ashenSo far in this blog we have talked about hammocks just once, when we reviewed the excellent Hennessy Hammock. As we very well know, the camping area must be appropriate to set up a hammock. Which means, you have to identify two suitable trees. And these trees shouldn’t just be robust enough to hold the hammock with your body weight, but also situated ideally corresponding with the rope lengths so that you can sit and sleep without your body weight dragging your bottoms to the ground. And most importantly as nature lovers, we cannot allow the trees to get hurt because of our activities. That’s exactly what’s happening most of the time when we tie the ropes around a bark of a tree while setting up a hammock. Without leave-no-trace straps the bark can be injured and left vulnerable to fungi and insects. Therefore in this post we will talk about trying to figure out the Best Portable Hammock With Stand that suits your outdoor life.
Choosing A Portable Hammock With Stand
As with any travel gear, there is a standard buying guide with portable hammocks as well. After all, there are quite a few specifications and features. So let us know the things to be aware of before purchasing a portable hammock with a stand.
Portability
As obvious as it is, and even the topic screams it out, would you believe that is overlooked? Yeah that’s right. Portability ties in with lightweight and being mobile. It really depends on your travel type. If you are constantly on the move, you are probably off with a stand that packs easily and is compact. Having a packing case is even better to keep the parts together and to make packing easier. Plus you might have to reposition your hammock several times as the shade changes. Therefore lightweight is definitely a better choice.
Supportive Weight
Of course the standard supported weight is marked on the product. But it won’t remain the same if you use the hammock as a trampoline. There are different supportive weights for solo and couple hammocks, even as heavy as 500lbs. The supportive weight capacity of hammock stands depend on several factors such as build material, crafting and the strength. There are some hammock stands that can support more than 1 hammock. However the safer choice is to choose a little bit over the required capacity.
Build Quality And Weatherproofing
Probably the most important aspect to examine. My bad for not placing it at the top, but then again portability is the keyword. Wood and Metal are the two most commonly used materials in building the hammock stand. And we urge you to go along with metal. Here’s why. Metal is more foldable than Wood and it is relatively cheaper and portable.
Metal too reacts with different substances, as we very well know salty water corrodes metal faster. But Wood is more vulnerable to outside forces. Then again Portability and Conditions play the major role when selecting the material. The Wood gives a better impression while the Metal offers durability. As for weatherproofing, moisture will eventually degrade most materials, especially wood. But the coated steel material and elements like Aluminum are resistant to weather.
Carrying Case
Well I guess it’s needless to emphasize the convenience of a carrying case when you take your hammock camping. The placement will be much easier plus you can keep all your related equipment in one place.
Correct Stand Size
You will find both heavier and lightweight hammock stands in the marketplace. While the heavier ones can be more stable, the lightweights are similarly strong too. But what’s important to note is that you must buy the right stand size for the hammock to avoid imbalances such as collapsing and tipping. When it comes to portable stands, the folded size is similarly important for you to zero in on the storage space of the vehicle. Mostly the range is between 12 to 15 feet to set up the stand.
Okay with these things covered, let’s see choose the best portable hammock with stand for you!
Republic of Durable Goods Portable Camping Hammock
- 32 x 13 x 11 inches; 32.5 Pounds
- Maximum supportive weight and height : 250 Pounds/ 6’4″
- Material: 210T parachute nylon fabric and coated steel frame
- Footprint: 36″W x 24″D
- Folded dimension: 11″L x 6″W x 33″H, Weight:14.5 Pounds
- So many extra features
So this is our fSo this is our first portable hammock with stand which is also the best irrespective of the budget. There are cheaper options from Republic of Goods but we opted for this one, mostly because of the added features. The 210T version is even stronger than the 75D Nylon. We have talked about the strength of 75D Nylon in many of our previous posts regarding tents, hiking shoes and carry on bags. As a matter of fact, this hammock material is 30% stronger than that of it’s competitors. The light and compact design makes it so easy to pack in a hurry and it barely weighs 15lbs. Therefore if you are more of a car camping person or family, this is a great choice. For it’s built with the intentions of Car, RV and Bike campers in mind. But that doesn’t mean that you cannot use this in your backyard or canoe camping.
Now let’s get into the major reasons for opting this portable hammock as the first choice. The functionality of this hammock is truly impressive. It serves as a rain tarp, sun shade canopy and even a bug net. Therefore SamSARA hammock can not only be used as a camping tent, but also as a mosquito net. Additional accessories include padded headrest and basket and drink pockets. So that’s it for features. Let’s see what the customers are saying about this product.
The customers are especially happy about the versatile nature of this hammock. Especially the mosquito net. They have found the set up to be pretty simple too with the aid of a few Youtube videos. The weight distribution is even and the poles hold up well. The quilt is nice and warm even in the winter. Some customers had a minor complaint about the space while sleeping. But that was just one. The other users didn’t have any issues with the space. Overall a great portable hammock with stand that will quite some time if used well.
ENO SoloPod Hammock Stand
- Material: powder-coated steel stand for weatherproofing
- Dimensions: 10’6” x 3’1” x 4’4”
- 63lbs
- 400lbs supportive weight
Okay so as you can very well see the ENO SoloPod isn’t the lightest out there. But we have good reason for selecting this as a good portable hammock with stand. Eagles Nest Outfitters Company is well known for designing great outdoor hammocks for over twenty years now. The set up is elementary and won’t take 5 minutes of your time. You don’t need any tools. Also durability is no concern here because of the steel being powder coated. You can expect it to last for a long time. There are quite a few versions of these portable hammocks by ENO. The Nomad type is for camping and traveling, SoloPod is for a backyard relax or lake camping, ENOpod is much more functional and can host 3 hammocks.
The feet of the stands remain stable even in moist surfaces. Given the weight, this is mostly ideal for Car, RV camping and not hikers. Also this doesn’t include hammocks, you have to buy them separately. As for the user reviews, they are happy with the stand, the stable nature of the rubber feet since it even hosted a 6′ 4″ 330 pound guy. The only issue is the weight which makes it not so portable. Which is why this stand is perfect for backyard camping.
Zupapa Double Hammock with Stand
- Cotton and polyester fabric material
- 51 x 9 x 7 inches; 220.46 Pounds
- 550 pounds weight capacity
- Easy to set up
- Comes with carrying case
- 2 person hammock stand
If comfort takes precedence in your mind above all, then the Zupapa Double Hammock with Stand is the choice for you. Don’t let the cotton material deceive you. The durability of this hammock stand is pretty impressive mostly due to the cross-weave technology The stand material is Heavy Duty Steel and is coated with powder for weatherproofing. Dimensionally it measures 78″ X 59” when fully set up. Easy to set up and can be done in less than five minutes and takes less space. This makes it suitable for the backyard, bedroom, balconies and porches. Plus the waterproof carrying bag makes carrying this equipment anywhere easy. The hammock is also pretty stylish, hence a perfect fit for adventure travels.
As for the customer reviews, this perhaps is the best portable hammock with stand that got zero negative feedback. All users are loving this portable hammock for every feature that it offers. The most prominent is the cotton material that provides such homelike comfort, enabling a cozier sleep. Plus it is easy to assemble and not time consuming. One customer said that the knobs loosen and that he had to tighten each time he used it, which is a minor task and is hardly worth it as a selection criterion. Therefore you can be rest assured that you are spending your money on a worthy durable product.
Best Choice Products Portable Hammock
- Cotton material
- 118.75 x 48 x 43 inches; 31.8 Pounds
- 450 Pounds supportive weight
- Heavy duty stand
- Variety of color choices
Okay, So this portable hammock isn’t for the hardcore camper given the price is merely $84. But for the occasional outdoor enthusiast who enjoys a getaway into the wild. But hold up! Let us convince you why this portable hammock is best for occasional campers. To begin with, the build quality is solid with the cotton and fabric for optimum comfort and the weight distribution along the hammock and the stand is even. The tempered steel frame is easy to assemble and the feet are compatible with any type of surface. The 450 pound supportive weight is creditable for the money you pay. You can enjoy the hammock experience with your friend, kid or even a pet. Mind the stretching when setting up, so that your body won’t touch the ground.
As far as customer reviews go, you get what you pay for is the attitude here. Some users have found the design to be uneven thereby making it difficult to set it up unless on a flat ground. Also the wiggling was a bit too much which according to them was because of the difference in pole sizes. The misunderstanding here is that most users forget that it is a CHEAP portable hammock. So the users who have been using the Best Choices Products portable hammock have nothing to complain about the quality, durability or any other aspect. Make sure to buy this if and only if you camp only a few times a year.
Vivere Double Cotton Portable Hammock
- Cotton material
- Heavy duty steel stand
- 110 x 47 x 43 inches; 3.62 Pounds
- 450 Pounds of maximum supportive weight
- Variety of colors available
So our final choice is the Vivere portable hammock, and if you don’t want to consider the Best Choice Products portable hammock which is totally understandable, this is the next best option. It sort of stands in between the ENO and the Best Choice Products. Good for solo hikers and campers because of the lightweight. No compromise on functionality. The tightly woven cotton fabric makes a heavy, durable fabric while the heavy duty steel stand is weatherproofed and works well with any environmental condition. It is easy to set up and even easier to adjust. There are 3 types of fabric to choose from. And they are Cotton, Polyester and Sunbrella. You can even pair with wheel kits for better mobility. You also get a carrying case and one year warranty.
The user feedback for the Vivere Double Cotton Hammock with Stand is overall positive and encouraging. Users who even had neck, shoulder and joint pains claim that this was a way better option in relieving their pain, Although it can be interpreted as a hammock benefit and not the stand. Nonetheless users who are extremely bulky have not reported on any unwanted wobbles, creaks or the hammock bending too much. Assembling, for few users, has been challenging. Yet once put together, you got yourself a portable hammock that would serve a lifetime if handled well. Sure the fabric will stretch over time, the coatings on the steel might come off. But that’s after a long period of constant usage. Therefore your money is not wasted if you opt for this portable hammock, especially as a solo user.
Setting Up
It’s just as we mentioned in the reviews, the setting up is not that strenuous. Just stick to the instructions supplied to you by the specific model. Some hammock stands use spring pins while others use bolts and screws. Just make sure to grab a screwdriver. Once you set it up just have a few test runs before using it in actual camping.
Summary
The only way to choose a portable hammock or any travel gear for that sort is to understand where you will be using it and how you will be using it. And last but not least, your budget. Anyway, to wrap things up we believe that the Republic of Goods or the Vivere will serve as best portable hammocks with stands for solo travelers, RV and Car camping. The ENO SoloPod for house hammock experience, either the backyard, mattress substitute or out on the deck. The Zupapa is extremely comfortable and functional while the Best Choice Products is solely for the budget traveler who won’t be camping frequently.
