A thru-hike is a great way to test yourself and see how far you can go. But when it comes to deciding what gear to take with you, the options are endless. One of those decisions is whether or not you should bring a hammock or tent on your thru-hike.
This article will discuss each option’s pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision in choosing a hammock vs tent camping for a thru-hike.
Choosing which is best for you will depend on many criteria:
- Terrain
- Climate
- Time of Year (for example: during the summer months in a desert climate)
- Budget
- Comfort
You should also consider if it will be more comfortable to sleep on something soft or hard; as well as whether there’s ample space for either option when pitching camp and how dispersed you keep your gear once you establish a camp.
Knowing Your Thru-Hike
To be fair, each thru-hike is different than the next. Choosing a hiking tent or hammock for one thru-hike will be different than the next because they all run in different areas with different nature benefits to one or the other.
For example: The Pacific Crest Trail spends a large chunk within the desert, in this case a hammock is nearly useless unless you hike specifically focused on whether you could deploy it.
The difference here is that as long as you can find “mostly” flat ground, a tent will always work, whereas, in the desert, your hammock is nearly useless.
But then on a trail like the Appalachian Trail, you have lots of trees and you will be able to set up a hammock with ease, allowing you to carry and use a hammock the entire length of the trek so trail matters when choosing.
Availability of Established Campsites
Many thru-hiking trails have shelters pre-built for hikers that many choose to stay in when they are around them, especially in inclement weather. Understanding the placement of these shelters will help you determine if you want to bring either a tent or a hammock.
Shelters can make your choice of shelter to carry change as much of trail life can center around these shelters for a place to hang out and talk and enjoy some company after a long day alone.
Shelters are also first come, first serve and are usually full of hikers in the bubble. Due to this, you don’t want to depend on having space in a shelter as that would sometimes set you up for issues.
Will the Terrain Support Your Set-Up?
Are you heading into a deep forest or into desert-type terrain? If you are heading into desert terrain, then a hammock may be the right choice if there are trees or objects to attach to as the desert floor can be baked solid and difficult to stake in.
But for many deserts in the United States, you will only have infrequent trees and some sparse cacti that will do a hammock hiker no favors and lead to them having to lay on the ground, many times without a pad since a hammocker doesn’t always have sleeping pads.
If you are heading into a deep forest, then you are freed up to better choose between the two types of shelters as each can work equally well in a forest, though for tents, you need to find suitable ground for placement.
Can It Withstand the Forecasted Weather?
Knowing the time of your hike and the expected weather may help you choose the right gear for this hike, as you will need a tent or hammock that can handle the expected weather and conditions.
If not you may be at risk of being uncomfortable to even being in danger with heavy rain or worse weather on your hike one day when it might have been sunny outside on another day.
Factor In Your Comfort and Preferences
Almost everything in backpacking is personal and no one person can decide everything for you. Only by weighing the different aspects of hammocks and tents can you decide if one is better for you than the other.
For us older hikers sometimes a sleeping pad just doesn’t do it anymore and using a hammock is more preferential than a tent.
Another side, though, is that if you enjoy the walls and privacy then choosing a backpacking tent vs hammock camping may be the correct answer.
I personally use an ultralight Hummingbird Hammock Long Hammock setup
Compare Costs of Each System
Here is where some changes start to occur, as there are much more high-quality but lighter-weight tents that be had for less than $200 where many base hammock setups will escalate in price to add the gear you will need for a full thru-hike build.
These start to become inconsequential when you reach the $500+ dollar tents and then the sleeping pad.
For a tent you need, at a minimum, the tent, stakes, poles (or trekking poles), and your sleeping pad. This set of gear will be the base required for a functioning tent shelter system.
For a hammock you need, at a minimum, the hammock, the straps, the bug net, the rainfly, and an underquilt or sleeping pad to insulate the bottom side of your sleeping system since it is raised.
Note: I didn’t include a topquilt, or sleeping bag, as these are required for either solution and are more a personal preference and need based on the temperatures and not a true part of the shelter itself.
Which Provides More Comfort For You?
The other focus for many will be solely based on comfort, sometimes the extra bulk or weight is directly outweighed by the comfort level they provide, especially over thousands of miles.
Choosing between the two is a highly personal decision, and you should note that with both solutions there are trade-offs.
I know many hikers who swear by hammocks because they provide more space for their backside when sleeping which can often lead to fewer aches and pains by the morning.
I personally prefer a tent as I like having walls and a cover overall, with a good sleeping pad I feel fine in the morning. Though I have sometimes woken up with some residual aches and pains, they tend to wear off fast once moving around.
Tent-Based Thru Hiking
This is by far the most common way for thru-hikers to shelter up on a trek, this is due in large part to the ease of finding and using a tent.
Tents are a near-perfect shelter option as most have a large amount of experience in them and are very versatile, a tent can be used to create an environment you want in most environments.
You will also find that there is usually not much of a difference between tents overall; they all have about the same ease when it comes time for setup with tent poles or trekking poles as well as having pretty close styles.
The only big difference would be in the materials used to create the tent as the most lightweight is Dyneema but the most common is Sil-Nylon which cuts the expense down dramatically.
Benefit to Tents on a Thru-Hike
There are many benefits to using a tent as your shelter, from protection from the elements like weather to housing your gear keeping it safe from theft to the overall ease to set up and use in pretty much any area you trek through.
Protection From Elements
Tents are excellent at ensuring you are safe from rain, snow, hail, and other natural elements. They provide a place for you to sit in peace as the storm passes overhead or they protect your gear from heavy downpours making sure nothing gets too wet.
This same protection from wet elements also helps when you encounter dry, arid, and hot conditions as well.
Tents are a great way of offering shelter from the sun, which can be very intense in some areas or during certain times for instance on an exposed mountainside.
This can help where there is no shade to offer relief and provide comfort while you rest your weary head at night after hours out hiking up steep inclines all day long!
Protection of Your Gear
Being able to have access to your gear because it is inside the tent with you is a major bonus to have, especially when you are in an area where weather conditions and the elements can change at any moment.
Additionally, this makes sure there is less issue with anyone deciding to look through your gear or decide that some piece of gear that you have is theirs to take.
Ease of Setup in Near Any Environment
Tents are incredibly functional and can be adapted to nearly any environment. If you are near sand and rocks you can stack rocks on the tent stakes to help anchor them, for example.
The poles, stakes, and fly are all made of lightweight materials that can be carried easily in your pack if the need arises to move on from an area where you’ve pitched your tent for shelter.
The ease with which tents are set up makes it much easier than trying to find some type of cover out in the woods, as all you need to do is find an area of decent open space to lay out the tent and set up.
Drawbacks to Tents on a Thru Hike
Some issues with using a tent on a thru-hike may make them not the perfect fit for your hike. For starters, the more budget choices tents will be heavy, like 4-5 pounds on their own and over 2000 miles this will hurt.
Additionally, a tent is fantastic in the winter due to holding in heat. Conversely, in summer, they can be sweltering and need to be opened up wide to drop temps.
Overall Weight
Most of the time tents can be one of the lightest gear you own, the problem is the costs will dramatically increase to drop ounces after a point. I would caution you though not to minimize the weight portion of your backpack on a thru-hike!
Over a longer hike, those “couple pounds” add up and beat on your legs, feet, and back.
I would suggest you look at spending a solid chunk of your overall gear budget on your tent, and there are terrific value options like the X-Mid 1P or 2P, or 3F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Double Wall (Or Lanshan 2 Pro Single Wall) that are around 2 pounds but won’t bust your bank account.
After this 2-pound mark is where you start to see the price rise dramatically to only lose ounces of overall weight, if you have the budget this can be a tremendous value with the Zpacks Duplex being a thru-hiker favorite!
Holds in Warmth
When you are facing cold temperatures the ability to hold in heat and keep you warm is incredibly powerful, but when it gets hot it can be incredibly painful to roast.
This means you want a tent that has more mesh if at all possible along with additional vents or that tent that was awesome through Spring becomes detrimental to progress through the summer.
Condensation
When you have higher humidity outside your tent along with your hot breath inside this can lead to a buildup of condensation on the walls, if you have a single wall tent this can run down the walls onto your sleep gear.
If you should move too much and shake the tent wall you could actually end up having your breath rain back down on top of you, I have had this happen and BOY did that night give me some of the suckiest sleep EVER!
Set Up and Tear Down
When you have a tent for a shelter you will more than likely need some more time to set up your tent at the end of the day while making sure the area is clear of debris.
When you look to break down camp you will need to spend some time working to get off excess moisture before packing away your tent, otherwise, you are going to be carrying extra pounds that may never dry off during your day hiking.
Hammock Based Thru Hiking
Hammock-based sleeping systems, like the ultralight Hummingbird hammocks for camping, are typically more technical as you need to have proper tree distance and height to be able to complete your setup and have a comfortable sleep.
Typically this system is also heavier the less expensive you purchase as there is a need for anchors, straps, and suspension systems that can add up quickly in pounds on your back.
There are many options available from Hammock Gear, Hennessy Hammock, Warbonnet, Jacks ‘R’ Better, and much more on sites like REI, Backcountry, and others.
Benefit to Hammocks on a Thru Hike
There are many benefits to choosing to use a hammock while on the trail, ranging from helping minimize pack weight to getting you away from ground hazards.
So let’s take a look at a few reasons why tents are better than hammocks:
Can Be Lighter Than Tent
While there are many parts to a complete hammock setup, when considering hammock vs tent weight the hammock itself can be lighter than a tent while also having the possibility to be less bulky within your pack.
This is because with many systems you only need to carry suspension lines which are typically under three feet long meaning they take up very little space when packed compared to other bigger items like a tent and sleeping pad can add.
More Comfortable For Rest
Let’s be super honest here, the older you get the worse you are at getting good restful sleep on hard, compact ground. Your body just doesn’t rebound the same way as when you are younger which is why many hammock hikers are older.
A hammock provides you the closest rest to a bed as you can get while hiking in the woods and the comfort that a hammock offer is unmatched by anything else in this category.
You will be able to sleep on your back or side without any pressure points, have space for some specific gear that can make it more comfortable for relaxing evenings.
Off the Ground Weather & Terrain Protection
A key thing to think about too is what the ground conditions will be wherever you are choosing to hike, for example, if or when you are traveling over primarily rocky terrain a tent and sleeping pad will be less than optimal.
One other nice fact for a hammock is with a storm and heavy rains you won’t be as worried about torrents or water entering your sleep system in the same way a badly placed tent can be.
Also, hammocks being off the ground, helps you to be less in the critter zone. For example, you have much less chance of a mouse chewing into your hammock versus a tent on the ground (wrappers happen, don’t lie)!
Drawbacks to Hammocks on a Thru Hike
There are some issues, though, with choosing to take a hammock as your sleep system on thru-hikes which frequently include piling up loads of gear, finding that spot needed for a hammock setup, being open to elements, and the fact that unlike a tent you have very limited internal storage space.
More Gear Than At First Glance
If you have a hard time managing organization then a hammock may be a stressor as without something like Snake Skins it can be hard for a beginner to organize everything.
Arguably this point is true, it is definitely more than a tent where you can shove it back into a sack with stakes and be packed up into a single container.
Education and Training Needs Right Distance For Setup
A limiting factor for many to decide to choose a hammock is needing to learn and then know to pay attention to whether a site is hammock friendly to allow them to set up correctly.
This has been a big reason why I have just stuck with tents as I can easily identify where and when I can set up my tent and know that I will be safe and clear for the night.
As to buying and learning the issue for me comes in having property without trees and to practice would require heading out away from home and away from the burbs to find someplace with the right ability to work out my visualization.
Not A Perfect Shelter Versus the Elements
While a hammock is amazing for laying down comfortably, it has some limitations in protection from elements for you and your gear on many occasions.
Having to use a rain tarp means without near-perfect placement some rain will always have a chance to make it into your area, and with wind moving the rain, and not having walls makes this a near certainty.
Having a rain tarp also means that in cold you will have to put it just right to block as much of the cold breeze as possible too.
So not only is it doing its duty to stop the rain but it has to be perfectly placed to block the most wind possible.
No Gear Storage Inside With You
Your backpack also needs to be stored outside of the hammock in nearly all hammocks I have ever seen which can leave it open to rain and extreme cold which can prematurely age gear.
I have seen a cool “gear loft” that rides the cables and suspends your backpack below your hammock off the ground by about a foot which I think is a very logical gear choice to suspend your goods off the ground.
Change It Up Sometimes
Part of enjoying the outdoors is pushing your limits and expanding your skills and abilities, if you have the ability to get a set of hammock or tent gear to use opposite of your normal gear then do it and use it, it may change your opinions more than you would believe.
Additionally, when out on the trail, like the PCT, you can bring a tent with a footprint through the desert and Sierras while having a drop later with your hammock to use once you move into the forested areas, giving you the best of both worlds.
Final Thoughts on Choosing a Hammock vs. Tent For a Thru-hike
This debate will rage on perpetually as the people who defend their side honestly believe it to be the best option for anyone who chooses to hike.
Really what you want to do is evaluate the upcoming trail as to the viability of any shelter system and not be beholden to only using one. You may not know what you are missing.
Please be safe though and practice setting up your shelter long before it is necessary on the trail as you want to know all the parts and what is needed for a complete setup when the snow and rain are coming the last thing you need is to delay.
If you are looking for shelter options, I have a page dedicated to helping you find the right option to fit your needs, from the best thru hiking tents to hammocks and tarps!
Now get out there and get moving!
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