Hammock camping comfort vs tent comfort
- Thread starter TellMeWhy
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whirtery44
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- Oct 5, 2025
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For sure. My buddy gave up on hammocks because he couldn’t find a flat enough lay. Does he sleep on his side or stomach? That can make hammocks tough.
cougarmeat
Well-known member
TellMeWhy, welcome to the forum.
Many try to get a flat lie but suspending the hammock tightly. Flatness is achieved by having enough sag in the hammock so that you can turn a bit on a diagonal with the hammock center line. Another issue is assuming they must sleep in the same position as they do in a bed. A bed has different support and pressure points than a hammock. It is not unusual for the body to need a night or two to learn how to relax in a hammock.
TellMeWhy, paradoxically to your question, Comfort is the biggest reason people move to a hammock (and no more crawling around on the ground). There's on Thru-Hiker on YouTube who is an avid single-wall tent camper. Although she often misrepresents hammock issues because she has no training, she also admitted that the hammock gave her the most comfortable night's sleep.
Here's the problem: setting up a hammock for camping/overnight sleeping requires some knowledge. If a person buys a short, cheap hammock off of Amazon or a "Big Box" store and strings it up tight, their experience will be ... less than optimal. But then they say, a hammock solution is too complicated because they have to learn stuff. They've forgotten that they also had to learn things for tent camping. They've been tent camping for so long that the little decisions they make are automatic. It's the same for a hammock. At first, finding trees the right size and distance apart seems like a chore. But after a short while, you can just look and see what you need.
Once you've determined the right sag for you (end-to-end distance is usually about 83% of the hammock's physical length), you can connect a line between the two hammock ends (if the hammock has a built-in bug net it already has this ridgeline) so it the future, you just hang the hammock so that ridgeline is just snug and you'll have that same preferred sag.
Of course, any one thing, hammock or tent, isn't for everyone. But without knowing how well-versed the person was in setting up the hammock and if they are new to hammocks, and given it a night or two, then one wonders about the "it's not comfortable" claim. A tent is not comfortable if they didn't clear the rocks, small branches, and pine cones from the ground under it. A tent is not comfortable if the ground slope is not right.
Check out, the book, "The Ultimate Hang". It will describe many details about hammock camping. Then see how your brother sets up his hammock. The hammock should be about 10.5 to 11 ft long. When hung, the ends should be about 9 feet apart. When he sits in it, it should be suspended so that his feet are solid on the ground and he can just stand up (with one hand on the front edge and one on the back edge). And when in the hammock, he should turn a bit so his head is on one side of the hammock center line and his feet are on the other side, a slight diagonal.
One other wrinkle is that some people prefer a bridge hammock. That style (look up Ridge Runner or Banyon) uses spreader bars at the foot and head ends and has a different feel than a gathered-end hammock (GE).
Many try to get a flat lie but suspending the hammock tightly. Flatness is achieved by having enough sag in the hammock so that you can turn a bit on a diagonal with the hammock center line. Another issue is assuming they must sleep in the same position as they do in a bed. A bed has different support and pressure points than a hammock. It is not unusual for the body to need a night or two to learn how to relax in a hammock.
TellMeWhy, paradoxically to your question, Comfort is the biggest reason people move to a hammock (and no more crawling around on the ground). There's on Thru-Hiker on YouTube who is an avid single-wall tent camper. Although she often misrepresents hammock issues because she has no training, she also admitted that the hammock gave her the most comfortable night's sleep.
Here's the problem: setting up a hammock for camping/overnight sleeping requires some knowledge. If a person buys a short, cheap hammock off of Amazon or a "Big Box" store and strings it up tight, their experience will be ... less than optimal. But then they say, a hammock solution is too complicated because they have to learn stuff. They've forgotten that they also had to learn things for tent camping. They've been tent camping for so long that the little decisions they make are automatic. It's the same for a hammock. At first, finding trees the right size and distance apart seems like a chore. But after a short while, you can just look and see what you need.
Once you've determined the right sag for you (end-to-end distance is usually about 83% of the hammock's physical length), you can connect a line between the two hammock ends (if the hammock has a built-in bug net it already has this ridgeline) so it the future, you just hang the hammock so that ridgeline is just snug and you'll have that same preferred sag.
Of course, any one thing, hammock or tent, isn't for everyone. But without knowing how well-versed the person was in setting up the hammock and if they are new to hammocks, and given it a night or two, then one wonders about the "it's not comfortable" claim. A tent is not comfortable if they didn't clear the rocks, small branches, and pine cones from the ground under it. A tent is not comfortable if the ground slope is not right.
Check out, the book, "The Ultimate Hang". It will describe many details about hammock camping. Then see how your brother sets up his hammock. The hammock should be about 10.5 to 11 ft long. When hung, the ends should be about 9 feet apart. When he sits in it, it should be suspended so that his feet are solid on the ground and he can just stand up (with one hand on the front edge and one on the back edge). And when in the hammock, he should turn a bit so his head is on one side of the hammock center line and his feet are on the other side, a slight diagonal.
One other wrinkle is that some people prefer a bridge hammock. That style (look up Ridge Runner or Banyon) uses spreader bars at the foot and head ends and has a different feel than a gathered-end hammock (GE).
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cougarmeat
Well-known member
Yes, a bridge hammock may be more familiar to a side sleeper. A person may not have to be completely on their side; maybe around halfway between on their back and on their side. But he will find his best angle. The bridge is usually hung a little flatter (25° - 20° suspension angle vs 30°), and some "feel" it is tippier when they first get in. But once in, there's a wide range of motion before the Lucy effect kicks in (Google: Youtube Lucy Alaska).
I seldom use a pillow under my head in a gathered-end hammock because the hammock body already supports my head, and a pillow bends my neck too much. I may use a small camp pillow under a knee. But in a bridge, on my side, that small pillow will keep a comfortable alignment between head, neck, and shoulders.
Remember, it takes a little getting used to. The body is in a new, friendly environment. But it doesn't know that right away. You have to breathe, relax, let things settle. I'm sorry; I just reread that you love hammock camping so you already know what I'm saying.
I seldom use a pillow under my head in a gathered-end hammock because the hammock body already supports my head, and a pillow bends my neck too much. I may use a small camp pillow under a knee. But in a bridge, on my side, that small pillow will keep a comfortable alignment between head, neck, and shoulders.
Remember, it takes a little getting used to. The body is in a new, friendly environment. But it doesn't know that right away. You have to breathe, relax, let things settle. I'm sorry; I just reread that you love hammock camping so you already know what I'm saying.
cougarmeat
Well-known member
No, the Lucy video shows, dramatically, what can happen if you don't enter/exit the bridge hammock by putting one hand on each edge (front and back) of the bridge hammock body. The tightness does influence the feel of tippiness, but once you are in it and prone, it settles right down - and you'd have to go WAY over for it to throw you out.
If he's on his side, a small camp pillow to keep his neck aligned could be helpful. On my back, I don't need one, but sometimes, in a Gathered End hammock, it's nice to adjust the support near a knee, and a small pillow is helpful for that..
If he's on his side, a small camp pillow to keep his neck aligned could be helpful. On my back, I don't need one, but sometimes, in a Gathered End hammock, it's nice to adjust the support near a knee, and a small pillow is helpful for that..
Posting a quick update since we're out on our trip this weekend. He tried the bridge hammock last night and said it was a definite improvement for his side-sleeping but still not perfect. We're going to try the small pillow trick tonight as suggested.
cougarmeat
Well-known member
Comfort improves over time. It takes a while for the body to realize this is not a traditional bed with pressure points. There is a phenomenon called "Shoulder Squeeze" and also Calf Ridge. Shoulder Squeeze can be a problem; Calf Ridge is usually a setup adjustment issue.
After your friend has a few days in the bridge hammock, he will notice a difference when going back to a tent and having to crawl in the ground it get in/out of it.
After your friend has a few days in the bridge hammock, he will notice a difference when going back to a tent and having to crawl in the ground it get in/out of it.
We're back and I wanted to post the final verdict. He tried the small pillow on the second night and while it helped, he just couldn't get past the shoulder squeeze as mentioned. In the end, he prefers the freedom of movement in his tent. Looks like he's staying a ground-dweller for now. I appreciate all the great suggestions and help from everyone!
cougarmeat
Well-known member
If he tries it again, make sure - if it's a gathered-end hammock - that there is enough sag to allow for that slight diagonal position. But if you can schedule it, it is better to work this out at home. I can imagine you going on a long hike, getting to the campsite tired, stringing up the hammock, and then getting in it as it was just set up. There would be no fussing around, trying different sag settings, distance above ground, and foot end elevation a bit higher than head elevation. That elevation difference isn't like sleeping on the ground. You still sleep flat-ish. The slight elevation difference just keeps you from sliding down to the foot end of the hammock.
Here's another resource:
That's not to say there is always a solution. If he was using a bridge hammock, they are pretty much set on the width they offer. And some people, rightly so, just prefer tents and ground sleeping.
Here's another resource:
That's not to say there is always a solution. If he was using a bridge hammock, they are pretty much set on the width they offer. And some people, rightly so, just prefer tents and ground sleeping.
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