Skip to main content

Feel Good Friday: Hammocks to Help You and Mother Nature Take a Load Off

hammock mountains
Image used with permission by copyright holder
By and large, the wilderness is a relaxing place. Sure, there are plenty of things that can kill you — but no more than you’ll find in the average city. Most of the time, the sounds of birds, streams, and rustling leaves can help even the most tightly wound city slickers relax — especially if said slickers kick back in comfy hammocks.

Doug-Zalewski
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) — which has been making and selling hammocks in the American Southeast since 1999 — has released special edition hammocks that aren’t just comfortable, but also helpful to the environment.

ENO allows you to donate to a worthy wilderness cause via your special edition hammock purchase. If you drop $70 on their ATC Hammock, ENO will give $10 to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which is committed to preserving and protecting the hallowed trail spanning the eponymous East Coast mountain range. If you purchase the PCTA Hammock, $10 will go to the Pacific Crest Trail Association, which performs a similar preservation role for the West Coast’s Pacific Crest Trail.

Related: Get The Gear: Outdoor Retailer Summer 2015

LNT hammock LNT stuffsack

If you are indifferent to the PCT and AT, you can give $10 to the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics by purchasing the LNT Hammock. In addition to being a rallying cry for conscientious wilderness explorers, Leave No Trace is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on how to enjoy the environment responsibly.

Purchasing a special edition hammock from ENO is, of course, a great way to treat yourself, too. These durable and sophisticated hammocks, boast breathable nylon, heavy duty triple-stitched seams, and aluminum wiregate carabiners. Though these hammocks can accommodate up to 400 lbs, the hammocks themselves only weigh 19 oz. They also fold up nicely into handy, attached stuff sacks, making them perfect for space and weight-conscious backpackers.

This is the ultimate Feel Good Friday product. The wholesome feeling of reclining in one of these hammocks is compounded by the knowledge that a portion of your purchase will go on to protect America’s beloved outdoor spaces. If you’re looking to wrap up the summer on a real feel-good note, we suggest hopping into one of these relaxing mamma jammas.    

Visit ENO’s website to check out their special edition hammocks, available for $70.

TJ Carter
Former Digital Trends Contributor
TJ Carter wears many hats, both figuratively and literally. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2011 with a degree…
From Montblanc to Chopard: Get up to 68% off luxury pens today
Montblanc pen, desk

Whether you’ve just started journalling or you need a great pen for writing up notes at work, there are some great luxury pens on sale now at Jomashop. Nearly one hundred different pens are available in the sale with up to 68% off select models. Whatever your budget or intentions, it’s worth clicking the button below to see the full sale for yourself. There are some big name brands here with different styles available too. Feel like you need some guidance instead? Here’s a quick look at what we recommend.

What to shop for in the Jomashop luxury pen sale
If you want one of the best fountain pens, check out the which is 27% off so it’s down to $495 from $680. The pen is made of black precious resin with gold-plated details. It has a 14kt gold nib while the Montblanc floating star emblem is suitably prominent but not too obvious. If you need a beautiful fountain pen for occasional use, you deserve to treat yourself to the Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique Fountain Pen.

Read more
The 8 best cigars for golfing, recommended by a cigar expert
Men drinking and playing golf, the best cigars for golfing.

 

Golf and cigars are a fantastic match, like peanut butter and jelly, chips and salsa, or chicken and waffles. You're outdoors, on the green most of the time, if you're a good shot anyway, and, hopefully, basking in beautiful weather. So, it's a great time to light up and enjoy a puff or two between swings or while driving around on a cart. Of course, there's always the point that you're usually multi-tasking, so you probably don't want to light up a super expensive cigar -- you won't get to enjoy it as much. What cigars are good to light up while golfing? You'll be putting it down a lot, so it needs to burn reliably and offer a relaxing, enjoyable smoke when you do puff, but also, you don't want it to break the bank and make you feel like you're missing out if you can't baby it the whole time.

Read more
The 10 best Nicaraguan cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
Maduro cigars in a lineup ready to smoke.

Most people love Cuban cigars, but I'm not most people. I won't argue that Cuban cigars are bad; they're definitely not, but I will say they're usually popular because of the forbidden fruit situation. I would describe them as airy and light on flavor. Not bad flavor, just not particularly strong. Dollar for dollar, there are a lot of other cigars made elsewhere that are worth spending your money on because they are delicious. If I had to choose, I would go Nicaraguan almost every time.

Most Nicaraguan tobacco is grown in the small town of Esteli, and the local soil gives the tobacco its rich, complex, and full-bodied flavor. It's on my bucket list of places to visit, and I'd love to get a first-hand look at how they grow, ferment, and produce cigars -- some of the best in the industry. Nicaraguan tobacco is about as good as it gets if you like your cigars strong and memorable. And because they're so flavorful, Nicaraguan cigars are super versatile. You can smoke them in the morning with coffee, after lunch, or late in the evening, and they pair nicely with a wide variety of beverages. Moreover, they come in various strengths, sizes, and blends, from mild and medium to some of the most full-bodied cigars you'll have the pleasure of tasting.

Read more