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This question asks what the downsides are to hammock camping, but doesn't really address the reasons why you would want to sleep in a hammock to camp.

Let's say I'm backpacker new to the idea of sleeping in a hammock. What are the advantages of a hammock or reasons to choose it over the traditional tent and why?

Please be descriptive and pictures, where relevant, are worth a thousand words as they say.

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Can I improve this question? If so, how? – manoftheson Feb 8 at 21:58
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Your questions is very open-ended. Hammocks and tents offer different benefits and drawbacks in different climates and for different individuals. This site is not meant to start a discussion of these various items but to drill down to a definitive answer to a question. I'm not sure there is a definitive list of advantages to hammocks over tents. – Justin C Feb 9 at 22:19
@JustinC - Great point. My goal was to try to create a question that would create a comprehensive summary of the pros of a hammock versus a tent, the converse of the question about the downsides. I could provide a specific season or scenario, but then it seems there would need to be a question for each season, etc. Regardless, it seems that some type of documenting of the advantages of hammocks would be useful to those who are either new to it or considering it. I think there is a definitive answer to this if I just figure out how to ask it the right way. – manoftheson Feb 10 at 23:17
I mostly agree with what you have said, and I think that is why you don't have any answers yet, but the questions has not getting votes to close. There is an answerable question somewhere in there but I don't know what it is. – Justin C Feb 11 at 1:03
@JustinC - I edited it so hopefully this is better. – manoftheson Feb 12 at 0:35

2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote

I am an avid hammock camper. I went on a 4 day trip where is rained nearly every afternoon. Besides the obvious benefits (not requiring even ground, sleeping comfortably, etc.), I found that hammock camping had the distinct benefit of not having to climb into a tent for rain protection. I was able to simple walk under the tarp and sit in my hammock. That's much better than laying down even though I had that option too. I can cook next to my hammock (something you do not want to do inside a tent).

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up vote 1 down vote

Not a hammock camper myself, but I can think of a few:

  • More ventilated in the summer.
  • Lighter to carry - you don't need something to pad the place you're sleeping on and you don't need the same level of rigidness that a tent offers.
  • Usually more environmentally friendly - since they are smaller than tents hammocks leave a shorter toll on the environment when produced and when discarded.
  • In a heavily wooded environment, it may be easier to find a place to attach a hammock than to find a clearing to pitch a tent.
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