Hammock camping

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Hammock camping is a form of sleep camping in which the camper sleeps in a suspended hammock rather than a conventional tent upon the ground, although some camping hammocks can be set up on the ground when supports are unavailable. In foul weather, a tarpaulin or tarp is suspended above the hammock to keep the rain off of the camper. Mosquito netting, sometimes integral to the camping hammock itself, is also used as climactic conditions warrant.

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[edit] History

A hammock tent suspended between two trees, complete with tarp
A hammock tent suspended between two trees, complete with tarp

The hammock was developed in Pre-Columbian Latin America and continues to be produced widely throughout the region, including among the Urarina of the Peruvian Amazon. Though it is unknown who invented the hammock, many maintain that it was a device created out of tradition and need., hammock comes from the word hamaca a Taino Indian word which means 'thrown fishing net'. On long fishing trips, the Indians would sleep in their nets, safe from snakes and other dangerous creatures.

[edit] Why camp in a hammock?

Hammock camping enthusiasts argue that hammocks don't harm the environment in the way that conventional tents do. Most hammocks attach to trees via removable webbing straps which don't damage the bark and leave little or no marks afterwards. Whereas it's easy to see a frequently-used campground because of the effect on the grass, scrub and topsoil, the presence of a hammock camping pitch is much harder to detect. This has found favour with hikers and campers who follow the principles of Leave No Trace camping. Hammock camping also opens up many more sites for campers - stony ground, slopes, and so on - as well as keeping them off the ground and away from small animals, reptiles and insects.

One of the drawbacks of hammock camping is that it's harder to stay warm in cold temperatures because the fabric is so thin and there's no space to trap warm air between the sleeper and the bottom of the hammock. This has led to a number of ingenious innovations as different campers have tried to come up with a solution to the "cold backside" problem. One has been to fit specially designed padding or a quilt under the sleeper; another has been the use of a sleeping bag, sleep sack, or bivvy sack. Finally, some hammocks are designed with an extra layer of fabric, or a series of large pockets, on the bottom. Then, insulating material, such as foam, quilting, or even dead leaves and brush from the campsite, is stuffed between the bottom layers or inside the bottom pockets to create an insulating buffer between the sleeper and the cold outside air.

[edit] Commercial Tent Hammocks

A hammock tent, minus the tarp and showing the mosquito netting
A hammock tent, minus the tarp and showing the mosquito netting
The view from inside the hammock - the Velcro entrance/exit is between the camper's legs
The view from inside the hammock - the Velcro entrance/exit is between the camper's legs

Although many hammock tents are homemade there are also a number of commercial ones on the market that do an excellent job. In the photograph on the right you can see the hammock itself which includes a sewn in mosquito net to keep out biting insects. This particular model features a bottom-entry system - a slit that runs along the bottom for half its length, secured by Velcro. Rip open the Velcro, stand up inside the hammock, sit down on the other half of the hammock and then lean back and bring up your legs. The Velcro snaps shut behind you. To exit the hammock, you lean forward, tear open the Velcro, put both feet on the ground and stand up. Such bottom-entry hammocks are, however, more difficult than side-entry models to set up on the ground when necessary. Another drawback is finding two trees which are a suitable distance apart.

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