Definitely, hammock camping has pleasant reasons to attract one to go for it like you also fall on it. Being a different type of camping, in there you need to draw a solid plan. As it is dissimilar from regular camp, where to store your items can be a tricky matter. And this will turn into a challenge to keep gear dry when hammock camping, especially in the rain, snow, or foggy conditions. So without research on these facts, you can never expect a beautiful experience.
And that’s the sake why you are in my place. Alright, as a hammock lover I will give my top level to explain the best ways to keep the equipment dry as well as storing techniques.
Where to Put Your Hammock Gear?
Knowing the gear or backpack place which technique will be well fit can be determined. So there is a deep relationship between putting an area and keeping a dry process. Well, then why do we go late without talking about the possible points to keeping your hammock things?
Into Hammock
You can keep the backpack inside your hammock. It’s not the most appropriate method and doesn’t work if you have a heavy backpack.
So, it’s only applicable when one has very light packs which will smoothly deal with a hammock. Now, your question will be “in which area should I place the backpack?” Well, two options have existed in this term.
First of all, you can utilize it as a pillow. And this will really work one in two if the pack doesn’t bear any hard or sharp things.
The second one is an insulator on the gap between the two legs. Why not create insulation and store it both ways in cold or rainy situations between your legs? It works like a tent insulation process.
So, in some specific situations, I think this method will be a great deal.
Nearby Ground
Yeah, the ground can be another easy option to store the equipment. Also in there, we can apply two ways.
These are- under the hammock and nearby surface. Let’s talk a few words.
It seems most effective to place the backpack or gears under my hammock. Just placing a tarp you can put the things on there separately or in packs. The advantages are you will have easy access whenever you need anything and also can keep an eye on it.
Another one is, under the rainfly or tarp, or any nearby place to your spot. Don’t forget to place a little mat or dry leaves below your backpack.
No matter which system you will choose, always pick a proper spot thinking about rain, bugs, or else.
Hanging with Things
This hanging method of keeping a backpack is one of my favorite and in fact most appropriate ways. Also, glad to let you know that several methods of hanging will be found. Now, let’s know these ones by one.
First, I will go for tree hanging. This one not only keeps the backpack safe but also provides protection for keeping it dry. You can use two tricks there, natural and cost-bearing. But in both terms, you require to have cordage. In the natural method, a stick with a hook like a picture will be attached to the tree by cordage. And then hang the bag with that, that’s it. To do the other one, a carabiner can be used instead of a stick and the other moves are the same as the previous one.
Ridgeline is another effective way to hang your gear. But there needs to be confirmation that the hammock ridgeline is strong enough. Simply you can hang the bag with it. Moreover, carabiners can be used there.
And the last and most popular one is hanging under the hammock. With the help of carabiners and straps just hang it underneath your hammock. That works both as storing and rain-protected. By the way, in this method, you have to notice deeply between your hammock and backpack weight.
How to Keep Gear Dry When Hammock Camping On Rain, Snow or Fog
In bad weather, it seems so tough to keep the items dry on a hammock. But if you are aware of the right process then no bad situations will prevent you from chilling camping.
For one’s better understanding and preference I divide the ways into five portions. Then let’s see how capabilities these techniques have in this regard.
1. Natural Ways
Natural methods mean with the help of natural resources and your senses. So, what’re these?
Choose A Campsite with Dense Trees and Water-free surround
The very first fact a camper should do is choose the right camp spot. As the hammock is roofless, one has to search for an area where the density of trees is more and that will help as shelter. As output, the rain won’t be able to harm the gear much. Moreover, avoid spot which is located near any water source. So, to maintain these matters the camper can be free from water, but not get complete protection.
Be Aware Of Wind and Rain Direction
Rain and wind are the two things that make your camp setting indisciplined and wet your gear. So, by dealing with these properly one can minimize the errors.
Now how to behave with these two? First of all, keep in mind that it’s forbidden to set up the campsite parallel to the wind as well as rain. Always look for a spot where the wind isn’t able to harm you. Also, in terms of rain, it should be kept in your head. Though the direction of rain changes frequently, you have to apply your best sense of the rain direction.
Additionally, don’t choose a place where the rainwater falls quickly. That can make it difficult both for moving and keeping your pack dry.
With the Help of Dry Leaves and Tree Sticks
Now it’s time to use natural resources such as dead or alive sticks of trees and dry leaves. You may ask, how will they protect your backpack from getting wet? This method will work most in such a term where you want to keep the gear on the ground.
Well, you can do two things. As the ground becomes wet while it is raining or snowing, a tiny mattress of dead leaves can allow you to keep your backpack safe and water-free.
And the next one is to make a tiny bed using sticks. Just make a little high bed from the ground with those strong sticks and place the leaves on it. That’s it, this is now ready to put your gear.
2. Shading Ways
From the name you may already know it will be going in such a way that the shade works to provide water protection.
Shading of Tent
I will keep a shade tent first if you are interested in shading ways. So, how does this shade helps to keep my gear dry?
Because it’s one of the smartest and is capable of protecting you, your hammock as well as the equipment. The tiny and ultralight design will never think about difficulties. The quick pop and collapse services will get from there. This method works pretty well whenever you need to protect the gear from the downpour as it comes with side wall construction.
However, I find it beneficial to store my footwear there. In the last, though it is a bit costly but worth enough to make your hammock things safe.
Tarp for Hammock
A hammock tarp basically is one of the most effective and most used ways to give protection items against rain or snow conditions.
There, it needs two tarps, primary and secondary. The first one is for the overhead of the hammock which will protect it from fog, snow, rain, bugs, or things like that. Also, works as good safety for the things that are placed on the range of this hammock.
The secondary tarp which is small is used as extra protection for the gear just hanging in higher. High hanging also brings advantages to easily accessing the items. I don’t know if it is necessary but it would be better if the gear tarp has a loop to attach it to the ridgeline of the hammock.
Don’t like the above process? No worries, another system is available for you. And that it uses the gear tarp as a groundsheet and places the goods on there. But in this term, you have to be careful about the surface water flow if it rains heavily.
That’s how tarps can contribute to the job of keeping the gear from getting wet.
Use of Vestibules
Vestibules are the thing that supports you to continue adventurous hammock camping in bad weather like extreme rain or winds. And this can be done by its protected design and covering the full hammock. Also, their one or both sides sealed shut helps enough to stay you and your gear dry on the hammock. Another smart thing is it allows the camper to hang the items as storage.
3. Storing Ways
In this sector, storage is used to keep the camping gear away from wetting.
Waterproof Dry Bag
These water-resistance dry bags stay one of the simple and easiest ways to keep small gear dry.
The bag is more beneficial for the tiny and medium items which you want to keep okay from water. The pleasing fact about the dry bag is its simple rolled, stuffed, and sealed nature. As such, you won’t need any cover or shade for that.
Also, you won’t need to worry about the place where to store it. Because of its waterproof and well-made design, one can place it on the ground, in shade, or hanging on a tree or ridgeline as they wish.
So, a dry bag seems a portable, cheap, and relaxing way for storing small gear water-protected.
Contractor Bag
There is a type of bag that is thick and 3mm is mainly known as a contractor bag.
These bags will be the perfect pick if one wants premium protection of their hammock products for overnight. The reason behind this fact is, that the items stay strong and well organized there and can’t be accessed easily like others. But one matter what the condition is you can keep it anywhere whatever it is, ground, tree branch, or else. Additionally, it permits one to cut down and is used as a groundsheet.
So, if you want to keep some specific gear dry where you need minimum access then the contractor bag definitely will be an ideal solution.
Stuff/Compression Sacks
Stuff or compression sacks are worth storing and keeping items dry for specific hammock gear like sleeping bags or something like that.
These sacks are also beneficial to keep more items in a small space. There are different sizes for one’s requirements. But one thing that you should confirm to using this sack is the waterproof facility.
4. Hooking Ways
Hang or hook ways means the using of the ridge line, strap, paracord, carabiners, or else.
Paracord and Carabiners
Carabiners are a very useful item that every camper should keep in their pack. There are different types of carabiners and they are also used for different purposes. In this drying process, those lightweight ones are helped by just hanging the gear in a safe place on a tree branch, ridgeline, or with the straps of a hammock.
Like the above, using a paracord is another point to keep your pack in the right place. But this one is quite easy and simple compared to the carabiner.
Utilizing Drip Lines
In terms of searching for an easier solution in rainy conditions while on a hammock, a drip line is the best thing to suggest.
It’s a hanging thing that can be hung from the ridgeline or straps. And the direction of it should be towards water flow. Also, it should be confirmed that these lines stay under the tarp. Otherwise, you can’t control the situation from wetting things.
So, a correct setup of a drip line is an effective one for gear protection.
Attachment of Gear Sling
Gear Sling looks like a mini hammock where it allows for storing the gear. Under the hammock or above both setups you can do in terms of gear sling. In my experience tied above the ground helps both in dry storage and quick access.
Moreover, it is not essential to tie this sling only with a hammock, the camper can attach it anywhere they want. And there exists plenty of space to store the gear securely. Additionally, it brings advantages to ground camping and decreases lines crisscrossing. In the last, for a well spacious and keeping the items dry, a gear sling won’t be a vain buy.
5. Sealing Ways
The way indicates seam sealing and applying DWR.
Seam Sealing and DWR Application
Now, at last, if you are unwell to apply the above technique, DWR treatment is the only option for you.
In this method, you need to have spray bottles and washes. And seam-sealing tubes for easy application. This DWR treatment is cheap and doesn’t create any thick layer on the fabric or gear. This spray waterproofs the tent, sleeping bag, or other gear from the rain or fog. But a significant disadvantage is that the treatment doesn’t last longer days. Besides that, this method looks easy, effective, and trouble-free for many campers to keep their camping gear secure and dry.
Can You Do Hammock Camping in Rain or Foggy Conditions?
Still, many people have been confused as to whether it will be worth it or not to camp in a hammock during wet conditions. I will say, yes you can. Well, let’s talk about some advantages.
- Here the trees and tarp are always ready to provide you and your thing’s protection.
- If it rains or snows, no worries confined to the hammock you can enjoy it in a comfortable way.
- You will have lots of ways to keep your gear dry and nearby. So, one doesn’t need to worry about the backpack and they can easily enter the gear.
- One of the core advantages is you don’t need to face the trouble of floor wetting and soaking the floor which happens on tent camping. Also, it doesn’t need to cool a tent type work.
- Doesn’t bear any fear of strong wind that can harm the setup.
- In such conditions, the irritating smell of stink won’t happen while you are in a hammock.
- The tarp and its right setup will allow one to stay secure in the shelter and also for cooking whether it is foggy or raining.
So, from the above points, I think you don’t have much negative desire to hammock camp in bad weather. By the way, you can check the details pros and cons of hammock camping in my previous article.
Ending
Things become hard when you have less preparation, it’s very normal. For that, in hammock camping, you can’t keep the gear dry without proper process.
And to make you completely ready in this regard I think the above write won’t go in vain. So, practice the process, remember the facts, and successfully apply on the spot. I hope I don’t require hearing any unwanted stories after your next hammock camping trip.
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