Camping Hammocks are Fun and Functional

Camping hammocks are sweet! The first time I used one was a few years ago up in the Bitterroot Mountains about 2 hours outside of Lewiston, Idaho. I was along with my son's Boy Scout troop for a 3 day adventure. We hiked about 8 miles the first day, but didn't make it to our planned camp site. When it started getting dark and everyone was feeling tired, sore, and worn out from a long day on the trail, we decided to just set up camp at a wide spot along the trail. The boys started unpacking their tents, fighting with poles, tarps and the rest of the traditional paraphernalia.

Before leaving I had purchased one of the camping hammocks that was designed with light weight hiking in mind. Before you could whistle Dixie, I had picked out two likely trees and strung my hammock between them. I secured my gear, some of which went at my feet inside the insect covering that was an integral part of my new home away from home. I settled in and quickly realized that while everyone else was fussing around, I was ready for sleep. And boy did I need it!

The next morning the sun broke early and felt hot. There are different types of camping hammocks, and the one I had offered a bit of protection from the direct rays of the sun, but still got hot too quickly for it to be comfortable to linger very long in bed. So, up I got. Stowing all my gear was a quick and easy process that basically just involved untying the hammock, rolling it up, stuffing it back into its stuff sack, loading my pack and waiting for everyone else to gather up their stuff.

Spending the night in camping hammocks is a real pleasure because you don't have to deal with trying to sleep on hard ground. My night had been restful, easy, and comfortable. As others were complaining about the odd rock or root that kept them tossing and turning during the night, I quietly enjoyed the fact that I hadn't had to deal with any of that.

If you are camping in a place that doesn't require you to hike far, you might want to consider hammocks like the one made by Algoma. Their foldaway hammock and stand combination is perfect for this sort of camping. It features a bed made out of weather resistant polyester fabric and has a canopy below the bed made out of mesh. This is a really handy place to store things within easy reach. It has a collapsable powder coated stand and a storage bag with a shoulder strap. It measures 89" Long x 39.5" Wide x 31" High and weighs 29 pounds. It does include a carry strap too so transporting it around is easy. For camping hammocks under $100 bucks, this one is a good one to consider.

Camping hammocks under the $50 price range are varied. One of my favorites is the KingCord camping hammock. It is strong and will support up to 300 pounds. It is light weight and includes a pouch to stuff it into. The cool thing about this hammock is that it is made out of bright, multicolored parachute nylon that is fun and functional.

Camping hammocks add a new dimension to your camping experience and are well worth trying. They are quick to set up, light to carry and very comfortable!