Here at YOBOgear, producer of the world’s finest light-weight, portable hammock stand, we have an affinity for hammocks. These simple amalgamations of highly durable fabric, parachute cord, and carabiners have taken the camping community by storm over the last decade. Hammocks allow campers to set up a place to rest with relative ease and — unlike tents — allow campers to remain suspended above the ground. Not only is this a great way for campers to avoid uncomfortable ground, it also helps to keep them warm and dry. In today’s post, we are going to address some of the most basic concepts of hanging a hammock, things you should avoid when hanging your hammock, and why the YOBO hammock stand is the perfect accessory to carry with you when hiking.

When Hanging Your Hammock, Be Smart

The first thing we want to express when it comes to hanging your hammock is to be smart. Often, people will see pictures on the internet showing people hanging their hammock between two trees jutting over a cliff, or hanging over a river bank, or some other “extreme” location. While these pictures are fun to look at, we here at YOBOgear highly recommend that our readers do not attempt this. While it may make for a cool photo opportunity, we are of the opinion that you should only hang your hammock in an area that is safe. What do we mean by safe? We mean in an area that, in the event of slipping hammock or faulty straps, won’t lead to a person being seriously injured. In our opinion, hammocks should not be strung up higher than a few feet off of the ground and should be hung in an area with a relatively flat surface.

Hanging a Hammock is Easy Once You’ve Done it a Few Times

Alright, now that we have gotten that disclaimer out of the way, let’s go into some information about actually hanging a hammock.

• Height and Distance: The first thing you want to consider when hanging a hammock is the necessary height and distance required to appropriately spread the hammock. Typically, hammocks need between 10 and 15 feet of space for ideal hanging height. While hammocks can be hung at shorter distances, the results can be less than desirable. Unfortunately, trees do not always cooperate and it can be difficult to find two trees with the appropriate space between them. Luckily, if you’re carrying a YOBOgear Hammock Stand with you, you will never have to worry about finding two appropriately spaced trees again. Simply find one sturdy tree, setup your YOBOgear Hammock Stand, and viola, you have yourself a perfect hammock hang.
• Anchor Support: A hammock is only as good as the anchor point that it is connected to. Without adequate anchor support, hammocks run the risk of slipping or failing all together. This might mean finding a sturdy tree or post on which to attach your tree straps. In the case of our portable hammock stands, this might mean finding a good way to anchor the stand to the ground. Cal has become quite the magician at this, so see our Instagram story highlights and YouTube channel for creative ways to stake out your stand. We expand on this in Hammock Hanging 101, Part 2

Head on over to Part two to read more about appropriate hammock hanging techniques and reasons that the YOBOgear Hammock Stand should be a constant accessory on your hiking adventures. At YOBOgear, our mission is to provide the best lightweight hammock stand in the world and we feel that once you experience ours, you will wonder how you ever hammocked without it.