Finding two trees that appear to be the right distance apart is only the beginning of choosing a hammock campsite.
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Before unpacking your hammock, wrapping straps around the trees or adjusting your suspension, take a minute to inspect the entire area. A quick campsite check can help you identify obvious hazards, reduce your impact on the surrounding landscape and avoid relocating a complete setup later.

The basic check is simple:

1. Choose living, sturdy trees.
2. Look for overhead hazards.
3. Check the ground beneath and around the hammock.
4. Confirm the local camping rules.
5. Make sure the site fits your complete hammock setup.

It takes about 60 seconds, but it can make a substantial difference in where and how you spend the night.
Start With Living, Sturdy TreesYour hammock is only as dependable as the anchors supporting it.
Look for two living trees that appear solid, stable and large enough to support your hammock without excessive movement. Walk around each tree and inspect the trunk from the ground upward rather than judging it from only one side.

Warning signs can include:

• A dead or mostly dead canopy
• Large cracks or splits in the trunk
• Severe fire or storm damage
• Obvious rot or hollow sections
• Exposed or badly undermined roots
• A pronounced lean toward the sleeping area
• Movement at the base of the tree

You do not need to be a professional arborist to recognize when a tree gives you a reason to question it. When you are uncertain about either tree, keep looking for another site.

Leave No Trace hammock-camping guidance recommends using living, sturdy trees and attaching your suspension around the substantial portion of the trunk rather than a small branch or fragile secondary trunk.
Use Wide, Tree-Friendly Hammock StrapsThin rope and narrow cord concentrate pressure on a small area of bark. Wide webbing spreads that load across more of the tree and helps reduce damage.

Leave No Trace recommends hammock straps made from webbing that is at least one inch wide. Some parks and campgrounds require wider straps or additional padding, so the local rule should always take priority.

A good hammock suspension should:

• Wrap around the trunk without nails or screws
• Lie flat against the bark
• Avoid weak branches and fragile growth
• Adjust without repeatedly sawing across the tree
• Meet the requirements of the campground or land manager

Arrowhead Equipment’s one-inch Hammock Straps are made from durable polyester webbing for a reliable and tree-friendly connection. You can also compare our complete range of hammock suspension systems, straps, whoopie slings and hardware.

How do you put into words something epic? More than 2 years ago I watched a video of a paddleboarding trip into the backcountry of Yellowstone and knew that I had to do that trip. At that time I had only been on a paddle board once but I had to go. Late last year the planning began, and there is a lot of planning to do. First I invited my Sons to join, then a few friends and soon we had the group. Next, there is a lot of work to organize a backcountry trip in the park. In the early spring, we applied for the backcountry camping lottery to get a chance to obtain a permit. Once we got drawn in the lottery we had to select our campsites. Picking from about a dozen sites and fitting together dates with available sites to do a full circumnavigation of the lake and picking sites that would accommodate a group of seven, 4 hammocks and 2 tents took major planning with very few resources on the camps themselves. Months of work came to a head Friday, August 2nd when we headed out from the Lewis Lake Boat launch on a 5-day, 4 night, and close to 38 mile (according to my Garmin in-reach GPS).

Step one, cross about 3 miles south to north on Lewis Lake. Early in the morning groups were stacking up as the sun rose all working to organize gear and strap down camping supplies for the trip on the boat launch. Most were in canoes, a few kayaks, and 5 crazies in our group on Gili Paddleboards. With near-glassy conditions in the first stretch, we moved along at a good pace and took a short break on the north shore before entering the river channel. Much like the Meanders in McCall, the lake flows back up into the river making it deep and slow water for a couple miles. Then it transitions to shallower water before a rocky free-flowing section for about a mile and a half below Shoshone Lake. Through the rocky section, we hooked up straps, removed our fins, and pulled our boards slowly upstream in the ankle to thigh-deep water. 

Eventually reaching the outlet of Shoshone Lake, which was a sheet of glass, the only ripples on the water from us finishing the wade into deep enough water to get back on our boards. Our first camp for the night was just a few hundred yards up the east shore. We worked for a bit to set up camp, picking spots for hammocks and tents, hanging our food bags high in the trees, and enjoying a vivid sunset. 

Again rising early we broke down camp and reloaded our paddle boards with gear and food bags. Setting out before 8 am the lake was again a glassy smooth mirror only disturbed by our paddles and wake behind as we cruised up the eastern shore…often battered by waves crossing the 6-plus mile wide lake, this shore does not get a lot of visitors by way of water. In two hours we made it to the north shore and the Delacy Creek trail that comes down from the park highway. A short break and on to the west shore and camp mid-way down. This long black sand beach stretches out for 500 yards and drops off into the depths of the lake just a few feet out. But with thick underbrush and few visitors the bugs, (gnats, mosquitos, and biting flies) quickly found us and swarmed. A light breeze kept them at bay much of the afternoon, but we retreated to bed soon after the sun dropped over the hill. 

Again rising with the sun we packed for our 3rd day on the water. Boards loaded we set out for our longest day, 10 miles of paddling and hiking, at 7 am. We rounded the point of our camp and turned south and west along the shore. We paddled past a few camps, waving and saying hello to other campers as we floated by. About 2 miles in the wind decided to pick up and started blowing. For over 3.5 miles, we pushed forward, with small waves and a breeze working hard to keep us from moving forward without far more effort. But shortly before noon, we made it to the Shoshone Lake geyser basin hike. The largest major geyser basin in the park that has no developments…no boardwalk, no signs to name everything you see, and no crowds. We hiked about a mile in and out to check out Yellowstone in its most natural state. Back on the boards the wind again shifted to right in our faces as we turned south then east along the southern shore towards camp for the night. Perched on a hill above the water we squeezed to fit all of us into the area full of downed trees. 

Waking on the morning of the fourth day, a fog bank came in off the north shore of the lake swallowing everything we could see. Standing around on the shore of the lake with boards loaded we hoped to wait it out. Paddling with very limited visibility seemed like a challenge the lake was throwing at us after the up-wind paddling all day previous. After an hour and only limited improvement, we set out. Fog in the woods is always eerie and at the same time a strange bit of magic. On the water it was incredible. After a few miles with our visibility limited to only a hundred yards at most, we glided out into brilliant blue skies and bright warm sunshine. Making a few stops to check out other campsites as we wend along the south shore we soon made it into the Moose Creek outlet Bay.  The Bay nearly a mile-long shoreline, has 2 campsites, ours in the middle and another on the east end. Most of the group missed the small camp marker of our site and headed to the far side. But we soon regrouped and set up camp in a small stand of trees that lined up like a hallway, 2 parallel rows of trees along a 10-foot wide path down the middle. A great spot but again with lots of brush lining the sides of the hall the bugs were no joke. Late in the night getting up, I made the mistake of turning on my headlamp only to be swarmed by millions of gnats and mosquitos. Jumping as quickly back into my hammock they pummeled themselves against my tarp so intensely that it sounded like rain. 

5 AM woke up by a family of geese announcing that the sun would rise in an hour and a half. Getting more and more organized (and less food weight to load) we were set to start the day on the water at 7.  A light breeze, again bowing straight at us was just the laughable condition of the day as we approached the outlet of Shoshone Lake. We clicked fins out and stowed them. The upper section of the river would have us working hard to stay floating straight downstream, around rocks and downed trees hanging out into the water for close to 45 minutes…far less than the couple of hours we had spent a few days before pulling our way upstream. Twisting and turning down with the current was less work but we often had to quickly jump off the boards for shallow spots, trying to avoid grinding vinyl against the volcanic watermelon-sized rocks hiding in the ripples…many of which bear vivid colorful streaks of paint and plastic from previous canoes and kayaks. But the fast-flowing rocky section soon gave way to a slow meandering meadow-lined stream, and then back to deep dark lake backup. A few miles and we wound our way back to the mouth of Lewis Lake. 

From that Norther shore, we looked out on a lake that was beginning to get stirred up by a wind blowing over the surface. Again, Strait at us. We drank our energy drinks, ate a quick snack, and set out, aiming at the small boat launch that felt so far off against another headwind.  Feeling like you're not moving makes it hard physically to continue to push yourself forward but little by little we crossed the 2.8 miles in 50 minutes.  Finally reaching the far off shore my final message over the GPS to my MapShare and wife was “DONE!!!!” at 11:30. 

All in all this trip was a massive undertaking to plan, organize, get all the passes, permits, gear, and then to undertake. I know that the memories are all worth it though and something that will be with me and my boys for the rest of our lives. The group of friends that came together to spend a few days in the woods can’t be beat. We had laughs, shared time sitting around eating and playing games, paddling side by side, and completing something that very few have done…a full circumnavigation of Shoshone Lake in Yellowstone National Park on Paddleboards. 

Are you an avid hammock camper looking to reduce pack weight without sacrificing strength? The new SkyLINE Ultralight UHMWPE Tree Straps are the perfect addition to your kit. Crafted from ultra-durable UHMWPE webbing, these straps offer superior strength—supporting over 1,000 lbs—while weighing 36% less than standard straps.
Why Choose SkyLINE UHMWPE Tree Straps?

1. Lightweight & Compact: Ideal for ultralight backpackers.
2. Incredible Strength: High-tensile UHMWPE material ensures your hammock stays secure.
3. Tree-Friendly: Designed with a 1" wide webbing to protect trees and comply with Leave No Trace guidelines.

Whether you're thru-hiking or heading out for a weekend adventure, these tree straps are a game-changer. Available in multiple lengths, they provide versatility and ease of use in any environment.
Ready to upgrade your hammock setup? Check out the SkyLINE UHMWPE Tree Straps here.

The Ultralight RevolutionHammock camping has become increasingly popular for its simplicity and comfort. But as any seasoned camper knows, cutting down on weight is essential for longer trips. Traditional polyester straps can add bulk and unnecessary weight, but SkyLINE's UHMWPE straps solve this problem, offering strength and packability without compromise. Whether you're setting up near towering pines or on rugged terrain, you can trust these ultralight straps to get the job done.
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Explore the full potential of your camping setup with SkyLINE UHMWPE Tree Straps. Your gear deserves an upgrade!