Lawson Hammock Company Blue Ridge Camping Hammock
The perennial BACKPACKER favorite gets an upgrade with better ventilation.
Brand: Lawson Hammock Company
Model: Blue Ridge Camping Hammock
[editors ’ choice update]
It wasn’t broken, but REI fixed it anyway. This longtime favorite—winner of both Editors’ Choice and Editors’ Choice Gold Awards—gets an update that proves the best can always get better. The improvement: ventilation-boosting changes that increase the space between the tent and fly and add two additional fly vents (for a total of four). The modifications increase the tent’s overall weight by two ounces, but testers deem it a fair price to pay for superior airflow: On 25°F nights in Utah’s Canyonlands, some condensation collected beneath the fly, but the interior walls stayed dry.
Space and layout remain unchanged, meaning the Half Dome is just as livable as it’s ever been. A 40-inch peak height and steep walls create outstanding headroom (the brow pole actually pushes the fabric beyond vertical, which keeps water from dripping off the fly and through the open door). The 32-square-foot floor amply accommodates two six-footers, and setup (using one hubbed pole) is uncomplicated. Stability is excellent: Our testers slept soundly through canyon gusts that failed to create so much as a flap or a rattle in this freestanding dome. And although it’s not the lightest two-person model on the market, it continues to earn top marks for its performance-to-price ratio. $189; 5 lbs. 2 oz.; rei.com
Rated #1 camping hammock on the market by numerous publications. With its patented archpole/spreaderbar system, this hammock can also be used on the ground as a tent/bivy greatly increasing your camping options. It is much more comfortable than other camping hammocks because the spreader bars keep the bed of the hammock “taut”, eliminating the “cocoon” effect. The attached no-see-um netting makes it bug-free. Comes with waterproof rainfly that attaches directly to the hammock. Secure between two trees or objects which allows for camping in various terrains normally not suitable for “tent” camping. Also eliminates need for ground tarp or sleeping pad which reduces pack weight.