If you are used to camping in a
tent you might want to try an outdoor hammock. These are
wonderful sleep systems that actually nestle and cradle you as
if you were at home in your own bed. Many people have found that
having a camping hammock can save them lots of time in setting
up their sleeping area when they are out in the woods. All you
need is a couple of trees that are close enough, yet far enough
apart to make it comfortable for you to get in and out.
When you think about it, camping
in a sleeping bag can be very uncomfortable even when you have
cleared an area to set it down. With a hammock tent you are
suspended in midair so you don't have the difficulty of finding
a good spot. Your body wakes up refreshed too instead of being
cranky from sleeping on the cold ground.
With a regular sleeping bag it
may be difficult to find a place to camp, especially if you are
hiking in the mountains or in rocky areas. With a camping
hammock, you can sleep where the ground is uneven or above rocks
-- as long as you remember what is underneath!
Because a camping hammock is so
versatile, they are becoming more popular for people who camp on
a regular basis. Also, they are light weight, smaller and easier
to assemble and disassemble than a tent. For all of these
reasons an outdoor hammock is worth the expense and the energy
it brings.
If you want to find the right
outdoor hammock for you, here are some tips:
- Camping hammocks are made out
of a lot of different materials and you will find that fabric is
a much softer and more comfortable material than rope.
- Some hammock tents come with
rain canopies and others do not. Make sure that you buy one with
yours because you will not want to be wet if it rains.
- For some reason, bugs are
attracted to you when you are in the air, maybe out of curiosity
(who knows?!), but you can keep them off you with mosquito
netting that is also available when you buy a outdoor hammock.
- When you are thinking about
size, think about the double sizes even when you are a smaller
person. The larger sizes tend to be a bit more stable and they
give you room to store your gear if necessary.
- There are a variety of
companies that sell excellent hammock tents so you might want to
check out companies that have a reputation for designing strong
products. You can find information about Hennessey, Kelsyus,
Texsport or Clark Jungle Hammock through reviews or going
directly to their websites.
If you are a tried and true
camper who enjoys sleeping bags and are wary of using a hammock,
think about this: there is nothing like laying under the stars,
swaying with a light breeze on a nice starry evening. Although
you can look up at the stars with a sleeping bag, an outdoor
hammock makes this night a bit more special.
