Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

Kammok Says This Is the Ultimate Ultralight Backpacking Hammock

Ross Collicutt
By

In their endless striving for lighter and lighter setups, some ounce-counting backpackers (without sore backs) have picked up hammocks as lightweights shelters that pack down small. Some hammocks can replace the tent and sleeping pad portion of a larger tent, pad, and bag system.

Kammok, known for its successful Kickstarter campaigns for sleeping bags and blankets, has tripled its latest fund-raising goal for the new Kammok Mantis, an all-in-one hammock system with an easy setup.

kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This full-meal-deal functions as an entire shelter. It comes with the hammock, removable bug net, and rainfly, as well as the tree straps, metal pegs, and guy lines to hold out the tarp. The whole package sets up in less than a minute and weighs between 2 and 3 pounds.

Recommended Videos

Small, knot-free clips hold the guy lines in place and Kanga Claw carabiners, strong enough to handle a small car, attach either end to the tree-friendly webbing straps. To gaze at the stars or let in an extra breeze on warm nights, one or both sides of the tarp can be rolled up or taken off completely. The bug net also opens both sides for easy exits (just remember you’re in a hammock) or can be removed if you’re not battling with tiny blood-sucking creatures.

1 of 9
kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder
kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder
kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder
kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder
kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder
kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder
kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder
kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder
kammok mantis hammock
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pockets on either side of the bug net make good stash areas for headlamps, phones or small books. If you need more storage, Kammok also makes accessories that clip onto the small rope ridgeline that holds up the bug net. (For example, the $19 Organizer is a small fabric tube good for phones or headlamps and the $19 Gear Loft is a bit larger, perfect for socks and beanies.) Gear loops along either side can hold a trail quilt in place under or over the hammock for colder adventures.

How to set up your Mantis all-in-one hammock tent

The 1.96-pound Mantis UL is the lighter-weight version of the 2.53-pound Mantis, the only difference being a thinner fabric. The heavier fabric gives the standard Mantis a500-pound weight limit versus 300 pounds on the UL. The Mantis will run $229 retail and the Mantis Ultralight will come in at $259.

Related

Their Kickstarter ends March 5 but you can still pre-order the Mantis through the site.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ross Collicutt
Ross Collicutt
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ross is an outdoor adventure writer, amateur photographer, and computer programmer based on Vancouver Island, British…
How to pack a tent in a backpack: A pro guide for beginners in 6 easy steps
Tents take up more room in your pack than almost anything else. That's why knowing how to pack one is key
Big camping green backpack and yellow tent in the mountains.

When you’re out for an overnight hike in the wilderness, you need to be amply prepared for the experience. At a minimum, that means having a map for self-navigation, plus packing water, food, a good tent, your best hiking boots — you get the picture. You’ll also want to make sure you pack things properly so you don’t create an overly cumbersome pack, which can lead to a miserable slog along the way, or worse, injury and strain that can bring your planned outdoor adventures to a sudden end.

Learning how to properly pack a camping backpack is just as important as what you put in it. And learning how to pack a tent inside a backpack will allow you to focus on the things that really matter, like spotting wildlife along the way, not tripping over tree roots, and keeping your Instagram stories fresh with new videos from the backcountry. Here's the low-down on how to pack a tent in a backpack like a pro in six easy steps.

Read more
Review: Does the iPhone 14 Plus live up to its outdoorsy reputation?
Great photos and new safety features are solid travel additions
iPhone 14 Plus.

The iPhone 14 dropped several months ago, and having had a chance to give it a thorough test run, I aim to answer once and for all: Is it worth the upgrade?

I’m particularly interested in the viability of its alleged usefulness for outdoor enthusiasts. Apple has pushed the idea that the latest iPhone is well-suited for travel and adventure thanks to a few specific features, especially when paired with the Apple Watch Ultra. So I’ve spent a couple of weeks playing around with an iPhone 14 Plus to determine whether it lives up to its reputation as a phone for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Read more
Nemo Dagger OSMO 2P Review: Why I Love This Do-It-All Tent
A Nemo Dagger OSMO 2P backpacking tent out in the backcountry.

I got a chance to spend the last month or so with the latest iteration of the Nemo Dagger 2P backpacking tent. The Dagger has been a beloved tent in the Nemo lineup for years, most notably because it pulls double duty as a solid camping tent for two that also happens to be fast and light enough for proper backpacking duty. The "new for 2022" model, the Nemo Dagger OSMO 2P, packs all the same features of the old Dagger, but brings a new standard to the table: It's made from Nemo's new 100% recycled OSMO fabric.

Light and compact, impressively weatherproof, and made from premium materials throughout, the Nemo Dagger OSMO 2P is arguably the best Dagger yet, and if you're looking for that "one tent to rule them all" the new Dagger should be on your shortlist. Here's my take on the Dagger OSMO 2P after a few nights in the woods.

Read more