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How to choose a hammock for camping or backyard use

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-14.

We research products from makers' specs and health sources; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

Choose the complete setup, not just the fabric bed

Check the selected package rather than assuming straps or connectors are supplied. A wide bed or double label does not establish that your intended number of occupants is permitted. Read the total capacity and the intended-use instructions for the complete setup.

Compare a setup you can assemble and enter comfortably. If getting in or out is difficult, a different arrangement may be more suitable. Do not treat a low hanging height or broad hammock as a guarantee against tipping or falling.

Check site rules and protect trees

Leave No Trace advises checking local regulations before hanging a hammock. Its guidance recommends webbing straps at least 1 inch wide, living sturdy trees and setup on the thick part of the trunk. Local requirements may be stricter, so a strap that meets that general width is not permission to use any tree.

As a specific example, Rock Creek Park prohibits attaching these devices to trees, shrubs or other natural or built features, and prohibits staking supports into the ground. Its page encourages freestanding frames in grassy, open areas away from trees. That is the park's stated guidance, not a rule for every park.

Check the exact location, permitted footprint and overnight rules. A stand may offer an alternative where tree attachment is prohibited, but does not automatically make every area available for hammocking. Avoid vegetation damage and keep access routes clear.

An actual maker setup example

ENO's linked SingleNest and DoubleNest setup sheet specifies a 400 lb maximum and use with its compatible suspension systems. It illustrates anchors approximately 10 to 15 feet apart, hanging no higher than 18 inches, and an approximately 30-degree suspension angle. It also describes lying diagonally for comfort rather than stretching the hammock excessively tight.

Those are instructions for those ENO products, not a universal engineering plan. Follow the instructions for your own hammock, suspension, connectors and anchors. Do not calculate a safe assembly simply by taking the lowest number printed on unrelated components; ratings also depend on intended use and installation.

Check connector closure, anchor condition and the specified assembly before gradually applying weight. If the instructions do not establish that your proposed combination is compatible, resolve it with the maker before using it. A successful-looking photograph is not a load test.

Plan weather protection and storage

For camping, make a list of the shelter functions you need. Compare net coverage, entry openings, tarp dimensions, attachment methods and any separate insulation. A product sold with a net may still require other equipment for your conditions. Do not assume a net makes you bite-free or that any tarp will keep every setup dry.

Check the complete packed weight and volume, including the suspension and protection you will actually carry. A lightweight fabric hammock alone does not describe the weight of an overnight shelter system. Make sure it fits with the rest of your gear in your hiking backpack.

Read care instructions before choosing a fabric or hardware system. ENO's setup sheet advises keeping its hammock away from flames and embers, removing sharp items from pockets, storing it dry and cool out of direct UV when unused, and hand washing as directed. Do not generalize its care method to every hammock.

Children and infant sleep need clear limits

CPSC's historical mini-net-hammock recall describes a specific strangulation hazard: narrow net hammocks without spreader bars can twist around a child's neck during entry, exit or play. Do not use recalled mini-hammocks. A spreader bar on another design does not prove that product is suitable for a particular child.

Follow the exact product's age and supervision instructions. ENO warns against unattended child use, jumping and aggressive swinging. Do not stack hammocks vertically. Supervision does not turn an unsuitable or recalled product into a safe one.

For infants, NIH Safe to Sleep recommends back sleeping on a firm, flat, level surface in a compliant crib, bassinet or play yard. A hammock does not meet that sleep-surface guidance. Do not put a baby down to sleep in an adult or baby-marketed hammock, or treat adult supervision as an exception.

Inspect the setup every time

Check fabric, seams, suspension, knots and connectors before each use. ENO's safety instructions require stopping use if anything looks damaged or unusual. Its sheet calls for checking that carabiner gates are closed, following the suspension instructions and testing gently before putting full weight in.

Hang only as the maker permits, over an area clear of sharp objects, rocks and debris that could injure you in a fall. Check above as well as below for unsafe anchors or overhead hazards. Avoid positions over water, a steep drop or another place where losing support would have serious consequences.

Do not jump, swing aggressively or modify the system to force a different fit. Keep it away from heat and flames, and remove it when unused as the care and site instructions require. If the anchors, equipment or your ability to enter and exit are uncertain, choose another arrangement rather than relying on the advertised weight capacity.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

How high should I hang a hammock?

Follow your exact product instructions. ENO's cited sheet and Leave No Trace both specify no higher than 18 inches; do not treat that as a guarantee against injury.

Does a stand mean I can set up anywhere?

No. Check the site rules, permitted area, stable setup and the stand's compatibility instructions.

Can a baby sleep in a hammock?

No. NIH recommends a firm, flat, level infant sleep surface and back sleeping; a hammock is not an appropriate infant sleep space.

Does double mean two people can use it?

Read the exact product's occupancy, total capacity and complete-system instructions. Width or a double name alone is not permission.

Sources

• Leave No Trace Skills: Hammock Camping (lnt.org), Leave No Trace
• Hug a Tree Don't Hurt a Tree (nps.gov), National Park Service, Rock Creek Park
• Mini-Hammocks Recall: Entanglement and Strangulation Hazard (cpsc.gov), CPSC
• Ways to Reduce Baby's Risk (safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov), NIH Safe to Sleep
• SingleNest and DoubleNest Setup, Safety and Care Sheet (file: https://eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/cdn/shop/files/ENO_DoubleNest_Hammock_and_ENO_SingleNest_Hammock_Tyvek.jpg), ENO

Sources checked 2026-10-14.