Customer Reviews

Lawson Hammock Blue Ridge Camping Hammock, Camo

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I went camping for the first time with this hammock on a lake in the Cascades outside of Seattle in early in June. It rained all night the second night and I stayed dry, while my friends on the ground all got a bit wet due to problems with inadequate flys, etc. It was a noisy night with the rain hitting the hammock fly, but again very dry. I had some gear under the hammock that also stayed fairly well protected from the rain.

I have two gripes about the hammock. Both result from the fact that it is designed to allow for the fly and therefore to function like a tent. This all-in-one design requires the use of stretch bars at both ends of the hammock and these bars create a flatter surface than that of a traditional hammock. That flatter surface creates a couple of problems. It is a harder surface to sleep on. You need a pad for comfort and warmth even though you are not on the ground. And worst of all, the whole thing is vulnerable to flipping over if you move outside the center of gravity inside of the hammock when you turn over in the night. I found myself waking up needing to roll over and having to hang on to the side of the tent/hammock tightly as I gingerly repositioned myself.

Also, because is has a flatter surface, you can't lie at an angle or somewhat perpendicular to the line of the hammock to straighten out, and as a result your feet and head are always above the center of your body. Not a big deal, but does make for stiff knees in the morning (I am 58 years old). You need to attach another sleeping bag under the hammock to keep warm on chillier nights. This makes for more gear to haul around with you [1-2 pad(s), 2 sleeping bags, one for the under side of hammock, and one for inside, and the hammock itself]. I use a kayak or a canoe and do not backpack, so the extra weight is manageable, which would also be true for car camping.

My hammock was ordered in green but it arrived in camouflage material. The natural pattern is actually very pretty and blends in with the surroundings well. No complaints, unless you want your tent to be brightly colored for visibility in case of an emergency.

Overall, this hammock is affordable and much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground with a pad, or sleeping on a cot with a pad; neither of which work for me any more. So I am definitely going with this contraption over those two other options in the foreseeable future!

I purchased a camouflage version of the Lawson Hammock. I camp regularly as a youth leader and while hunting. (12-20 times year) I also happen to suffer from some back problems so sleeping on the ground has never been comfortable unless I am car camping and bring a cot ad/or large air mattress. I have found that the Lawson is the best way to hike-camp when you need to pack light and still want a full shelter. There are other products ($) on the market but this hammock meets my needs and then some. I have no experience with some of the more expensive hammock shelters so I cannot compare. The quality of the Lawson is great. Because of the stresses placed on the material when the hammock is occupied I fear that the zipper could be the first to fail me, but to date, I have had no malfunctions. My biggest concern was the cold from under the hammock. However, I found a solution that may help others. Inflatable pads like the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core or the Therma Rest Neo Air are a great addition and add little weight to your pack. These products help to keep the cold off of your back and provide some added comfort. Keep in mind that the Lawson Hammock uses a tent material for the hammock and some have already mentioned the slick surface. I can confirm this. The Lawson design (similar to many back yard hammocks) does not create a cradle or mummy around you. The metal stays create a flatter surface. This is good for comfort but adds to the slip and slide sensation. I will admit this was an issue for me at first. Lawson provides metal clips to be attached inside the hammock around the inside perimeter. The included directions advise you to clip an emergency blanket or bed role inside the hammock to block out the cold. I didn't find this approach very useful as my emergency blanket tore free from the clips as I moved in the night. I have yet to find an inflatable mattress that fits lengthwise or widthwise so you are forced to clip it in on one side of the hammock of the other. This is not ideal because your weight is then not centered and you are pretty uncomfortable. (Feel like you are going to tip.) I have two things that help with this problem. The first was to attach 550 cords to each of the four corners of the hammock and use tent stakes to limit movement. (There are loops seemingly for this purpose at each corner but the cord is not provided.) The second solution was to take some non-adhesive tool chest drawer liner and place it under my Insulated Air Core. This completely eliminates any slipping in the hammock whether I am using a mattress or just a sleeping bag. I have camped in sub freezing temperatures with comfort with this set-up. Even if I move on the pad, the pad does not move and stays centered in the hammock. I couldn't be happier with the hammock. Great product! Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Sleeping PadTherm-a-Rest NeoAir Air MattressWonderliner Basic Non Slip Shelf/drawer Liner

I bought one of these about 10 years ago and used it frequently but the grommets are pulling loose so I just bought another.

Compared to the older one, the new one's hammock fabric seems about half the thickness and is now very slippery-(annoying); the steel end rings where all the lines join are replaced by loops of rope; the rain fly zipper is gone and you have to slip under the fly to unzip the mesh and enter and then try to reattach the velcro from inside-(annoying) and the mesh zipper is flimsier so I needed to use both hands to close it instead of just one in the older tent; the three piece fiberglass tent poles are replaced by shock corded aluminum ones and the sleeves are almost continuous instead of a bunch of separate loops-(great improvements); the rainflys brass hooks are now plastic, there's an extra storage pocket and a light-loop above your head; new camo pattern, a few strap tabs along one side to clip a foam mat to-(leak source);

The slipperiness was very annoying and I thinned some seam sealer and painted stripes across it to help.

I was in it through some heavy thunderstorms and like the old one the seam joining the top and bottom curves up to form a little gutter which somehow collects water even under the fly and I saw water drops forming on the short nylon strap pieces inside and rolling across the bottom, wetting my sleeping bag in the butt area. I had a similar problem with the old one but since I'm almost never in rain that intense, I never tried seam sealing the area. Lighter rain was never a problem.

Using it as a bivy, I side sleep and my shoulder presses against the roof, so I only use it as a hammock tent.

I'm sticking with this hammock tent because of its simplicity, even though it's a bit heavy/bulky. I just wrap 1"x18' cam-straps around trees and through the end loops and tension them and insert the poles and sometimes put on the rainfly. Hennesys require a complicated mess of straps, lines and stakes and took one guy I was camping with a long time to get right and then one of the kids blundered into a guy line and tore a loop loose from his tarp.

I have had the Lawson hammock (camo) for over a year now. I've taken it on at least 6 backpacking trips that usually last a couple nights. At 4.5 pounds, it is kind of heavy and large for backpacking, but for the price it is worth the extra weight. Many "lightweight" hammocks and tents are over $200 at least.

I probably will never use a ground tent again. As long as I can find 2 suitable trees, I have a place to sleep. I've slept on sloping terrain, above thorn bushes and tree roots, above creek rocks and even puddles. I've found it is much easier to find 2 good trees than it is to find perfect ground (plus you have less impact on the environment). No pressure points on your body or stubborn rocks under your body.

Set up is quick and fairly easy once you've learned how to do it. As with any new gear, you shouldn't set it up for the firt time when you're out in the wilderness. I've learned a few tips to make your night in this hammock great:
1. Ensure the hammock is centered between the trees so your not head high or feet high. Also reduces sliding.
2. Ensure the hammock is very tight. It will sag a little with your weight regardless and the hammock will be more comfortable if it is flat since it uses spreader bars.
3. Keep the rain fly tight and make sure the drip cords are proper. I've slept in it during storms and had little trouble.
4. It is tricky to keep your pack and other gear under the hammock but I have kept my boots inside with me. I recommend using a rain sack and hang the backpack on the tree or use the hip belt to secure it to the tree.
5. To keep warmer during cold weather, use 1/2 of an old sleeping bag or clip a military poncho liner to the bottom of the hammock.
6. When using the hammock as a tent, you'll want to have a couple tent poles to make it as tight and roomy as possible. I'm 6'3" at 195 pounds and I barely had enough room when used as a tent.
7. If you need more stability, simply tie a couple lines off each side to prevent the rocking.

I don't like the zipper (cheap yet it hasn't broken yet) and the fact that it didn't come with ropes/cordage to tie it off at the tree. You just get the hammock.

Overall-a very sturdy hammock despite the slight extra weight. You don't feel as secure as you do with a regular hammock that wraps all around you, but you have better ventilation and could easily hang a light for reading maps, books, etc. I've considered taking out the spreader bars to see how the hammock performs, but I haven't yet. If you have tried it, please comment!!

This is more of a Hammock Tent then a true hammock. The spreader bar and frame work for the bug net really open it up and give you a lot of room (I'm 6'2" 215lbs). The weight is a little heavy for a hammock ~4lbs but light for a tent, and more then worth it for what you get. The set up time is faster then a traditional hammock and tarp set up, only down side if it's raining you can't really hide under the rainfly like you could with a larger tarp while you set up, and you have to store gear directly under you to keep it dry. On that note I have slept in this during a few very heavy rains and I've never had a leak. You can stand outside and gather all your gear while it's in the hammock under the rainfly to keep it dry, your back will be getting wet though. All in all this is a great product, once you start with hammocks you will wonder why you ever bothered with tents.

I have used many camping hammocks through the years and must say that this one is by far the best! It is extremely comfortable, easy to use, has bug netting, comes with rainfly that attaches to the hammock so you don't have to run extra lines all over the place. It can also be used on the ground as a "regular" tent. I am approx. 6'3" and over 200lbs and felt like I had plenty of room. I was hesitant to purchase but glad I did...highly recommend! I had a few questions and the customer service was awesome. Going to purchase a few more for friends/family.

There are definitely some advantages to hammock camping such as being off the ground and not sleeping on a hard surface. I have no trouble with sleeping in the Lawson Hammock, but I have discovered a few setbacks about hammock camping in general. If privacy is required to change clothes, changing inside the hammock is tough but doable. You don't really have an area to store your gear while camping and especially while sleeping that a tent provides. It is extremely difficult to cold weather camp using a hammock. The process of positioning yourself in the hammock in a closed sleeping bag is tough due to the slick surfaces of both the nylon hammock and the bag. The fact of being suspended in the air (cold air)on a compressed sleeping bag does not allow the camper to retain body heat as compared to sleeping on a closed cell pad. To best use the Lawson Hammock as a bivy, the camper needs to be smaller than 6' and really a lean individual as the suspended roominess disappears once the hammock is on the ground.

All that being said, I'm still glad I bought the hammock. I will gladly use it in spring/fall conditions where sleeping under a bag or blanket will suffice. I did have an aluminum pole to snap which was replaced with no squabble under warranty.

The Lawson Hammock Tent was a treat to sleep in, once I found a way to stabilize it. After being flip over twice on a trial run I realize what many reviews stated. The Lawson Hammock Tent is far too unstable to be reliable.

My solution was to take 2 pieces of webbing, (one at either end) and triple wrap the trees then tie off either side on either end. This made entry, exit and moving about allot safer and increased the comfort without fear of ending up upside down in the Hammock. Once I figured out the anchor system I found the Lawson Hammock comfortable, roomy and a delight to sleep in.

It could also use some sort of antislip on the interior to help keep your sleeping mat and or bag from sliding about. The zipper could be of a more stout design.

I would encourage Lawson Hammocks to come up with a simple safe anchor system, weather they use my idea or some other system it is necessary, both for safety and comfort.

Thanks for the opportunity to speak my peace, I look forward to many years of comfortable camping.

Sincerely TEAS