When it comes to camping, tents aren’t going away, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that hammocks have become a popular alternative. With each passing camping season, hammocks become more and more commonplace. Why? Well, they’re easy to set up, keep you off the ground, and provide an incredible night’s sleep. But they’re also great for recreational use — a random nap after a long paddle, or a place to relax and read after sitting on the beach. In short, their appeal is — well, appealing.
Adventure Hammock Systems has found an ingenious way to embrace the hammock life – and all it takes is a vehicle with a 2” receiver hitch. Their Original Hammock Mount bolts into your hitch, allowing you to set up camp or take a break, wherever your vehicle takes you. What’s more is that it sets up and breaks down in roughly a minute. That means you could even have a few minutes of relaxation during your lunch break.
The Original Hammock Mount (The OG)
Made from a rugged powder-coated steel frame and featuring telescoping aluminum arms, the OG hammock mount has a 114” span that’s suitable for 11-foot or shorter hammocks. A majority of camping hammocks fit this range. The mount weighs 24lbs, has a capacity of 300lbs, and – aside from the included hitch bolt – has no other separate pieces to worry about losing.
Most of us who love the hammock life are used to finding adequately spaced trees, but the OG eliminates the need to find those trees, or even be in the woods. As I said, wherever you park your vehicle can be your easy-to-set-up, and undeniably comfortable campsite for the night.
The OG also eliminates the need for a portable hammock stand. It’s one thing to have a hammock stand in your backyard – I have been relying on this one from ENO for years. However, they take up a lot of cargo space in your vehicle – and that’s if you remember to bring yours with you. The beauty of the OG is that it’s bolted to your vehicle. If you find the need to take a break at any time throughout the day, it’s there.
Initial Setup
AHS gives you everything you need to set up your OG mount and be out on the road in minutes. It’s simply a matter of installing the included spring and nut into the receiver tube and then installing that into your hitch. From there, you install the hitch bolt and tighten it down, and lock it. Finally, you slide the powder-coated frame with arms onto the receiver tube and tighten it down with the last remaining bolt.
Total Game Changer
I’ve been hanging a hammock in my house and keeping one stored in the truck for years. Last night, I slept in the one hanging in the house, which my youngest daughter usually sleeps in when she’s home. If I am going out for a longer hike, I’ll take the one in my truck and throw it in my pack. Living down by the Connecticut River, there’s nothing better than hanging a hammock out on a nice day and just swaying.
That said, I’m a hammock person — I’m also an off-roading and Overlanding person. My 2005 4Runner has been built to roam the trails. With nearly 400,000 miles, not only is it a capable vehicle – but I store all of my camping necessities in there in case I feel like camping out. Having the OG mount on the back of the 4Runner for the last three months has allowed me to camp more and relax more. Out on the trail, it’s nice to take a break – listen to some music – and just sway.
Back at the beginning of May, a group of my friends and our kids went camping in Vermont. Everyone had their own camping spot on the property, and as my kids decided to stay in a tent with their friends, I set up my hammock under the awning on my 4Runner. It rained that night, but I was tucked in my sleeping bag —warm and dry— under the awning. Swaying myself to sleep listening to the Spring Peepers and rain, even now, gives me a sense of peace and yearning. So once I finish this article, I am going to head out for another session of sway.
I find myself doing this at least once a week. I don’t have a lot of time to relax, but I’ve set up the OG mount with my hammock in the parking lot of my girls’ school, waiting for them to get out. I’ve also set it up outside of my favorite brewery, the beach, at a Memorial Day parade in town, and numerous times out on the trail when I’ve needed a break from the bumps and muddy ruts I encounter in four-wheel drive.
All of this pairs well with Jimmy Buffett, Widespread Panic, Billy Strings, and Dead and Company.
Other Versions
Adventuere Hammock Systems offers other versions of the OG, as well as other Hammock Mounts.
I’ve been using the 2” model with the black powder-coated frame and raw aluminum arms. However, they do offer a fully powder-coated version. They also offer a 1.25” receiver hitch version and an extended length variant. These versions accommodate smaller, Class I and II hitches as well as hidden hitches or recessed hitches, respectively.
Beyond that, AHS also offers the following hammock mounts:
Bare Bones / Bare Bones XL: An affordable alternative to the OG, this version swaps out telescoping arms for pieces of tube that you stack to create your mobile swaying solution. The XL version is designed to accommodate larger, 12-foot span hammocks.
Summit: This mount is designed to attach to your roof rack. This is a stellar alternative to a rooftop tent that takes up less space and costs a heck of a lot less than one of those rooftop behemoths.
Summit Paddleboard: Like the name implies, this version is designed to mount to your SUP. I think this is a great idea, but don’t make any sudden moves up there!
Mammoth / Mammoth XL: Sometimes it’s more fun to have someone else in your hammock with you – or maybe even your favorite furry family member. In these cases, you need more capacity. Similar in design to the Bare Bones, the Mammoth bumps the overall capacity up to 450 lbs. The XL, which will be available in July, sticks to the 450lbs weight capacity but extends the span to include 12” and shorter hammocks.
Overall
As many of you know, a lot of the products I test and review are sent to me for me to keep or send back. Adventure Hammock Systems gave me a month-long window to play around with the OG. Halfway through the testing period, I asked them if I could buy the mount from them – and they agreed. The OG has changed not only when and where I pull out my hammock and have a rest, but my camping setup as well.
However, comfort doesn’t come cheap. The version featured here will cost you $549 before tax and shipping. You should also bake in another $50-$80 for the hammock itself. So, this solution is an investment. Upon a quick Google, I’ve found most portable hammock stands range from $200-$400. But, as I mentioned before, they take up cargo space in your vehicle. They can also be cumbersome, require level ground to set up, and take more time to do the setup.
The way I see it, with the Original Hammock Mount, you’re paying for upgrades that equate to ease of use, portability, and comfort on the go. At this point, I find these things to be totally necessary for anyone looking to spend more time in their hammock, wherever they may roam.
Set Up Camp Wherever You Want With Adventure Hammock Systems originally appeared on Gear Institute.