Best Hammock Accessories for Your Backyard
A decent hammock is just the start. The accessories around it determine whether you actually spend time out there or just glance at it from the kitchen window.
These six additions cover the gaps most hammock owners discover the hard way. The list includes bug protection, shade coverage, a stand for treeless yards, insulation for cool evenings, and a storage solution that keeps everything together.
Prices run from $18 for a waterproof storage bag to $92 for a full hammock stand. All of them are available on Amazon and usable this weekend.
Best Tree Straps for Any Hammock
If your hammock came with flimsy straps or none at all, the ENO Atlas Straps are the upgrade most owners make first. They run 9 feet long, hold 400 pounds, and adjust via a daisy chain so you can dial in your hang angle without untying anything. That last part matters more than it sounds when you want a flat lie versus a cocoon-style curve.
These work with any hammock brand because they clip on with a standard carabiner. On a mature oak or maple with a 12-inch diameter trunk, they wrap clean with room to spare. The 1.5-inch nylon webbing is wide enough to avoid digging into bark, which matters if you plan to use the same trees for the next five years.
ENO Eagles Nest Outfitters Atlas Hammock Straps
$32
18,400+ reviews
Nine-foot adjustable straps with daisy-chain buckles rated to 400 lbs, compatible with any hammock brand.
Shop on Amazon →Best Bug Net for Backyard Hammocks
Backyard mosquitoes are different from campsite mosquitoes. They know your schedule. The ENO Guardian SL fits over your existing hammock and zips shut around you, creating a full no-see-um mesh barrier without requiring you to replace your hammock. It attaches at the carabiners on each end and uses your existing suspension as the ridgeline.
It stuffs into its own pouch when not in use and adds almost no weight or bulk to the setup. In a yard near any tree cover, drainage area, or low spot that holds water, this is what keeps you outside past 7pm instead of retreating inside at dusk. The no-see-um grade mesh is finer than a standard mosquito net and handles the small biters that most people do not even see until they are already itching.
ENO Eagles Nest Outfitters Guardian SL Bug Net
$50
3,200+ reviews
Full-coverage no-see-um mesh net that zips over any single or double hammock with no separate ridgeline required.
Shop on Amazon →Best Rain Tarp for Sun and Storm Coverage
A tarp above your hammock does two jobs. It blocks the direct sun that turns a midday hang into a slow sunburn, and it keeps you dry when afternoon storms roll through without much warning. The ENO ProFly XL covers 9 by 7 feet, which is enough to shelter a double hammock with overhang on both ends.
You string it along a ridgeline between the same two trees your hammock uses. Setup takes about five minutes once you have done it a couple of times. The silnylon material sheds water immediately and has a solid UV block rating. This is one of those additions that turns a bare hammock between two trees into something that actually feels like an outdoor room.
ENO Eagles Nest Outfitters ProFly XL Rain Tarp
$88
1,600+ reviews
Silnylon tarp with a 9x7 footprint and multiple tie-out points for wind resistance and full rain coverage over any hammock.
Shop on Amazon →Best Hammock Stand for Yards Without Good Trees
Most backyard tree pairs are not actually the right distance apart. They are either too close, too far, or planted in the shadiest corner nobody wants to sit in. The Sunnydaze Heavy-Duty 15-Foot Arc Stand handles hammocks up to 450 pounds and sets up anywhere you have a flat surface, patio or lawn. No trees required.
The powder-coated steel resists rust through full seasons outside and the arc design stays stable under movement. It fits hammocks from 9 to 14 feet long and the whole thing can move around the yard to follow the shade, which is something trees cannot do. On a 10 by 10 patio with no viable trees nearby, this turns what would be an impossible situation into a working hammock setup in about 20 minutes.
Sunnydaze Decor Heavy-Duty 15-Foot Arc Hammock Stand
$92
4,800+ reviews
450-lb rated steel arc stand that works on any flat surface and fits hammocks from 9 to 14 feet long.
Shop on Amazon →Best Underquilt for All-Day Hammock Comfort
If you have ever climbed out of a hammock after 45 minutes feeling like your back went through a cold compress, an underquilt is the fix. It hangs beneath the hammock shell and insulates the part of your body pressed against the fabric, which is exactly where heat escapes and where any pad placed inside the hammock just gets flattened and useless. The ENO Ember 2 covers you from shoulders to feet.
This makes the most difference on spring and fall afternoons when the air temperature feels comfortable but the ground is still cold and the hammock fabric bleeds that away from you steadily. It clips in under the hammock in a few minutes and does not shift around the way a blanket pulled over the top tends to do. For anyone who gave up on their hammock because it stopped being comfortable after an hour, this is usually the piece they were missing.
ENO Eagles Nest Outfitters Ember 2 UnderQuilt
$90
980+ reviews
Full-length under-hammock insulation layer that eliminates cold back and adds real comfort from 30 to 65 degrees.
Shop on Amazon →Best Storage Bag to Keep Your Hammock Setup Together
A complete hammock kit, straps, bug net, tarp, and underquilt, is more gear than fits neatly in a junk drawer or a single hook in the garage. A waterproof dry bag keeps everything together and protected from moisture, whether you are storing the whole thing through winter or just leaving it on a covered porch during a rainy stretch. The MARCHWAY 20L fits a full hammock setup including straps and a bug net with room to spare.
The roll-top seal is genuinely waterproof. You can pack everything in on Sunday and have the full setup ready to hang in under 10 minutes the next time you want to use it. The bright color options also help when the bag ends up behind the garden hose and the jumper cables and you need to find it fast.
MARCHWAY Floating Waterproof Dry Bag 20L
$18
9,600+ reviews
Roll-top waterproof bag with enough capacity to hold a hammock, straps, and accessories as a single carry unit.
Shop on Amazon →Quick Tips for Setting Up Your Backyard Hammock
- Aim for 12 to 15 feet between anchor points. Trees closer than 10 feet apart force a steep hang angle that strains straps and makes the hammock feel like a taco. Wider spacing gives you a flatter, more comfortable lie.
- Follow the 30-degree strap angle. Your straps should run at roughly 30 degrees from horizontal when the hammock is loaded. Steeper than that and you will feel like you are folding in half within the first half hour.
- Use straps at least 1 inch wide. Narrower cord or rope digs into bark and can damage the cambium layer over time. Wide webbing distributes the load and keeps the trees healthy for years of use.
- Set up your tarp before your hammock. If you rig the ridgeline and tarp first, you can attach the hammock below it cleanly. Doing it in the other order means extra fumbling overhead while you are already standing in the rain.
- Dry your hammock before packing it. Nylon holds moisture and will mildew inside a stuff sack faster than you expect. A few hours of air drying after a wet session makes a noticeable difference in how the fabric smells six months into storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need specific straps for my hammock brand?
No. Most hammock straps are universal and work with any hammock that has loop ends. ENO Atlas Straps are compatible with ENO, Kammock, Grand Trunk, and most other major brands.
Can I hang a hammock if I only have one tree?
You can attach one end to a tree and the other to a deck post, fence post, or wall anchor if the structure is solid enough to handle dynamic load. A hammock stand is the cleaner option and easier to get right on the first try.
Does a hammock bug net require a ridgeline already installed?
No. The ENO Guardian SL and most similar nets attach at the carabiners on each end of the hammock and use the existing suspension as the ridgeline. No extra hardware or setup is needed.
What size tarp do I need for a double hammock?
A double hammock is typically around 6 feet wide. A 9 by 7 foot tarp provides full coverage with enough drop on the sides to block wind-driven rain. Smaller tarps leave the ends exposed in anything beyond a light drizzle.
How do I stop my hammock from spinning or swaying too much in the wind?
A tight ridgeline strung between your trees above the hammock stabilizes the hang significantly. Staking out the tarp corners with guylines also cuts down lateral movement in gusty conditions.