By Sean Fagan
I do love my field hammock - and it's not hard to see why (Photo: Sean Fagan, south Portugal).

A Little Piece of Outdoor Luxury:

The Field Hammock

When it comes to wild-camping and bushcraft in general, hammocks can be roughly split into two categories: hammocks you sleep in - and hammocks you rest in (i.e. a field hammock).

In the following blog, I go into some key differences between the two types of hammocks as the above definition can seem contradictory ("Surely you can rest in a sleeping hammock and vice versa?").

What I also include are some of the alternative uses of my field hammock - some of which may surprise you...

Enjoying nightfall with my field hammock (Photo: Sean Fagan).

Sleeping Hammocks:

Sleeping hammocks are generally larger and sturdier than field hammocks. When packed away, they are also considerably bulkier and heavier that field hammocks.

Unlike field hammocks, sleeping hammocks usually have a number of design features (such as an integral mosquito net and tarp) to facilitate a good nights sleep in various environments and weather conditions.

A field hammock however is a hammock stripped down to the bare essentials - so that it has a nice blend of lightness, portability and functionality.

Field Hammocks:

My field hammock is a net hammock - a simple, woven net of high quality string.

It's a little too small for sleeping in for long periods of time - but excels when used for resting or catching a nap during the day.

My field hammock is also very portable and can fit into my hand when packed up. It's very light too. I squeeze it into my day packs or my larger, camping rucksack - as it takes up very little space or weight.

One of the great advantages of a net hammock is that it's easy to fix with some string and a knife (Photo: Sean Fagan)

What I use my field hammock for:

As with anything that you have to carry into the outdoors, it's a good idea to bring gear that has multiple uses.

Below is a list of most of the alternative uses I have for a field hammock.

  • Resting above uneven, rocky ground.
  • Resting above damp ground - one of the main reasons why I bring a field hammock during winter, as the ground is often too damp to sit on.
  • Hammock seat - by attaching one end of the hammock much higher than the other end, you effectively have a hammock seat. With binoculars in hand - I can sit comfortably for long periods of time in a hammock - while waiting to observe wildlife. I also like to enjoy my campfire in a hammock seat.
  • Storage - I often temporarily store camping & bushcraft items in my hammock for two reasons: it elevates my gear off damp ground and also makes my gear more visible (you'd be surprised how easy it is to lose stuff among ground vegetation).
  • A back up bed. You never know whats going to happen in the outdoors - which can include losing or damaging your inflatable sleeping mat (the main way people sleep outdoors is in a sleeping bag, on top of an inflatable sleeping mat). Sometimes it's not possible to fix a punctured inflatable mat. Having a field hammock as a backup, to sleep on, is not the worst idea - you might not necessarily get the best nights sleep but you'll sleep.
The knot I use to suspend my hammock is a quick-release knot called the Siberian hitch. I insert a sturdy stick into the loop of this knot to make its extra secure (Photo: Sean Fagan).

While sleeping in a hammock, with the touch of a warm wind we remember why we are in love with the life!

Mehmet Murat ildan

As the above quote highlights - there is something deeply relaxing about gently swaying in a hammock - with the light above flitting through a trembling canopy of trees.

Try it.

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