Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Hammock – up to 500lbs Portable Hammock with Tree Straps - Travel, Backpacking, Hiking, Outdoors Camping Gear - Single or Double

Why it's worth it

The Wise Owl includes 9-foot tree straps, carabiners, and a built-in stuff sack, so there's nothing else to buy. It's parachute nylon with triple-stitched seams, and it packs to about 16 ounces in the single size.

Everything you need is in the bag, and that's worth more than it sounds. OutdoorGearLab found that hammocks bundled with straps and carabiners cut first-time setup time by roughly eight minutes compared with hardware-only hammocks. If this is your first hammock, that difference is the gap between a relaxing afternoon and a frustrating one. The straps have five loops, so dialing in height is trial-and-error-free.

The fabric is the same basic idea as our top pick: quick-dry parachute nylon, triple-stitched, rated to hold serious weight without stretching out of shape. Owners who've used both brands say the hang feels close enough that the difference doesn't justify the gap in what you pay. Where you notice it is in the small stuff — stitching finish, the feel of the hardware, how neatly it stuffs back into the sack.

From our review of 6 hammocks for outdoor relaxation, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +Everything you need is in the bag, and that's worth more than it sounds
• +The fabric is the same basic idea as our top pick: quick-dry parachute nylon, triple-stitched, rated to hold serious weight…
• +This is also the hammock we'd hand to someone who isn't sure they'll like hammocks yet
• +The reputation is enormous and well earned

What to know

• –The included carabiners are the weak link
• –The finish isn't premium