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Knot & Nap

The Best Backpacking Hammocks

Everyone compares hammock weights. Almost nobody compares system weights, which is the only number that matters once the tarp and net are in the pack.

By Mike M. · Last updated

Knot & Nap is reader-supported. We earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never decide what gets recommended — here is how we pick.

Ultralight hammock packed beside a backpack on a trail

Judge a backpacking hammock on total system weight. OutdoorGearLab puts the Warbonnet Original Blackbird — hammock, bug net and suspension — at 26 oz, rising to 42 oz with a Mini Fly tarp. A lighter hammock that needs a separate net and heavier straps can easily finish heavier.

Part of our camping hammocks hub. This page is for people already counting grams, so we will skip the introduction and get to where the weight actually sits.

Quick picks

Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. Prices are not shown anywhere on this site — we link straight to Amazon so you see the live figure.

#ProductBest forHeadline specPrice
1
Hammock with integrated bug netting pitched in trees
Warbonnet Original BlackbirdOutdoorGearLab's backcountry pick, with the bug net already built in and the lightest weight in their test.
Best for backcountryNamed best for backcountry by OutdoorGearLab
2
Ultralight hammock packed small beside a backpack
ENO Sub6 Ultralight HammockENO's ultralight — the weight-first option when the hammock has to disappear into the pack.
Cutting pack weightUltralight contender in Treeline Review's 2026 test
3
Wide camping hammock with a person lying flat
Kammok Roo Double HammockSofter fabric, a roomier flat lay and climbing-grade hardware — the comfort upgrade over a standard nylon double.
Best comfort upgradeButtery-soft fabric
4
Hammock enclosed in fine mosquito netting
Hennessy Hammock Ultralite Backpacker Asym ZipTreeline Review's pick when the mosquito net matters more than anything else in the kit.
Best with a mosquito netNamed best with mosquito net by Treeline Review
5
Simple lightweight hammock strung in a campsite
Grand Trunk Ultralight Starter HammockTreeline Review's budget pick — the cheapest honest way to find out whether you like hammock camping.
Best budget camping hammockNamed best budget by Treeline Review
6
Single-width nylon hammock in woodland
ENO SingleNest HammockThe single-width DoubleNest — lighter and cheaper if you never share the hammock.
Camping and lounging, one personNamed best camping and lounging hammock by Treeline Review

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Where the ounces really are

ComponentLight optionHeavy optionSwing
SuspensionHummingbird tree straps, 1.55 ozGrand Trunk Trunk Straps, 12 ozOver 10 oz
TarpWarbonnet Superfly, 12.3 ozENO ProFly XL, 33 ozOver 20 oz
Bug netIntegrated (Warbonnet Blackbird)Separate netSeveral oz
HammockENO Sub6Canvas hammocksLarge
Published figures from the sources cited on each product. The straps column is from the 2026 99Boulders strap test.

Read that table again: the suspension swing is larger than the difference between most hammocks. Swapping 12 oz straps for 1.55 oz ones saves more than upgrading to an ultralight hammock, and costs far less. The hammock is rarely the best place to spend weight-saving money first.

1. Best for backcountry

Warbonnet Original Blackbird

OutdoorGearLab's backcountry pick, with the bug net already built in and the lightest weight in their test.

Specifications

  • Named best for backcountry by OutdoorGearLab
  • Easy setup
  • Includes a bug net
  • Lightest hammock in OutdoorGearLab's test
  • Hammock, bug net and suspension weigh 26 oz; the whole kit with the Mini Fly tarp weighs 42 oz

Source: OutdoorGearLab 2026. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.

What it does well

  • Bug net is integrated, so there is no separate net to buy or fit
  • 26 oz for hammock, net and suspension is excellent for a full system
  • Configurable to your trip style at order time

Where it falls short

  • Cottage-brand lead times, not shelf stock
  • Integrated net means you carry it even on bug-free nights
Hammock with integrated bug netting pitched in trees

Illustrative photograph of the category, not this exact product.

2. Cutting pack weight

ENO Sub6 Ultralight Hammock

ENO's ultralight — the weight-first option when the hammock has to disappear into the pack.

Specifications

  • Ultralight contender in Treeline Review's 2026 test

Source: Treeline Review 2026. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.

What it does well

  • Minimal packed weight
  • ENO suspension compatibility

Where it falls short

  • Thin fabric is less forgiving of rough bark and sharp gear
  • Capacity is not published in the sources we verified
Ultralight hammock packed small beside a backpack

Illustrative photograph of the category, not this exact product.

3. Best comfort upgrade

Kammok Roo Double Hammock

Softer fabric, a roomier flat lay and climbing-grade hardware — the comfort upgrade over a standard nylon double.

Specifications

  • Buttery-soft fabric
  • Roomy flat-lay dimensions
  • Climbing-grade hardware
  • Rated better for comfort and durability than standard nylon by OutdoorGearLab

Source: OutdoorGearLab 2026 and Treeline Review 2026. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.

What it does well

  • The fabric is the single biggest comfort difference in this category
  • Climbing-grade hardware rather than generic carabiners

Where it falls short

  • Heavier than an ultralight
  • Costs more than the ENO equivalent
Wide camping hammock with a person lying flat

Illustrative photograph of the category, not this exact product.

4. Best with a mosquito net

Hennessy Hammock Ultralite Backpacker Asym Zip

Treeline Review's pick when the mosquito net matters more than anything else in the kit.

Specifications

  • Named best with mosquito net by Treeline Review

Source: Treeline Review 2026. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.

What it does well

  • Asymmetric lay with integrated netting
  • Zip entry rather than a bottom entry

Where it falls short

  • The asymmetric system takes getting used to
  • Capacity and weight are not published in the sources we verified
Hammock enclosed in fine mosquito netting

Illustrative photograph of the category, not this exact product.

5. Best budget camping hammock

Grand Trunk Ultralight Starter Hammock

Treeline Review's budget pick — the cheapest honest way to find out whether you like hammock camping.

Specifications

  • Named best budget by Treeline Review

Source: Treeline Review 2026. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.

What it does well

  • Lowest barrier to entry in the category
  • Light enough to keep in a daypack

Where it falls short

  • Starter-grade fabric and hardware
  • Suspension usually needs upgrading first
Simple lightweight hammock strung in a campsite

Illustrative photograph of the category, not this exact product.

6. Camping and lounging, one person

ENO SingleNest Hammock

The single-width DoubleNest — lighter and cheaper if you never share the hammock.

Specifications

  • Named best camping and lounging hammock by Treeline Review

Source: Treeline Review 2026 and REI. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.

What it does well

  • Lighter and smaller packed than the DoubleNest
  • Same ENO hardware and ecosystem

Where it falls short

  • Single width limits the diagonal lay
  • Genuinely one person only
Single-width nylon hammock in woodland

Illustrative photograph of the category, not this exact product.

The ultralight trade-offs, stated honestly

  • Thin fabric is less forgiving. A lighter hammock means less abrasion resistance against bark, buckles and stray branches.
  • Lighter straps often mean lower ratings. The 1.55 oz Hummingbird straps are rated 400 lb combined; the 4.3 oz ENO Helios are rated 300 lb. Match the rating to the load, not the gram count.
  • Fewer attachment points means more skill. Single-point straps need a knot or a hitch, where a daisy chain needs a loop.
  • Integrated systems save weight and remove choice. The Blackbird's built-in net is lighter than a separate one and you carry it on bug-free nights too.

What we would carry

If the goal is the lightest complete, comfortable system: an integrated hammock-and-net like the Warbonnet Blackbird, the lightest straps rated for your weight, and a silpoly tarp sized to the conditions. That is roughly the 42 oz figure OutdoorGearLab quotes, and it is a complete shelter.

If you are starting out and want to find out whether you like it before optimizing, the Grand Trunk Ultralight Starter is Treeline Review's budget pick and the cheapest honest way to answer that question. Upgrade the suspension first, then the tarp.

Where a backpacking hammock loses to a tent

Above the treeline, in open desert, on exposed ridges, and at sites where tree hanging is prohibited. In all of those a hammock is dead weight and a tent works. That is not a small caveat if your trips go high — read hammock vs tent before committing your whole system to trees.

Common questions

How much does a backpacking hammock system weigh?

OutdoorGearLab's figure for the Warbonnet Original Blackbird is 26 oz for hammock, bug net and suspension, and 42 oz for the full kit including a Mini Fly tarp. That is a realistic target for a complete lightweight system.

What is the lightest hammock suspension?

In the 2026 99Boulders test, Hummingbird Hammocks tree straps at 1.55 oz are the lightest, with a 400 lb combined rating over 8 ft 4 in. The ENO Helios at 4.3 oz offers micro-adjustment but is rated only 300 lb.

Is a hammock lighter than a tent?

A hammock alone is. A complete hammock system — hammock, suspension, tarp and under-insulation — is competitive with a lightweight tent rather than dramatically lighter, and the tent does not need trees. Compare properly in hammock vs tent.

Should I take a single or double hammock backpacking?

A double is wider and lets you lie diagonally, which is the flattest and most comfortable position. A single is lighter and packs smaller. Most experienced hammock backpackers carry a double for the comfort per ounce.

Sources

Every specification on this page traces to one of these. Where a recommendation rests on another publication's hands-on testing, we name it — we do not run a test lab.

Spotted something we got wrong? Tell us — corrections are part of our editorial policy.