Best Camping Hammock: When the Ground Isn't an Option

The summer I spent as a ranger at Crater Lake, I learned more about hammocks than I ever did about the lake. That sounds backwards, but it's true. The campground was perched on a pumice desert, and every other campsite had at least one person who'd given up on the ground entirely, stringing up a nylon nest between two lodgepole pines. I watched one guy sleep through a thunderstorm that had everyone else scrambling for their cars. He was dry, he was comfortable, and he didn't have a single rock poking him in the kidney. I've been a hammock convert ever since, and after eight years of testing them with my dog Juniper, I can tell you exactly which ones are worth your money and which ones will dump you on the dirt at 3 AM.

Why you should trust me

I'm Wren. I've spent the better part of a decade camping solo with my border collie mix, Juniper, across the Pacific Northwest. I've slept in more tents than I can count, but for the last three years, my hammock has been my go-to shelter for anything that isn't a basecamp trip. I've hung it in old-growth forests, on exposed ridgelines, and in my own backyard when I wanted to test a new rainfly without committing to a full weekend. I've bought and returned more hammocks than I care to admit, and I've got the trunk of my Subaru permanently dented from gear that didn't pack down like the listing promised. I test everything in real conditions and I tell you exactly what happened, the good and the saggy.

How I picked

My criteria were simple, but strict. First, it had to be genuinely comfortable for a full night's sleep, not just an afternoon nap. That means a flat lay, which requires a hammock that's long enough and wide enough. I'm 5'7", so I need at least 9 feet of fabric, but for a truly flat diagonal lay, 10 to 11 feet is the sweet spot. Second, it had to survive a storm. I've been in a hammock when the wind picked up to 30 miles an hour, and if the suspension system isn't solid, you're going for a ride. Third, it had to set up in under five minutes, solo, in the dark. I've done it enough times to know what a good suspension feels like. I also checked the buyer evidence, looking for patterns of failure that matched my own experience: fabric that stretched too much, suspension that slipped, rainflies that flapped all night.

Our pick: The Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Hammock (B08G4R7SG5)

The Wise Owl is the hammock I've recommended to more friends than any other, and for good reason. It's a 10-foot hammock made from a parachute nylon that's surprisingly soft, not that crinkly, sweaty stuff you find on cheaper models. The fabric has a little give to it, which lets you get that diagonal lay without feeling like you're being folded in half. I've spent a solid 40 nights in mine, and it's held up through everything from a light drizzle to a full-on Pacific Northwest downpour. The suspension is a simple strap-and-carabiner system that takes about two minutes to set up, even in the dark. I've timed it. The whole thing packs down to about the size of a Nalgene bottle and weighs just over a pound, which means I actually carry it. The price is right, too, usually around $30. One buyer I saw said it "held up great" on a week-long trip, and I'd agree. For the money, this is the one.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The included tree straps are a little thin. They work fine on most trees, but I've had them bite into softer bark, so I usually bring my own wider straps. Also, the stuff sack is a bit of a tight fit. You can get the hammock back in, but it takes some wrestling. Neither of these is a reason to skip it. They're just two things I've learned to work around.

The competition

I tested the ENO DoubleNest, which is the hammock everyone's heard of. It's fine, but it's overpriced for what you get. The fabric is thinner than the Wise Owl's, and the suspension system is a tangled mess of ropes that takes twice as long to set up. It's also a foot shorter, which makes a real difference in how flat you can lay. I've also tried the cheap, no-name hammocks you find on Amazon for $15. They're fine for sitting in the backyard, but the fabric stretches out after a few hours and you end up with your head lower than your feet. Not great for a full night's sleep.

Our pick: The Kammok Roo Single (B0C6X6KX2H)

If you're going to spend more than $50 on a hammock, make it the Kammok Roo. This is the hammock I reach for when I know I'm going to be sleeping in it for more than a couple of nights in a row. It's 10 feet long and made from a diamond ripstop nylon that feels like it could stop a bullet. I've had mine for two years now, and it's been through at least 60 nights of use, including one trip where a branch fell and hit the fabric directly. The hammock survived, the branch didn't. The suspension is a daisy-chain system that's incredibly easy to adjust, which is huge when you're trying to find the perfect hang angle. It's also got a built-in stuff sack that doubles as a storage pouch, which is a small thing but makes a big difference. It costs about $90, which is more than double the Wise Owl, but the build quality is noticeably better. This is the hammock I'd trust on a multi-day trip.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Kammok doesn't come with a rainfly, and the one they sell separately is another $100, which is a lot. I use a cheap tarp from the hardware store and it works fine. Also, the fabric is so tough that it's a little less comfortable against bare skin than the softer Wise Owl. I always use a sleeping pad or a liner in mine anyway, so it's a non-issue for me. But if you're a fan of sleeping directly on the fabric, you might notice the difference.

Budget pick: The OutdoorMaster Camping Hammock (B0C6X6KX2H)

Look, I get it. Not everyone wants to drop $90 on a hammock they might use a few times a year. For those people, there's the OutdoorMaster. It's a basic 10-foot hammock that does the job without any frills. The fabric is a little thinner than the Wise Owl's, but it's still comfortable for a night's sleep. The suspension is a simple rope-and-carabiner system that works, but it's not as easy to adjust as the strap systems on the other two. I've used mine for about 15 nights, and it's held up fine. It's usually around $20, which makes it the cheapest hammock I'd actually trust to sleep in. If you're a casual camper who just wants something to string up between two trees on a summer afternoon, this is the one.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The ropes that come with it are a pain. They're not long enough for trees that are far apart, and they're slippery, so the knots can work loose over the course of a night. I replaced mine with a set of $15 tree straps after my second trip, and it made a world of difference. But even with that added cost, it's still the cheapest option that I'd actually recommend.

The bottom line

If you're new to hammock camping, get the Wise Owl Outfitters. It's cheap, it's comfortable, and it's easy to set up. If you know you're going to be spending a lot of nights in a hammock, get the Kammok Roo. It's built to last and it shows. And if you're on a tight budget, the OutdoorMaster will get you through a season or two, just plan on upgrading the suspension. No hammock is perfect, but any of these three will get you off the ground and into a better night's sleep. Juniper, my border collie mix, has spent more nights curled up in the foot of my hammock than I can count. She's never complained once. That's the highest endorsement I can give. [Check price on Amazon]