My setup was NOT cheap - the Warbonnet Blackbird hammock is just shy of 200 bucks, the custom underquilt was over $200, and the tarp around $150. Then of course there are all the little items you end up buying - stakes, guylines, etc etc etc.



However, you can get into a hammock a lot cheaper - something like a byer moskito hammock costs less than 40 bucks, and you can use any generic tarp from walmart or something to start out. For anything below about 70 degrees, you will probably want some insulation underneath you, but a thermarest or $10 blue foam pad from walmart will do the job if you don't want to pony up the cash for an underquilt. If you're car camping and weight isn't a concern, something as simple as a blanket underneath you in the hammock would probably do the trick, depending on the temperature.


Things can also be cheap if you can get your hands on a sewing machine and do some DIY stuff. A hammock can be made for a few bucks worth of ripstop nylon from the $1 bin at walmart or clearance section at another fabric store, and you can sew your own bug net for it without too much hassle. Tarps are also pretty easy to make, and if you find the right vendor online you can buy silnylon to make your tarps for about $3-6 per yard. My fiance's winter tarp was made from scratch this way and is actually a more clever design than my winter tarp.