Hammocking and its Alternatives, the Good and the Bad

Hanging Out... Down the Street

BY KATY SNODGRASS PHOTOS BY ALIZA DUTT ILLUSTRATION BY MARISSA GIORDANO

With Athens temperatures beginning to drop and the leaves officially starting to change colors, now is just the right time to cozy up in a hammock and enjoy autumn in Athens. From College Green to Strouds Run State Park, there are endless spots to set up a hammock and just hang out on and around campus. With the increasing popularity of hammocking, many new unconventional hammocks have popped up on the market as alternatives to the traditional hammock. Here are some of the cool new ways to hang out whenever, wherever, and with whoever you want. The Hydro Hammock combines the relaxation qualities of hanging in nature and soaking in a hot tub into one unique hammock. All that is needed is a space between two trees and a water source, and the inbuilt pump and heater will do the rest of the work. The Hydro Hammock is big enough for two and is extremely portable, making it the ideal mobile hot tub.

The Triple Decker Hammock

This hammock is designed in a triangular shape in order to create more space and make the setup process much easier. The Tentsile Trillium is very durable and can hold several adults or a large party of children at once. The hammock also comes with overhead tarps, which can be used to sleep overnight in mild weather, making this hammock the ideal outdoor sleepover setup.

The Car/Jeep Hammock

Designed to make sleeping in the car comfortable and easy, this is any road tripper’s ideal hammock. The Car Hammock attaches to the roof of a car, hanging in the space above the reclined back seats. There is ample space for two adults and the hammock can be conveniently stored in any trunk. Alternatively, for Jeep drivers, there is the Jammock. The Jeep Hammock is designed to hang from the bars of any Jeep or truck for a cozy nap in the sun. The Jammock is excellent to use during outdoor activities, including drive-in movies, watching fireworks, or observing an outdoor sporting event.

The Rocking Chair Hammock

This chair provides a convenient hammock setup for inside the home with no hanging required. The hammock is stretched between the frame of the chair, which rocks back and forth for an enjoyable weightless feeling. The Rocking Hammock is an ideal nap spot for children and adults alike as the gentle swaying motion helps one doze off faster than ever.

The Life Saver Hammock

The Tentsile Universe hammock triples as a tent or water raft, making it the ideal camping system. Easily hang the hammock between two trees, take it down and assemble it as a tent on the ground, and then push it into the water to float on. The floor of the Tentsile Universe hammock is inflatable, which allows for the structure to float and also prevents the cold from creeping in through the ground of the tent.

The Feet Hammock

This miniature hammock is designed to fit snugly under any desk or table to provide a comfortable resting place for one’s feet while working. Fuut by Three Dot is portable, durable, and made to stretch out to any table size for the ultimate foot rest.

Hammocks for Pets

Hammocking with our furry friend has never been easier with the creation of hammocks ideally sized for pets. These hammocks can hang anywhere in and out of the home but are most commonly used inside for pets who enjoy looking out the window. Many different companies have created their own unique design for a pet hammock from levitating cat beds to space-saving hangout spaces.

Peering over the 1,200-foot-deep Cheat River Canyon from an outcrop in Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area, located east of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photographed in March of 2022. PHOTO BY JOSH ZIELINSKI