The next time you’re trying to decide what makes it into your suitcase and what gets left behind, there’s one thing you should definitely take with you: a hammock.
Seriously. Hammocks weigh next to nothing—many weigh in at barely over a pound. And they’re also the ideal relaxation mechanism, enabling you to soak in your surroundings in complete comfort. “They make already great moments even greater,” says Sam Dearden from Boston, Massachusetts, and longtime lover of travel and hammocks.
Despite being incredibly lightweight, hammocks are strong enough to hold multiple people.
For example, Dearden says he didn’t shy away from using his hammock in public during his internship in Madrid, Spain. But he was met with mixed responses. “Some people were like, ‘Hey, did they punish you?’” Dearden says. “And other people said, ‘Hey, that’s really cool. It looks like you’re living the life.’”
One Pound of Extreme Versatility
Aside from unadulterated lounging, hammocks, are ideal for reading, taking short naps, and even cuddling. “Hammocks are surprisingly social because you can fit more than one person in them,” Dearden says. But the fun doesn’t end there. Hammocks can also be used as a sheet or a pillow in times of need. The night Dearden got stuck in the Dublin Airport in Ireland, he found a spot to lie down, rolled up his hammock as a pillow, and fell sound asleep.
The Freedom to Lounge
Hammocks can be easily folded and stored for traveling, and then unfolded for versatile lounging.
Hammocks can be attached to anything from the trees surrounding your campground to the porch of your cabin. You can take your hammock with you to the park, to the beach, or even to the canyon. Many bring hammocks rock climbing, finding them to be the ideal seat to rest on while watching their friends scale the cliffs. “While everyone else was terrified climbing the mountain, I was the most relaxed down in the hammock,” explains BYU student Jill Smyth from Pleasant Grove, Utah. They also make for an excellent camping companion and are great to take backpacking for when you find that perfect place to stop.
Finding the Right One
From private outdoor spaces to public hangouts, hammocks can adapt to wherever you may be. Now the only question remaining is which hammock will you choose? Hammocks can be purchased new or used, and many outdoor companies sell hammocks designed specifically for traveling. Depending on the brand, size, and weight capacity, hammocks run anywhere from $15 to $200, and most hammocks come with a convenient stuff sack for easy transport.
—Cara Gillespie
Photo credits (from top):
Carol Blyberg
Guillame
Andrew Hall
I never would have guessed to always carry a hammock!
This is really interesting. I can definitely see how this would be useful especially when traveling. I know there are times I would’ve liked to have one with me!
I’ve only ever tried one hammock before, but they’ve come such a long way since then. They look much more comfortable, more weather-proofed, and some even have the cocoon feature that closes you all the way up inside your hammock. So fun!
This is so neat! I never would have thought of taking a hammock on a trip with me. I’ve always thought of them as a more permanent lounge place. But I will definitely keep this in mind the next time I go on a trip.
Huh, I’d always be worried about finding a place to tie it. Cool idea though.
I never would have guessed that this would be the one thing I would be missing when I travel. I don’t know if I could handle the whole finding a perfect hammock spot and then people looking at me weird. But it’s a good idea!
What if there is nowhere to hang it up?? That would stress me out..