The first time I saw the Hennessey Jungle Hammock, I was skeptical and never imagined that I would spend almost a year happily living in one.
           Being such an unconventional shelter, it takes a rather bold leap of faith to voluntarily make the switch from your typical floor structure.  Is it really waterproof?  What if you can’t find trees to set it up?  Can you move around in it?  Is it comfortable enough to sleep in?  These questions all pop up.
           As a teenager, Tom Hennessey used to take off on multi-day biking trips in the Appalachians, bringing with him a minimum of gear.  An old WWII army jungle hammock was his preferred shelter because it was light and packed so small.  Yet it still fulfilled his needs for a camping shelter: bugproof, weatherproof, and comfortable.  He later went on to perfect the hammock shelter concept through over 50 prototype designs into what is now appropriately considered a supershelter, securing patents in the US and abroad for its innovative design.

Features:

The bottom entry with self-sealing Velcro feature allows you to easily get in and out of the hammock while still under the protective rainfly.  No need to zip anything closed, minimizing the amount of time bugs can get in.

The diamond shaped asymmetrical design creates a “comfort curve” for your spine so that your back doesn’t feel tweaked in the morning.  Yes, you can actually sleep incredibly well in a hammock.

The “never-tip” center balance feature creates a stable shelter that you can move around in without having to worry about it tipping.

A cord runs along the top of the hammock keeping the mosquito netting taut and out of your way, maximizing the space inside so you don’t feel claustrophobic.  Attached the cord are two glove hooks I’ve found useful for attaching a water bottle to, and a mesh gear pocket I’ve used mainly for my headlamp and books.

The rainfly also matches the asymmetrical diamond shape of the hammock and when set-up properly, actually does the trick.  Because it is adjustable you can allow more/less airflow depending on the conditions you encounter.

3 Minute Setup: A desirable trait for a shelter when the rain starts pounding down.
Apparently, you can also set up the hammock as a bivy on the ground, something I was interested in trying out, but during the 6 months I traveled from Mexico to Panama, there was not a single night that I was unable to find something I could string up the hammock to.

Update: While kayaking through the San Blas Islands a storm pushed us onto an island with only two trees forcing us to try a few out on the ground. We set them up using our kayak pools and drift wood. Our thoughts: It does work, but is certainly not ideal, particularly in windy conditions.

The only night we absolutely weren’t able to set up our hammocks was during a tropical storm on the Caribbean coast of Honduras in a Garifuna Village.  But in all fairness, trees were blowing over and people were found dead because of the windy, rainy conditions.

We have slept comfortably in our hammocks at freezing temperatures (with a Thermarest for insulation) at the highest point of Central America, to the unbearably humid Mexican coast.  We set up our hammocks on steep slopes, over ant-infested ground, and stayed dry during some tremendous tropical rainstorms.

I found that I prefer using the Eagle Nest Outfitters Slap Straps with a carabineers connected to my hammock. With the multiple loop options on the straps, I almost never have to tie any knots. Just clip in and go to sleep.

Hennessey´s commitment to customer satisfaction has lead to a huge variety of options, from ultralight race models (1lb. 15 oz.), to larger hexagonal rainflys, and winter accessories. Not to mention a very strong community of happy customers.

Conclusion: For a sub 3 pound shelter at 140 dollars, the Hennessey Hammock can’t be beat.