In north woods, we don’t let a little thing like winter get in the way of camping enjoyment. We just adapt, gear up … and conquer.
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Hammock camping is the rage right now … for a lot of good reasons. A quick search of “hammock” on the Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s websites will amaze you with how much gear is out there for year-round hammock enjoyment.
Yes — “YEAR ROUND.” There’s no reason to put away the hammock because temperatures are a little chilly or there’s snow on the ground. In fact, you can comfortably sleep in a hammock at 0 degrees or colder without any problems. Camping in a hammock in the winter means you don’t have to hassle with digging out a site for your tent or trying to get stakes into the frozen ground.
6 Tips For Enjoying Winter Hammock Camping
Here are a few tips to enjoy hammock camping no matter how cold it gets.
1. The same hammock you use all summer will work just fine, but you must have an insulated under blanket or pad for winter mocking. This is the Klymit Hammock V Air Pad. It perfectly fits a standard-size hammock and its body-mapped V-shaped design offers support and comfort. These deep ridges in the pad create lots of dead air space once you and your sleeping bag are on it – and that equals great insulation.
2. Almost as important for comfort as the insulating pad is a good hammock camping pillow. Our advice … go big. You can always adjust and move it as necessary, but with a tiny little pillow, you’ve got nothing to work with.
3. You’ll generally want a sleeping bag rated for colder temps than you’d use for sleeping on a cot or even a ground pad. Look for a model with baffles designed to prevent the fill from shifting and clumping. You want nice, even insulation all the way around your body … all night long.
4. Just as in cold weather tent camping, don’t wear anything to bed that’s wet. It may seem like the wrong thing to do, but you’re best off stripping down to a single layer of Merino wool long johns and merino socks before you climb in. With a good sleeping bag, you’ll be toasty warm all night long.
5. Snuggled up in your bag, the only areas that will be exposed directly to the cold air will be your head and face. Few items do more to promote overall warmth than a Merino wool stocking cap worn to sleep. In extreme conditions, add a facemask.
6. Once you get into your sleeping bag and hammock, you aren’t going to want to get out until morning. The key is a pee bottle. There are lots of convenient, sanitary options for both men and women. You may consider it “gross” at first, but once you’ve used one in the ‘mock on a single-digit night under the stars … you’ll consider it the NUMBER ONE hammock camping accessory.
Now just build yourself a big campfire and enjoy a winter night under the stars.
