Hennessy Hammock Review
The brand that sells a hammock as a finished shelter rather than a bed, and the only one that tells you how tall you can be before you buy.
By Mike M. · Last updated
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Hennessy sells complete hammock shelters: body, sewn-in bug net, rainfly, ropes and tree straps in one bag. The Expedition Zip is the model to start with at 250 lb and 6 ft; go to the Explorer Deluxe Zip XL for 7 ft and 300 lb, or the Safari Deluxe Zip XXL for 350 lb. The weak point is the suspension, not the hammock.
This page sits inside our camping hammocks hub. Everything below comes from Hennessy's own published specifications and one named independent review. We have not hung one ourselves — see how we pick for what that means and does not mean.
Quick picks
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. Prices come straight from Amazon and are refreshed daily; where a figure is missing the link takes you to the live one.
| # | Product | Best for | Headline spec | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hennessy Hammock Expedition ZipThe model the rest of the line is priced and specified around: 250 lb, 6 ft, and every part of the shelter in one bag. | The default Hennessy | 250 lb / 113 kg weight limit | |
| 2 |  Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe Zip XLHennessy publishes a user-height limit rather than leaving you to work it out from the length, and the XL's is 7 ft — the clearest answer on this page for a tall camper. | The tallest published height rating | Fits users up to 7 ft / 213 cm tall | |
| 3 | No image Hennessy Hammock Safari Deluxe Zip XXLThe widest and deepest body Hennessy builds, at 350 lb and 12 feet of bottom fabric — the one the brand itself points couples and larger campers at. | The highest published capacity | 350 lb / 159 kg weight limit | |
| 4 | No image Hennessy Hammock Explorer Ultralite Zip XLThe 7-foot body in silnylon instead of polyester: a pound lighter than the Explorer Deluxe for the same height rating, with 50 lb less capacity. | Tall campers counting ounces | 250 lb / 113 kg weight limit | |
| 5 | No image 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 net | 200 lb / 91 kg weight limit | |
| 6 |  Hennessy Heat Reflecting Double Bubble Pad XLA reflective double-bubble pad cut to the XL Hennessy shape: the cheapest published-fit fix for a cold back. | The least you can spend | Heat-reflecting double bubble construction |
#ad — the buy links above are affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure.
What a Hennessy actually is
Most camping hammocks are a bed. You buy the hammock, then straps, then a bug net, then a tarp, and the four purchases eventually become a shelter. A Hennessy arrives as the shelter: the netting is sewn to the body, a rainfly and support ropes are in the bag, and the brand includes 42-inch Tree Hugger webbing straps so the first hang needs nothing extra. That single decision explains most of what people like and most of what they complain about.
The second decision is the asymmetric cut. The body is not a symmetrical banana; it is shaped so you lie across it on the diagonal, with the published intent of keeping your lower back and knees supported rather than folded. A structural ridgeline fixes the sag, so the shape is the same every pitch instead of depending on how tight you pulled the ends. The Zip models get in through a side zipper — a #10 on the heavy polyester bodies, a #5 on the light silnylon ones — rather than through the bottom slot the Classic models use.
The lineup, decoded
Hennessy's model names are nearly useless on their own: Expedition, Explorer, Safari, Deep Jungle, Survivorman, each in Classic or Zip, several in XL or XXL. The two numbers that actually sort them are the published height limit and the published weight limit, and both appear on every listing.
| Model | Fits up to | Weight limit | Packed weight | Body fabric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expedition Zip | 6 ft / 183 cm | 250 lb | 2 lb 12 oz | 70d polyester ripstop |
| Explorer Deluxe Zip XL | 7 ft / 213 cm | 300 lb | 3 lb 5 oz | 70d polyester ripstop |
| Safari Deluxe Zip XXL | 7 ft / 213 cm | 350 lb | 4 lb 7 oz | 70d polyester ripstop |
| Explorer Ultralite Zip XL | 7 ft / 213 cm | 250 lb | 2 lb 4 oz | 30d silnylon |
| Ultralite Backpacker Zip | 6 ft / 183 cm | 200 lb | 2 lb | 30d silnylon |
| Scout Zip | 5 ft 8 in | 200 lb | Not published on the range page | Not published on the range page |
| Cub Zip | 5 ft 4 in | 120 lb | Not published on the range page | Not published on the range page |
Read down the first two columns and the range makes sense. Anything called XL is rated to 7 feet. Anything called Ultralite trades capacity for weight — the Explorer Ultralite XL keeps the 7-foot rating of the Explorer Deluxe but drops 50 lb of capacity to save about a pound. Safari is the one that goes up rather than down: 350 lb, 144 inches of bottom fabric, and the only body Hennessy itself describes as workable for two people.
1. The default Hennessy
Hennessy Hammock Expedition Zip
The model the rest of the line is priced and specified around: 250 lb, 6 ft, and every part of the shelter in one bag.
Specifications
- 250 lb / 113 kg weight limit
- Fits users up to 6 ft / 183 cm tall
- Packed weight 2 lb 12 oz, not including the 3 oz webbing straps
- Packed size 4 in x 7 in x 9 in
- Bottom fabric 120 in x 59 in
- 70d polyurethane-coated polyester ripstop body, 30d No-See-Um netting
- 70d catenary-cut parallelogram rainfly, 63 in x 99 in
- Side entry with a #10 zipper and two double sliders
- Attached netting, detachable rainfly, support ropes, compression sack and 42 in Tree Hugger straps included
Source: hennessyhammock.com product page (Expedition Zip), 2026, and OutdoorGearLab's Expedition Asym Zip review. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.
What it does well
- A complete shelter in one purchase — net, fly, ropes and tree straps are all in the bag
- The asymmetric cut and structural ridgeline reproduce the same lay every pitch
- The most widely stocked Hennessy, so accessories list a fit for it
Where it falls short
- OutdoorGearLab found the suspension needs knot tying and was the most time-consuming system they set up
- OutdoorGearLab also calls the included rainfly small and notes no stakes or guy lines are supplied
- The bug net is sewn in, so you carry it on nights you do not need it
Product photograph supplied by Amazon.
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of October 7, 2026
2. The tallest published height rating
Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe Zip XL
Hennessy publishes a user-height limit rather than leaving you to work it out from the length, and the XL's is 7 ft — the clearest answer on this page for a tall camper.
Specifications
- Fits users up to 7 ft / 213 cm tall
- 300 lb / 136 kg weight limit
- Packed weight 3 lb 5 oz, not including the 4 oz webbing straps
- 70D polyurethane-coated polyester ripstop
- Attached mosquito netting, detachable rainfly, support ropes and compression sack included
- 42 in Tree Hugger webbing straps included
- Asymmetric lay with a structural ridgeline
- Side entry with a #10 YKK zipper
Source: hennessyhammock.com product page (Explorer Deluxe Zip XL), 2026. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.
What it does well
- A published height rating removes the guesswork that every other spec sheet in this category leaves you with
- Net, fly and suspension are all in the box, so there is no second purchase before the first night out
- The asymmetric cut is designed around the diagonal lay rather than leaving you to find it
Where it falls short
- Over three pounds packed — this is a car-camping and weekend weight, not an ultralight one
- The asymmetric system and side-zip entry take a few nights to get used to
- Polyester ripstop has less stretch than nylon, which some people read as less forgiving
Product photograph supplied by Amazon.
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of October 7, 2026
3. The highest published capacity
Hennessy Hammock Safari Deluxe Zip XXL
The widest and deepest body Hennessy builds, at 350 lb and 12 feet of bottom fabric — the one the brand itself points couples and larger campers at.
Specifications
- 350 lb / 159 kg weight limit
- Fits users up to 7 ft / 213 cm tall
- Packed weight 4 lb 7 oz, not including the 4 oz webbing straps
- Packed size 5 in x 8 in x 12 in
- Bottom fabric 144 in x 59 in
- 70d polyurethane-coated polyester ripstop body, 30d No-See-Um netting
- Hexagonal rainfly, 143 in centerline x 120 in wide
- 10 ft support ropes, 2,100 lb test
- Hennessy describes it as its deepest and widest hammock, for larger people or couples whose combined weight stays under 350 lb
Source: hennessyhammock.com product page (Safari Deluxe Zip XXL), 2026. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.
What it does well
- The highest published weight limit in the line, and the only Hennessy the brand describes as a two-person body
- The hexagonal fly is far larger than the parallelogram tarps on the rest of the range
- 144 in of bottom fabric is two feet longer than the Expedition's
Where it falls short
- 4 lb 7 oz packed — the heaviest hammock Hennessy sells and no kind of backpacking weight
- 350 lb for two people is a tight budget once you add gear
- Needs a wider tree span than the shorter bodies to hang at a sensible angle
No licensed photograph of this product is available to us yet.
4. Tall campers counting ounces
Hennessy Hammock Explorer Ultralite Zip XL
The 7-foot body in silnylon instead of polyester: a pound lighter than the Explorer Deluxe for the same height rating, with 50 lb less capacity.
Specifications
- 250 lb / 113 kg weight limit
- Fits users up to 7 ft / 213 cm tall
- Packed weight 2 lb 4 oz / 1,008 g, not including the webbing straps
- Packed size 4 in x 8 in x 10 in
- Bottom fabric 130 in x 59 in
- 30d silnylon 66 ripstop body, 20d polyester No-See-Um netting
- Parallelogram rainfly, 70 in short side x 110 in long side
- Side entry with a #5 YKK double-slider zipper
Source: hennessyhammock.com product page (Explorer Ultralite Zip XL), 2026. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.
What it does well
- Same 7 ft height rating as the Explorer Deluxe at about a pound less packed weight
- A 130 in bottom gives tall campers room without the Safari's bulk
- Complete shelter in the bag, like the rest of the line
Where it falls short
- 250 lb against the Explorer Deluxe's 300 lb — the weight saving costs capacity
- 30d silnylon is less abrasion-tolerant than the 70d polyester bodies
- The most expensive way into a 7 ft Hennessy
No licensed photograph of this product is available to us yet.
5. 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
- 200 lb / 91 kg weight limit
- Fits users up to 6 ft / 183 cm tall
- Packed weight 2 lb / 896 g, not including the 2 oz webbing straps
- Bottom fabric 120 in x 59 in
- 30d silnylon 66 ripstop body, 20d polyester No-See-Um netting
- 30D silnylon parallelogram rainfly, 63 in x 99 in
- 10 ft spectra support ropes, 1,200 lb test
- Side entry with a #5 YKK double-slider zipper
- Named best with mosquito net by Treeline Review
Source: hennessyhammock.com product page (Ultralite Backpacker Zip), 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
- Asymmetric lay with integrated netting
- Zip entry rather than a bottom entry
- Two pounds for hammock, net, fly and ropes together
Where it falls short
- The asymmetric system takes getting used to
- 200 lb is the lowest limit in the adult Hennessy line
- 30d silnylon is the thinnest fabric Hennessy uses — treat it carefully
No licensed photograph of this product is available to us yet.
6. The least you can spend
Hennessy Heat Reflecting Double Bubble Pad XL
A reflective double-bubble pad cut to the XL Hennessy shape: the cheapest published-fit fix for a cold back.
Specifications
- Heat-reflecting double bubble construction
- Hennessy lists the XL as fitting the Deep Jungle ZIP XL, Explorer Deluxe Classic and ZIP, Explorer Ultralite Classic and ZIP, Jungle Explorer ZIP, Jungle Safari ZIP, Safari Deluxe Classic and ZIP, Survivor Classic and Survivor ZIP
- A standard-size version covers the Expedition, Scout, Hyperlite and Ultralite Backpacker bodies
Source: hennessyhammock.com insulation collection, 2026. We publish specs we can attribute and leave the rest blank rather than assuming a typical value.
What it does well
- The cheapest published-fit insulation Hennessy sells
- Goes inside the hammock, so there is nothing to tension or seal
- Doubles as a ground sheet on a night you end up on the floor
Where it falls short
- A pad inside the hammock crinkles and slides in a way a hanging quilt does not
- No temperature rating or R-value is published
- Shoulder and hip coverage is narrower than an underquilt's
Product photograph supplied by Amazon.
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of October 7, 2026
The spec nobody else publishes
A published user-height limit is rare to the point of being a reason to buy. Almost every other brand gives you a hammock length and leaves you to work out whether you fit, which is why our own hammocks for tall people page exists at all. Hennessy prints it on the listing: 6 ft, 7 ft, 5 ft 8 in, 5 ft 4 in. If you are 6 ft 4 in, the shortlist is the XL bodies and the decision takes one minute instead of an evening of forum reading.
The weight limits are equally plain, and equally worth respecting. They run from 120 lb on the Cub to 350 lb on the Safari and the 4Season Survivorman, and the 200 lb limit on the two lightest models is genuinely low — a 210 lb camper is out of spec on an Ultralite Backpacker no matter how much they want the two-pound packed weight. For how a hammock's rating interacts with straps, carabiners and anchors, see hammock weight limits.
Where it is genuinely weak
The complaint that keeps recurring is the suspension. OutdoorGearLab, reviewing the Expedition Asym Zip, found the system required knot tying to hold the lashing around the tree anchors and called it the most time-consuming setup in their test group, to the point that their reviewers needed how-to videos before they could complete it. That is a real cost against the one-click webbing-and-carabiner systems on an ENO or a Kammok, and it is the main reason an experienced hammock camper will swap Hennessy's ropes for adjustable webbing.
- The included rainfly is small. The same review calls the fly small and notes that no stakes or guy lines come with it, so a serious storm pitch means buying a bigger tarp. Our rain fly roundup covers the sizes that actually cover a hammock.
- The bug net does not come off. It is sewn in, so you carry it on every trip including the ones with no insects. The trade is that you never forget it — the opposite compromise from the removable nets sold for open hammocks.
- The supplied straps are short. Hennessy's complimentary Tree Hugger webbing is 42 inches, which is a tree-protection sleeve rather than a long adjustable strap. Wide trunks or awkward spans need a longer set from our hammock straps list.
- The polyester bodies are not light. The Explorer Deluxe XL is 3 lb 5 oz and the Safari XXL 4 lb 7 oz packed. These are weekend and car-camping weights; the silnylon models are the ones to look at for backpacking.
- The asymmetric lay takes a few nights. You are lying across the hammock rather than along it, and the first night usually gets it wrong.
Staying warm in one
A Hennessy has the same cold-back problem as every hammock: your insulation compresses under you and stops working. Hennessy's own answer is the SuperShelter, a three-part system of an UnderCover, an open-cell foam UnderPad and a radiant blanket, published as fitting specific bodies rather than sold as one-size. The cheap version is the Heat Reflecting Double Bubble Pad, which goes inside the hammock and has a published fit list per model. Neither carries a temperature rating or an R-value, which is the honest limitation of both.
If you would rather hang a quilt than fit a cover, the fit question is specific enough that we gave it its own page: the best underquilts for a Hennessy hammock covers what clears the asymmetric cut and the sewn-in net.
Who should buy something else
- You want the fastest possible pitch. A gathered-end hammock on daisy-chain webbing goes up in under a minute with no knots. Start with the best camping hammocks.
- You want to swap parts. Hennessy's shelter is an integrated system. If you like choosing your own net, tarp and suspension, an open hammock plus a bug net and a tarp is the more flexible route.
- You are over 350 lb, or two adults over 350 lb combined. That is the top of the published range, and our heavy-duty hammocks picks go higher.
- You want a backyard hammock. A sewn-in bug net and a tarp are wasted on a lawn. Buy a rope or quilted bed from the best backyard hammocks, or a strap-ready body from the best hammocks for trees.
The verdict
Hennessy is the brand to buy if you want one purchase to produce a sleepable shelter and you want the maker to tell you, in writing, how tall and how heavy you can be. The Expedition Zip is the sensible default; the Explorer Deluxe Zip XL is the one most adults should actually own, because the 7-foot and 300 lb figures cover far more people than the 6-foot body does; the Safari Deluxe Zip XXL exists for the cases where neither is enough. Budget for better suspension and a bigger tarp from the start, and the known weaknesses stop mattering. Where the brand positions against the rest of the market is laid out in the hammock brands worth knowing, and if you are deciding where to order, where to buy a hammock compares the channels.
Common questions
Which Hennessy hammock should I buy?
The Expedition Zip if you are under 6 ft and 250 lb, the Explorer Deluxe Zip XL if you are up to 7 ft and 300 lb, and the Safari Deluxe Zip XXL if you need 350 lb or want a body a couple can share. The two Ultralite models cut packed weight and capacity together.
How much weight can a Hennessy hammock hold?
It depends on the model, and Hennessy publishes the figure on each listing: 250 lb on the Expedition Zip, 300 lb on the Explorer Deluxe Zip XL, 350 lb on the Safari Deluxe Zip XXL and the 4Season Survivorman Zip XL, and 200 lb on the Ultralite Backpacker Zip and Hyperlite Zip.
How tall can you be for a Hennessy hammock?
Up to 6 ft on the standard bodies and up to 7 ft on every model named XL or XXL. The Scout Zip is rated to 5 ft 8 in and the Cub Zip to 5 ft 4 in. Hennessy publishes the height limit on each product page, which almost no other brand does.
Does a Hennessy hammock come with a rainfly and bug net?
Yes. Every model ships with attached mosquito netting, a detachable rainfly, support ropes, a compression sack and complimentary 42 in Tree Hugger webbing straps. Stakes and guy lines for the fly are not included.
What is the difference between a Hennessy Classic and a Zip?
Entry. A Classic is entered through a slot in the bottom of the hammock; a Zip has a side-entry zipper — a #10 on the heavier polyester bodies and a #5 on the silnylon ones. The body, the asymmetric cut and the ridgeline are otherwise the same.
Do Hennessy hammocks work with a normal underquilt?
Often, but the asymmetric cut and sewn-in net make fit less predictable than on a plain gathered-end hammock, and Hennessy's own insulation is published as fitting specific models. We go through the options in the best underquilts for a Hennessy hammock.
Is a Hennessy hammock good for backpacking?
The silnylon models are. The Ultralite Backpacker Zip is 2 lb packed and the Explorer Ultralite Zip XL 2 lb 4 oz, both for a complete shelter. The polyester bodies run from 2 lb 12 oz to 4 lb 7 oz, which is weekend rather than thru-hike weight.
Sources
Every specification on this page traces to one of these — manufacturer data, owner's manuals, published standards and named independent publications, all linked so you can check them yourself.
- Hennessy Hammock — current hammock range, with published height and weight limits
- Hennessy Hammock — Expedition Zip, published specifications
- Hennessy Hammock — Explorer Deluxe Zip XL, published specifications
- Hennessy Hammock — Safari Deluxe Zip XXL, published specifications
- Hennessy Hammock — Explorer Ultralite Zip XL, published specifications
- Hennessy Hammock — Ultralite Backpacker Zip, published specifications
- Hennessy Hammock — insulation range and published compatibility lists
- OutdoorGearLab — Hennessy Expedition Asym Zip review
- Treeline Review — Best Camping Hammocks
Read next
Spotted something we got wrong? Tell us — corrections are part of our editorial policy.