6 Best Hammocks For Shaded RV Spots That Nomads Swear By

You pull into a perfect, tree-lined campsite after a long day on the road. The rig is level, the slide-outs are deployed, but you’re not done yet. The final, most important step is finding two perfectly spaced trees to string up your hammock, instantly doubling your living space and creating an outdoor sanctuary. For nomads, a hammock isn’t just a piece of camp furniture; it’s an essential tool for relaxation, connection, and making any spot feel like home.

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Why Hammocks are an RVer’s Essential Gear

A hammock fundamentally changes how you interact with your campsite. It transforms that patch of dirt and trees into your personal backyard, a place for reading, napping, or just watching the world go by. In the tight quarters of an RV, this extension of your living space is invaluable. It’s a mental and physical escape hatch.

The appeal goes beyond simple comfort. Hammocks are incredibly space-efficient, a critical factor for anyone living on wheels. A high-quality hammock and suspension system packs down to the size of a grapefruit, taking up virtually no room in a storage bay. This combination of massive utility and minimal footprint is the holy grail of RV gear.

More than anything, a hammock encourages you to slow down. The simple act of setting it up and settling in forces a pause in your day. It’s a designated zone for doing nothing, which is often the most rewarding part of the nomadic lifestyle. It’s your front-row seat to the nature you traveled so far to see.

ENO DoubleNest: The Classic Nomad Favorite

The ENO DoubleNest is the Toyota Camry of the hammock world. It’s reliable, ubiquitous, and does its job exceptionally well without any unnecessary frills. You see them everywhere for a reason: they are the perfect entry point into quality hammocking and a trusted workhorse for seasoned travelers.

Made from a durable 70D nylon taffeta, the DoubleNest is comfortable against the skin and breathable enough for warm afternoons. Its triple-stitched seams and 400-pound capacity inspire confidence. The real genius is its simplicity. It packs into its own attached stuff sack, making setup and teardown a two-minute affair once you get the hang of it.

The one major consideration is that the suspension system is sold separately. While ENO’s Atlas straps are excellent, this adds to the overall cost. However, this also allows you to choose the exact strap length you need for the giant Ponderosa pines out west or the smaller hardwoods back east. For most RVers looking for a no-fuss, high-quality lounging hammock, the DoubleNest is the benchmark.

Kammok Roo Double: Ultimate Comfort & Durability

If the ENO is the reliable workhorse, the Kammok Roo Double is the upgraded, more refined model. It’s designed for those who spend serious time in their hammock and demand a bit more in terms of material and performance. The moment you touch their LunarWave™ fabric, you understand the difference. It’s softer, stronger, and has a slightly more "premium" feel.

Kammok builds its gear to last, and it shows. The Roo Double boasts a 500-pound weight capacity and a construction that feels bombproof, backed by a lifetime warranty. Unlike many competitors, Kammok often bundles their excellent Python straps with the hammock, which simplifies the buying process and provides a top-tier suspension system right out of the box. These straps are incredibly strong and offer more precise adjustment points than many other systems.

The tradeoff is a higher price point. You’re paying for superior materials, a higher weight rating, and the convenience of an included suspension system. For the full-time RVer who considers their hammock a second office or primary napping location, the investment in durability and comfort is easily justified. It’s a piece of gear built for the rigors of constant use.

Hennessy Expedition Asym: All-in-One Shelter

The Hennessy Hammock is not just for lounging; it’s a complete outdoor shelter system. This is the hammock for the RVer who wants the option to sleep under the stars, completely protected from bugs and weather, without needing a separate tent. It’s a self-contained habitat that redefines what a hammock can be.

The key is its integrated design. The Expedition Asym model features a patented asymmetrical shape that allows you to lie diagonally for a surprisingly flat and comfortable sleep. It also comes with a built-in structural ridgeline for a perfect hang every time, an integrated mosquito net, and a detachable rainfly. You don’t buy a Hennessy; you buy a system.

This isn’t the hammock you grab for a quick 20-minute nap. The setup is more involved, and its primary function is as a sleep system. For the adventurous nomad who enjoys backcountry excursions away from the RV or simply wants a bug-free outdoor sleeping pod at the campsite, the Hennessy is in a class of its own. It’s a specialized tool, and it excels at its job.

Warbonnet Blackbird XLC: The Flat-Lay Specialist

For the ultimate in sleeping comfort, serious hammock campers swear by the Warbonnet Blackbird XLC. This is a hammock engineered from the ground up to solve the biggest complaint of sleeping in a hammock: the "banana" curve. Warbonnet’s design allows for an incredibly flat diagonal lay, making it a legitimate replacement for a mattress for many side and back sleepers.

The magic lies in two key features: the asymmetrical cut and the integrated footbox. The footbox is a dedicated pocket of fabric that gives your feet more room, preventing the constricting feeling common in other hammocks. The XLC (eXtra Long and Comfortable) model is spacious and includes a convenient storage shelf for your phone, headlamp, or a book. It’s a design born from thousands of nights of real-world testing.

Like Hennessy, this is a premium sleep system, not a casual lounger. It’s often sold à la carte, allowing you to customize your suspension, bug net, and tarp. This is the choice for the RVer who prioritizes a perfect night’s sleep above all else and is willing to invest in a highly specialized, top-tier piece of equipment.

Wise Owl Outfitters: Top Value for Casual Lounging

Not everyone needs a technical sleep system or expedition-grade materials. Sometimes, you just want a comfortable, affordable hammock for relaxing at the campsite. Wise Owl Outfitters dominates this space by offering a fantastic product at a fraction of the price of the big-name brands.

Their double hammock is made from a soft but strong 210T parachute nylon and, crucially, it comes with tree straps and carabiners included. This makes it an incredible all-in-one value package. You can buy it, toss it in your RV, and be ready to hang the moment you arrive at your spot without any extra purchases.

Is the fabric as luxurious as a Kammok or the design as innovative as a Warbonnet? No. But for the price, the quality is exceptional. It’s the perfect hammock for kids, for keeping as a spare for guests, or for the RVer who uses their hammock a few times a month and doesn’t need a high-performance model. It proves that you don’t have to spend a lot to dramatically improve your campsite experience.

Grand Trunk TrunkTech: Soft & Packable Luxury

Grand Trunk’s claim to fame is its proprietary TrunkTech fabric, and the hype is real. This material sets their hammocks apart by being noticeably softer and stronger than the standard nylon used by many competitors. It has a unique feel that is less plasticky and more like a soft-spun textile, making it a joy to lounge in.

The TrunkTech Double is also lighter and packs down smaller than many comparable double hammocks, a huge plus for space-conscious RVers. Despite its light weight, it maintains a 500-pound capacity, so there’s no compromise on strength. It’s a hammock that feels luxurious but performs like a technical piece of gear.

This is the hammock for the nomad who prioritizes tactile comfort and packability. If you want something that feels amazing against your skin on a hot day and disappears in your daypack, Grand Trunk is an excellent choice. Like ENO, the straps are typically sold separately, so be sure to factor that into your budget.

Hanging Your Hammock Safely at the Campsite

Owning a great hammock is only half the battle; knowing how to hang it responsibly is crucial. The goal is to relax without damaging the trees or yourself. Your first priority is always to use wide, tree-friendly straps. Never, ever use rope directly on a tree, as it cuts into the bark and can kill the tree. Straps that are at least one inch wide are the standard.

Next, choose your trees wisely. Look for two healthy, mature trees that are at least 6 inches in diameter. Avoid any trees that look dead, have large, loose branches, or show signs of disease. The ideal hanging angle for your hammock suspension is about 30 degrees from the horizontal. A simple way to eyeball this is to make a "finger gun" with your hand—the angle between your thumb and index finger is roughly 30 degrees.

Finally, always check the rules. Many state parks, national parks, and even private campgrounds have specific regulations about hanging hammocks. Some prohibit it entirely to protect sensitive vegetation or heavily used trees. If you can’t hang from trees, a portable hammock stand is a fantastic alternative for RVers, giving you the freedom to set up anywhere, even in a desert landscape with no trees in sight.

In the end, the best hammock is the one you actually use. Whether it’s a budget-friendly model for afternoon naps or a technical shelter for overnight adventures, it’s a small investment that pays huge dividends in quality of life on the road. It’s your ticket to slowing down, looking up through the leaves, and truly inhabiting the beautiful places your RV takes you.