Field test and review
I’d used hammocks plenty of times just relaxing, but I’d never considered one for hiking. Going in, I had some apprehension about how practical and comfortable a hiking hammock could really be.
Hammock Bliss sent me the Sky Bed Bug Free to field test, and having spent time in it, my opinion has changed. I wish I’d tried hammock hiking and camping years ago, because there have been plenty of overnight hikes where packing a good hammock as a shelter would have made more sense than carrying my heavier tent. It’s comfortable and well designed.
The Sky Bed is a one-person hammock with an asymmetric design, meaning it isn’t identical on both sides of the centre line. Unlike other gathered-end hammocks, it doesn’t use pull-outs to achieve that asymmetric shape. Instead it’s built from a series of fabric panels sewn into the asymmetric form. It’s also one of the few hammocks on the market with a dual layer sewn into the bottom of the bed: the outer shell is rip-stop nylon for strength, while the integrated sleeve, designed to fit your sleeping pad, is made from parachute nylon.
Using a sleeping pad isn’t required, but it does add protection from the cold as well as some rigidity that helps shape the hammock for a flatter lay. The integrated sleeve has been sewn in with a right-to-left lay by design, and that diagonal configuration is what lays you flat in the bed rather than leaving you in the semi-curved position you’d get lying directly down the centre line. I naturally sleep right-to-left, so the Sky Bed’s design suited me straight away. If you sleep left-to-right, it should still work for you, you simply position your head at the other end of the hammock.
The Sky Bed Bug-Free weighs 870 grams and has a strength (weight) test rating of 175kg, which is impressive for a hammock that feels, and is, so lightweight. That’s without the optional Deluxe Cinching Tree Straps, which are rated to 225kg and weigh 255 grams. Personally, I felt the Tree Straps should be included as part of the hammock package, but then I guess that would just increase the price. My suggestion is to make sure you grab the straps anyway, as they certainly make setting up the hammock a lot easier.
The no-see-um netting has 2100 holes per square inch, meaning no little nasties can get in. It was interesting to see just how many tiny critters were trying to get at me when I was testing this out in the field, and I was thankful the mesh still let the breeze pass through while keeping the bugs at bay. Because the top of the hammock is mesh only, with no solid fly, you’d only want to sleep in it on warmer and dry nights, unless you erect a fly or tarp over the hammock for an added layer of protection from the elements. The downside is you can’t lie there watching the stars, which are amazing when you’re away from the city lights.
You can’t open the bug netting completely because the zipper doesn’t go all the way to the ends of the hammock, though you can flip it back to get it partially out of the way. A handy addition would be a strap to tie it back if you found that to be an issue.
The sleeping compartment has a long, double pull zipper that’s easy to use from both inside and outside. Inside the bed space you’ll find two mesh gear pockets sewn into the netting, along with handy loops at both ends to hang gear from, the kind of extra features that add up to a well thought out hammock.
The Sky Bed Bug-Free is supplied in a handy stuff sack that’s thoughtfully attached to the side of the hammock, so once it’s erected, the sack hangs on the outside and doubles as extra storage space. On the top-side of the mesh outer you’ll find 250cm of cord and 2 yellow loops per side sewn onto the top of the net. Because of the asymmetric design, you run the cord from its home at loop one, back to your tree strap, and finish at loop two. This holds the mesh outer up and away from your face and results in a roomy interior where you won’t feel claustrophobic. On pack-down, the cords are easily rolled up and put away into their own built-in pocket.
Overall, I found the hammock sturdy, quick and easy to hang, and comfortable to sleep in, definitely more comfortable than sleeping in a tent, with plenty of room and adequate storage for my smaller gear. It’s worked as well for relaxing around the campsite after a hike as it has for sleeping in.
Want to read how the hammock performs? Check out Hammock Camping On The Overland Track in Tasmania
Buy Direct from Hammock Bliss
Sky Bed Bug Free
- Dimensions: 318x135cm
- Weight: 870 grams
- Unique asymmetrical design
- Integrated sleeve designed to fit your 183x51cm inflatable pad
- 2100 holes per square inch no-see-um mesh netting
- Ripstop nylon hammock construction
- Built in suspension – 250cm rope per side
- Gear loops and interior pockets inside net
- 250cm cord & 2 loops per side to hang net
- All seams reinforced with nylon webbing
- Machine washable & dryable
- Strength tested to 175kg
Deluxe Cinching Tree Straps
- Dimensions: 254x4cm
- Weight: 255 grams
- 225kg tested – military spec – metal cinching buckle
- Deluxe tree straps are extra-long & extend the distance for hanging your hammock
- Tree friendly suspension system protects both the rope and the tree from abrasion
- Acts as a tension belt to allow hammock to hang from a pole, post or any smooth surface.
What’s your go-to camping gear that you can’t live without when enjoying the great outdoors?