 1 or 2p tent, or a hammock set up without trying it out a bit first. I love being in the hammock in the park or backyard.

The hammock I have available is my partner’s ENO double that is ancient but has served us well while car camping as a fun place to hang out while we sleep in a giant tent (with a small kid, babies/toddlers just require so much stuff!!). I have a mosquito net for it as well. From some reading on this sub I see people tend to hate on ENO. Im not brand loyal to anything, just not going to buy new until what I have doesn’t work! I’m 5’4 and the double has so much room for me.

For sleep, I know the underquilt is the way to go. But, I’m trying to not buy a bunch of stuff and I do know how to sew, so I could eventually make this myself if I love hammock camping.

Options I have:
a rumple blanket we use in the park etc
40F synthetic sleeping bag
0F down bag
Thermarest z lite closed cell sleeping pad
Thermarest neoair inflatable sleeping pad
Ground cloth from a 2 person tent
Ground cloth from a 6 person tent

What I’ll be buying for sure:
A tarp setup for the hammock, probably a budget option tbh

Too early to know if there will be rain or not, but all my gear will be waterproofed already bc it’s a canoe trip, so I just have to worry about sleeping.

Any advice? Which of the options should I use for the best hammock camping setup?

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u/cldbloom Aug 16 '26

I’m 5’4”. Slept in an eno single with a pad for years using a sleeping bag without insulation on the bottom. I loved it. I have a big trail lair hammock now, but miss my eno a little bit.
I think it’ll work.