Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

This Walmart Tent Offers the Best Sleep You’ll Ever Have in the Great Outdoors

A green Klymit hammock tent strung between two tress in a forest.
Klymit

When it comes to the outdoors, a few nights on the lumpy ground can ruin the outlook of any hiker. Forget the mountains and fresh air; all you’ll want is your bedroom’s foam matures. That’s why, when it comes to solo overnight adventures, we recommend switching out your old tent and moving your campsite up into the trees. Hammocks have been used by hikers for years because of their light weight, adaptability, and lack of tent poles. If you’ve been hammock-curious, now’s the time to take the plunge with the Klymit Sky Bivy.

Some people, thinking back to their boozy vacations in Puerto Vallarta cabanas, might question the long-term efficiency of sleeping in a hammock. “Won’t its collapsing sides roll your shoulders into the shape of a burrito, effectively smothering you as you try to sleep?” they ask. For this reason, hammocks like the Sky Bivy feature spreader bars on each end, which ensure a relatively flat surface upon which to sleep. No more ripstop nylon over your mouth; its bottom remains surprisingly flat until its sides sharply raise, providing both security and breathing room.

On clear nights, enjoy your view of the stars by setting up the hammock itself. But when you’re in for a stormy night and no permeant shelters within range, its rain fly, complete with bug-guard mesh, extends well below the hammock itself, providing a weathertight environment under which to sleep. Until the rain starts rising from the ground itself, you’re protected. Four aluminum stakes and tension lock guylines are included to ensure that rain fly is secure to the ground when the wind really starts to rip.

Related Guides

Supporting up to 300 pounds and with more than a 10.5-foot sleeping surface (as well as almost four feet wide), the Sky Bivy should hold you with ease and with enough space for a pillow fight. The only considerations, of course, are trees within either side, so plan ahead and scout accordingly before the sun starts to dip. Tent or hammock, no one likes setting up camp in the dark.

This one-person shelter packs down to about the size of a football and weighs less than five pounds, making it incredibly light for its expansive footprint. It will fit perfectly in the bottom of most daypacks and hiking packs.

When it comes to your next camping trip, you can dig around in your attic for that old tent with its half-dozen rips and tears. Then you can grab your sleeping bag and pad or cot, and haul the whole thing on your back like some kind of tortured snail, and still get a terrible night’s sleep. Or you could break down and buy the Klymit Sky Bivy through Walmart. Above the rocks and roots and snakes, you’ll enjoy an evening being rocked to sleep by a mellow breeze. During inclement weather, you’ll listen to the water bouncing off the sides of the rain fly. Tucked away, you’ll remain dry and remarkably comfortable. And then, finally, you’ll drift into the best sleep you’ve ever had in the Great Outdoors.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Gugala
Features Writer
Jon Gugala is a freelance writer and photographer based in Nashville, Tenn. A former gear editor for Outside Magazine, his…
Learn to tie the clove hitch for when you need a secure, adjustable knot
The clove hitch is one of the most useful knots to have at your disposal in the outdoors
A clove hitch tied to a fixed point

The clove hitch knot is among the most useful outdoor knots you can learn. This fully adjustable bind has endless uses and can be tied either freestanding or around an object. Being fully adjustable means you won't have to completely retie the knot in your system if you want to adjust the tension of your rope.

Read more
8 healthy benefits of hiking you need to know
Start hiking and enjoy the mental and physical benefits right away
Two people hiking together

Hiking is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the U.S. However, it’s more than just a full-body workout; it’s also an excellent opportunity to spend time in nature, clear your mind, and improve your sense of well-being. In addition, hiking is a fully adjustable workout, and you can start on an easy trail and work your way up to full-blown mountain hiking no matter how long your progress takes!

It’s an activity that can be done just about anywhere. Because the prime hiking season in the national parks around the U.S. varies based on climate and affordability, you can easily adjust your hiking plans to match the seasons and see some beautiful areas throughout the country. It’s a great way to meet nature at its level and a perfect excuse to shut out the noise of the modern world.

Read more
ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 is the first real off-grid AC and it’s discounted right now
Zero Breeze Mark 2 real off-grid AC being carried

Last summer, and most of last year, really, was one of the hottest on record. This year looks to be just as hot, so you'll need a reliable way to cool down. The problem with that is that air conditioners are expensive. They're expensive to install and run, and if you're living off-grid, you can pretty much forget about AC at all — until now, anyway. ZERO BREEZE has introduced the first truly off-grid air conditioner that's ultra-portable — at only 16.5 pounds — and battery-powered. The 24-volt battery can last up to eight hours in sleep mode, perfect for extended off-grid use or van-living. You can even connect solar panels or plug it into DC or AC outlets to boost battery life, if and when available. The handheld and lightweight design works exceptionally well for easy transportation and travel, so you can bring the Mark 2 wherever your adventures take you. Use code SPRING15 at checkout through ZERO BREEZE for a limited time to get 15% off your purchase — good from March 15 to March 21.
Buy Now
 
What can the ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 do for you?

Summer can be hot and clammy, and it can even get miserably wet if you live in a humid climate.  One of the trade-offs of staying off-grid is that you're living more efficiently, which also means you're interested in cutting down on power usage and comparable utilities. Even if that's not your goal, and you're just out for an adventure, you'll have to make the same concessions. The wilderness is, well, the wilderness. But with the Mark 2, a portable, battery-powered AC unit, you can cool off anytime, anywhere.

Read more