Summer 2016 LOCALadk Magazine 60
LOCALadk
Lawson Hammock
Review
The Lawson Blue Ridge Camping Hammock was the first ham-
mock to provide both insect and weather protection, and has
become popular with backpackers and car campers looking for
a compact and lightweight alternative to a tent.
Once properly set up, the hammock is comfortable and pro-
vides plenty of space for even my 6'3" frame. The bug netting is
supported by two miniature tent poles, keeping even the most
bloodthirsty black flies and mosquitos at bay. With the rain fly
on, the hammock feels a bit claustrophobic, but certainly bet-
ter than a bivvy. I would definitely plan to use the hammock
on clear nights, and simply use the fly as a backup if inclement
weather arises.
www.lawsonhammock.com
A few things to note about hammock camping:
Because they hang above the ground, you can expect ham-
mocks to be much cooler than sleeping in a tent, or even under
the stars on a sleeping pad.
Finding appropriately spaced anchor points is critical to enjoy-
ing your hammock experience. While the Lawson Tree Hugger
system works well enough, I find cam straps such as those from
NRS to be more secure and provide more flexibility in length.
Eric Adsit
