Best Hammock Tents and Suspended Tents in 2024

For hammock campers looking to take a step further into the world of airborne accommodation, may we introduce the hammock tent! In this article we will be venturing into the even more intricate, intriguing and downright game-changing niche of overnight hammock camping options, highlighting some of the best hammock tents out there in 2024.

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. At some point in the not-too-distant past, some unhappy camper awoke in a squished, wet tent on a rocky patch of ground. Said camper thought it necessary to take things up a notch in terms of camping comfort and convenience. He or she took this quest very literally, with the result being the first of what have evolved to be the veritable high-fliers of the cool camping equipment catalogue. And so, suspended tents and hammock tents were born.

• What are suspended tents and hammock tents?
• The best hammock tents and suspended tents in 2024
• What to look for in your suspended tent or hammock tent

Summary of the best hammock tents

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What are suspended tents and hammock tents?

Answering the above question can be done in two ways: the long way and the short way.

Short: Airborne sleeping facilities which fulfil all the same functions as a traditional tent (and more), only in the air.

Long: A fairly variegated and complex array of tent-like, dome-like, cocoon-like and/or spaceship-like structures composed of various materials. Boasting various features, occasional flaws, multiple set-ups and best uses but all sharing the common denominator of providing a sleeping system that lifts the user up off of the ground into the (beginnings, granted) of the stratosphere. Whether elevated versions of traditional tents or tarp-and-mesh cocoons enclosing a more standard backpacking hammock, each of these products offers something a bit different in terms of reliability, convenience, comfort and ideal mode of usage.

The tech-specs and jargon can be a touch bewildering, as can the array of choice but, as always, Cool of the Wild is here for you to help you get to know and navigate the ins and outs.

The best hammock tents and suspended tents in 2024

Ready to take camping adventures to even greater heights? These are your options, and some of the best hammock tents and suspended shelters that you could possibly choose to hang out in.

Tentsile UNA Tree Tent

Made for solo-hikers in the great outdoors, the Tensile UNA provides a spacious 25 square foot sleeping space and has roll away no-see-um mesh walls that zip closed in the middle. Although the Tensile UNA Tree Tent is designed for backpacking, its heavy-duty straps with ratchet-style fastenings make it heavier than we would like. That said, this design makes it super easy to get a flat and secure bed to sleep in. It doesn’t offer as much storage space as the Tensile Connect, but there are two large internal pockets and you can stash extra gear under the hammock tent. Just be sure to peg the removable rainfly to the ground to protect your kit from the worst of the weather.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Tentsile

Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe Asym Zip Hammock

A three-season hammock that’s tough enough to use in the wilderness, the Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe Asym Zip Hammock is one of the most comfortable backpacking tents on the market. It has an asymmetric design that lets you lay flat and get a good night’s sleep. There’s plenty of legroom too. With a floor dimension of 108 x 56 inches, it’s longer than most lightweight hammock tents. Plus, yhe hammock tent comes with a removable asymmetric waterproof polyester flysheet that mirrors the shape of the hammock and protects from wind and rain. The hammock is also fitted with upper bug mesh and accessed from the side.

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REI

ENO OneLink Hammock Shelter System

The ENO OneLink Hammock is an all-in-one hammock tent system that includes a 1,000mm waterproof rainfly, ripstop nylon hammock, breathable bug netting, and an Atlas suspension system. The ENO OneLink also comes with aluminium stakes and guy lines so you can secure the rainfly to the ground. Unlike many hammock tents, the ENO OneLink can function as a regular hammock which makes it even more useful for hikers. With this hammock tent you can save weight by leaving the mosquito netting and rainfly at home when you don’t need them.

Find the latest price at:
REI | Amazon

Tentsile Connect Tree Tent

With four inner stash-pockets, 53sqft of floor space, a maximum load of 880lbs and user height of 6’6”, the Tensile Connect is a very spacious, accommodating arboreal abode which is suitable for two or more people and all of their gear. Though the extra space and weight capacity might seem overload for just two people, together they allow those two people to stretch out, bring their gear inside or even hang it under the tent to keep it dry in rainy weather. If that still leaves you a fair whack of legroom, you can always invite the dog in too. Though a tad on the heavy side for taking on the trail, even when split between two or three people, the Tensile Connect is very user-friendly and maybe the most sociable tent out there – if you know fellow-Tensile users the tents can be connected to form a small village of floating domiciles!

A contender for best multi-person suspended tent.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Tentsile | Backcountry

Lawson Hammock Blue Ridge

At only 1.8kg, supporting up to 275 lbs, and with ground use adaptability, the Lawson Blue Ridge could easily become any solo thru-trekker’s go-to option for backcountry accommodation. Having been rated #1 by Backpacker, Outside and American Survival Guide and Gear Of The Year Award in 2015, it has many fans and it’s easy to see why. Easy to set up and boasting a spreader bar and arch pole system which keeps the bed of the hammock much flatter than in other models, this tidy little tent scores high on user-friendliness, convenience and comfort and sets the bar high for one-person hammock tent competitors. It is a little heavier than the Clark NX-270, but when it comes to verstility the Blue Ridge offers more due to its ability to be used on the ground.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

Clark NX-270 Four-Season Camping Hammock

It’s hard to believe that anyone could make a genuine 4-season hammock tent while keeping the weight down, but with the NX-270 hammock specialists Clark have done just that. The Weathershield outer layer provides reliable protection from the elements and, in one of the niftiest features we’ve yet to see in a camping hammock, the pockets not only serve as storage space but provide extra insulation too! With a pack weight of only 1340g (1740g with the tarp), a max. user height of 6’9” and max. user weight of 300lbs, the NX-270 poses serious competition to the Flying Tent and Lawson Blue Ridge for best one-person hammock tent. Which will suit you best depends on the climate you’re camping in and how much you want those super-handy inside pockets! For winter hammock camping, this sturdy, rugged one-person option is hard to beat.

Find the latest price at:
Dutchware Gear

Sierra Madre Research Nubé

The Sierra Madre Nubé hammock shelter takes the rainfly to a whole new level. Although sold separately, combined with the Sierra Madre Xplor, Solo or Pares hammock, this generously-proportioned tarp (12ft long and 9ft wide) offers a great deal of versatility in addition to its eye-catching and highly functional design. Beneath the sleeping area, the Nubé contains an integrated gear hammock sewn into the bottom of the all-enclosing bug mesh that can hold up to 200lbs. If this isn’t enough, the Ripstop, waterproof tarp itself covers a wide and long enough space below the sleeping area to host a small to medium-sized family. A one-person suspended tent high on storage, weather-resistance and versatility.

Find the latest price at:
Sierra Madre Research

Kammok Sunda

Ideal for those who anticipate spending time in a variety of terrains, the Sunda might just be the answer to your prayers. Both a two-person tent with a generous 35sqft of floor space and a comfortable, two-door, two-window suspended tent that can be stripped down to a basic hammock for day-use. The Sunda will have all your hammocking/tenting needs covered whatever scenario you find yourself in. Where the Sunda excels over other two-person competitors such as the Tensile Connect, the Tensile Stingray and the Nubé is in storage capacity, of which it has tons, all of it easily-accessible. Boasting two 6.5sqft exterior vestibules for storing backpacks, boots and anything else you fancy, and also 6 internal mesh pockets and 9 gear-hanging loops, the Sunda is as much a sleeping quarters as it is a walk-in, sleep-in cupboard!

Find the latest price at:
Kammok

Tentsile Stingray Tree Tent

Weighing in at 8620g, the Stingray is one of the heaviest suspended tents on the market and, as such, one you’re unlikely to be taking out very far into the backcountry. That said, with a whopping 75sqft of floor space, when up in this airborne giant you’re likely to feel like you’re in a world of your own in any case! With four internal pockets to store gear and a user weight limit of 880lbs, barring calls of nature, you could take everything you need for a week or so up there and not bother coming down. While it leaves multi-person tent competitors like the Nube and the Tensile Connect far, far behind in terms of floor space and storage space, the Stingray is definitely an option with which you’re unlikely to venture far from the car park without the aid of a Sherpa or two.

Find the latest price on:
Tentsile | REI

Crua Hybrid Camping Hammock Tent

With an all-in-one set up of tent, hammock, insulated air-mattress and sleeping bag, the Crua Hybrid Camping Hammock Tent is perhaps the most user-friendly option on review. Although short on features and storages pockets, this uncomplicated, comfy tent-hammock combo is a reliable, well-built, stress-free option for solo campers looking for a bit of versatility with regard to sleeping arrangements (it can be used on the ground or suspended between trees). The only downsides are the single-entrance and the 3150g weight, which place it marginally behind the competition as a one-person trail-tent and hammock solution. For simplicity, however, the Crua can’t be beaten, and the weight saved in the integrated sleeping bag must be factored into any comparisons to other one-person options such as the Flying Tent, Clark NX-270 and Lawson Blue Ridge.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Crua Outdoors

What to look for in your suspended tent or hammock tent

1Comfort

Comfort in a suspended or hammock tent derives from a number of variables. These include:

• Insulation
• Shape
• Size
• Fabrics
• Ease-of-access
• Storage

And, last but not least, the peace of mind begotten of knowing your tent or hammock is well-made, safe and unlikely to plop you back down to earth hastily during the night.

2Weight

Ultra-lightweight or luxurious, ‘bomb-proof’ palace in the sky? How heavy you choose to go will depend, alas, on how much you’re willing to or are able to carry. For thru-hikers and other campers spending the night far from where they leave the car, the ultra-lightweight models are likely to be your best option. For those not straying too far from home and who value comfort over convenience, the heavier, more ‘deluxe’ and spacious options are more appealing and feasible.

3Use and ease of use

Some systems are blissfully user-friendly whereas others require PhDs – well, at least a great deal of practice and faffing around with instruction manuals, straps, cords and slings. What’s best for you will depend largely on your patience levels and where you plan on using your hammock/tent. If you’re out on the Pacific Crest Trail, the Annapurna Circuit or going from John O’Groats to Lands end on foot, we’d recommend the easy options. If you’re driving down to the local campsite and parking up a short stroll from your intended ‘hangout’ with time to kill, the PhD options might just get your vote for the added comfort and convenience they offer. Ease of use depends on a large number of factors.

*It’s also important to note that some models can be used on the ground, others not. If you are headed to any area with sparse tree coverage or want a true replacement system for the traditional tent, opt for a ‘hybrid’ model that can be used on the ground when required.

4Standout Features

Certain tents/hammocks comprise one or more of a variety of possible special features that make them go the extra proverbial mile in terms of comfort, convenience, and/or general functionality. Among these we can include layered flooring, extra insulation, inner and outer storage pockets, multiple doors, weather-resistance and overall square-footage.

5Dimensions

Suspended tents and hammock tents are not cheap. Before you make an investment, it’s best to know that you are going to fit in there comfortably. For smaller users size should not be a problem, but for those over 6ft a few of the one-person options might make things a bit tight (or require foetal-position sleeping) if you intend on taking any gear into your tent/hammock with you.

6Strength

All hammocks/tents come with a recommended maximum user weight. Be sure to allow a few pounds of ‘buffer’ for clothes, sleeping bag, midnight munchie supplies, teddy bears and anything else you might take to bed with you.

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