I finally tried a hammock setup last weekend and I don't get the hype

Everyone on here swears by hammock camping but I gave it a real shot at Lake Georgetown on Saturday night. Woke up with my back all twisted up after maybe 4 hours of sleep because I kept sliding down. I set it up with a ridgeline and the right angle just like the tutorials say, but it still felt like sleeping in a taco. Spent $60 on a decent one from a local outfitter and now I'm just wishing I had my tent back. Is there some trick I'm missing or do people just pretend to love these things?

3 comments

3 Comments

quinn_nguyen24d ago

Lmao congrats you discovered the "comfy taco" meme is real. $60 says you just bought a glorified backyard lounger not a sleep system.

anthony_fox9024d ago

Wait but if you actually take it camping the taco shape keeps you way warmer than a flat pad, plus you don't slide off in the middle of the night. I know a few people who swear by them for car camping and they sleep just as good as I do in my hammock setup.

cole_bailey853d ago

Sleeping in a taco" is exactly how I felt my first time too, so you're not wrong. That $60 hammock is probably your main issue - real camping hammocks with a proper double layer and a good bug net start around $100-150. Try sleeping at a flatter angle, like lay diagonal across the hammock instead of straight down the middle, and kick your feet up a bit higher than your head. Also, a cheap foam sleeping pad inside the hammock will help keep you from sliding and give your back some support. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it, but if you're still hating it after that then yeah, tents are just easier for some people.