Wake up to the comforts of Hammock Camping

By Ben Wright --- www.WaveMonkey.com.au
November 09, 2006

A littler known creature comfort in Australia, hammock camping is huge in North America and essential in tropical Asia.

How many times have you woken up after sleeping on sticks, rocks and roots and wished for a more comfortable bed, even with a foam or inflatable mat?

These things aren't an issue when you sleep in a decent hammock. The hammock supports your whole body, instead of just your hips and shoulders, you don't get sore spots and it relieves the pressure on your lower back.

I first discovered hammock camping in Borneo. There is no way to live comfortably in a tent in the jungle. Often the best way to sleep in hot wet environments is elevated. If you are camping in the tropics, sleeping in a hammock will keep you off the wet ground, away from the creepy crawlies.

It can rain and everything stays dry... hang your gear off elevated stakes, and the air can circulate around your body, helping to sleep on those hot nights.

There is also no need for level ground using this system; all you need are two hard points to tie off. I've slept comfortably on slopes greater than 45 degrees this way. Try that in a tent.

There are a few little tricks to help make things more comfy. The proper way to sleep in a hammock is on the diagonal. Once you’ve set the sag so that it’s comfortable, climb in and lay with your feet on one side of the centerline and your head on the other side... diagonal across the center of the hammock.

You should be able to lie almost completely flat this way.

Try putting a clothing-filled stuff sack between your legs and your hips will sit right; any lower back pain should go away. Line the hammock with a sleeping mat when it gets colder, it will also provide some more support.

If it’s snowing and you have a rectangular sleeping bag, wrap the whole hammock in it and sleep inside like a cubby house. The bag will then loft all around you and not compress like it would inside the hammock, or on the ground.

Keep the rain away with a simple tarp or bivy.

A good hammock is also tree friendly, with wide straps that don’t bite in. They also offer more friction with just a few wraps.

The hammock is the ultimate in “Leave No Trace” camping and is the perfect light weight alternative for walkers, bikers and paddlers.

Why not give hammock camping a go for simplicity and comfort.