Hammock Camping Vs. Tent Camping
One of the classic debates among backpackers revolve around tents and hammocks. In particular, which of the two makes a better shelter for camping. Both are popular and effective shelters, so the heat behind this debate really comes down to personal preference. Once you’ve experienced both, you can have a more solidified opinion on hammock camping vs. tent camping.
For some people, it make take a bit of convincing to test out a night in a hammock. Breaking away from the familiarity of spending the night in a tent can be a challenge. However, many people never look back once they do.
If you are considering swapping your tent for a hammock, you should know what to expect going into it. There are similarities and differences between the two that can have a huge impact on your comfort throughout your trip. Before you make any big changes, be sure to read through this post to get a better look at hammock camping vs. tent camping.
What is Hammock Camping?
Hammock camping is exactly what it sounds like – spending the night in your hammock rather than in your tent.
Some people might simply bring their sleeping bag into their hammock and call it a night. This is only enjoyable if you have the most ideal of conditions in terms of insects, weather, and temperature. For most occasions, a little more work goes into it.
When you convert your hammock from a place to lounge to a place to sleep, there are a few extra steps that goes into it. For one, you’ll want a bug net and rain cover. These are essential for most backpacking trips, where mosquitos are hungry and rain is unpredictable. You’ll also need to bring along a bottom quilt or a sleeping pad to line the bottom of the hammock. This is necessary to keep you warm as the temperature dips through the night.
The most common reasons backpackers give for preferring hammock camping to tent camping is weight and comfort. They find that a hammock makes a more comfortable bed than the ground and that their hammock set up weighs less than their go-to tent.
If you do decide you want to try camping out in a hammock, check out our favorite picks for hammocks!
Hammock Camping Vs. Tent Camping
Many people’s stance on the hammock camping vs. tent camping debate comes out of personal preference and experience. When you make a side-by-side comparison, you can get a better feel of the pros and cons for each option:
| Tent | Hammock | |
| Weight | A good, lightweight tent might be lighter than a full hammock setup. Most lightweight backpacking tents weigh around 3-6 Lbs. | The hammock itself may be light, but the straps, cover, and bug net add to the weight. You can expect the set up to weigh in around 2-5 Lbs. |
| Comfort | Tents can be comfortable if you have the right sleeping gear for it. | Hammocks are incredibly comfortable. Remember to sleep on a diagonal to lay flat rather than banana shaped, which can strain your back. |
| Setup | You get the hang of putting up your tent after a few times. Most are fairly easy and quick to set up, taking 5-10 minutes max. | Setting up a hammock to lounge in is easy. Setting it up for sleeping can be a bit trickier. Once you get past the learning curve, it can be as easy or easier than a tent. |
| Warmth | Tents are far better at keeping you warm on a cold night. They help block the wind and trap your heat inside. | Hammocks can be bulked up with sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and warm clothing. However, you are far more exposed to the cold night air. |
| Protection | Tents are great for keeping bugs and water off you. You can store your gear inside, too, to keep it dry. Just make sure you have a good rain cover and footprint. | With the right bug net and rain tarp, hammocks can keep you dry and unbitten. Unfortunately, your gear is exposed to the elements. |
| Price | Price varies significantly, but on average you can expect to spend $200-400+. | Price varies significantly, but on average you can expect to spend $150-270+. |
You can see that one is not necessarily objectively better than the other. They both have their benefits and drawbacks. So is hammock camping or tent camping more fitting for you? That will really depend on your personal preferences and what kind of trips you are going on…
Who Might Prefer A Tent
Camping in a tent is the classic way to camp. Someone who is a traditionalist may prefer a tent simply for the familiarity of it. Others might just have difficulty getting over that mental hurdle of the first time going out on the trail without a tent. If this is your mentality, there is no significant benefit to ditching a tent. Don’t feel the need to step outside your comfort zone if you have absolutely no desire to.
Aside from personal preference, there are some situational factors where bringing a tent would be preferable. If you are camping with a dog or a friend, for instance, you might want to bring a tent along to have a shared shelter with your companions.
When taking a trip somewhere cold or where there are limited trees, you should also consider a tent. If you’re gaining a lot of elevation, you might reach a point where you are above the treeline. If there are no healthy and sturdy trees at your campsite, you won’t have a place to sleep. The cold is also a concern because tents do tend to keep you warmer and more protected from the elements.
Key Limitations of Tent Camping
There are some key limitations to camping in a tent. Finding a good, flat patch of ground to pitch it on can be a big challenge on some hikes. While every site won’t be ideal some campsites will be downright uncomfortable to set up camp on. Rocky or uneven ground and thick vegetation can make you regret bringing a tent along.
Tents may also be troublesome in really rainy weather. While rain gear like a rain cover, footprint, or waterproof treated flooring can keep your tent dry, there gets to be a point where it becomes ineffective. Water may begin to pool under your tent if it rains for a long time. No matter how freshly waterproofed a tent is, it cant withstand sitting in a puddle. Your sleeping gear will get wet.
Who Might Prefer A Hammock
Hammock camping isn’t for everyone, but those who love it tend to really love it. There are some situational factors where bringing a hammock would be preferable to a tent.
Solo backpackers may prefer a hammock out of ease and convenience. When you don’t have a single-person tent, a large tent may seem wasteful when you’re on your own. Bringing a hammock instead will help you cut down on pack weight.
If you’re backpacking somewhere with rocky, uneven, or challenging terrain, you may be better off with a hammock. You don’t spending your time searching the forest for a flat space for your tent. It’s a lot easier to find the perfect campsite so long as there are plenty of trees around!
You also don’t have to spend the night on an incline or with rocks and stumps digging into your back. A hammock will keep you comfortable on all terrains, all you need is a couple of trees.
However, the terrain doesn’t need to be awful for a hammock to be the best option. On an ideal night where the weather is warm and clear, trees are plentiful, bugs are timid, and you have a beautiful view, sleeping in a hammock is hard to beat!
Key Limitations of Hammock Camping
There are some key limitations to camping in a hammock. For one, there is certainly a learning curve for hammock camping. The first trip or two, you might have trouble setting up the system or finding the right tension and tree distance. This can be frustrating at first, but once you familiarize yourself with your gear, things will begin to come naturally.
A key concern about hammock camping is heat loss, in particular convective heat loss. This is the loss of heat due to the wind and air moving below you. If you don’t have a good sleeping pad or quilt, you will get very cold.
Bad weather can also be an issue. Some backpackers report that they needed to find an extra large rain tarp to cover themselves effectively. When rain comes with strong winds, you are almost guaranteed to get wet when you’re in a hammock. In addition, your gear is completely exposed to the elements when you camp in a hammock. When you sleep in a tent, you can lay your backpack under the rain cover or pull it into your tent. In a hammock, you let it sit and hope it doesn’t get soaked.
Conclusion
The hammock camping vs tent camping debate is not one that will end in the near future. Some backpackers love the warmth and shelter of a tent. Others prefer the comfort and ease of spending the night in a hammock. When it comes to your preference…you’ll just have to spend a few nights doing both to find that out!
Cover photo by Chris Thompson on Unsplash
