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Super Speedy Summary

This is much more than just a camping hammock. This well made and thought out camping hammock sets up easily and comes with a rain fly tarp as well for bad weather. Its also possible to set this up on the ground as a bivvy shelter as the base of the hammock is waterproof. With a few mods I got this stripped down to under 4lbs which meant I left my tarp mesh house and sleeping mat at home and actually saved weight in my pack.

It comes in green which is great for more discreet wild/ stealth camping. There are also thoughtful pockets and light hanging points inside. Great for hot weather to allow a breeze through and keep the biting insects out, and in more challenging weather you can keep the tarp tight and use it like a proper tent. This makes a great addition to an adventure racer, Thru Hiker or light camper.

Advantages of Hammock

The tent as we know it may be dead. When I moved to the USA from the UK I realized that the extremes of heat and warm ( not cold) rainfall meant that a Tarp/ Mesh Tent set up or Tarp/ Hammock configuration gave you much more versatility than a simple tent.

More Options for Pitching than a Tent

The advantages of a hammock over a tent in the USA are noticeable. Firstly on rocky or uneven terrain you no longer need to find an area of flat clear ground, and you can even set up on a slope or over a stream! By using a hammock you avoid having your gear laying down on a damp cold ground too. Using trees to support the hammock also means you are likely to gain extra shade and shelter from the trees too.

Cooler in the Summer

From a temperature and comfort point of view I think a hammock really excels in the summer. By being off the ground more of you body gets a cooling airflow/breeze around it at night keeping you cooler and the mesh upper of the Lawson Hammock means you can still keeps bugs out without feeling claustrophobic because the curved metal struts keep the shape of the mesh away from your face. If you are sleeping in an area that is insect free then you can also turn the hammock upside down and sleep in the hammock in a traditional way without the insect net.

In the winter I would suggest being more cautious because your body is going to need more insulation beneath you as there is no ground to provide insulation. To keep you warmer I would suggest pairing this with a Top Quilt in the winter. Lawson also do a custom Underquilt to boost your sleeping bag/ Quilt top layer.

Fabric and Construction

The Lawson Hammock has a very over engineered feel and is clearly made of a very high quality and durable fabric. It actually smells and reminds me of military gear. The ‘base’ is also waterproof so if you configure the hammock on the ground as a mini tent you don’t get moisture seep through from beneath in the wet or when its raining.

No See ‘Ums

I learnt on the Appalachian Trail that the biting insects are called ‘No See ‘Ums’. I had another stronger name for them! The Hammock comes with a large area of fine mesh to keep the insects out while you sleep and the breeze through to keep you cool. The inside of the hammock is also configured with two useful loops for hanging torches or lights at each end and two mesh pockets for storing your phone, torch, valuables overnight which is handy.

Square Not Banana Shaped

So one of the things I noticed is that the hammock comes with two sturdy steel bars at each end that fold when packed. These provide a solid square shape for the hammock when set up which means you don’t get squeezed into a tight banana shape at night. i actually found this was the first hammock I could sleep in on my side and still be comfortable.

Not Knots

The straps that come with the hammock with the full package ( or are $35 to buy separately) have a loop, karabiner and tightening buckle with them that means you don’t have to worry about a complex knot to hold the straps to the trees. Simply pass the strap round the tree, through the loop and tighten with the buckle until taut. This means that overall combined with the two thin aluminium hoops this hammock takes about 2 minutes to set up.

Wet and Dry

In the dry and heat you have the mesh or zipped open mesh area to keep you cool. When it rains the hammock comes with a complete and fitted tarp that pulls over the top of everything and attaches quickly via a few bungee cords and some convenient velcro strips. I recommend leaving it on ‘rolled or folded back’ so you can easily pull this over your head etc if it rains.

The Hammock That Thinks its a Tent

As well as being a great hammock you can also set this up on the ground as a more traditional low sleek tent/bivouac. This is a great feature and something you wouldn’t be able to do with a traditional hammock. This gives you more options when you don’t have lots of trees in the area or if you want to possibly squeeze two of you inside the shelter not one.

Gripes

In some ways the attention to build quality and comfort is also this hammocks only weakness because the quality comes with weight. The system comes in at just over 4lbs which is fine for your average ‘back of the truck’ camper but if you are self sufficient on trail like I am a lot 4lbs feels like a lot to carry with you.

I’m not sure most people will care about the weight, and I’m fairly sure I can strip a few non essentials off this rig to drop it down closer to 3lbs. Removing one of the aluminium hoops at the feet end, stripping out some of the cord and a few other bits will quickly save weight. I would love to see a Thru Hiker / FKT variant of this with a lighter stripped down carbon fibre/aluminium pole at the ends that’s lighter and I’m aware this would push the price up.

In defence of my weight griping I will point out that a mesh house, tarp and inflatable sleeping mat already come in at just under 3lbs so its not like this hammock is made of lead….and it comes with the tarp included.

Given that it can be configured into a tent too I would like to have seen two micro tent pegs come with this to allow you to do that. Obviously I have lots lying around but its something to consider.

Verdict

This is much more than just a camping hammock. This well made and thought out camping hammock sets up easily and comes with a rain fly tarp as well for bad weather. Its also possible to set this up on the ground as a bivvy shelter as the base of the hammock is waterproof. With a few mods I got this stripped down to under 4lbs which meant I left my tarp mesh house and sleeping mat at home and actually saved weight in my pack.

It comes in green too which is great for more discreet wild/ stealth camping. There are also thoughtful pockets and light hanging points inside. Great for hot weather to allow a breeze through and keep the biting insects out, and in more challenging weather you can keep the tarp tight and use it like a proper tent. This makes a great addition to an adventure racer, Thru Hiker or light camper.

Technical Specs

• Total Weight: With Straps – 4 lbs, 15 oz  Without Straps – 4lbs, 4 oz (including poles, rain fly and stuff sack)
• Interior Length: 90 in. Interior Width: 42 in.
• End to End Length: 11 ft
• Packing Size: 22in x 6 in.
• Weight Limit: 275 lbs.
• Color: Forest Green
• US Patent #8,161,991

Features

• • Rip-stop and poly pack hammock construction for lightweight durability
  • Ultra fine, no-see-um net canopy keeps bugs out
  • Waterproof rip-stop nylon rain fly for all-weather use (polyethylene coated to 1000mm)
  • Sealed nylon border on the canopy protects against water blowing up under rain fly
    
  • Strong 10-point Spreader bar system for flat interior surface
  • Shock-corded aluminum arch poles provides roomy net canopy
  • Single secured zippered entry
  • Additional exterior loops for ground staking
  • Two interior storage pockets
  • O-ring in ceiling for hanging light
  • Use suspended or on the ground

About Lawson

Growing up on a pond where Wes Johnson spent his days swimming and fishing, he developed a life-long passion for the outdoors at a very early age. Living within relatively close proximity to various lakes, beaches and the mountains enabled him to explore this passion even more by providing easy access to incredible hiking, camping and water-sport experiences. 

These experiences were the catalyst that lead to present-day Lawson Hammock Company. Running a company within the outdoor industry was a natural fit and allowed him to grow within an industry that resonated with him and that he loved.

Our flagship, patented Blue Ridge Camping Hammock was born out of a need for a versatile, unique, high-quality and comfortable camping alternative that wasn’t over-engineered, impractical, uncomfortable or lacking protection from bugs and the elements. What I believe to be the best, all-around tent hammock on the market has been validated by years of testing and by thousands of customers who love the product. 

I hope to continue creating and innovating within the outdoor industry for years to come. Thanks so much for being part of the Lawson Hammock story as I couldn’t do it without your support. Happy hanging!