How to Hang a Camping Hammock in 6 Steps

Hammock camping is winning over more and more hikers: there is no need to hunt for flat ground, you wake up above the roots and rocks, and the kit often weighs less than a tent. The trick is setting it up properly. Here is the method we recommend, step by step.

Step 1: pick the right trees

Look for two healthy, living trees at least 15 cm (6 in) in diameter and 4 to 5 metres apart. Steer clear of dead trees, broken branches hanging overhead and young, bendy trunks. Check the ground as well: no hollows where rainwater will run during a storm, and no steep drop right beneath the hammock.

Step 2: attach the straps without damaging the bark

Always use wide straps rather than thin cord, which cuts into the bark. Our ultralight hammock comes with two 3 m multi-loop tree straps: wrap one around the trunk, feed one end through the loop at the other end and pull tight. Position them roughly 1.8 m (6 ft) high, around eye level.

Step 3: hang the hammock and set the sag

Clip each carabiner into a loop on the straps. The classic mistake is pulling the hammock tight like a washing line: it becomes unstable and folds you up like a banana. Aim instead for an angle of about 30° between the strap and the horizontal. The hammock should form a deep smile, with its lowest point at chair height, roughly 45 cm (18 in) off the ground.

Step 4: test it before nightfall

Sit in the middle first, then gradually lie back. The straps may slip a few centimetres the first time they take your weight. That is normal, so simply readjust if needed. The hammock holds up to 200 kg, but avoid jumping in or swinging hard, which puts needless strain on the seams and the trees.

Step 5: lie on the diagonal

This is the secret to a good night. Instead of lying in line with the hammock, put your head slightly off to one side and your feet to the other. Your body ends up almost flat, with no curve in your back. At 140 cm wide, our hammock has plenty of fabric for this position. Slip an inflatable pillow under your neck to finish the job.

Step 6: deal with the cold and the rain

In a hammock, air moves underneath you and cools your back, even on a mild night. It catches out plenty of first-timers. There are two fixes:

• slide an inflatable sleeping pad into the hammock, between the fabric and your sleeping bag;
• hang an underquilt beneath the hammock for the coldest nights.

For rain, pitch a tarp above the hammock, about 20 cm above the fabric, and add drip lines: a short piece of string tied to each strap so water drips to the ground instead of running down the strap into your hammock.

Mistakes to avoid

• Hanging it too high: it is awkward to climb into and any fall is harder.
• Over-tightening: a taut hammock pulls hard on the straps and folds you in half.
• Having no plan B: above the tree line, be ready to sleep on the ground on your sleeping pad.
• Packing it away wet: dry it as soon as you can to avoid musty smells.

Packing up in the morning

Unwrap the straps from the trees, shake out the fabric to get rid of pine needles and leaves, then stuff it back into its sewn-in sack. The straps and carabiners go in with it, and the whole lot fits in a side pocket of your pack. With a bit of practice, the full setup takes less than five minutes, and you will never look at rocky ground the same way again.