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Hammock camping: the parts you need beyond the hammock
Build a complete hammock-camping setup with suitable straps, rain cover and under-insulation, then test it before heading away.
A camping hammock needs more than two trees. For an overnight stay, think about permission, suspension, rain cover, insects and insulation underneath you.
Build the whole sleeping setup
- Hammock and suspension: compatible components with suitable load ratings.
- Wide tree straps: spread the load and help protect bark.
- Tarp: enough coverage for wind-driven rain.
- Under-insulation: a suitable mat or underquilt.
- Bug protection: a net that works with the setup.
Your weight compresses the insulation beneath you in a sleeping bag. That is why a warm bag alone may still leave your back cold in a hammock.
Choose the hanging spot carefully
Check that hammocks are permitted. Use suitable healthy trees and avoid dead branches overhead, fragile vegetation and places where people need to walk. Follow the equipment maker's suspension instructions and practise close to the ground.
Try it before committing to a trip
Test a complete night at an accessible permitted site, including getting in and out, staying warm and keeping your bag dry. I would keep a ground-sleeping alternative available on a first test. A treeless campsite, a no-hanging rule or unsuitable trees can make a hammock plan impractical before weather even enters the picture.
Read next: Camping pillows: inflatable, foam or a spare-clothes bag?.
Sources and photo credit
Information checked 29 September 2026.
Photo: Best Gear Designs. Original photograph; CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for web display.
