Hammock Setup

When to use this

When live trees are 12-18 feet apart and the canopy shows no dead overhead branches.

• Car camping or backpacking where two suitable trees exist
• An alternative sleep system for summer and shoulder-season trips
• A daytime lounge spot at basecamp

See it done

What you need

• A camping hammock with whoopie slings or structural ridgeline
• Two 1-inch wide tree straps (at least 60 inches long each) - narrower straps damage bark
• Carabiners or hooks that came with the hammock
• Optional: a tarp rigged above for rain protection

Step by step

1. 1.Choose trees that are alive, at least 8 inches in diameter, and 12-15 feet apart. Look up - dead branches overhead are "widow makers."
2. 2.Wrap each tree strap around the trunk at 5-6 feet high. The straps should be approximately level.
3. 3.Clip the hammock end to each strap. The hammock should hang with a 30-degree angle from the anchor point to the hammock end - roughly a 30° sag.
4. 4.Sit in the center and check your position: you should lie diagonally across the hammock (not lengthwise) to get a flat lay.
5. 5.A properly hung hammock has a slight banana shape. If the angle is too shallow, your weight pulls the trees together. Too steep, and you'll feel like a taco.
6. 6.Rig a tarp above using a ridgeline tied between the same trees, 18 inches above hammock height.

Pro tips

• Lie at a 30-degree diagonal to the hammock centerline. This is the secret to a flat, back-friendly sleep.
• Use an underquilt in temperatures below 60°F - sleeping pads compress under you in a hammock and lose insulation.
• The "structural ridgeline" trick: tie a line from end to end at 83% of the hammock's length. It sets your hang angle automatically.

Common mistakes

• Hanging too high: a 6-foot hang means a 6-foot fall. 18 inches off the ground is the right sleeping height.
• Hanging too tight: a hammock hung flat like a bridge pushes your back into a painful C-shape.
• Using thin cord or ropes around bark - always use wide straps.