Winter is coming. Do not throw your hammock in your storeroom and forget about it until summer comes. Hammocks are perfectly suited for cold weather camping.
However, for winter hammock camping, the most common concerns are how to stay warm and how cold is too cold for hammock camping.
Instead of, keeping your hammock in a box during this whole winter season, you should learn a few strategies, tips, and tricks to enjoy cold-weather hammock camping.
How Cold Can You Camp in a Hammock?
There is nothing like a too cold for hammock camping. The optimal temperature you can go for hammock camping can be as low as 10 – 20 degrees. Many experienced campers also have camped in 0 degrees. How much cold you can tolerate – totally depends on your winter tolerance capacity, camping gear quality, your strength, and willpower.
With better-quality camping gear, you can make your winter hammock camping more comfy and cozy than just like a tent. Not only for hammock camping but also for any hiking or backpacking adventure, weather can be an important deciding factor for having an idea of how much you will enjoy and explore your trip. Sometimes you may cancel your whole trip because of the adverse weather.
So, it will be wiser to make some strategies or solutions to deal with the bad weather. It may come based on your personal preference, so the more you explore and experience, the more you can make the most effective solution. As it is wise to play safe for your comfort.
For sleeping in a sleeping bag inside a tent, 60 degrees can be the ideal temperature. However, the ideal temperature will alter for the traditional nylon hammock. At 65-70 degrees you will feel pretty cold at night.
If the temperature reaches 50 degrees, using an under quilt is the best solution. Also, you can follow any smart tips to stay warm during winter camping. But remember, it is not recommended to hike in conditions below freezing if you are an experienced camper.
Benefits of Using a Hammock
Camping with a hammock has a wide range of benefits. Also, it has become one of the popular activities for adventurous campers.
- A hammock is lightweight, easy to set up, and comfortable
- Though comparing a tent to a hammock is total up to your personal preference. But if you want to enjoy the utmost beauty of outdoor scenery – then nothing can beat hammock camping.
- You will have a better sleep in a hammock just like your bed at home.
- Hammocks are less expensive compared to tents. Also, it does not take too much time to set up.
Few Drawbacks of Hammock Camping
With benefits, there are also a few drawbacks that hammock camping has.
- It needs a bit of a learning curve. New campers may face a bit problem adjusting in a hammock.
- You can share your space in a tent but a bit difficult for hammock camping.
Challenges of Staying Warm in a Winter Hammock
For hammock camping, it is not so difficult to find out a spot with trees. But weather can be an important factor for the campers to focus on. Temperature can fall suddenly at night, even some of the warmer climates also can become colder. So, you need to prepare yourself to stay warmer.
Hammocks for camping are usually crafted from nylon material. Nylon is an excellent material that is lighter in weight but provides maximum comfort. Besides, nylon is best for the ideal temperature. But, nylon is not perfect for the rough windy night or colder temperature.
When a heavy breeze blows through, nylon-made hammocks will suck all the body-produced heat and make you colder. This cold breeze will surround you and leave you colder than usually stay on the ground. Does not matter – how thick your hammock is but the cold breeze will get to you. And it is a crucial fact that is quite impossible to overcome.
How To Stay Warm When Winter Hammocking – 7 Effective Ways
If you are going to winter hammock camping, you should take some additional extra steps to stay warm in the hammock. Leaning on our camping experience and some exclusive advice from the top-rated hammock manufacturers – we provide you few solid ways to keep you warmer in winter hammock camping.
Read more: The Complete Winter Hammock Camping Checklist
1. Consider the wind
While setting up the hammock, your main objective is to consider the potential wind. It is better to note the wind direction. You should take full advantage of the natural sheltering effects such as rocks, hills, and trees.
Rather than setting up your camping hammock in an open area, it will be better to hang it in a cluster of trees. You can also use a tarp to add an additional layer of protection.
2. Use a quilt to stay warmer
You can use an under-quilt to trap the body heat and block the breeze. The quilt is usually an insulated blanket. It helps to trap the body heat by providing more insulation. If you use an under-quilt, you will become warmer compared to using a sleeping bag in the hammock camping.
A sleeping bag inside a hammock gets compressed and decreases its capacity to trap heat. Quilts are also very lightweight and compressible. Also, campers can easily carry them.
Benefits of using quilts:
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Warmer
- More packable
- Affordable
- Better ventilated
Some best quilt models for hammock camping:
- Snugpack Hammock Quilt
- Go Outfitters Adventure Top Quilt
- Kijaro Kubie Versatile
3. Use a sleeping pad
It is an alternative to a quilt. Use an inflatable sleeping pad. But remember, it can slip and slide out of the hammock if you move while sleeping. Few hammocks include an inner compartment to keep the inflatable sleeping pad – that helps to stop shifting.
You can also invest in a sleeping pad that is specially designed for a hammock. As they include side sections and some feature materials to retain the body heat.
Benefits of using a sleeping pad:
- Comfortable
- Retain the body heat
- Lightweight but highly compact
- Durable
Some best sleeping pad models for hammock camping:trong>
- Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX
- Big Agnes Q-Core SLX Wide
- REI Co-Op Flash Thermal
4. Rig a tarp and rainfly
Using a tarp and rainfly above your hammock will block the strong wind. You will find a wide range of tarp and rainfly in the market. A tarp can work as a windbreaker that can give you protection under 40, even 50 mph winds.
Benefits of using a tarp:
- Give protection from wind, rain, and snow
- Comfortable
Some best tarp models for hammock camping:
- PahaQue Hammock Rainfly
- Wise Owl Outfitters Rain Fly Tarp
- ENO ProFly Hammock Rain Tarp
5. Use a travel pillow
You can use a travel pillow to stay warm in hammock camping. It also covers your shoulder and neck.
Benefits of using a travel pillow:
- Lightweight and small
- Easy to carry
- Perfect for mummy bags
- Versatile use
- Extremely comfortable
Some best travel pillow models for camping:
- Mlvoc Travel Neck Pillow Set
- Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow
- Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow
6. Add an extra layer of clothing to rescue
It is a good idea to add an extra layer of clothing to stay warm in winter hammock camping. So, keep extra clothing inside your hammock. Remember, you should clean all the snow from your clothing before you enter your hammock.
Important items of clothing to bring in a winter hammock camping:
- Waterproof jackets and pants
- Sweater, fleece, moisture-wicking inner
- Accessories – sunglasses, insulated gloves or mittens, wool socks, boots
7. Use an insulated water bottle
This is used for many years to keep yourself warm on freezy nights. Use an insulated water bottle and fill it with warm water before you go for sleep inside the hammock. Keep it near your feet and it will keep your entire body warm during the winter night.
Important Consideration For Winter Hammock Camping
By following a few tips and tricks, you can make your winter hammock camping adventure more enjoyable. Here, we present some important considerations to stay warm in your winter hammock camping.
- Select your hammock camping spot wisely. Try to choose the right position for wind protection. Areas having natural windbreakers can be your prime choice.
- You can use a mummy-style sleeping bag to maintain the warmth.
- Also, you can use a multipurpose liner – they are lighter in weight and can add warmth to your sleeping bag.
- Invest in a pillow protector, it does not only bring warmth but also gives you a better sleep.
- Use a sleeping bag pod.
Conclusion
How cold is too cold for hammock camping – with the proper strategy, you can beat the cold windy nights and enjoy your winter hammock camping. By following these tips and tricks discussed in this entire article, hammock campers can keep their body warm and have a comfortable sleep during cold winter nights. Keep in mind, you need to follow additional steps to stay warm if you make a plan for winter hammock camping.
Max, a passionate lumberjack and outdoors enthusiast, loves fishing, camping, and hunting. He has extensive experience in the great outdoors and is eager to join Outdoor Fun Mag to share his adventures and knowledge. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, Max promises to bring laughter, learning, and an unforgettable outdoor experience.
