Are you looking for the best portable hammock stand camping? Maybe you have a desire to swing your days away in a hammock. We completely understand. You will definitely want a great hammock stand to take with you on your next camping trip, backpacking adventure, in the RV, or your camper van road trip.
There are plenty of options for hanging up a hammock. The most well-known option is using rope to connect your hammock to nearby hammock anchor points. An anchor point such as a tree, post, or other firmly in place structure. If you don’t have a nearby anchor or rope then you may want to consider a hammock stand.
Perhaps you are hammock camping in the woods, heading to one of the majestic national parks, car camping, local state park, or setting up a hammock in your backyard or the beach. Whatever your adventure, rest easy as we have hammock hanging solutions when there are no anchors in sight. We have solutions for all hammock-hanging circumstances, from lightweight stands and portable stands to budget-friendly hammock stand options. You’ll be out swinging (and probably napping) in no time!
Contents
A Hammock Stand Needs a Hammock
This is probably a refresher for most people, but just in case, we will quickly cover the hammock basics.
A hammock is a piece of material or netting that hangs between two anchors. As mentioned earlier, an anchor like a vehicle, tree, post, or hammock stand. It’s designed to sit or lay in and swings back and forth.
Adults and children alike love hammocks as they gently rock you to sleep on a warm summer day. However, some people also use them for backpacking and camping. Combine with a good hammock rain fly, and this combo can even replace your tent in the right conditions.
Hammock Types and Accessories
You’ll need to make sure you have the right gear and equipment for properly hanging your hammock. You won’t need all of the following, but each item is a good option for making life more comfortable, depending on your situation. Sometimes a hammock comes with everything you need, and other times accessories are sold separately.
There are also a few types of hammocks available, and which you choose will also vary according to your personal preferences and what you’ll use them for.
Types of Hammocks
There are both single and double hammocks on the market. A double hammock is made from a larger piece of material and is better suited for holding two people. Whether laying and swinging or using it as a seat, there is plenty of space, although the design of a hammock will still push you together and make things cozy. What isn’t as comfortable is for two people to sleep in any hammock, double or single, although it can be done.
A single hammock still has more than enough material for you and a second person to lay or sit in, provided someone is on the small side. Again, this is adequate for casually swinging during the day or sitting up but too small for two people to sleep. One person, however, shouldn’t have a problem at all using a single hammock in place of a tent (with a rain fly, of course!).
Hammock Rain Fly
A hammock rain fly is like a tent rain fly or rain tarp. Its job is to keep you dry and out of the elements, and you pitch it over the hammock to provide added protection. There are many options, from an ultra-lightweight hammock rain fly to four-sided, four-season options.
A hammock rain fly is hung by a ridgeline and staked out by guy lines on all sides of the tent to provide a protective cover. Often, these not only provide cover for the hammock but an extended cover for keeping your gear dry and even for cooking or playing cards out of the rain. Most hammock rain flies or fly are polyester or nylon ripstop and specially treated for waterproofing.
Hammock Straps
A hammock must have a way to be hung. The best way depends on your anchor points. Some hammocks come with straps, but others are bought separately. The purpose of the hammock straps is to wrap them around an anchor and tie them off to hold the hammock’s weight capacity and the people who sit in it. Each hammock has a weight limit recommendation. Consider the max weight capacity when choosing the best option for hammock straps. You will want to at a minimum match the straps weight limit with the hammock weight capacity.
Hammock straps are usually heavyweight nylon straps or cotton rope. They typically have various rings and carabiners for tightening and securing in different ways. However, if your hammock doesn’t come with straps, know you can usually get away with a DIY strap. Just make sure you know how to secure them properly so you don’t end up hitting the ground when you get in.
Hammock Underquilt
If you think you want to use your hammock in place of a tent for camping, consider a hammock underquilt. These are like a down sleeping bag or coat that attaches under your hammock for added insulation. It will keep you warmer in cold weather, much like a sleeping pad keeps you insulated and off the cold, hard ground.
Hammock Bug Net
A hammock bug net or mosquito net is as it sounds; it’s netting to surround your hammock and keep the mosquitos and other insects off of you. It’s a pretty straightforward piece of gear and will be especially handy if you decide to set up your camp site in a buggy area.
Hammock Stands
Finally, a critical accessory to have is a hammock stand. Now, if you live in an area with lots of suitable trees and know you’ll always have a place to hang your hammock, perhaps a stand isn’t necessary. However, often there isn’t a place to hang your hammock, in which case, it never hurts to be ready with another option. So rest assured, we have many different recommendations for the best portable hammock stands. Read on!
Best Portable Hammock Stand for Camping
When using a portable hammock stand camping, you’ll likely need a lightweight stand with simple design and something simple to set up and take down. A hammock that is portable, and not too expensive. Luckily, there are some excellent options on the market. We don’t think you need to look further than this Heavy-Duty Hammock Stand.
This stand is nothing fancy, but it doesn’t need to be! It’s made of tubular steel tubing and comes with a carrying case or carry case. The hammock weighs 24.5 pounds, which is a pretty lightweight hammock stand. After all, a stand still needs to be strong enough to hold a full-size person and then some.
It’s straightforward to set up and take down, making this small hammock portable stand light enough to haul anywhere. However, some reviewers say you’ll definitely want to read the instructions. And at just less than 25 pounds, they also say it’s easy to move around even once assembled. Finally, it’s one of the cheaper all-around hammock stands on the market at this price point. Grab your favorite spreader bar hammock and hook it up to this stand and you will be relaxing in no time.
Best Truck Hitch Hammock Stand
If your vehicle has a tow hitch and you want to be able to set up your hammock when you go camping quickly, the Hammaka 10314-KP Hammock Hitch Stand is a pretty cool option. A great hammock stand for trailer hitch.
This stand can be set up in two configurations, hammock mode, and chair mode. You have to buy the hammock and chairs separately. The configuration can be a pretty slick easy setup for quick and easy camping. It works with two chairs or one hammock. Use the folding chairs while you’re hanging out and relaxing. Then put up the hammock when it’s time to go to sleep or to do some swinging lying down. The stand takes about ten minutes give or take to switch between the two modes.
It weighs 50 pounds, is made of steel, and is compatible with all 2-inch receivers. This stand comes with all the nuts and bolts required for assembly. Reviewers have provided feedback saying it’s pretty easy to set up. However, some recommend switching to clevis pins and hairpin clips for even quicker assembly. All in all, it has excellent reviews and is a nice alternative to some of the other types of stand-alone, single-purpose hammock stands.
Best Hammock Stand Combo
Not all hammocks come with a stand, nor do all stands come with a hammock. However, you want the best bang for your buck if you’re like us. Sometimes buying these items separately adds up quickly and can be pretty pricey. Rest assured, the Vivere Double Cotton Hammock with Space Saving Steel Stand is a great combo package for a reasonable price.
With over 40 colors available, there is sure to be something that suits your tastes! Made of cotton fabric, this hammock and stand combo will hold up to 450 pounds. The strings to hang the hammock are polyester material to ensure they last as long as your hammock does.
The steel frame construction is of heavy gauge steel, is easy to put together, and assembles without the need for tools. It also allows you to hang it high or low, depending on your preferences.
The entire thing weighs around 33 pounds. It’s not lightweight but is a solid, packable hammock stand. It does come with a carrying bag. This makes it easy to take with you and is an option if you’re looking for fully packable hammocks. Many reviewers say they take this with them as a good travel hammock stand.
Best Multi-Hammock Stand
Want to “hang” out with your friends and have the ability to string up multiple hammocks? Look no further than the ENO Eagles Nest Outfitters Pod Triple Hammock Stand. This nifty stand allows you to hang three hammocks in a circle. So whether you’re at home or camping elsewhere, you all have space.
At 101 pounds, it’s not lightweight by any means. If you’re buying a multi-hammock stand, that is not what you’re going for anyway. Instead, it’s made of powder-coated steel that stands up to the elements and easily supports 400 pounds per hammock.
No tools are required for this hammock setup. So tell your friends to BYOH (bring your own hammock). You’ll all be swinging and relaxing in no time. It’s also easy to take down, so it’s a great portable hammock stand for camping. Perfect if you have several people but want to leave the tent at home. It’s a great addition at a campsite, music festival, or for backyard use.
Additionally, it’s a balanced device, so you don’t need to hang and use three hammocks at once. Instead, you can use one or two hammocks at a time without worrying about it tipping over.
Coming from the Eno brand, it’s high-quality. Eno is synonymous with hammocks and has many innovative products on the market. They also strive to be an eco-friendly company.
Best Lightweight Hammock Stand
Speaking of Eno, they also make the closest thing to a backpacking hammock stand. As we’ve mentioned, hammock stands are not that light because they have to hold hundreds of pounds of weight. However, weighing in at 15 pounds, which isn’t all that much weight, the ENO Nomad Hammock Stand comes the closest. Although most will likely not be taking it backpacking, it certainly is not an ultralight hammock stand.
It is compatible with most Eno hammocks (excluding the SkyLoft, SkyLite, JungleNest, or SuperNest) and holds up to 300 pounds. It’s made of aluminum, thus accounting for the much lighter weight since most hammock stands are steel.
Rather than carry a bunch of heavy steel pieces around, this Eno is made for outdoor enthusiasts and outdoor use. For those who love good gear and going to out-of-the-way places or even outdoor events.
Final Thoughts – Hammock Stand Camping
Hopefully, after reading our reviews, you’ve decided which is the best portable hammock stand camping for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a lightweight, portable hammock stand, something you can easily take camping, or throw up on your back patio, there are some great options.
All the hammock stands we’ve listed are easy to assemble and take down, meaning you can easily move them. We believe the Vivere Double Cotton Hammock with Space Saving Steel Stand is a great all-around choice. The Vivere is a reasonable price and good for setting up at home, camping or even on road trips. If you don’t need to save a bunch of weight and want a two-for-one combo, there is no need to spend more money.
Whatever your reason for buying a hammock stand, you will no doubt spend lots of days in the sun or the shade. Picture yourself relaxing and swinging your cares away.
