hi all.

the wife had bought me a hammock last christmas. but it did not come with any straps for hanging.

it is just an inexpensive one bought online somewhere for me to try. but it also does come with a removable bug screen. i thought that was pretty cool.

so i am looking for a cheap system to be able to hang this thing and give it a try.

below is a link to an example of what i found on amazon. it looks like it might be a decent idea. there are several avail that are all basically the same idea but may be a different colour, different length, or have more or less connection loops. all were 1" wide i believe.

some were only 6 ft long per strap, which seemed a bit short to me. others are 10 to 12 ft long per strap.

prices ranged from 13 to 22 cad

pls let me know if this is something like most people would use?? or am i way off base.

if anyone has any better suggestions pls feel free to share.

hammock strap system

A few years ago it was harder to find good straps. Now, it's much easier
I think unless you're way above average weight these are adequate.

If you want a good lightweight option for a reasonable price I bought these on ebay last year and have been happy with them so far. You just have to learn to tie a becket hitch.

You don't need anything fancy. I think I got my straps from AEH 10yrs ago. Just use them and a toggle in a marlin spike hitch.

https://www.arrowhead-equipment.com/store/p636/ReadyMadeTreeStrap.html


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ogO2xELfvPw

And, from our resident expert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giumWY1zknU

Two suggestions for you. 1) plan on sleeping in your hammock for a night before you go to the BWCA for a trip. If it’s not for you, better to find out now than later. 2) hammockforums.com taught me a lot about hammock camping. 3) I know I said 2 things but there is a forum here too to get help with.

The "know nothing" suggests looking at the BWCA Hanging forum on this site. It will cover lots of things beyond straps like cold butt syndrome and managing tree sap on your straps and more. Hanging has a learning curve. And while some of the expensive gear is nice, ropes were what we used to hang in the beginning. (Not good for the trees!)
Find your sweet spot and you will sleep so much better than on the ground, IMHO.

Yep, they'll work fine. I would recommend getting the longer ones. Better to have longer straps than you need than not long enough. If you're a beginner I personally wouldn't mess with the fancier suspension styles until you get a bit more experience and decide that you like hammocking.

Rick, the world of hammocking (hanging) is a game changer for some but not all. I hope it works for you.

In you test run there are some things you should get right in order to properly evaluate if it's for you:

1) Ensure that you have an adequate distance between your tie-off points to ensure you have the proper angle of your ropes. Too tight or too loose will affect your comfort level.

2) Assuming it's a gathered-end hammock, you'll want to lay at an asymmetric angle to the hanging direction. In other words rotate to the 2:00 o'clock to 8:00 o'clock position to achieve a flatter lay.

3) Testing in this cooler weather without adequate warmth remediation underneath will affect your result. A Thermarest in the hammock is not ideal as they are not shaped for hammock use and affect comfort. It's better to have a non-compressible quilt snugged up to the underside of the hammock.

4) You describe having bug protection but it doesn't sound like the attached framework that higher-end trip-worthy hammocks employ. Check out Hennessey's site for how these hammocks integrate bug screening.

I took the plunge years ago without adequately testing before my trip to Quetico. All I knew was that when I fell into a hammock I was immediately drowsy. I took that as a sign. The downside for me on my first trip was having crappy tie-out ropes for my tarp that tangled too easily - particularly on my first night when it was windy. I learned my lesson and bought Zing-it rope which you can order in Canada from Hofman Outdoor Gear Supply.

The advantages of hanging are numerous but boil down to personal experience. The first is quality of sleep. If that litmus test is successful, then you have to embark on the steeper learning curve of a proper set-up vis-a-vis tenting. If you're gear-head, this will be enjoyable.

Doubtful I’ll ever stray from Whoopie Slings. Strong, light, effective, massive options for less than ideal hang distances

Warbonnet Whoopie Slings

rick0001967,

Many of us full time hammock campers started with a cheap hammock and just a kernel of an idea of what we were doing. For more than a decade, the most universal advise was, "Watch this Shug video". Hammock How-to for Noobs is a link to Shug's You-tube hammock vids. If you haven't seen them already, you're in for a treat.

The availability of different length tree straps are for two reasons; the size of trees in the areas you'll be hanging and whether you plan to hang directly from the strap or something lighter and more compact between the strap and the hammock (most often Whoopie slings).

Your posted link would initially be a fine choice. Pro: Those straps are long enough for most trees and straight forward with respect of how-to use. Con: The "daisy-chain" design is at least twice as heavy and way more bulky compared to a single strap design and doesn't easily facilitate fine adjustment. The perfect hammock lay may require a cm or 2 adjustment to attain perfection. (Hammockers can be a bit fiddly)

I use longer 15-18' straps when car camping, but shorter straps with whoopie slings anytime I need to conserve space and weight (backpacking or canoe tripping).

This Dutchware Whoopie Hook complete suspension is similar to my lighter set-up. In Dutch's parlance "straps" have one loop and are best used with a toggle; "Huggers" have two loops and the Whoopie is hitched directly to the Hugger.

Hope you find something I typed useful. Good luck.

Exo: "Doubtful I’ll ever stray from Whoopie Slings. Strong, light, effective, massive options for less than ideal hang distances


Warbonnet Whoopie Slings "

Those or Dutchware Beetle Buckles.

lots of great info. thx. in looking for the "hanging" forum, i found other forums i did not know even existed. so thx for that as well.

The straps you posted work and are the same style I assume most folks (me included) started with.

I'll throw another option out there. ENO gets a bad rap sometimes in the hammock community, but the straps/suspension system is pretty slick. Great at decreasing setup time and making those small adjustments once you have it up. These are the longer length as well to give you more flexibility to find trees.

ENO Helios XL Hammock Straps

I still refer back to Shug videos here and there - the GOAT of hammocks.

If there is one content creator I could do a memory reset on and watch from that start again with the wide-eyed wonder of a child - it’s Shug.

Yup, I knew NOTHING either.
I got a cheap hammock with bug net a few years ago and after the 1st few nights of the 1st trip I took it on, I love it. I love how I sleep in it. I love how it gets me away from other guys who snore (more than me) and not sleeping on the ground is great.
I just use a similar system as to what you linked and no problems. Easy and simple.
I just bought a cheap underquilt for this year. I usually sleep on an inflatable mat. We will see how I like that.
I love how I can put it out near the lake and wake up in the morning to that view also.

Good luck and enjoy

Here is what you have to know.
They are not a miracle "cure all" as everyone tells you. I have been doing the hammock thing for over 25 years.
There are issues. Its like footwear. We can all agree on what brand lasts the longest, but disagree on fit because everyone is different.
Hammocks are exactly the same way. They sleep cold by nature. Its not just the hammock and tarp. There are systems used to deal with the varying factors around it. And sometimes it takes a bit to dial it in. Lots of trial and error.
A lifetime of backpacking and paddling has had me witness quite a few people turned off to hammocks for various reasons.
Between hyperextension, a little claustrophobia and back problems, they are not the magical fix for everyone. A lot if time and potential capital has to be invested sometimes to make it work.
I have 5 hammocks of various designs and have lent them out or used those to outfit trips for others. I see every reaction. And I buy quality gear.

Personally, I'm an early riser and find that when I am locked into my hammock gear, and properly set for conditions, I average 1.25 hours more sleep a night. That's pretty huge as I can't duplicate that at home.

So hammocks are like everything else. But you have to try it, and also check the weight of your entire set up including underquilt and extras if traveling light and fast. There are times Im lighter and more comfortable with a tent and pad. But I camp out in every month and condition.

Its something people have to try objectively for themselves in thier own conditions before committing. I know a lot of people, skilled people who it didn't fit into their style.
Best to try out or borrow and tweak. But there are some great options out there and it seems, through trial and error, most people can find some system that works.

Shug is the goat! Watch his videos first.

I think I'm about 10 years ahead of MarshallPrime and 10 years behind The Lorax on my hanging journey. My revelation happened in a borrowed ENO with the mosquito net that just draped over the hammock. I quickly found myself sleeping in 10' hammocks from Amazon with zippered bug nets and the 1" wide (heavy) loopy straps like the OP linked, eventually picking up a GO underquilt. Nowadays I've progressed to an 11' ($500!!!) Superior Hammock with the built-in down underquilt and I pair it with whoopie slings and 4' chunks of automotive seat belt straps because I love trees and I SLEEP LIKE A BABY. If I'm not portaging I mostly still use the loopy straps and a heavier (cheaper) hammock.

Definitely an investment. Have to buy two quilts vs. 1 with a tent (underquilt + topquilt), there is infinite tinkering (+1 to those that like to tinker) and you have to look at a campsite altogether differently - in a good way. Also, no more worrying about getting wet on the ground, no more awkward dressing yourself in a tent, and no more struggling to stand from the ground pre-coffee. Just swing your feet out…. I’ve also never had condensation issues - sometimes an issue in a tent camped close to water in right conditions.

My quality of sleep is much better in a hammock and I sleep much warmer. But you also have to trial and error your knees possibly hyper-extending, cold feet since many underquilts don’t cover the foot-box (small pad or jacket under your feet), and the right pillow size and height.

Exo: "...I’ve also never had condensation issues - sometimes an issue in a tent camped close to water in right conditions."

I definitely have had condensation problems in a hammock. Not any worse than a tent, but it can happen.

Exo: "Definitely an investment. Have to buy two quilts vs. 1 with a tent (underquilt + topquilt), there is infinite tinkering (+1 to those that like to tinker) and you have to look at a campsite altogether differently - in a good way. Also, no more worrying about getting wet on the ground, no more awkward dressing yourself in a tent, and no more struggling to stand from the ground pre-coffee. Just swing your feet out…. I’ve also never had condensation issues - sometimes an issue in a tent camped close to water in right conditions.


My quality of sleep is much better in a hammock and I sleep much warmer. But you also have to trial and error your knees possibly hyper-extending, cold feet since many underquilts don’t cover the foot-box (small pad or jacket under your feet), and the right pillow size and height."

Sounds like a fair trade-off. More setup and cost, but way better comfort and sleep. Once you dial in the setup, it really pays off.