Advantages to hammock camping on multi-night trips
This question asks what the downsides are to hammock camping, but doesn't really address the reasons why you would want to sleep in a hammock to camp.
Let's say I'm backpacker new to the idea of sleeping in a hammock. What are the advantages of a hammock or reasons to choose it over the traditional tent and why? In other words, in light of all the problems with hammock camping, why do it in the first place?
Please be descriptive and pictures, where relevant, are worth a thousand words as they say.
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My experience comes mostly from backpacking in remote areas without already made tent sites. I have found that a hammock is better for me and my style of camping. If you are mostly a car-camper and are used to pulling your SUV up to a pad site, YMMV. Following are the reasons I believe a Hammock is better than a Tent.
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Weight - In all but the coldest seasons a hammock system will be lighter than a tent system for sleeping. (In colder weather an under-quilt is required to insulate you in a hammock. This makes the weight savings only slightly less than a tent. But an insulated hammock is still much lighter than a 4-season tent.)
Proposed Hammock System:
Grand Trunk Ultralight Hammock - 12 oz. (340 gram)
Grand Trunk Funky Forest Tarp - 20 oz. (570 gram)
Hammock and Tarp Hanging Gear - 8 oz. (230 gram; rope, cord and 6 aluminium tent pegs)
Total Approx. 40 oz. (1100 gram)Proposed Tent System:
TNF Mica FL 1 - 44 oz. (1200 gram)
Footprint TNF FP Mica FL 1 - 4 oz. (110 gram)
Tent Pegs and Guy Lines - 8 oz. (230 gram; you will likely need more pegs than I am allowing here)
Total Approx. 56 oz. (1600 gram)That is a whole Pound (ca ½ kg) of weight savings. I purposefully used one of the lightest tents I could find.
Comfort - This is somewhat subjective, but I have found that a hammock is more comfortable than sleeping on the ground. I am side-sleeper and with the correct amount of swag a tent is comfortable in this position as well. Remember that hammocks are designed to be laid in at an angle. Also, a tent usually requires a sleeping pad for comfort which will add another 10 to 14 oz (280 – 400 gram) to the above Proposed Tent System weight.
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Cost - A Hammock system is almost always cheaper than a tent. Hammocks are simpler to produce and require less engineering to develop.
Using the same items as above.
Hammock and Tarp Price: 19.99 + 79.99 = $99.98 (This is a very expensive Tarp)
Tent and Footprint Price: 319 + 50 = $369 (The trade-off for such a light tent is that it will be very expensive)
You can buy a lot of gear with the $250+ you will save... Flexibility - A Hammock provides greater flexibility on location of placement. Some would argue the opposite, but in an area that has some trees I have never had an issue "finding the exact right trees". Seeing a good spot and setting a good hang for a hammock comes with experience. Other benefits include that the ground doesn't have to be flat or smooth; you can even set up over water or snow. You don't actually even need trees: you can set up on the ground in an A-frame or Lean-To configuration. I have set up between the roll cages of two Jeeps. There are lots of possibilities.
Leave No Trace - With the proper straps instead of ropes a hammock will make less of an environmental impact. The problem with a tent is the preparation required before setting it up; usually this includes removing all debris and rocks from a site or at least flattening of leaf litter.
Packability - A Hammock is easier to pack than a tent. Due to their non-rigid shape, they can be stuffed into any shape. You can fit them into any available space in your pack. This usually leads to being able to carry a smaller pack for the same length trip, which leads to more weight savings and greater comfort while hiking.
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I am an avid hammock camper. I went on a 4 day trip where is rained nearly every afternoon. Besides the obvious benefits (not requiring even ground, sleeping comfortably, etc.), I found that hammock camping had the distinct benefit of not having to climb into a tent for rain protection. I was able to simple walk under the tarp and sit in my hammock. That's much better than lying down even though I had that option too. I can cook next to my hammock (something you do not want to do inside a tent).
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Not a hammock camper (not a camper at all...) I can imagine another advantage that hasn't been named yet: As you are not on the ground you don't have to be afraid of water on the ground. So especially in rainy weather where the soil cannot handle all the water you have to take some measures to secure a tent against getting flooded or washed away. In a hammock you just don't have to care as long as you store your stuff away from the ground.
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Not a hammock camper myself, but I can think of a few:
- More ventilated in the summer.
- Lighter to carry - you don't need something to pad the place you're sleeping on and you don't need the same level of rigidness that a tent offers.
- Usually more environmentally friendly - since they are smaller than tents hammocks leave a shorter toll on the environment when produced and when discarded.
- In a heavily wooded environment, it may be easier to find a place to attach a hammock than to find a clearing to pitch a tent.
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