Lately, in the JYD Death Chat, amongst other places, there's been a lot of talk about hammock camping. I figured this topic was of enough general interest that it would be worth discussing here in the outdoors forum, so more folks would see it.


I'm a HUGE proponent of camping hammocks - they are far more comfortable than sleeping on the ground, and as long as you're in an area with trees, they greatly expand your choices when it comes to site selection. With a hammock, you don't have to worry about searching around for some flat ground devoid of rocks, roots, and brush - just find two trees, and hang that sucker up! I've slept in my hammock on the side of a slope, over rocks, and with a stream running underneath me. Try to do that in a tent!


There IS, however, somewhat of a learning curve to be had with hammocks - learning to hang them up quickly, how to pitch a tarp, and how to keep warm can take a little bit of time. That time will be rewarded tenfold when you wake up in the morning refreshed and ready for a long day's hiking, instead of aching and worn out.




So ask me your burning questions about hammocks, and I'll see what I can do to answer them!