Items to Help Keep Warm While Hammock Camping

Items to Help Keep Warm While Hammock Camping

When going out into the wilderness to do some much needed camping there are a couple of ways to pack a shelter. There is the traditional tent and then there is the little more novel approach of hammock camping. Most people in North America that go camping have tried the more basic aspects of tent camping. It’s no surprise that when in a tent and trying to stay warm it’s important to have a proper sleeping bag with insulation that matches the weather outside.

If the outdoor temperature is in the low 30’s then obviously a summer bag would not be appropriate to use in the tent whereas if the temps are in the high 70’s a mummy bag made for snow camping is wrong. It’s the same for backpacking hammocks and for those who want to get creative and hit the trail with a hammock in their pack rather than a tent.

A little side note is that camping with a hammock is a little more exciting than in a tent. For starters, hammock camping is new to most people and takes some creativity over tents in where to place the hammock and how to set up the accessories. So if you’re intending to try out hammock camping, bravo, it’s a good way to spice up those camping excursions.

The three important items to take on a camp outing when trying to keep warm in a hammock are an adequate sleeping bag, a underneath sleeping pad and an underquilt for the hammock itself.

First of all, any camper knows they need the right sleeping bag for their jaunt into the woods. Choose carefully for the temperature and conditions. If you’re camping in the desert there may be wide fluctuations in temperature like hot during the day with major cooling into the night. This means the sleeping bag chosen should be for the cooler side of the temperature range obviously because this will be the time when you’ll be sleeping. Some may chose to use a top quilt rather than a sleeping bag since a bag may be too warm. Determine the minimum temperatures than make the best decision on what to use.

Second, a sleeping pad will help insulate under the sleeping bag or quilt and help with comfort. Many of the sleeping pads available are self-inflating so this makes for ease when setting up the backpacking hammock when bedding down. With the turn of a knob the pad will inflate itself, no need to blow it up.

Lastly, for much cooler temperatures to outright camping in the cold an underquilt made just for camping in a hammock may be indispensable. This will ensure the camper doesn’t wake up in the middle of the night with the desire to head out for the nearest hotel room. When there’s snow on the ground hammocking can still be comfortable but an underquilt will be essential. Finding the right balance between underquilt and top cover may take some time and adjusting for certain environments, climates and weather conditions.

One set of criteria may help chose the right insulation sleeping materials for your next hammock tour, try to keep it light, warm and inexpensive. It will make for a better time and a satisfying vacation knowing you’ve chosen well and haven’t overspent.

Get out there keep it light and stay warm. Backpacking hammocks are not only compact and light they’re meant to make camping adventurous and exciting.