Brandon Currin
Hammock vs. Tent Camping: Which is Right for You?
There have been many great debates in this world around camping, but our favorite has been the ongoing battle between tents and hammocks. There are plenty of pros and cons to both options, but some people swear one’s better than the other. Whether you should stick to tent camping or give sleeping in a hammock a whirl is entirely up to you, just be sure to know what you’re getting yourself into first.
Tent Camping
With tenting, any great outdoorsman knows more or less what to expect. After all, people have been tenting for as long as we can remember. Even though it may seem like tenting is the clear answer when it comes to which option to pick, it still has some downsides that many people, even a seasoned outdoorsman, forget to take into consideration.
Pros of Tent Camping:
- They’re easier to move around in with generally more usable volume.
- You can set up camp basically anywhere that has a flat surface.
- You can normally keep your gear inside.
- You can escape the weather conditions.
- You can customize what you sleep on, like adding a sleeping pad for more comfort.
Cons of Tent Camping:
- You’re limited to certain types of terrain - good luck keeping a tent down on a windy night at the beach.
- Packing a tent can take up some serious room, not to mention adding on a couple extra pounds to your pack.
- Tents can take a good amount of time to set up and take down, especially if you’re by yourself.
- Communal sleeping isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when you’re back to back with the guy that snores.
Hammock Camping
In recent years, hammocks have really evolved to become the latest thing in the camping world. They’ve come a long way from the first rope hammocks that were close to impossible to sit on, let alone sleep in. Even though hammocks are the latest hype, are they the best option for your next camping trip?
Pros of Hammock Camping:
- Ground conditions are irrelevant, you could even hammock over water if you wanted to!
- They’re small, lightweight and easy to fit in your pack.
- Set-up and take-down time are much quicker than a tent, and you can even do it completely by yourself.
- You get to experience camping at a new level that you just can’t in a tent.
Cons of Hammock Camping:
- Trees or other supports need to be present, and at a specific distance. You can’t hang a hammock when the trees are only two feet away from each other, and you can’t hang one where there aren’t enough trees around.
- It can be difficult to maneuver inside of a hammock.
- All of your gear has to be stored outside.
- If it rains, you’re going to get soaked, and so will all of your gear - unless you have the proper equipment like a rainfly.
- If you toss and turn in your sleep, or like to change sleeping positions throughout the night, then you’re probably not going to be getting lots of sleep in a hammock.
Every camping trip is different. Sometimes it’s clear as day which option to go with. You wouldn’t want to take a hammock to sleep in on your trip through the great plains, but you wouldn’t want to take a tent to sleep in on a steep mountain, unless of course, you’re feeling extra bold.
Did we miss any pros or cons to tent and hammock camping? Or are you an expert on one of the two? Let us know which one you think is better on our Facebook page to help us settle this battle once and for all.
