Mosquitos suck.
Imagine a backpacking trip that you don’t have to sleep on the ground or worry about mosquito bites, sounds rad right?
The only steps are to find a couple points to hang it up and hop on in. This sounds like a romantic notion, however, you forgot about all the bugs who see you as a meal swinging in the wind.
A backpacking hammock without a mosquito net is the perfect way to wake up miserable, uncomfortable, and covered in mosquito bites. Major bummer.
A bug net and a backpacking hammock should become synonymous, those little buzzy assholes can be the most frustrating nuisance on any trek.
Types of hammocks
People have been sleeping suspended on hammocks for hundreds of years (source), they are super comfy and you look like an all-around badass. There are three different broad categories of hammocks that you have to choose from when finding the best backpacking hammock to suit your needs.
Open model hammocks
Open model hammocks are designed for one or two people to sit in, they really only sleep one person comfortably. They have a open canoe or kayak shape design and sit two comfortably, it makes for a nice place to have a conversation. You can get them in a couple different sizes, basically single wide or double wide. Open models are a pretty popular option and are fairly inexpensive, durable, and easy to set up.
Ultralight hammock
Made for the ultralight backpacker in mind, these models are typically made for the sole purpose of being as light as possible. The ultralight models main concern is weight, some backpackers count ounces and cut corners like shaving down a toothbrush to save weight. They are made well, however, since the intent of the backpacks is being as light as possible, they may not be as durable as other models.
Expedition hammock
These hammocks are made for war. Well, not really, but they are the most durable and rugged we have covered so far. Expedition hammocks are designed to be used for a backpacking trip for multiple days in a row while providing a high level of design. These are the beefier models that are designed for long-term use, rather than weekend use.
Often times expedition hammocks are loaded with extra accessories like a mosquito net and rain flies. Typically of the open design, these hammocks are built for long term use, abuse, and comfort.
Tips for Using a Hammock with a Mosquito Net
Sleeping in a hammock without taking a few things into consideration and you can end up with a sore neck fairly easily. According to WebMD hammocks may help improve sleep in some adults, another badass reason to use a hammock. It may sound trivial, however, sleeping in a hammock for the first time can be a little bit of a challenge. Your body lays in a different shape, so it takes a little bit of getting used to.
Suspension
This is important, you want to make sure that when you hang your hammock you have a little bit of a dip. The hammock is designed to lay in like a sling, not lay flat like a bed.
If you set it up too tight, it’s not unlikely that you accidentally fall off of the hammock. You just want to make sure there’s a little dip, jump in it to test it, and readjust as needed.
Hanging your hammock with the most comfortable fit for you might take a couple of tries, after a few setups you get the hang of it. In general, the suspension system will be hung 6 at 6 feet up the tree and lay at a 30-degree angle. How far apart you hang your hammock varies with the manufacturer, however, they all tend to have a few feet variance.
Comfort
Comfort is the reason that hammocks have become such a popular option for hikers and backpackers, they set up extremely easy for a great night’s sleep.
You can jump in with just a sleeping bag and be just fine, or, you can dress it up and make your backpacking hammock the envy of people sleeping on the ground everywhere.
They keep you dry
Sleeping on the ground in the rain can get soggy and uncomfortable quickly. There’s nothing worse than waking up wet, having to spend the extra time to dry your gear before getting a start, terrible way to start the day. A backpacking hammock keeps you suspended off the ground so you don’t have to worry about getting wet from underneath.
Once you experience sleeping in a hammock, with a mosquito shield, you won’t go back.
Mosquito net
Now it’s time to bust out your tarp and set it up over the mosquito net, for a dry and bite free, great nights sleep. A mosquito net can come either built into a hammock or you can purchase it as an extra for any old hammock in the closet. You are going to want to make sure that your hammock ridgeline is long enough for the mosquito netting to be pulled over.
The 5 best hammocks with a bugnet
Here’s our picks of the best hammocks that include a bugnet to ensure a good nights sleep.
Lost Valley Premium Camping Hammock
- The Original Camping Hammock Bundle Includes Single Hammock, Rain Fly, Mosquito Net, 2 Tree straps, 2 12kN Aluminum Carabiners, 2 Stakes, and 2 Guy Lines
- Ultra Strong, Tear Resistant Parachute Nylon Material With Reinforced Stitching and Knotting That Holds Up To 350 lbs
- Hammock Includes an Accessory Pouch on the Inside for Your Smart Phone
- All Components fit into a Drawstring Bag and Weigh Less Than 4 Pounds
The Lost Valley Premium camping hammock is the ultimate all-in-one backpacking hammock setup.
It comes with all the necessary accessories to use it out of the box. The camping hammock bundle includes the hammock, rain fly, bug net, tree straps, carabiners, stakes, and guy lines. The entire set up when you pack everything in the bag is under 4 pounds, so this is not intended for the ultralight backpacker. It is made of tear-resistant parachute nylon giving this hammock the durability to last for months at a time.
The tree straps that come with this hammock are 9.5 feet long, which are long enough that you have flexibility when looking for a spot for your tree straps. This hammock is tough and durable and comes with everything for setting up a hammock to protect you from bugs and other nasty bits.
- Size: 9 x 4
- Tree straps: Yes
- Weight: 3.5 pounds
- Fabric: 210T parachute nylon
Everest Double Hammock
- The Original Camping Hammock Bundle Includes Single Hammock, Rain Fly, Mosquito Net, 2 Tree straps, 2 12kN Aluminum Carabiners, 2 Stakes, and 2 Guy Lines
- Ultra Strong, Tear Resistant Parachute Nylon Material With Reinforced Stitching and Knotting That Holds Up To 350 lbs
- Hammock Includes an Accessory Pouch on the Inside for Your Smart Phone
- All Components fit into a Drawstring Bag and Weigh Less Than 4 Pounds
The Double Hammock by Everest comes with the complete package, everything that you need to go backpacking. This is a big hammock, double wide if you will. It’s large enough for two people to lounge around in all day, however, sleeping on a hammock is a one-person endeavor.
Having an attached bugnet makes the setup and breakdown of the combination hammocks faster and easier. When you’re out in the woods, a mosquito net is not an option. It only weighs 2.5 pounds, making it light enough to carry instead of a tent on your next backpacking or camping trip.
This hammock is durable and made for the backcountry, from the tear resistant nylon to the bug net, it’s got it all.
- Size: 10 x 6
- Tree straps: No
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Fabric: Ripstop 210T Taffeta parachute nylon
Qyuhe Camping Hammock
- This is the perfect hammock for camping, bd dry quickly after being wet.
- Super Lightweight, Small, Compact and Durable. Unfolded Dimensions: 102inch (long) x 55inch (wide); Packed Dimensions: 9.5x6.6x4.7inch; Weight: 31 oz; Strong hammock with stand weight of 440 pounds/200 kg.
The Qyuhe Portable Nylon Fabric Travel Camping Hammock with Mosquito Net is a lightweight hammock designed for one person to use. It’s rating of 440 pounds is the largest that we have seen so far, and can hold pretty much anything you throw at it.
Double Hammock features a proprietary ripstop fabric which is extra tough, and didn’t sacrifice on softness, comfort, or breathability. It’s billed as a single hammock, however, with a 440-pound rating, this baby can easily hold 2 people for a relaxing afternoon by the lake. If you don’t like tying your straps you may want to consider grabbing a couple quick straps, they take two knots out and save you time.
- Size: 9.5 x 6.6
- Tree straps: Yes
- Weight: 2.3 pounds
- Fabric: 210 parachute nylon
FORTRIC Mosquito Net Outdoor Camping Hammock
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The FORTRIC Mosquito Net Outdoor Camping Hammock is made of durable material, lightweight, and has a built-in mosquito net. It comes with a couple of 6.5 feet straps that are black in color with some blue stripes, setup is simple. Just wrap the straps around the tree and go. The built-in mosquito net is stitched into the material, and during the day you can flip it over and use it as a regular hammock.
The FORTRIC hammock is rated for 400 pounds, heavy enough for almost everyone.
- Size: 10 x 6.5
- Tree straps: Yes
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Fabric: Parachute nylon
Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Hammock
- MULTI-FUNCTION HAMMOCK WITH BUG NET PROTECTION - this hammock includes a separate bug net to keep you comfortable and protected from mosquitoes, no-see-ums and other biting insects for ultimate comfort. The netting attaches to the hammock with a double sided zipper for convenient access and seals the bugs out. In cool weather, just flip it with the netting-side down and enjoy it as you would a parachute nylon hammock
- SUPER CONVENIENT AND MULTI-USE - ideal for relaxing when camping, hiking or traveling. From the great outdoors to your own backyard, this is the perfect alternative to a tent, sleeping pad, ground mat, or swing
- QUICK AND EASY SETUP - includes upgraded and high quality nautical grade carabiners, starter rope kit and a bug protection net suspension kit which allows you to quickly and safely attach your Skeeter Beeter Pro hammock wherever you want to relax
- HIGH QUALITY AND DURABLE - the hammock is made from 100% parachute nylon (70D nylon). It can endure the elements so you don't have to, all while supporting a weight capacity of up to 400lbs
The Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro hammock is built to last, they offer a lifetime warranty on their hammock, pretty rad. The hammock is rated at 400 pounds, and sleeps one person comfortably and can hold enough weight for a couple people during the day. It is made with Parachute Nylon, popular for its durability, strength, and weight.
- Size: 10.5 x 5
- Tree straps: Yes
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Fabric: Parachute nylon
Conclusion
Hammocks are a super rad way to sleep, and with a mosquito net as an added accessory you won’t have to worry about getting chewed up at night. Sleeping on the ground is going to be a thing of the past, thanks to the hammocks and gear available today. Do a little research and figure out which hammock works best for your endeavor, there’s not a one size fits all solution.
