During the Vietnam Conflict, the United States military developed various hammocks for use in the field with the most popular being the M1966. These hammocks provided US servicemen the ability to sleep up and off the ground away from the insects, rodents, reptiles, and arachnids that called the jungle home. Compared to a traditional poncho hooch or ground tent, a hammock didn’t require flat ground, or tent poles, they were cooler and drier, and they packed down incredibly small for packing out. Since the Vietnam conflict and in most recent history, hammock camping has become very popular worldwide and there are many companies offering hammocks with modern materials and ultralight design. If you have never left the ground but have contemplated becoming a tree dweller, this week’s blog is for you.
Location, Location, Location
One benefit of using a hammock for camping is versatility. In survival classes, we teach to look up and look down and many times, students have a hard time finding a good location on the ground because of rocks, exposed roots, or uneven ground. As long as you have two upright trees that are about 6” in diameter, you have a place to sleep. We’ve used hammocks between vehicles tied to the roof racks as well as in warehouses on support beams. Look online and you’ll find a lot of interesting hammock setups on beaches, in the forest, and stretched high over canyon floors in the desert. If you aren’t able to locate anchor points for your hammock, you can always use it on the ground as a ground sheet or a bivy sack if it includes mosquito netting.
Hammock Body
One of the first nights I ever spent in a hammock was in a “hammock” called the I.M.P.S net (individual multipurpose survival net) purchased from a mail-order catalog. This super-sized fishnet was hardly comfortable but it worked to get me off the ground. Since then, I graduated to various modern manufacturers like Hennesy, ENO, Clark, and most recently the Litefighter Recondo Hammock. Hammock bodies are typically made from parachute fabric. Depending on the manufacturer, the hammock body size will vary with some being cut narrow for weight savings and others being generously sized to fold over you as you sleep and keep the bugs off. The hammock body can be a single layer or double layer with pockets underneath. These pockets serve as a standoff to keep insects from stinging you. Single layer hammocks can be treated with permethrin which will also work well to ward off the skeeters and flies. Make sure your hammock body is long enough for your body. Also, some hammock bodies are equipped with spreader bars like their backyard counterparts but many rely on your sleeping pad (more on this later) to provide enough width for comfort.
Suspension System
The connection between your hammock and the trees you tie off to is referred to as the “suspension”. This can be any number of potential configurations using carabiners, webbing, or high-strength cordage sewn in loops. Much like your hammock body, these suspension systems can be sturdy and designed for minimal impact around trees or they can be minimalist for ultralight carry. Clips and metal hooks are the fastest to set up but they add bulk and weight. If you fancy using true fieldcraft, you can suspend your hammock with the right combination of knots. Many companies offer daisy chain straps that have multiple sewn loops used in conjunction with carabiners. The loops that aren’t used can be used to hang your boots or another kit up and off the ground. Other suspension systems use cam buckles that can be tightened or loosened for the perfect hang. That perfect hang by the way is not too tight where the hammock is near horizontal and not loose where the hammock body resembles a steep “V”. 30 degrees tends to be a happy place for most.
Cover Tarp and Netting
You can hammock camp in some conditions with just your hammock and suspension straps. Those conditions are ideal when there are no flying pests and the heavens haven’t opened up on you. I don’t have that kind of luck and I always pack a good tarp and mosquito netting with me. A good tarp, at least as long as your hammock body, should be packed to suspend above you. Using paracord or another strong cordage, tie a ridgeline from one tree to the next. Lay your tarp over the top and either configure it as an A-frame or diamond. The A frame is better in cooler weather and the diamond helps you see more around you. Mosquito netting can be suspended from the same ridgeline to encapsulate your hammock. Some hammocks have integral mosquito netting that can be unzipped to keep you cooler in the warmest conditions.
Insulation
Just like a ground tent, hammock camping requires something to sleep inside of, over, and under. Unlike your ground tent, you must consider the cooling (convection) effects of the wind blowing underneath you. Custom sleeping pads are available for your hammock body or you can use a standard pad. Be forewarned, you will likely end up at some point in the night with your sleeping pad halfway jettisoned from your hammock requiring you to reposition it. Also like your ground tent, you need insulation in cool weather. Getting into a standard sleeping bag and then into a hammock can be tricky but you’ll find the easiest style of a sleeping bag to facilitate this is a center zip bag like the Slick bag from Kifaru. An even better option for your hammock is a quality quilt like the Kifaru Woobie or Doobie. Add a pillow or a small stuff sack packed with spare clothing and you’ll be exceptionally comfortable. If you eventually graduate to winter hammock camping, you’ll want to invest in an under-quilt that is like a sleeping bag for your hammock body.
Sleep Well
Hammock sleeping is unlike sleeping on the ground. You wake up in the same position you fell asleep in. You get rocked to sleep by the wind and you don’t have to worry about rolling over onto something pointed or sharp in the middle of the night. In all the years of hammock camping, I’ve never fallen out of a hammock in the middle of the night. I have seen people fall out of hammocks getting in and getting out of them. One trick that works like a charm to help you get the best sleep that I picked up from a Ray Mears video is to use baby powder on your feet and put on a clean pair of socks set aside just for sleeping. Additionally, if you want to improve your sleep, don’t drink a lot of water or other drinks before you settle in. There are ways to pee from your hammock but that is a topic for a whole other blog. For now, focus on the basics and try camping like all the other tree dwellers who have a hard time going back to the ground.