REI’s Hammock Tent Is a Masterstroke of Outdoor Engineering

Can you carry something 85x heavier than you?

March 15, 2017 9:00 am

If you’ve tent-shopped any time over the last 18 months, you’ve probably seen one: the hammock tent, an uber-comfortable bit of outdoor innovation that combines the suspended comfort of the former with the “I don’t want to wake up soaking wet and/or with West Nile” protective properties of the latter.  And while we’ve seen our fair share of strong iterations of the hammock tent, this one — care of outdoor goods giant REI — might be the best in class.

The Quarter Dome Air Hammock is designed to be a lightweight shelter that provides campers who don’t want to sleep on the ground with an easy-to-set-up airborne alternative. Constructed from 15-denier ripstop nylon and bug-repelling mesh, the Air Hammock features permanently attached shock-corded poles to add sturdiness (it can support up to 250 pounds) — all while packing down to a svelte minimum weight of just three pounds and two ounces.

Air Hammock (2 images)

Usable in three seasons, the one-person sleeping shelter is made to pair with an easy-to-stow bug net, but can also be flipped upside down to serve as a traditional hammock with no canopy.

The Air Hammock costs $219 and ships for free. You’ll have to provide your own trees.

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.