One of the common concerns with hammock camping is how to stay warm without the insulation provided by a tent enclosure.
This guest post from Alan Berry has been helping hangers stay warm for years, and his core advice holds up beautifully. We've given it a refresh with updated gear talk, and added new sections from the Trek Light team on layering, site selection, and cold-weather safety at the end. Here's Alan to tell you what you need to know!
I love my camo Trek Light Double Hammock! It's been many places with me and is my go-to hammock on camping trips, hiking adventures, kayak explorations, and lazy afternoons in my backyard. The only problem I've discovered is that I can't lay in it with a good book very long before dozing off. It's just so darn relaxing! Hanging in a Trek Light hammock is an awesome way to let your cares and troubles fade away.
I live in Spring, Texas. Why is that important to you? Well, we have 4 seasons here: hot, really hot, crazy hot + high humidity, and a few weeks of cool weather. I'm a native Texan so I'm used to the heat and humidity. What happens when the temperature drops a bit and I still want to enjoy some time in my hammock? If you've used a hammock for any length of time then you know that you need something below you to cut the chill when the temperature drops. A new hanger might discover this a bit too late while out on a camping or hiking trip. Yikes!
A hanger has a few options available in order to stay warm. There is no right way or wrong way. It's all a matter of personal preference. Some people like underquilts, others like self-inflating pads or down-filled inflatable mats, closed-cell foam (CCF) pads, or even sleeping bags. (While sleeping bags alone aren't the best option, it's a cheap option nonetheless...and I'll explain later why it's probably not the best choice.) There are a wide variety of styles, colors, and options available to hangers by small, cottage-industry hammock business owners who go out of their way to keep up with the latest trends. I'm certainly no expert in this field and have learned a great deal of things from my friends at HammockForums.net, but I have personal experience with each of the options listed...so let's take a quick look at each one.
Underquilts
Underquilts are my favorite option. They are lightweight devices which provide insulation and serve as a wind barrier when hung beneath the hammock. There are a plethora of manufacturers of underquilts in all different shapes, sizes, colors, fabrics, temperature ranges, and attachment methods, with down and synthetic insulation the two most popular choices. Each has its own unique set of pros and cons, but that's a topic of discussion for another day.
Underquilts hang directly below the hammock and each manufacturer provides some method of adjustment. It's usually in the form of small shock cord and cord locks. The idea is to provide insulation and wind protection to your exposed underside. Underquilts work best when hung properly and snugly against the bottom of the hammock. They work so well because the hanger doesn't compress the insulation. When a hanger enters the hammock, the underquilt gives and moves with the weight of the user due to the adjustable shock cord attachments. In contrast, if a hanger puts a sleeping bag inside the hammock with them...the hanger gets into the bag and compresses the insulation with their weight. This reduces the effectiveness of the insulation. Underquilts don't have that problem.
Manufacturers of underquilts usually provide some sort of compression sack, too. They compress into the sack a great deal when storage in a pack is at a premium. They are lightweight, easy to compress, easy to fluff, easy to hang, and provide excellent protection from cold and wind. I like underquilts because they allow me to enjoy the soft feel of the hammock fabric while still providing warmth beneath me. No pads to mess with, no fidgeting or adjusting at night, don't have to worry about compressing the material, etc.
Self-inflating pads/mats
I like to keep my options open and I have just WAY too much hammock gear. Not only do I use underquilts but I also use inflatable mats. I have a down-filled inflatable mat which I love. It's easy to inflate and deflate, is a deluxe model (i.e. very long and wide), and provides a great deal of warmth and wind protection. This isn't pool-float territory. A quality insulated pad is a real piece of sleep gear.
Inflatable pads by any of the major hiking/camping gear manufacturers use top-notch materials and craftsmanship. Some have insulation, some just use the air in them as the barrier between the user and the cold ground or cold air, and some use a combination of air and insulation.
Again, with any system, there are pros and cons to using self-inflating pads or mats. I'm sure you can imagine how devastating it would be if an inflatable pad or mat was your only insulation system while out on a hiking trip and you discover while setting up your sleep system for the night that it has a hole in it. Bad news unless you also carry a repair kit!
The idea with inflatable pads or mats is to provide a barrier between the hanger and the cold air. Instead of being attached below the hammock, as is the case with underquilts, pads or mats are placed in the hammock. The hanger lays on the pad and insulates himself/herself from the air below. Inflatable pads or mats can be adjusted on-the-fly. Each user can decide just how much or little air to use in the inflatable pad or mat. Some people like to pump them up nice and firm while others like just a wee bit of inflation. As long as there's a warm air barrier between the hanger and the cold air around the hammock, you can't go wrong.
Some hammocks have a double layer of fabric on the bottom and a popular method used by hangers is to slide the pad in between the 2 bottom layers of the hammock. It can help keep the inflatable pad or mat from sliding around but I've found no issue with just plopping the thing inside the hammock and laying on it directly. I've used my inflatable mat both ways and have been warm and comfortable all night long.
CCF pads
There are a ton of different closed-cell foam (CCF) pads on the market. Some are made by major outdoor equipment manufacturers and others can be picked up at any big-box store without spending much. The idea here is simple: the CCF provides a thin barrier between the hanger and the cold air or wind.
CCF pads are cheap, most are quite durable, and all are very light.
Like inflatable pads and mats, a CCF pad is placed in the hammock with the hanger laying directly on it. Some CCF pads wrinkle up which can irritate the hanger and some have reported condensation issues with certain types of CCF material. While CCF still insulates when wet, it can be uncomfortable to wake up with small pools of sweat everywhere.
While CCF pads are very light they can be bulky when rolled or folded up. Many hikers and campers use CCF pads on the ground and don't have to worry about punctures commonly associated with inflatable pads or mats. CCF pads are an inexpensive solution and can be multi-purpose. They can also be used in combination with underquilts, sleeping bags, or inflatable pads to increase the level of protection from Mother Nature.
Sleeping bags
I have my share of sleeping bags stuffed into forgotten corners of my garage. When I first got into hammock hanging to see if it would be something I would enjoy, I used those forgotten sleeping bags as insulation. I used them as "underquilts" and have used them in the hammock itself. The problem is that typically bags are thrown into the hammock with the hanger climbing in at night.
A wrestling match ensues and, as too often is the case, the hanger winds up with tense muscles and cramps from having to contort like a circus performer!
Sleeping bags are popular insulation solutions and can be a cheap alternative to underquilts. However, sleeping bags aren't the best solution since the insulation is compressed by the weight of the hanger thus depleting the fullness of the insulation material. It may seem that I'm knocking sleeping bags. It might surprise you to know that I frequently use sleeping bags as my insulation of choice.
I do a lot of car camping, where weight doesn't matter one bit, and I'll happily pull a big heavy sleeping bag out of my truck, plop it into my hammock, and be comfortable from the elements all night long. If you go this route, look for a roomy bag you can lay on top of rather than climb inside, or unzip a bag fully and use it as a top quilt with a pad below you. It's not the lightest or most efficient system, but it works with gear you probably already own.
This article merely scratches the surface of what's possible. Hope it helps!
A Few More Ways To Stay Warm (From the Trek Light Team)
Alan covered the big insulation choices. Here are a few extra tricks that make every one of them work better when the temperature really drops.
Layer up before you climb in
Your sleep system starts with what you're wearing. Dry base layers, warm socks, and a beanie make every quilt and pad more effective. Change out of anything damp before bed. Sweat from the hike in will chill you fast once you stop moving.
Pick your site like it's part of your gear
Cold air sinks, so valley bottoms and low spots near water are the coldest places to hang. Look for a spot partway up a slope with a natural windbreak like dense trees or a rock formation. Blocking the wind matters just as much as the insulation under you.
The hot water bottle trick
Boil water before bed, fill a sturdy leak-proof bottle, and tuck it into your hammock near your core or your feet a few minutes before you climb in. It's the cheapest heater you'll ever own, and on a cold night it feels like a luxury upgrade.
Cold-Weather Safety: Know When To Bail
Cold-weather hanging is comfortable and safe with the right setup, but respect what cold can do. Air moves freely under a hammock, so you lose heat from below faster than you would on the ground, and an underinsulated hanger can get dangerously cold before realizing it. Watch for the warning signs of hypothermia: persistent shivering, clumsiness, and fuzzy thinking. If you feel them, get out of the hammock, get moving, get dry warm layers on, and get warm liquid in you.
Test your cold-weather setup close to home before betting a backcountry night on it, and always tell someone where you're hanging. For setup basics and more, read our hammock safety guide.
Gear Up For Cold-Season Hanging
Every Trek Light Double Hammock bundle comes with Pro Hanging Straps and carabiners already attached, so the only thing left to figure out is your insulation. Browse the full lineup in our hammock collection.
Cold-Weather Hammock FAQ
How cold is too cold for hammock camping?
There's no magic cutoff. With a properly rated underquilt and top insulation, hangers camp comfortably well below freezing. The real limit is your insulation rating, not the hammock. If your gear is rated for the temps you expect, you're good to hang.
Do I need an underquilt, or will a sleeping pad work?
Either works. Underquilts hang below the hammock so your body weight never compresses them, which makes them the warmest and most comfortable option. Pads cost less and do double duty for ground sleeping. Plenty of hangers start with a pad and upgrade to an underquilt later.
Why is my back cold even in a warm sleeping bag?
Your body weight flattens the insulation underneath you, and compressed insulation barely insulates. That's why cold-weather hangers add something below that doesn't compress: an underquilt hung outside the hammock or a pad inside it.
What's the cheapest way to stay warm in a hammock?
A closed-cell foam pad inside the hammock plus the sleeping bag you already own. Add warm layers and a hot water bottle and you can handle surprisingly chilly nights without buying specialty gear.
Can I hammock camp in the snow?
Yes, and you have a built-in advantage: you're not sleeping on frozen ground. You'll want a properly rated underquilt and top quilt, a site with a good windbreak, and a tarp overhead to keep snow and wind off. Dial in your setup on a milder night first.
Alan Berry is a former elementary school teacher who now works as a computer network specialist and police officer for his local school district in Texas. Most evenings he can be found hanging between two trees counting sheep in his Trek Light Double hammock. He also enjoys fishing, camping, kayaking, mountain biking, and spending time with his "hanging" friends at state parks.
Questions? Had any experiences good or bad hammock camping in cold weather? Let's heat up the conversation in the comments!
