Double Camping Hammocks vs. Two-Person Camping Hammocks

While hammock camping is a lot of fun on your own, it’s even better when you bring your favorite person with you. With a little preparation and the right supplies, you can create your own two-person hammock setup, complete with protection from the rain, cold, and bugs.

There are hammocks for every type of camper. To find the right one for you, you need to first understand the difference between popular options. “Double hammocks” and “two-person hammocks” are often used interchangeably, but they serve very different purposes.

Learn which one is right for you and tips for camping with a partner.

 

What Is a Double Hammock?

Despite their name, double hammocks aren’t designed with two-person camping in mind. In fact, what most people consider a double hammock isn’t actually suitable for hammock camping at all. Double hammocks are spacious hammocks supported entirely by a spreader bar or on a hammock stand. You’ll usually see these hammocks in backyards or on patios.

They are designed more for relaxation and not for sleeping, with minimal sag and thick, supportive fabric. The best double hammock supports your weight with enough space to lounge in the sun.

Think of a double hammock like a double mattress — while you could technically fit two people, it’s not always the most comfortable option because you would be rolling into each other. Instead, double hammocks were designed to give a single sleeper more space to move around or stretch out. They’re also a good option for relaxing with a pet curled beside you.

 

What Is a Two-Person Hammock?

Two-person camping hammocks are explicitly designed with camping and comfort in mind. They are two separate hammock units connected to one another via hardware or a connecting kit. Each sleeper has its own space to move and adjust as needed while still sleeping side-by-side. You can even create a two-person hammock tent by adding accessories like a tarp and bugnet.

Two-person hammocks are like standard camping hammocks — you can string them between two trees or other stable structures. In some setups, you might still purchase a spreader bar to keep them stabled and adequately spaced from one another.

 

The Benefits of Two-Person Hammocks

Two-person hammocks let you sleep close to your partner, child, or friend for added comfort and safety. In addition to convenient proximity, they’re also beneficial because:

• You can customize your insulation level: Some campers might get hot quickly, while others prefer to be as warm and bundled as possible. With a two-person setup, each person can customize their level of insulation and how many blankets they want to have with them.
• You can move around freely: Two-person hammocks mean each person can move freely — including entering and exiting the hammock — throughout the night without disturbing their partner.
• Weight distributes evenly: Part of successful hammock camping is knowing to lay diagonally and distributing your weight evenly from end to end. Two-person hammocks distribute weight evenly, making it easier to camp with two different-sized people.

Check out Dutchware’s 2 Person Camping Hammocks

Two-Person Hammocks FAQs

Are you planning a two-person hammock trip? Here’s what you need to know about two-person hammocks based on commonly asked questions.

1. Are Two-Person Hammocks Comfortable?

Two-person hammocks are as comfortable as any single hammock, as long as you choose high-quality units made from durable materials and you hang them correctly. You can make your hammocks even more comfortable by adding more insulation or hanging a bugnet around the two of you.

2. How Do You Hang a Two-Person Hammock?

How you hang a two-person hammock depends on your layout. You have two options:

• Side by side: The side-by-side layout is the most common because it’s easy to put together. This setup is where you and your partner string your hammocks directly beside each other — with one on the left and one on the right — typically with a spreader pole to keep them from touching or rolling into one another.
• Bunk style: Bunk style layouts are where one person’s hammock is on the bottom while the second person’s hammock is strung above it, like bunk beds. This option is ideal if you’re working with tight space constraints or have other environmental obstacles to contend with. Just be sure to hang the top hammock low enough that the camper can easily enter and exit, but not so low that the person underneath doesn’t have any headroom.

Once you’ve chosen your layout, simply find the perfect spot between two adequately spaced trees, attach your tree straps and suspension system, and hang your hammocks. Alternatively, you can use stakes and a waterproof ground cloth to set up your camping hammock if no trees are around.

3. How Do You Sleep in a Two-Person Hammock?

You sleep in a two-person hammock the same way you sleep in a single hammock — lying diagonally. For best results, keep your sag at a 30-degree angle or higher, and add extra pillows or a sleeping pad for more comfort. Install a drip line on the tarp over your hammock to divert water if it’s raining or snowing.

Shop Two-Person Hammocks From DutchWare

You can find two-person hammocks, hardware, and accessories from hammock suppliers and outdoor stores, including DutchWare. All DutchWare products are designed with lightweight, durable hammock camping in mind, including:

• Clark Vertex: The Clark Vertex is a three-season two-person hammock with two single hammock units, a storage compartment to hold packs, and three supports to keep them stable while suspended.
• Clark VX-Ultra: The Clark VX-Ultra is a two-person tent designed for four-season comfort, complete with six insulation pockets on each bed, canopy protection, and a zip-over breathable layer for added warmth.
• Two-person tarp: The two-person tarp from DutchWare has extra-wide winter-style doors on one end and space on the other end for two internal pole molds. We designed the tarp from Xenon Sil Wide fabric to offer extra coverage. The two-person tarp comes with a 12-foot ridgeline, d-rings, and a tarp stuff sack.
• Two-Person Chameleon Package: The Two-Person Chameleon Package is the most convenient way to hammock camp with a partner since it has everything you need to get started. The package comes with two Chameleon hammocks, Beetle Buckle suspensions, a spreader bar pole to keep the hammocks apart, a bugnet, hammock tie-outs, and a two-person tarp to hang over the pair. You can even choose your hammock’s color.
• Double Dutch Bugnet: The Double Dutch Bugnet fits comfortably over two hammocks, with enough space to cover both ridgelines and connect to the zipper of the second hammock under a single tarp.
• Birds Nest Bugnet: The Birds Nest Bugnet has zipper access on both sides while enclosing two hammocks in a protective bugnet under a single tarp. The bottom is designed with waterproof fabric to keep your gear safe and dry.

 

DutchWare has what you need for your outdoor hammock camping adventure. Shop our selection of two-person hammocks, accessories, hardware, and camping supplies today!

Check Out These Related Articles

• Solutions for Hammock Camping Without Trees
• Guide to Choosing a Hammock
• Guide to Dutchwares’ Different Hammocks
• Pros and Cons – Bridge vs Gathered End Hammocks

 

If you’re like our crew at DutchWare, then you were born to explore the outdoors. Even if you’re wearing comfortable clothing and durable footwear, an overloaded backpack can both weigh and wear you down. That’s why we suggest backpackers learn how to create a pack that contains everything you need and leaves behind excess bulk.

Whether you’re heading out for a week-long excursion across one of our beautiful national parks or simply spending a weekend close to home camping in the local forest, you’ll want your packing to be lightweight and efficient. In this guide, we’ll discuss the benefits of packing light and how to pack only what you need for your next trip.

The Pros of Packing Light

Trust us — we’ve encountered a handful of obstacles out on our adventures that could have been easily solved had we packed a certain item. Although many of us want to ensure we have all of our resources available should we need them, we must also be realistic with our packing. Overpacking can sometimes harm us more than it helps us. We’ve found that packing lighter immediately provides us with three fantastic benefits:

1. Easier to Walk and Climb

Exploring new places means potentially encountering diverse terrain. If you’re taking a full pack or even a day pack with you on the hiking trails, you need to be equipped with everything you need while still being able to fully maneuver your body across uneven terrain, up hills, and across narrow paths. Packing lightly can make it easier to walk and climb, enabling you to keep your balance and move through narrow trails.

2. Less Strain on the Body

Heavy backpacks have been shown to potentially cause significant strain and even damage to our nerves, soft tissues, and bones. Although it may be nearly impossible to camp or hike without a backpack, keeping a light load and wearing the backpack properly can reduce the potential of and severity of damage to the body.

3. Less Clutter, More Convenience

When you’re out in the wilderness, you need to be able to instantly access all of your supplies at a moment’s notice. Regardless of how organized you keep your pack, too many items create obstacles between you and the resources you need. Don’t inconvenience your group by stopping to unpack and repack your bag just to access bandages or a clean pair of socks. Pack wise, pack light and keep your pack free of clutter.

8 Tips for Trekking Lightly

1. Stick to the Essentials

If it’s better for your body to keep a light pack, but important for your trek to have certain resources on-hand, how can you determine what should be packed and what should be left at home? No matter if it’s your first time camping or if you’ve already racked up thousands of miles off the beaten path, you should always create a comprehensive packing checklist immediately after you plan your adventure.

Each piece of equipment has its function. However, some of these resources aren’t necessary for your trip, no matter how efficient they may be. All items will fall into two categories — essential and optional — and will be categorized based on the specific needs of each trip. For example, trekking through California’s Yosemite National Park in the winter will require certain essential items that aren’t needed when camping in Florida’s Ocala National Forest in the summer.

Day trips, weekend getaways, and week-long excursions each have essential gear. Thankfully, by understanding why these items are essential or optional for each context, you can plan for every adventure. Generally, these items will likely fall into your “essentials” category:

• Weatherproof jackets
• Sunglasses and hats
• Extra socks and underwear
• Thermal underwear
• Flashlights or headlamps
• Pocket knives
• First aid kit
• Whistle
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Water filters
• Cooking supplies
• Fire starters

All of these pieces of equipment seem essential, and in some cases, it’s wise to always have them on hand. However, there are a few instances in which some of these essentials might not be necessary for certain trips, like:

• Excessive sets of clothing aren’t necessary if you’re camping for the weekend. Pack only clean socks, underwear, and one or two shirts.
• Trekking poles, GPS, water filters, and fire starters should be considered optional equipment for those who will sleep in a hotel and only hike minimal trails during the daytime.
• Multiple pairs of shoes can quickly weigh down your pack. It’s better to have one versatile pair of hiking shoes and to bring slip-ons or sandals for sitting around a campfire.

Before you pack up your bag, ask these questions about each item:

• When and why would I use it?
• Can I use someone else’s instead?
• Is this an essential or a “just in case” item?
• Is this item vital enough to warrant the extra weight in my pack?

2. Load Up on Multipurpose Tools

If you’re still uncomfortable with having to leave certain items at home, you may be in luck — there are many multipurpose tools that give you peace of mind without adding significant weight to your pack. By choosing the most efficient multipurpose tools that are suited to the type of adventure you seek, you can leave larger items at home and rely on these lightweight resources when the situation arises.

The most important detail you need to consider when choosing which tools you’ll bring along in your pack is whether or not a specific tool is an absolute necessity. For example, a multipurpose tool may have a small knife or saw, which is helpful in the event that you need to cut through thread or fabric. However, it won’t replace a backpacking saw or hatchet that you’ll need to cut firewood.

The two features of a multipurpose tool you need to consider are the implements and the size. Thankfully, there are so many varieties available that you should have no trouble finding one that provides the functionality you need with the compact size you desire.

Many tools will feature a small knife, pliers, screwdrivers, bottle openers, and scissors. Keep in mind that, although smaller sized multi-tools will add less weight, larger multi-tools may provide more robust functionality. For instance, a keychain-sized multi-tool may be ideal for day-trips, while a larger multi-tool may be necessary for a week spent out in the wilderness.

Multipurpose tools are also helpful for group travelers. Before traveling, discuss which multipurpose tools each person has and determine which ones may be the most effective. Two people carrying the same multipurpose tool may be excessive, but four people each carrying a unique multipurpose tool affords all members of the group with versatile yet lightweight resources.

3. Pack a Hammock Instead of A Tent

Even if you’re only spending a single night in the great outdoors, you’ll need suitable sleeping arrangements. Depending on which resource you use, you can limit the amount of weight you add to your pack.

Should you use a hammock when traveling? That depends on the type of experience you desire. In some cases, such as traveling with a group, a family, or with children, you may not have an option. However, if you can choose between a sleeping bag, a tent, and a hammock, many outdoor explorers love the benefits that a lightweight hammock provides.

The first thing you need to consider is the weight of a hammock versus a tent. Is a hammock lighter than a tent? In many cases, it can be. Hammocks constructed with lightweight fabrics may weigh less than a tent, especially if these fabrics are breathable and wick moisture away.

You also must keep in mind that you may need to carry other pieces of equipment with a tent, such as poles and stakes, which increase the weight of your pack. Hammocks only require a rope, two carabiners, and an optional foam pad.

A hammock provides simple and readily-available bedding, and there are many benefits to sleeping in a hammock. You receive maximum air circulation to keep your body temperature regulated, your body is perfectly positioned to reduce pain and strain, you can fall into a deeper and more restful sleep, and it may even help those suffering from insomnia.

4. Share With Fellow Hikers

Those who wander this world alone are treated to a unique trekking experience that will change their lives forever. Unfortunately, one drawback of traveling alone is you’re responsible for all of your gear. Thankfully, those traveling with a group or on popular routes can potentially lighten their packing by sharing supplies with fellow hikers.

When traveling in a group, you all should make it a point to share as many resources as possible. Not only will it be easier but choosing to utilize fewer resources can also ensure that you’re hiking as sustainably and as environmentally friendly as possible.

Before you head out on your adventure, gather your group and compare your packing lists. Each person’s individual needs will be different, but there will usually be a number of supplies that all hikers will carry in their packs. When comparing lists — and if possible, comparing gear weights — consider the following:

• Are multiple people carrying an item that the group only needs one of?
• Could an item be upgraded to a larger size to accommodate more people using it?
• Are there are any communal items that can be broken down and split between packs?

For example, everyone will need their own fork and plate, but your group could save room by sharing a frying pan or pot. Likewise, you only need one emergency bivvy, gear repair set, first-aid kit, and water treatment filter. If you plan together well enough, you could also share food and split supplies between all backpacks, so everyone’s pack gets lighter as the trip continues.

Sharing supplies will make your group a stronger unit. Most importantly, it allows you to have as minimal of an impact on the environment as possible.

5. Learn Survival Skills

Survival skills can save your life in the wild, but they can also save your back and shoulders from an overpacked bag. Developing certain skills can remove the need to carry certain items. Learning how to start a fire can remove the need to carry a fire starter. While it always helps to have a few waterproof matches in your pack, you may not need to bring along a fire starter if you or a member of your group is experienced at starting fires in the wild.

Knowing which foods provide sustained nourishment and energy can condense your food supply. You need to consume thousands of calories during your trek, but you also need to make sure you’re providing your body with the nutrients it needs to endure the trip. Knowing which foods will give you sustained energy will ensure this added weight is worth every ounce.

Acclimate to the environment to remove the need to pack some types of medicine. Even the most experienced hikers can suffer from altitude sicknesses, dehydration, sunburn, and other medical setbacks if they aren’t prepared for the environment. Acclimating yourself to a higher altitude level, spending time outdoors in the sun, and exercising properly can prepare your body to endure the challenges of your environment and limit the amount of medicine and first aid supplies you need to pack.

Knowledge is always your most useful resource in the great outdoors. Regardless if a specific survival skill will free up space in your pack, all outdoor enthusiasts should strive to learn as much as they can about staying safe, healthy, and smart in the wild. While millions of hikers and backpackers enjoy their travels without issue, an emergency situation can occur at any time to anyone in any location. Learn as many survival skills as you can and pack accordingly.

6. Upgrade Old Gear

When’s the last time you upgraded the gear in your pack? Some travelers stick to the theory “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” while other travelers who’ve invested in higher-priced equipment want to get the most mileage out of their gear. Both examples are logical reasons to keep your current gear, but upgrading to new equipment could significantly make packing easier.

Older gear tends to be dated and heavier. Outdoor enthusiasts are always on the hunt for solutions to common backpacking problems, which means outdoor equipment companies are constantly improving upon their designs. More recent products may be designed with enhanced durability, functionality, and other features, yet their overall weight can be substantially less.

There are many outdated pieces of gear that are likely adding excess weight to your pack. For example:

• Bulky water bottles: Stainless steel water bottles can be traded for collapsible bottles that take up less room in your bag.
• Unnecessary clothes: Many hikers forget their clothing presents an area to trim excess weight from their bag. Lightweight, breathable clothing offers a range of benefits, including reducing your pack load. Even long underwear and jackets are available to keep you warm in low temperatures without adding bulk to your bag.
• Sleeping bag vs. hammock vs. tent: One critical piece of gear you can upgrade is your old sleeping bag or tent. This should be a huge consideration, especially since there are many lightweight hammock options available that are durable, breathable, and designed to support your body properly. Upgrading your old sleeping equipment to a new lightweight hammock will help you wake up feeling refreshed.

Keep in mind that new gear may also be more reliable, convenient, and versatile than your current equipment. If you’re looking for a completely customized pack, consider making your own gear. DutchWare carries a variety of fabrics, hardware, insulations, kits, rolled goods, rope, stoves, and other tools to help you construct lightweight gear that caters to your unique trekking needs.

7. Plan Ahead

One of the best ways to figure out what your essentials are is to plan ahead. Mapping out where you’ll be at which times, checking the weather, considering the general climate and more can give you a clearer idea of what gear you need for the trip.

A great thing to consider during your planning stage of the trip is how to divide gear among everyone. When you’re out with a group, you need to communicate, so you don’t double up on equipment. You don’t need two stoves, too many shelters or duplicates of a variety of other items. More people also means more ways to divide the weight of the gear.

When you’re backpacking by yourself, you have to carry everything you need. If you’re traveling with others, you can share the weight of the gear that you’ll be sharing.

8. Keep Track of Unused Items

Even if you carefully plan your gear list, you may still find that you bring gear you don’t need. After past trips, is there always an item or two that makes its way to the bottom of your backpack? Do you always bring a paperback you plan to read but never get around to?

Consider leaving items like these at home for your next trip. If you’ve gone on multiple trips and haven’t used something once — or only a couple of times — then it’s not as essential as you might have initially thought it was.

Lightweight Hammock Options and Minimalist Equipment From DutchWare

An adventure like no other deserves equipment like no other. DutchWare is ready to help you customize your pack will efficient, lightweight resources that will endure adventures of every sort. Our selection of lightweight hammock options, camping gear, food, and DIY materials will help you design your pack with every essential resource while adding as little weight as possible.

Browse our online inventory, learn helpful packing tips, and design your own gear today. Speak with one of our experienced outdoor experts for more information.

Written & Reviewed by Josh

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a look outside. You know there are two perfect trees out there somewhere, waiting for you and your hammock. Figure out how many vacation days you can take, mark off the weekends on your calendar, make a camping gear checklist, and get ready to reunite with the outdoors! Temperatures, weather, and seasons are no excuse, because it’s always a great time to get outside and experience nature. Light summer camping quilts will keep you comfortable on warm nights, and winter quilts will provide a cozy cocoon in freezing temperatures. It’s time to hang your hammock, enjoy the aroma of a crackling wood fire, eat some delicious camp food, get a fantastic night of sleep, and let the fresh dew of the forest greet you in the morning.

If you have camped in a hammock before, you know how incredible hanging above the ground can be in warm weather. You can let cool breezes keep you comfortable from all sides. You can get creative and pitch your hammock wherever you please — over a mossy knoll, a babbling brook, or a clear patch of forest floor — and you never need to worry about rain soaking you from underneath. A hammock provides an automatic solution to the biggest problems tent campers face, and it’s the perfect shelter system option for anyone who loves to make every trip an adventure. As long as there are trees, your hammock will never let you down.

A breathable fabric top cover helps you take your hammock camping to the next level, extending your hammock’s range into cooler climates and expanding your camping season into the fall and winter. A top cover provides protection against both weather and insect pests. It affords you privacy, and it can even add extra storage space in your hammock. Dutchware Gear offers a variety of different hammock top covers, and we continually innovate and expand our selection of products with new models to meet your needs — all compatible with our modular Chameleon hammock system. This guide presents our range of top covers and bug nets in detail to showcase the ultimate level of protection they afford between you and the world around your hammock.

Sleeping Overnight in a Hammock: The Basics

If you are new to the world of hammock camping, we extend our warmest welcome; you may have many questions about your hammock sleep system and may benefit from some helpful fundamentals. If you’ve only lounged in hammocks previously, you may find yourself thinking “Sure, a hammock is comfortable, but wouldn’t it wreck my back to sleep in one overnight?” The definite answer is “No!” A properly designed hammock such as those we sell, constructed from the right materials and pitched correctly, is extremely comfortable all night long, and it possible to have lots of space and to maintain a healthy posture while sleeping in one.

Here are five easy tips for sleeping soundly all night long in a hammock:

• Hang loose. Don’t hang your hammock “bowstring tight”. A tightly pitched hammock is under undue stress, and it forces you to its center with less room to move around for comfort. Your initial temptation may be to hang your hammock tight in order to minimize any sagging, but the right amount of sag is beneficial — structurally more sound and a necessity for your best sleep — so keep it loose. Our Chameleon hammock features a structural ridge line to help you hang it right every time.

• Use a pillow, base layers, and blankets or quilts. Just like a bare mattress, you hammock needs to be optimized for a comfortable overnight sleep with proper accessories. You’ll want a small pillow or something like it. Wear breathable base layers to stay comfortable, and sleep between a top quilt and an underquilt. It’s possible to get too cool in a hammock — this is true even in warm weather — so if you’re at just the right temperature when you fall asleep, you may wake up a little cool. Therefore, it’s useful to have your top insulation ready to throw over your body, or you can keep an extra clothing layer handy.

• In almost any weather, you will need some bottom insulation to stay comfortable in your hammock. Typically, this is an underquilt or sleeping pad, but in a pinch you can wrap a blanket around yourself or lie on top of one for warmth underneath, which also protects from abrasion and biting insects while you’re in your hammock.

• Adopt a diagonal lay in your hammock. This beneficial trick is one virtually all seasoned hammock campers use. If you lay parallel to the centerline of hammock, your sleeping position will not be flat or comfortable, but if you move your head to one side of the hammock’s centerline and your feet to the opposite side, your sleeping position will be as flat as a pancake. This is probably the most important tip for staying comfortable and getting a great night of sleep.

• Take a moment to find the perfect sleeping position. Hammocks are almost magical; as soon as our bodies land in one, we often find ecstatic comfort and a sense of leisure that makes it easy to commit to resting for the next 12 hours. However, take a minute to get completely comfortable before drifting off to sleep. Dial in your pillow just right, have your blankets ready, and find the perfect angle for good back support and sound slumber.

Chameleon Symmetrical Top Cover

If you are hammock camping in colder weather, the Chameleon Symmetrical Top Cover may be the ideal accessory for you — particularly if you’re new to hammocks and still experimenting with your position — because it’s designed for versatility and comfort when temperatures drop. A perfectly sized mesh window at the head end of the cover gives you excellent ventilation and views while protecting you from persistent bugs on cool nights deep into autumn. This cover’s available Moonlight option provides adjustable zippered flaps across the window, giving you the ability to close your mesh vent partially or fully. When zipped, the flaps create a breathable, enclosed space inside your hammock, allowing you to control both temperature and humidity. If you need to build warmth inside the hammock, you can zip up the Moonlight flaps and keep the wind out. Once you’re comfortably warm, you can open them as necessary to allow any moisture from respiration to escape, or you can let the flaps hang down to redirect the moisture from your breath to the outside (similar to our Breathalizer accessory (see below)).

At Dutchware, the cornerstone of our modular sleep system that accepts this top cover and all the others is a hammock we call “the Chameleon” because it’s adaptable like its namesake.  The Chameleon easily accommodates diagonal sleeping with your feet to the left or to the right. When you wake up in the middle of the night, you may feel like switching sides to distribute pressure to other parts of your body. Our Symmetrical Top Cover makes switching your lay direction completely effortless.

Our top covers are made from Dutchware’s own Argon 90, an innovative fabric unique to our company’s product line. Argon is what all hammock campers dream of — resistant to the wind yet lightweight and highly breathable — allowing our top covers to provide superb ventilation without chilling you.

Chameleon Symmetrical Bugnet

Everyone has awakened in the middle of the night and flipped the pillow over to the cool, comfortable side before returning to sleep. In a hammock, similar joy can be found in changing the direction of your diagonal lay, switching your sleeping position from head left/feet right to head right/feet left (or vice versa). Netless hammocks allow this freedom to change position, but many netted hammock designs do not. We solved this problem when we designed our Chameleon hammock — and now we have symmetrical top covers and bug nets to match, affording you this same freedom and ease of use.

The Chameleon Symmetrical Bugnet comes with eight ergonomic pulls on smoothly gliding double-tab Vision zippers for easy installation, entry, and exit. This bug net attaches to your hammock and provides complete protection against all types of insects. Its symmetrical shape gives you full freedom to change your orientation inside your Chameleon hammock without ever opening it up to mosquitoes or other flying pests.

In hammock camping gear, weight can be important. At just 130 grams, our Symmetrical Bugnet provides total insect protection without adding significant weight to your hammock system, so you can bring the same gear on backpacking adventures and car camping trips.

Chameleon Asym Top Cover

When the temperature drops, be prepared and enjoy cold-weather camping with the Chameleon Asym Top Cover. Stay snug and warm inside your hammock while the crisp cold settles on the world around you. This breathable asymmetrical top cover is made from lightweight, wind-resistant Argon 90 fabric to help keep you warm.

The Asym Top Cover zips onto the Chameleon hammock in your prefered lay direction, and patented Vision zippers make it fully reversible to lay the other way. It creates a cocoon of warmer air around you for comfort, no matter what the weather is like, and the tailored parallelogram shape maximizes interior room and keeps weight down.

Our Asym Top Cover includes a thoughtfully designed  dual-purpose mesh vent; this linear window allows fresh air in as your breath escapes, and it offers you lateral and sky views of the world outside.

Chameleon Asym Bugnet

Insects are an integral part of nature and our larger ecosystem, and they are typical of most camping experiences. Waving away the occasional gnat reminds us to be glad we’re not at the office. However, being beset by biting insects like mosquitoes can ruin your camping trip, and sleeping is an activity best enjoyed bug-free.

For simple, reliable insect protection, we designed the Chameleon Asym Bugnet. This top cover is made of nanoweave mesh to repel the smallest flying and crawling bugs. It’s your safe haven in the woods, a sanctuary where you can relax as you lounge in your hammock and enjoy a good night’s sleep completely free of bites, stings, and itching.

Our fully reversible Asym Bugnet zips easily on your Chameleon hammock in either lay direction, shaped to allow maximum interior space. It’s durable and lightweight at just 122 grams, and the nanoweave mesh offers excellent visibility and airflow. Don’t surrender to bloodthirsty black flies or marauding mosquitoes. Fight back with the best bug net on the market.

Chameleon Sidecar Storage Accessory

Storage space is the only area where hammock camping always ran into problems — but that was before we invented the Chameleon Sidecar!

The Sidecar solves the problem of “Where do I put my shoes/socks/jacket/etc. in my hammock?” It’s a generous add-on pocket that zips onto any Chameleon hammock in multiple locations for versatility. Keeping your shoes safe and off the ground but not in your hammock is simple with the Sidecar, and it also offers space for clothing, quilts, personal items, or anything else you want to keep convenient at arm’s reach in your hammock

Adaptable like the Chameleon hammock, the Sidecar is accessible from both inside and outside of the hammock, so you can grab things easily while you camp day or night. You can also attach it in four convenient locations, at the head or foot end on the right ot left side — wherever you want it! If you require more storage, you can even install a second Sidecar on the opposite side of your hammock. Two tie-out points on the Sidecar allow you to stake it to the ground, holding it stable so you can view and access its contents more easily. Available in Argon 90 or bug mesh, you won’t want to camp without one!

Chameleon Integrated Sidecar Top Covers and Nets

The original Sidecar offers you abundant usable storage for your hammock whenever you want it — just zip one on! However, many folks wanted the Sidecar’s storage benefits full-time in a more streamlined package, so we created the Chameleon Integrated Sidecar Top Cover.

We integrated the generous Sidecar pocket seamlessly into our vented fabric top cover. We placed the pocket in the head end of the top cover near the vent, located exactly where you need it most often, so grabbing a book, your shoes, your headlamp, a water bottle, or your jacket is a cinch.

Our Integrated Sidecar Top Cover is made from our proprietary wind-blocking Argon 90 lightweight breathable fabric to create a warm microclimate inside your hammock. The vent at the top even serves as a tiny window, while the fabric gives you plenty of privacy. An all-mesh version is also available for warm weather.

Double Dutch Bugnet

The Double Dutch Bugnet is a deluxe specialty top cover for campers who want to sleep in two Chameleon hammocks side by side. It is full of cool features.

The Double Dutch Bugnet works with two Chameleon hammocks set up next to one another, sharing the same two trees, each on their own compatible suspension (such as our Dutchware Titanium Beetle Buckles) and separated at the head end by a spreader bar. The bug net zips around both hammocks to create a shared interior space, and an additional Argon strip zips down the middle between the two hammocks, forming a continuous surface between them and sealing the bug-free environment. The net is suspended over two ridgelines, creating a “no-fly zone” much bigger than the sum of two separate nets.

The Double Dutch Bugnet comes with a double-size stuff sack to hold your complete system, and it permits the use of other modular Chameleon accessories. This net makes hammock camping twice as fun!

The Breathalizer

Our Breathalizer is a miraculous add-on item for our line of top covers that solves the very common hammock camping problem of managing condensation from your breath.

Imagine camping in your hammock on a really cold night. You jump in, zip up your top cover, and get snug in between your top quilt and underquilt. Soon, inside your top cover your body heat brings your hammock’s interior up to a blissful temperature, and you drift off to sleep. Unfortunately, you wake up in the morning to find dripping excess moisture inside your hammock; it is condensation, the unwelcome effect of your body’s overnight respiration in cold weather, when moisture from your breath is trapped by your hammock’s top cover and condenses on the underside of the cool fabric.

The Breathalizer is an extremely lightweight, low-profile flap that attaches to your hammock’s ridgeline and sides, separating your moist breath from the dry air inside the rest of the hammock, redirecting it out the vent in the top cover, and permitting the moisture to escape while retaining the warmth you’ve built up. Experience the joy of waking up snug, warm, and dry — without condensation.

Explore Our Top Covers and Other Hammock Gear

At Dutchware Gear, we have distinguished ourselves as industry leaders in hammock camping. We use our own products in the field, and we are constantly innovating and improving our designs with new materials and technologies to make lighter, stronger, less complicated gear that is affordable and reliable.

Visit our website and explore our full selection of hammock camping equipment, including top covers, weather protection, suspension and hardware, and our complete line of modular Chameleon hammocks and accessories.

Contact us with any questions you have about our products — because we love to talk about our gear! — and let Dutchware help you take your outdoor experience to the next level of comfort, convenience, and enjoyment.

Written & Reviewed by Josh