BesMany new hammock campers don’t realise most hammocks don’t include straps. Without them your awesome new hammock is pretty much useless. There are plenty of straps out there to choose from, but while you shop we’d like you to consider both sides of this relationship.
We’re talking you and trees. You need straps that are lightweight, simple, strong, and in budget. But for the tree, it’s all about protecting the bark.
Narrow cords or ropes concentrate a lot of pressure in one area, damaging the tree’s bark, phloem, and cambium layers. The phloem layer transports food within the tree while the cambium layer is all about new growth. Damage these and you might just kill a tree.
To avoid damage look for hammock straps that measure at least one inch wide.They will spread the load on the surface of the tree and mitigate potential damage.
When you set up camp choose a strong tree species for your hammock and look out for delicate plant life under the area you’ll be hammocking. This is the best way to ensure you leave no trace.
There are hammock straps out there that please humans and trees alike. We’ve hunted a few down, and they all have tree-friendly credentials, so take a look.
Eagles Nest Outfitters – Atlas Hammock Suspension System
You can trust ENO to provide a quality product that will do its job well and last for years if looked after properly. The Atlas hammock suspension system comes in camo and black options, supplied in their own stuff sack. Two straps together weigh just 11 ounces.
Each strap is 9 feet long, so they reach around even the largest trees. All you need to do is pass the strap around your chosen tree, pass the free end through the loop and pull tight. You can then position the carabiner attached to your hammock in any one of the 15 adjustment loops. Quick and easy.
GO Outfitters Hammock Suspension System with Cinch Buckles
GO Outfitters founder, Jason Montgomery, wanted to design the most reliable, durable and easy to use hammock suspension system. We think he did a pretty good job meeting that objective.
With each strap measuring 15 feet long, there is plenty to work with. Once you’ve wrapped the strap around the tree, pass the free end through the cinch buckle, which you keep attached to your hammock. The buckle is easily adjusted by sliding into position, and the tension keeps everything in place.
The non-stretch nylon straps can take a working load of 400 pounds, but have been break tested right up to 3000 pounds. The cinch loops themselves are made from ⅛” Dyneema, and hand spliced in the US.
HangTight Hammock Straps
HangTight straps suspend your hammock from two 10 foot long straps, made from non-stretch polyester. Nature’s Hangout ships the straps in a carry bag. With 16 flat loops (unlike ENO’s Atlas round loop system) these straps are a little bit easier to pack neatly. Three rows of reinforced stitching separate each loop, and the system has an impressive working load of 700 pounds, and break tested at over 2200 pounds.
There are 16 loops per strap, giving a total of 32 positions to choose from. To adjust the height and tension of your hammock, simply move the hammock’s carabiner to the loop you need.
The whole set weighs just 13.2 ounces, and comes with a lifetime, money back guarantee.