Hammock camping: Tips & packing list for an adventure in nature

The grass glitters. A bird starts its first song. The morning sun warms the environment. You have to leave the house for moments like this – there is no other way. After all, they can´t be experienced in the bedroom between the bed and the wardrobe. For them, you have to be in the middle of nature. Let her guide you. Immerse yourself in it. And for this, hammocks are perfect as an outdoor sleeping place. But what exactly is hammock camping and what do I need therefor? We´ll tell you.

Camping with the hammock: sleeping in the open air

Hammock camping is all about you and nature. There is no place for stuffy rooms or negative thoughts. Instead, you spend the night with your hammock outside in the open air and experience the surroundings in a fascinating intense way. You don´t need a tent or a caravan, just a few utensils. Hammock camping has many advantages: You not only safe weight, but it is often easier to find two suitable trees than a flat area for a tent. Important: Pay attention to nature conservation and forest laws and leave your sleeping place the next morning as you found it. Also, do not disturb animals with bright lights or loud music.

Packing list for hammock camping

The following packing list will help you prepare for the hammock camping experience:

Hammock: You can´t do it without it. Hammocks are available in many different colors and variantions. For a night in the open air, we recommend the models out of weatherproof material like polyester. By the way, it becomes more comfortable when you lay down slightly diagonally in the hammock. In this way, the surface of the hammock is optimally stretched, your back is spared and you lie most comfortably.

Attachment: There must be two trees at a distance of about 4 to 5 meters where you want to stay overnight. As a rule of thumb: The length of the hammock plus about one meter on each side. For the attachment, you need tree ropes with karabiner. Pay attention that you tighten the hammock not to tight or to loose. If it’s stormy, search for a sheltered place. The higher up the hammock is, the cooler it gets. In tropical summer nights, you can place your hammock higher up during camping. If you are traveling with a camper and have space for a hammock with a foldable frame, you can of course set it up away from trees in any environment that you like.

Sleeping mat: If it is cool, you should have a mat on hand. The sleeping mat ensures that you don’t get too cold. Another possibility are under quilts. These blankets filled with down or synthetic fibers are placed directly under the hammock.

Sleeping bag: In warm tropical nights, you absolutely can spend the night outside with only a blanket. Otherwise, we recommend a warm sleeping bag.

Tarp: If it is raining, you protect yourself with a tarp. These rectangular or trapezoidal tarpaulin serve adventurers in the wilderness as a roof and can be easily be placed between two trees. The windier it is the lower you have to place the tarp, so the humidity does not penetrate you. Here you also can work with drip lines. These are short cords, which are attached to the hammock tension lines and divert the rainwater.

Mosquito nets: To be safe from mosquitos and other insects, you can place a mosquito net over your sleeping place.

Flashlight: A light source like a flashlight, headlamp or lantern is useful, if you have to go to the toilet or you want to break down your sleeping place very early.

Right clothing: Think about the right clothing too! When the temperature is particularly low, fleece jackets and long cozy trousers are just right.

Reading material: Hammock camping is a pure, analog enjoyment and should be enjoyed without electronic devices. Swap your mobile with a book or practice doing nothing and let nature work its magic on you.

Camping stove, dishes & Co: You can of course also pack other utensils – depending on how you want to organize your adventure. For example: food, camping stove, pots, dishes, and camera.

Test night in your garden as optimal preparation

If you plan to sleep in a hammock for several nights away from home, a test night in the hammock in the garden or on the terrace is always recommended. So you can get used to the sleeping place and the noises outside and if necessary, you have a retreat within reach, if it gets to cold or uncomfortable. In general, nights over ten degrees without rainfall are ideal for camping with a hammock for the first time.