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.