Best Camping Hammocks: Single, Double & With Bug Nets
The ENO DoubleNest is the best all-around camping hammock for most people—it’s wide enough for a flat diagonal sleep and hangs in under two minutes. It works for quick trail naps, overnight sleep with an underquilt, and lounging as a pair without overcomplicating your pack.
At a Glance
- Best Overall: ENO DoubleNest – a roomy double that gives one sleeper a flat lay or fits two loungers.
- Best Budget: Grand Trunk Ultralight – a 6.7-ounce single that costs less than a camp meal.
- Best Value (Double): Wise Owl Outfitters Double – strong fabric and a full suspension kit included for half the price of premium doubles.
- Premium Pick: Kammok Roo Double – heavy-duty diamond ripstop, lifetime warranty, and a gear-sling stuff sack.
- Best With Bug Net: Hennessy Expedition Asym Zip – an all-in-one sleep system that keeps bugs out and the rainfly ready.
Hammock Comparison Table
| Product | Style | Weight Limit | Packed Weight | Price (approx) | Bug Net Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENO DoubleNest | Double | 400 lb | 19 oz | $55–$70 | No | Everyday lounging and camping |
| Grand Trunk Ultralight | Single | 300 lb | 6.7 oz | $20–$25 | No | Ultralight backpacking |
| Wise Owl Outfitters Double | Double | 500 lb | 24 oz (with straps) | $35–$40 | No | Budget-friendly two-person hangs |
| Kammok Roo Double | Double | 500 lb | 23 oz | $80–$90 | No | Premium durability |
| Hennessy Expedition Asym Zip | Asym single | 250 lb | 34 oz (system) | $170–$200 | Yes (integrated) | Overnight sleeping in bug country |
Prices vary; verify locally. Weights shown are hammock body only unless a system weight is noted.
What to Look For
Single or Double Width
Fabrics labeled “double” are wider and give you a flatter diagonal lay for one sleeper, or they create a comfortable two-person lounge that won’t tip easily. A double adds only 5–10 ounces and packs to the size of a large grapefruit, so it’s the safer default unless you’re counting every gram on a fastpacking trip where you sleep short and move fast. Reserve singles for true ounce-counting where a 6.7-ounce hammock means the difference between making miles and bailing early.
This decision has a concrete boundary: the picks above assume you’ll hang between two healthy trees 10–15 feet apart. If your go-to campsite sits above treeline, in desert terrain, or in a campground with no-tree rules, even the best hammock is useless without a portable stand. A freestanding tent becomes the rational choice in those places, because carrying a 12-pound hammock stand defeats the weight savings entirely.
Bug Net Decisions
If you sleep overnight where ticks or mosquitoes are active, a bug net is nonnegotiable. Integrated nets like Hennessy’s make setup faster and stay taut without extra cord, but they come with a real trade-off: the side zipper gives you 4 a.m. access problems. Unzipping in the dark can catch your sleeping bag, and if you don’t seal the net completely afterward, a dozen mosquitoes will find their way in by sunrise. In shoulder-season trips where bugs are sparse, that same net is dead weight you can’t leave behind. Detachable nets or a simple head net cover occasional bug pressure and let you go net-free when conditions allow. Side-zip entry is easier to manage than bottom-entry designs when you’re groggy.
Fabric Strength and What Weight Limits Really Mean
Most camping hammocks use 70D or 40D nylon. 70D fabric resists abrasion, stretches less overnight, and supports sleeping pads better. Lighter ripstop often tops out around 300–350 pounds and packs fist-small. Weight limits aren’t just about whether the fabric tears—they dictate how stable the hammock feels and how well it holds insulation underneath you.
Here’s the decision implication: if you weigh over 200 pounds and plan to add a thick sleeping pad, winter quilts, and extra clothing, you need a hammock rated at least 400–500 pounds. At that load, the Hennessy Expedition’s 250-pound limit leaves no safety margin. The fabric will sag, your underquilt will compress against your back, and you’ll wake up cold on a night you expected to be warm. Stick with a double model rated 400+ pounds. Match the hammock rating to your body weight plus all your sleeping gear, and add a 50-pound buffer. A “500-pound” rating often means the fabric holds that much in ideal conditions, not that it stays comfortable at the edge of the range.
Verify fit before you buy: measure the distance between the two trees you most often use. A standard 9-foot-4-inch hammock requires at least 10 feet of clear horizontal space; if your typical spot has tight-packed pines with less clearance, you’ll need a shorter hammock like the Grand Trunk Ultralight or you’ll be forced to hang too steeply. A steep hang concentrates body weight into a banana-shaped curve that strains your lower back.
Suspension Must-Haves
A hammock without tree straps is just a tarp. Most reputable budget doubles now come with polyester tree straps and carabiners. If you buy a hammock that doesn’t include straps, expect to spend another $20–$30. Polyester resists stretching more than nylon and won’t damage bark—many parks require straps to protect trees.
Daisy-chain loops let you micro-adjust quickly, but they carry a failure mode: if you don’t fully seat the carabiner’s gate against the loop, the hook can slip under body weight and drop you a few inches—or all the way to the ground. Give the hammock a firm test sit before you commit to a full night.
When a Hammock Can’t Do the Job
Above treeline, in open desert, or in campgrounds that ban hanging gear from trees, these picks won’t work. You’d need a portable stand, and most weigh 10–15 pounds plus cost close to a budget hammock. In those environments, a freestanding tent is the simpler, safer shelter. This is the hard applicability boundary: the best camping hammock is the wrong choice if you can’t hang it.
Best Picks in Detail
Best Overall: ENO DoubleNest
Style: Double | Weight limit: 400 lb | Packed weight: 19 oz
At 9 feet 4 inches long and 6 feet 2 inches wide, the DoubleNest lets one sleeper lay diagonally for a near-flat position or seats two for a lunch break. The 70D nylon taffeta breathes in summer and stays supportive enough to hold a pad without folding you in half.
Pros: Wide color selection, easy-to-find replacement straps, triple-stitched seams, packs into its own compression sack.
Cons: Straps are sold separately on most listings; the attached stuff sack dangles in the wind when deployed.
Best Budget: Grand Trunk Ultralight
Style: Single | Weight limit: 300 lb | Packed weight: 6.7 oz
Weighing less than a camp mug and priced under $25, this hammock disappears into a daypack or emergency kit. The 40D ripstop nylon holds 300 pounds but asks for care around snags—a sharp twig on the ground can puncture the thin fabric when you sit down.
Pros: Extremely light, packs smaller than a grapefruit, cheap enough to keep one in every pack.
Cons: Narrow single width forces taller users into a curved lay; the thin fabric feels clammy in high humidity unless you add a breathable pad.
Best Value (Double): Wise Owl Outfitters Double
Style: Double | Weight limit: 500 lb | Packed weight: 24 oz (with straps)
Wise Owl includes tree-friendly polyester straps and wire-gate carabiners in the box for less than the price of many singles. The 210T nylon has a soft hand but stays sturdy enough for two adults. Extended 10-foot and 11-foot versions dramatically improve overnight comfort for sleepers over six feet.
Pros: Complete kit with no extra purchases, generous length options, high 500-pound capacity.
Cons: Bulkier than cottage-brand doubles; included straps are single-length loops without adjustable buckles, so fine-tuning height takes a few extra minutes.
Premium Pick: Kammok Roo Double
Style: Double | Weight limit: 500 lb | Packed weight: 23 oz
Kammok uses a 70D diamond ripstop that feels canvas-strong yet dries quickly after rain. The reinforced stuff sack reverses into a gear sling when you’re hanging, and the carabiner connection points carry extra stitching. A lifetime warranty covers rips and hardware failures.
Pros: Substantial fabric texture won’t stretch overnight, gear-sling stuff sack keeps shoes and headlamp off the ground, reflective threading in the sack helps at night.
Cons: No straps included; price sits near entry-level full-sleep systems.
Best With Bug Net: Hennessy Expedition Asym Zip
Style: Asymmetrical single | Weight limit: 250 lb (sleeper only) | Packed weight: 34 oz (system)
Hennessy bundles a bug-proof shelter, an asymmetrical lay, and a rainfly into one compact stuff sack. The side-zip entry is far easier to manage than the original bottom-entry design, and the built-in webbing straps attach quickly. An interior ridgeline clips your headlamp, and the integrated bug net stays taut without additional tie-outs.
Pros: Sleep-ready out of the box, reliable bug protection, fly included.
Cons: 250-pound limit rules out heavier sleepers with winter insulation; the asymmetrical shape has a learning curve to find the flattest lay.
Bottom Line
If you buy one camping hammock, get the ENO DoubleNest and a $25 polyester strap set. It covers afternoon naps, overnight hangs with a bug net cover, and lounging with a friend. Ounce-counters should grab the Grand Trunk Ultralight—it’s light enough to justify carrying even on day hikes. Campers who want to leave the tent at home during buggy summers should go straight to the Hennessy Expedition Asym Zip; it replaces the ground pad with a bug-proof cocoon and a rainfly that deploys in one motion. Just make sure you have two strong trees and enough width to hang safely.
FAQ
Can you really sleep in a camping hammock instead of a tent?
Yes. Many backpackers sleep exclusively in hammocks by adding an underquilt or insulated pad, a bug net, and a rainfly. The setup keeps you off rocky, wet ground and often feels breezier on warm nights.
What is the weight limit for a typical camping hammock?
Limits range from about 250 pounds for ultralight singles to 500 pounds for heavy-duty doubles. Choose a hammock rated at least 50 pounds above your total load—your body, sleeping bag, pad, and layers—to maintain comfort and prevent cold spots from insulation compression.
Do I need tree straps, or are ropes enough?
Tree straps are required in many parks to prevent bark damage. Polyester straps also grip better, stretch less, and avoid the deep grooves that lead to hammock bans.
How do I stay warm in a hammock when it gets cold?
Add an underquilt beneath the hammock to stop convection heat loss, use a top quilt or sleeping bag above, and consider a foam pad as a budget starter layer for milder nights.
Can two adults comfortably share a double hammock for sleeping?
Two adults can lounge together, but overnight sleeping in the same hammock usually causes shoulder compression and tipping unless both sleepers are very still and under roughly 150 pounds each.
Camping Bob has spent over 20 years camping across the US — from BLM dispersed sites in the Southwest to KOA campgrounds in the Pacific Northwest. He writes practical, no-nonsense guides to help fellow campers get outdoors with confidence.