November 5, 2026 Jared Links

Video How To: Hang a Hammock

Quick answer: Wrap a wide tree strap around each of two sturdy trees, clip the hammock's carabiners into the daisy-chain loops, and adjust until the straps sit at roughly a 30-degree angle. That leaves a healthy sag. Too tight and the hammock cocoons you. To sleep flat, lie on a diagonal with your head to one side and feet to the other.

A hammock is a great piece of camping gear: a comfortable hangout for car camping and a lightweight shelter option for solo backpackers. Sleeping well in one is all about getting the perfect hang, not too tight and not too loose.

Next Adventure staffer Jared L. shows how he gets that perfect hang using a double hammock and a daisy-chain suspension system, with a quick primer on hammock camping, side sleeping, and staying warm.

What you need

A hammock with a carabiner or hook on each end. Double hammocks are a bit wider, which makes them roomier and easier to lie flat in, even solo.
Tree straps. Daisy-chain straps are long nylon webbing straps with a loop at one end and a row of smaller sewn loops along their length. Wide webbing also protects tree bark, which many parks require.
Two healthy, sturdy trees a comfortable distance apart. Never hang from dead trees or limbs.

How to hang a hammock step by step

Wrap the strap. Loop the strap around the tree. On a big or grippy tree, once may be enough; on a smaller tree, Jared goes around three or four times to take up extra length and add friction.
Cinch it. Pass the strap through its own end loop so it tightens around the trunk, leaving a long run of daisy-chain loops hanging free.
Clip in. Clip the hammock's carabiner into one of the daisy-chain loops, then repeat on the second tree.
Set the angle. Aim for about a 30-degree angle on the straps. That gives the hammock a healthy sag.
Adjust. To loosen, clip into a loop farther down the strap; to tighten, move up a loop. The daisy chain makes it easy to fine-tune.

Why sag matters

If you pull a hammock too tight, it wraps around you like a burrito and squeezes you into a cocoon, which is not comfortable at all. A looser hang with a good sag lets you lie on a diagonal and flatten out.

Getting in and sleeping comfortably

Getting in: Go to the middle, tuck the fabric under your seat, slowly lean back, then swing your legs in.
Lying flat: Lie at an angle, with your feet toward one side and your head toward the other. This flattens the fabric.
Side sleeping: Many people say you cannot side sleep in a hammock. Jared is a side sleeper and says it is all about that diagonal angle.
Solo in a double: Scoot to one side and drape the extra fabric over yourself as a light cover.

Hammock camping and staying warm

Jared often takes a hammock when solo backpacking. Hammocks can be lighter than many tents, and you do not need to hunt for a perfect flat tent spot. To save more weight, some hangers swap heavy daisy-chain straps for a short piece of tree-protecting webbing plus thin, strong cord (such as Dyneema) as the connection to the carabiner.

For overnight use, add a tarp overhead for weather protection. Because air moves under you, your backside gets cold fast, so many campers hang an underquilt beneath the hammock and use a top quilt or blanket above. In mild weather, a thin blanket may be all you need. Jared even camps in snow in his hammock with plenty of down insulation and a solid tarp, but cold-weather hanging takes practice, so build up to it.

Find hammocks, suspension systems, and tarps in-store at our Grand Avenue store in Portland's Central Eastside, or shop a few hang-ready items online below.

Shop hammock camping gear

Vigel Camping Hammock Packable hammock for camp or the backyard
Featherstone Moondance 25 Top Quilt Top quilt that suits hammock sleeping
NEMO Forte Endless Promise 20 Synthetic warmth for damp nights
Surviveware Small Premium First Aid Kit Compact kit for camp

Hammock Hanging FAQ

What angle should hammock straps be?

Aim for roughly 30 degrees from horizontal. That angle creates a healthy sag so you can lie flat on a diagonal instead of being squeezed into a cocoon.

How do you sleep flat in a hammock?

Lie on a diagonal, with your head toward one side of the centerline and your feet toward the other. A looser hang makes this easier.

Can you side sleep in a hammock?

Yes. Many side sleepers find it comfortable once they hang with enough sag and lie on a diagonal.

How do you stay warm in a hammock?

Insulate underneath with an underquilt or insulated layer, use a top quilt or sleeping bag above, and hang a tarp overhead to block wind and rain.

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