5 Best Hammock Tents For Summer Camping
Hammocking in the summertime has grown in popularity within the last ten years. Campers and hikers have added hammocks to their packing list – and for good reason.
Suspension camping is a great way to enjoy nature without a lot of gear. That’s why campers are turning to hammock tents, which are protected from the elements with mosquito netting and a rainfly. Hammock tents are also built for 1 or 2 person capacity which can be great for hiking weight issues.
Where You Can Use Your Hammock Tent:
Hammock tents are perfect for rough terrain – especially on the go.
Hikers love hammock tents which allow them more flexible options when finding a campsite. Not only are hammock tents lightweight and portable at only 2-4 lbs., but they also keep you off the ground. This keeps the creepy crawly things away from you!
In rocky terrain, hammock tents offer much-needed protection from those sharp stones. You won’t need to pad your tent floor with multiple blankets in a hammock tent, which keeps your load light. You also don’t need to find flat, open spaces to pitch a tent.
If you aren’t a hiker, you can still enjoy hammock tent camping in more traditional places. Any campsite or backyard with strong enough tree trunks can accommodate your hammock tent.
Always use strong and steady trees that are close together, and make sure your tent straps are wide and strong.
When You Should Use Your Hammock Tent:
You won’t have added room to change clothes or store your stuff as you would with a regular tent, so you’ll have to step out of your hammock tent and onto the ground during the day.
Therefore, it is best to use your hammock tent during warm, dry weather. Ideally, most campers prefer late spring and summer for their hammocking trips.
Though they do come with mosquito nets and cover from the rain, hammock tents function more like a cocoon than a tent. They keep you dry and warm for as long as you are in them, but you’ll need to be properly prepared.
Not only will you want to have an insulated sleeping pad or under quilt to keep the heat in, but you will also want to wear warm clothes and keep a blanket with you, too. That means weighing down your tent more than just your body, so you’ll want to make sure it can handle the extra weight.
It is inadvisable to use your hammock tent in cold weather. You don’t want to sleep in temperatures lower than 60 degrees at night in a hammock tent if you can help it, especially if you don’t have an under quilt. You can get under quilts like this GEERTOP Ultralight Hammock Underquilt for around $50. Check it out, GEERTOP’s Ultralight Hammock Underquilt!
Under quilts are not only built to keep you warm, but they are great for keeping mosquitos off of where your body touches the materials. It is a little-known fact that mosquitoes can bite through some hammock materials, so you’ll want to get one!
This is because hammocks struggle to keep the heat in, even with padding, so make sure that you are only using your hammock tent in proper weather conditions.
If you are looking to add hammocking to your camping plans, We have done all the heavy lifting for you by researching the best Hammock Tents for the money. Check out these 5 great hammock tents below:
ENO OneLink Hammock Tent Shelter System
This ENO OneLink hammock tent is heavy, weighing in at a little over 4 lbs. It only sleeps one person, but its weight capacity is much higher at 400 lbs, making it worth the extra effort to carry it up the mountain.
It comes with rainfly and mosquito netting made from 70-denier ripstop nylon with a 1000mm polyurethane waterproof coating. This tent is therefore perfect for keeping you bug-free and dry.
You can utilize the rain tarp for yourself in the hammock tent or as a shaded space on your campsite, as this tent includes 4 DAC aluminum stakes to go with it.
It also comes with an Atlas™ suspension system to prevent negative impacts on the trees you use to hold yourself up. It also has reflective stitching on the suspension straps so you can see them better in dim lighting.
Finally, ENO will plant two trees for every hammock sold through their partnership with Trees for the Future, so you can rest assured knowing that your purchase was money well spent!
Check out the latest price for Eno’s hammock tent
Haven Tent
Pack a great night’s sleep in the wild. The only hammock tent that you can sleep on your back, side, or stomach, COMFORTABLY. Patented design creates a lay-flat sleeping platform no matter how you sleep. On your back, side, or even your stomach.
Love the outdoors & camping but miss your bed? Now you can take it with you.
Each Haven Tent comes with everything you need to ensure you have a great night’s sleep. Each kit includes the hammock body, rainfly, bug net, straps, stakes, and guy lines. With our mosquito netting and integrated rainfly, you’ll be comfortable come storm or stars.
Make sure you only hang from healthy trees. Check the canopy for dead branches that could fall. We recommend a maximum hang height of 2 feet (60 cm). Max weight of 285 lbs
The Haven Tent sets up quickly and easily. See the video below for our #1 recommendation.
GRAND TRUNK Air Bivy All-Weather Protection Shelter
Established in 2001, Grand Truck has been working hard to create gear that allows hikers and campers alike to get outside and explore nature.
Weighing in at about 2.5 lbs, this Grand Trunk hammock tent is lightweight and durable. It is made from 20D 400T sil nylon and outfitted with many accessories, such as lightweight aluminum stakes, a Knotless Cordlock suspension system, a stuff sack (for carrying your tent), and a Hexfly rain shelter and Skeeter Beeter XT mosquito netting.
Considered easy to use and set up, take down, and carry, this is a great tent for the active hiker and even the beginner hammock camper.
Finally, Grand Trunk states that they offer a lifetime warranty on all their products!
Check out the latest price for Grand Trunk’s hammock tent!
ENO JungleLink Hammock System
One person weighing 3 lbs when you’re on the trail, this cozy and comfortable tent has an easy setup. This ENO JungleLink hammock tent is great for staying dry and keeping the bugs out.
Included is a Helios™ suspension system, a rain tarp from DryFly™, a storage bag, as well as a bug net. Made from 40-denier NewWave™ nylon, the JungleLink hammock tent is comfortable and stretchy. That means it is built to be better for people who toss and turn a lot in their sleep.
Also included are 6 DAC aluminum stakes for your rain tarp to set up a nice and dry environment. The storage bag that the tent comes in is similarly water-resistant.
Easy to set up and takedown, the JungleLink hammock tent is great for beginners or hikers who like to be on the move all day long.
Check out the latest price for Eno’s hammock tent!
Outdoors Jungle Explorer Camping Hammock Tent
This Easthills Outdoors hammock tent is slightly lighter than the Sunyear tent at only 4 lbs. to carry, but can still hold up to 600 lbs. or two people. Made from nylon and 210T Taffeta, this tent has great ventilation and allows you your privacy. It also keeps out the bugs with a mosquito mesh that contains 2500 holes per square inch so that they can’t get in.
Need to store your phone or keys inside your hammock? Inside the tent are internal hanging loops and pockets to keep your essentials close to you.
The suspension system is considered easy and intuitive, perfect for beginner campers who want to pack and unpack their tent as seamlessly as possible.
Included with this tent are carabiners, tree straps, aluminum stakes, rainfly, bug net, ropes, and guylines.
Check out the latest price for Easthill’s hammock tent!
Are Hammock Tents Safe and Comfortable?
Great hammock tents are very reliable. They can hold quite a bit of weight, with the stronger tents holding up to 400 lbs, and the average holding at least 200 lbs.
Just remember that you should have only one or maybe two people per hammock tent at a time. Adding multiple people to one tent may either break your tent, damage your tree, or injure someone in your hiking group.
You can also count on hammock tents to get you off the ground and away from large animals, bugs, or rainwater. Not only are hammock tents great for enriching your hiking or camping experience, but they also keep you safe and dry without those pesky tent poles.
Furthermore, some hammock tent campers claim that their posture and back support are much more comfortable in a hammock than on the ground. While you might not be able to stretch out or toss and turn as much, you may find that your back aches less the next morning when you get back on the trail.
However, if you are a very tall person who likes to sleep on your side, hammock tent camping might not be for you.
Don’t Forget Straps For Your Hammock Tent:
One key thing to note here is that not all hammock tents come with straps. You might, therefore, need to buy some.
Luckily, straps and ropes come in the $20 – $50 range depending on where you buy them. Starter ropes and straps that come with certain, lower-budget tent brands may damage the tree or fray over time, so it is good to invest in a proper, wide, and tree-friendly strap set.
Once you’re outfitted with the right tent and straps, you can rest easy knowing that your tent will hold you up high and dry off the ground.
Conclusion
Hammock tent camping is a great way to try something new and travel light on long hikes. While they may not be as warm and spacious as a tent, they are portable, fun, and keep you off the cold hard ground.
Make sure that you pack properly and equip yourself with the very best insulating sleeping pads, under quilts, and hammock straps to ensure a safe, warm night in the trees.