Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

Tent vs. hammock camping: Great family vacation or serious mistake?

By
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Family camping is one of the best ways to get away from the daily grind, immerse in the beauty of nature, and create lasting memories. It’s easy to book a cabin or rent an RV for the weekend, but the most immersive experiences are those that involve just a thin layer of nylon between you and the elements. Tents and hammocks are the shelters of choice for the most adventurous families. Which is best? The debate continues.

Either tent or hammock camping can offer a great night’s sleep. Factoring in all of the required gear for a warm, dry setup in average weather, plus the amount and weight of the gear, is necessary. Both can be set up in minutes without a high level of skill. 

Recommended Videos

If you’re concerned about hammock camping and bears, don’t be. Tent and hammock camping can  be equally safe in bear country as long as proper food handling protocol is followed. But hammock lovers often claim that they have the superior shelter. Let’s take a look at how tent and hammock camping work out for families and find out if there’s a true winner.

Related

Tent camping requires less gear

With family tent camping, you need a tent and possibly a ground tarp. The size of the tent dictates the number of people who can comfortably sleep inside. Families with young children usually sleep in the same tent. Older kids may want to sleep separately. Either way, it’s pretty simple to pack the tent or tents and be ready to go.

For a family to camp in hammocks, each person needs a hammock, tree straps, and a rainfly. These items may be sold as a set or individually. In summer, add bug netting. If temperatures will drop below 60 degrees, add an insulating layer such as an underquilt. The amount of individual gear makes hammock camping more flexible on the one hand and slightly more complicated on the other. 

Hammock camping may be more comfortable

Tent camping provides a greater sense of security for some. Sleeping on the ground requires no special training, and with everyone in the same tent, there is less concern over nighttime fears. From the standpoint of physical comfort, tent camping is warmer in cold weather, but sleeping on the ground is often less cozy than a hammock. A soft yet supportive camp bed is elusive for many tent campers.

In a properly hung hammock, anyone can sleep comfortably because it offers better support in a variety of sleep positions. However, 360 degrees of air circulation means that staying warm in cold temperatures requires extra gear. The increased feeling of exposure and slight sway while sleeping may feel less secure to some. Although hammocks may be arranged quite close to one another, some children may experience an uncomfortable sense of aloneness. It’s best to practice at home in advance and possibly have a tent available as a backup plan before that first family hammock camping trip.

Image used with permission by copyright holder
Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock

You’ll stay drier in a tent

A waterproofed tent will stay dry inside through wind and rain. Hammocks are far more open to the elements. Although falling rain may be shed by the hammock’s rainfly, other entry points include water that runs down the ropes, rain that blows in through the ends, or drips and splashes wetting the hammock from below. For an adult, rain may be miserable, but for kids, it may be a minor disaster. The consistently most reliable protection from foul weather comes from a tent.

You’ll get more use from a hammock

A tent is a tent. It is great for sleeping and waiting out the rain. It can even be fun to use as a backyard fort. In the end, it is a nylon room.

A hammock fills the role of a tent but can be much more useful throughout the day. It is a fun place to sit around, read a book, or take a nap and a comfortable place to sleep under the stars. It may not be physically much more than a tent, but it’s more fun.

Let the conditions determine your choice

Tents require no special environment. They may be the only way to find shelter in open places like a treeless prairie or alpine or beach environments. They are most comfortable where the ground is level, rock-free, and dry.

Hammocks work wherever there are trees. They hang level even on steep mountainsides. If the ground is soggy or full of rocks, the hammock is just as cozy. 

Image used with permission by copyright holder
Dziana Hasanbekava/Pexels

The winner

Traditional tent camping is an excellent way to get young kids interested in the outdoors. A tent offers home-like security and reliable protection against cold and rain. This is the best first choice for most families.

Experienced campers who want a fun new challenge will love the feeling of freedom from camping in hammocks. For the best experience, take the time to orient kids with the equipment and the feeling of sleeping in a hammock before going all-in. For adventurous families who love the outdoors, this could be an awesome vacation.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Wolfe
Mark Wolfe
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mark Wolfe is a freelance writer who specializes in garden, landscaping, and home improvement. After two decades in the…
Swing yourself to sleep under the stars with the best camping hammocks
If sleeping in a tent isn't "roughing it" enough, ditch the traditional shelter and swing between the trees
A man relaxing on a red camping hammock by a body of water.

There is a subculture found in every group of adventurers, from minimalist thru-hikers to expedition-loving backpackers, who swear by their trusty camping hammock. While others are pitching tents out in the open, these woodsmen suspend themselves from the trees and rock the night away. If you've never tried hammock camping (or "hammocking"), it might look impractical and alien. In truth, there's nothing quite like gently swinging in a warm breeze, reading a great adventure book, and sipping a refreshing camp cocktail.

By adding mosquito netting, underquilts, and a rain fly or a good camping tarp, these hammocks can work as all-season outdoor shelters in almost any climate or terrain. Trust us; there really is no better way to relax in the wilderness. These are our picks for the best camping hammocks of 2023.

Read more
The best one-person tents for your camping home away from home
The best one-person tents for your next backpacking and thru-hiking adventure
The best cold-weather camping gear can make your winter adventures warmer and more fun

One-person tents have historically had a tainted reputation in the outdoor world. For many years, these tents were like crawling into a tube and you would barely have enough space to get changed — and don't even think about drinking a coffee or reading a book. The good news is that one-person tents have come a long way in recent years and you no longer have to haul a two-person tent just to get the space and comfort on a long thru-hike.

When we're picking our one-person tent to add to the top of a packing list, there are three factors to consider: price tag, weight, internal space. In order to get the best one-person tents, we have balanced these three factors against one another so that whichever you prioritize, there is a tent on this list for you.

Read more
A new study says these are the 10 best states for a family camping trip
Take your family camping to one of these 10 states this summer.
Family camping

There are always problems you can run into when you go camping, but when you're bringing kids along (especially for their first trip), you want the experience to be memorable. Camping with kids takes a ton of preparation, but the Family Vacation Guide took out all the guesswork by analyzing eight crucial traits that could affect your camping experience. They considered everything, from activities to family-friendly camp spots and crime rates, and tallied the score to a final number out of 10. Other factors considered include social media data, hiking trails, safety scores, and annual temperatures. These are the best states for camping, according to the analysis.
Top 10 states for family camping
We're all for camping pretty much anywhere and everywhere, but Family Vacation Guide's report says these 10 states practically guarantee an extraordinary camping experience for your entire clan in 2023.
Florida
Florida, the sunshine state, takes the lead with a score of 7.93 out of 10 for safe camping spots. With its year-round sunshine and an average temperature of 70.7 degrees, this state offers a playground of diverse campsites, many of which receive four-star ratings.
New Jersey
Scoring neck-and-neck with Florida, New Jersey beckons with its beautiful inland camping spots in proximity to the sea. Immerse yourself in the state's white-sand beaches while partaking in many activities. With numerous family-friendly walking trails, New Jersey offers an outdoor wonderland for both young and old.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire earns a score of 7.68 out of 10, impressing families with its abundance of family-friendly camping grounds and activities. With an average temperature of 43.8 degrees, this state provides a refreshing retreat from the ordinary (especially in summer). Notably, New Hampshire boasts the lowest crime rate among the top contenders, ensuring peace of mind for a safe vacation.
Massachusetts
The third Northeast state on the list is Massachusetts, where families can revel in a camping experience that seamlessly blends seaside charm with dense forests. With a score of 7.65 out of 10, this coastal state offers an array of thrilling activities, from captivating boat tours to exhilarating jet skiing and parasailing. Explore the highest number of family-friendly hiking trails for this state’s size and discover hidden treasures with your little ones.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it packs a punch with a score of 7.53 out of 10. History buffs will definitely appreciate everything this state has to offer. Rhode Island boasts the highest number of activities per 10,000 km2, with an astonishing 1,178 options to keep the fun going.
Virginia
Scoring equally as high as Rhode Island, Virginia emerges as a dream camping destination for families seeking a harmonious blend of natural wonders and engaging activities. Don’t forget Virginia has some of the best colonial destinations in the United States, so don’t miss the chance to bring your kids to places like Williamsburg.
Maine
Scoring 7.4 out of 10, Maine secures the second-highest number of Instagram posts in the top 10 after Florida, a testament to the breathtaking beauty found within its borders. With an average yearly temperature of 41 degrees and the third-lowest crime rate, Maine guarantees a safe and enchanting haven for your family camping vacation.
Vermont
Vermont, with its score of 6.84 out of 10, offers stunning scenery, from rolling hills to majestic mountains, as you partake in almost 300 activities per 10,000 km2. (And, if you need a break from the kids, it actually has a pretty cool wine scene.)
Delaware
Delaware has over 500 activities per 10,000 km2, so your family will never run out of things to do. With an average temperature of 55 degrees, this state offers comfortable weather for outdoor adventures.
Hawaii
While Hawaii holds the highest crime rate among the top 10 states, at 5,077 per 100,000 people, it compensates with its unparalleled array of activities per 10,000 km2. Second only to Rhode Island, Hawaii is a tropical paradise teeming with opportunities for adventure and relaxation.

From the sun-soaked beaches of Florida to the historical allure of Rhode Island, each state offers a distinctive blend of safety, adventure, and natural wonders.

Read more