People ask me on an almost daily basis whether it’s comfortable or healthy to sleep in a hammock. For all the questions I get asked directly, there are thousands more talking about it on sites like Reddit and online forums across the Internet regularly. Some are asking about using a hammock every night at home or on a long term backpacking trip while other people simply want to know whether you’ll wake up with neck and back pain if you spend too long in one or even ‘accidentally’ fall asleep. What they all have in common though is that The Sleep Question almost always seems to be asked from a skeptical standpoint, as in “You really shouldn't sleep a whole night in a hammock, right?” or “Yeah, but your back will be broken if you spend a whole night in one of these things, right?”
Guess what?
Sleeping in a hammock is good for for you, it can even help cure your insomnia, and while it’s just now beginning to gain recognition in sleep studies it’s something that people around the world have understood and embraced for centuries. Often, the first example I’ll give to people who ask about long term use of a hammock is to look at Central and South America where literally millions of people use a hammock as their bed every single night. It’s not out of necessity or poverty, it’s done because they prefer to sleep in a hammock for all the benefits it provides and in most cases grew up sleeping in a hammock since they were infants.
So, if millions of people around the world sleep in hammocks comfortably every single night and scientific studies are proving that it’s one of the healthiest ways to sleep, why do I encounter so many people who have had bad experiences trying or approach the idea of even spending too long in a hammock with skepticism?
Bad experiences in a hammock usually boil down to two things: being in a hammock that is poorly designed or simply sleeping incorrectly in the hammock. We're going to explore both of these areas over the course of the next few blog posts and whether your goal is just to learn how to rest comfortably in a hammock or to try sleeping in a hammock every night, consider this your definitive guide to making sure that you have the right hammock and the right technique to get a good and healthy rest every time.
Each part of this series will be posted as its own entry and this page will be updated to include easy links to each section. So, without further ado, let's begin:
Part I: These Aren’t The Hammocks You’re Looking For: How You’ve Been Hammock Brainwashed
Part II: The Human Waffle Effect
Part III: The Hammock Angle: How To Relax And Sleep Comfortably In A Hammock, Even If You're A Side Sleeper
Comments (48)
I actually have, and grew up with, several types of hammocks. Net style, canvas, spreader bar… Living lakeside in the summer invites hammock use. I have spent many hours in hammocks and enjoy them very much. I have to say that I agree with you that spreader bar hammocks are the least enjoyable for long term use. That being said, I’m not a napper. I hate naps because I wake up feeling swollen and headachy. However the most peaceful, restful and relaxing sleep I ever had was an afternoon nap in a spreader bar hammock near the beach. The conditions were perfect; warm day, cool breeze, light blanket and only the sounds of nature. I have relived that nap in my head for years. I recently purchases a nylon hammock for camping and I cannot wait to use it. I haven’t heard anyone say that they would rather go back to their tent camping after using a hammock. Anyway, I just thought I should put that out there. Thanks for the guide.
Hey names Aaron..
I am in the market for a new bed and I am actually replacing my bed with a hammock after reading your articles. I suffer from a rare genetic disorder that causes immense amounts of pain and causes rapid joint degeneration (including the spine) so I am trying out a hammock in stead of a bed. Here is to hope!
Thanks for posting
Thanks for sharing Aaron – hope and a hammock doesn’t sound like a bad combo to me! Here’s to hoping it gives you a great night’s sleep and some relief, don’t hesitate to check back in and let us know!
[…] as opposed to a hard surface. If you’ve never used a hammock before, be sure to read a bit about using one, so you’ll enjoy the full and correct experience with […]
As embedded as I am in the transportation and logistics industry, I can’t help but wonder if you’re missing a target market in truck drivers. They are decreasing the number of hours truckers can log behind the wheel during a certain time period and not every truck has a sleeper cab. If you were caught in the middle of nowhere with a day cab truck a hammock would seem a downright fantastic option…even if you had a sleeper cab…who wants to spend your hours off in your workplace (the truck) anyway? Get a display stand and set up shop at a local truck stop sometime…you’ll find them very receptive and talkative (they don’t see other humans as much as they should and are open to new ideas.) The best part…just a few truckers happy with their hammock will spread the word all over the country for you free of charge as they chat over CB. Just a thought.
[…] Sleeping in a hammock guide […]
Hello, so I just ordered a hammock to try sleeping in because I have terrible chronic back pain and bad insomnia. I was curious about the setup you do? I like blankets so I’m wondering if that’s a possiblity and how? Also do you use a pillow? Is there an adjustment period of getting used to the change? Also any other advice you can pass on and share? It arrives Wednesday and I’m super excited to try it out. I hope I got a good one for sleeping, I read the three part article about styles and ways to lay and stuff so I feel more prepared but still nervous. Is that normal?
If you got a Trek Light Gear Double hammock from our site then you’ve definitely got the right one for sleeping!
Your other questions are all great questions and they all typically boil down to personal preference so I would try out a few different things and see what works for you. You can definitely use blankets either on top of your or beneath you or both. I would definitely expect an adjustment period, you’ve been sleeping in a bed your whole life (I assume) so there’s no reason to think that your body and brain won’t go through a bit of adjusting to being in a hammock. Although I honestly hear from people all the time that experience the ‘instant convert’ type of first night so if you’ve read the advice here and things go well don’t be surprised if everything is perfect for you right off the bat.
There’s no reason to be nervous, there’s nothing scary or intimidating about it and even if you don’t adjust to it immediately the odds are pretty good you’re still going to get a decent night’s sleep while you sort out what works for you. Good luck and don’t hesitate to let me know how it goes!