About five years ago I purchased a Blackbird hammock, I now love sleeping in hammocks and can’t go back to a tent.

Inside of the Blackbird HammockMatt McClelland

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The best night’s sleep I can recall in a tent was in a pine forest on a deep cushion of pine needles. I liked the pine aroma and the natural mattress was just divine. I was happy with my self-inflating mat and life in a tent was good until a walker informed me about his hammock. Okay, to be honest, it was less a general chat and more of a sermon from a convert, and there was real excitement about the hammock. The thing that was different about this conversation from most gear conversations was that it was about the concept, rather than the model or specific features that he loved.

I was sceptical. I sleep on my side, don’t like to bend like a banana, and thought that hangers (people who sleep in hammocks) must be freaks. I was intrigued, so I tried one and in a few minutes, I too become a convert.

Why sleep in a hammock?Let me explain some basics of hammock camping aka hanging.

Banana Back? In most hammocks you sleep on an angle off the main spine of the hammock, sleeping almost flat with your head slightly elevated, just as you would with a pillow.

You need trees? Yep, you need two anchors. Trees are most common, but sometimes large boulders can do the trick. The hammock is suspended with two straps, and cushioning to protect the tree. A tent needs flat ground, and where I normally walk there are more trees than flat ground. I have even set the hammock up over a small creek for a night, just because I could. Obviously in Australia we have trees that can drop very large branches, so you need to look up and take great care in choosing where to put the hammock.

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Main parts of the Blackbird HammockMatt McClelland

Social? When walking with others you have the option to share tents or pitch beside friends. With hammocks it’s not as easy. Most of my walking is solo. My kids (8 and 10) will top and tail in a hammock, but not for too much longer. If you are walking with ground-dwelling friends you tend to end up camping on the edge of the clearing away from others. It’s possible to stack hammocks, but this makes getting in and out a bit of an exercise.

There are many other reasons I like hammocks, but that’s enough for now.

Specifications I have two similar hammocks, the Blackbird and the Blackbird XLC. Both have options in terms of the number of layers of fabric and its thickness. I tend to use the Blackbird for lightweight trips and the XLC when I want more space or for the kids to use.

Rather then going into all the details of each option, here are the specifications.

Anatomy of the Blackbird HammockMain BodyThe main hammock parts are made from breathable nylon fabric gathered at each end. My XLC is double layered. This means that there’s a second piece of nylon fabric on the bottom forming a pocket to hold a sleeping mat, which tends not to slide around. You can still use a foam mat between you and the single layer, but this tends to be a bit more fiddly. Instead of a sleeping mat, many hangers use an underquilt, which is often lighter and warmer. I prefer an underquilt to a sleeping mat, but I find the elastics that hold them in place annoying.

One thing I really like about the Blackbird hammock is that it also doubles as a seat. You can unzip the bug net and sit in the hammock with you feet on the ground, or turn a bit and recline. Great at dinner time and looking over maps.

The hammock is large enough, but not enormous. I usually leave my pack and heavy items on the ground below the hammock. The fly keeps my gear dry if it rains.

Bug NetThe bug net is sewn into the main body of the hammock and held aloft by sitting over the ridge line. While some hammocks have a bug net as separate item, I prefer built in, making it easier to keep the bugs out. The net zips open, so when the bugs are not around you can fold it back and enjoy the open air more. The net is black but easy to see through, and since the ridge line holds

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the net up there’s plenty of room for reading, getting dressed etc. The Blackbird XLC has the zipper all around allowing you to remove the whole net, but this also adds to the weight.

Storage ShelfThis seemed a bit a gimmick to me at first like pockets in the side of a tent, but I love it. A shelf is a bit of an overstatement; think of it more as an open and handy pocket near your head. Overnight I keep my phone, water bottle, shoes and snacks there. I loop my torch over the ridge line and keep clothes at the end of hammock past my feet. I also have a jacket in the hammock with me that I use as a thin pillow.

There are elastic guy lines on each side of the hammock that hold the shelf out making access much easier and keeping the sides of the hammock open. The bottom of the shelf is the main nylon and the top is the bug net.

Foot boxAgain I thought this was a bit of a gimmick, but it turned out to be one feature I really like. The foot box is basically another shelf but designed for your feet. As I mentioned before, you sleep on an angle, partly across the hammock with your feet in the wide foot box. Sleeping at an angle to the ridge line means your body is mostly flat and you can sleep either on your back or on your side. If you want to curl up or stretch out that works as well. The foot box allows you to sleep on this angle with no pressure on the sides of the hammock, thus pushing your feet back to the centre, simple but clever.

Straps and set upThe hammock is stored and carried in a double ended stuff sac. There are a few strap options, but the simplest is a length of 6 mm tape with a carabiner. The tape is wrapped around a tree and the carabiner secures it. I usually add a strip of closed cell foam mat between the tape and tree for extra tree protection. The other tape is wrapped around another tree about four to six metres away. The straps then have an attachment near hammock to make it easy to get the tension right.

I find that the buckles are a little fiddly, and they need a bit of work to adjust. This preferable to them loosening overnight - not fun.

Hammock OptionsSingle or double layerThe hammocks have a single or double layer option. The double layer adds more weight but also makes it much easier if you use a foam mat under you. I prefer to use an underquilt, so I mostly take my single layer. My XLC is a double layer and also provides better protection from mozzies biting you through the bottom of the hammock in summer.

StrapsThe standard option with the hammocks are the more adjustable “webbing and buckles” and the lighter “Whoopies with tree straps” option. Both work fine, I think at the end of the day it just comes down to how you prefer to set things up, but if you are new to hammocking I suggest the “webbing with buckles” and a couple of carabiners.

Blackbird or Blackbird XLCI started with the Blackbird first about five years ago and the XLC was bought about a year ago. I have not used the XLC as much as I thought I would; I like the extra space, but it’s much heavier. I use the XLC for lazy trips or for the kids to sleep in.

Quality and serviceOverall I have had great service from Warbonnet Outdoors over the last five years. I’ve purchased the two hammocks, a tarp and a bunch of little bits and pieces. The latest hammock suddenly developed a very large rip on my first use. I believed it should be a warranty repair, and we ended up agreeing that I pay for materials and postage for the repair. I initially found it difficult to get a response, but they came good in the end. Other than this one negative experience I have had other positive experiences over the longer term, so I tend to think they are are a good small business. Buying overseas has its risks and extra postage costs that are also worth considering.

In summaryThere are lots of great hammocks on the market and some Aussies are also getting into them as well. I would recommend the Blackbird and the XLC to walkers interested in hanging. They have served me well.