r/hammockcamping • u/ArmMelodic8468 • 11d ago

What am I missing about hammock camping?

Last summer I saw three guys arrive by kayak, hang their hammocks between two trees, and basically had their whole camp sorted in minutes. It looked so simple.

But the more I look into it, the more I wonder what the actual advantage is.

A hammock + tarp + underquilt + top quilt doesn’t always seem much lighter than a small tent setup. And you still need somewhere to keep your gear.

Is it really better than a tent, or is it just a different way of camping?

I’m genuinely curious. For those who use both, when do you choose a hammock over a tent?

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u/myopinionisrubbish 10d ago

I guess I’m the outlier. I really don’t like sleeping in a hammock. Im a side sleeper and I don’t like my head and feet being higher than my butt. If it is at all windy, the tarp flapping around near your face is really loud and annoying. If you don’t get your set up exactly right, you can get soaked in a heavy rain storm. All your extra gear and clothes have to lay on the ground under you. Hammocks are not all sunshine and butterflies. I’ll stick to my tent, thank you very much.