Hennessy Hammocks Reviews: Choosing the Right Hammock for You

Hennessy Hammock offers plenty of models that appeal to particular niches, but the Expedition Classic takes the best average and provides it at a low cost. For example, this hammock is made of 70D nylon taffeta for the base and 70D polyester coated in polyurethane for the rain fly.

On top of that, the Expedition Classic is easier to carry than some as it packs down to 4” x 7” x 9”. Even better, this hammock comes with all of the great features you expect like the automatic closure and the gear loft attached to the zipline.

Unfortunately, this hammock suffers a bit in terms of its ultimate specs as the 6’ height limit combined with the asymmetrical design is not the most comfortable for everyone. It also does not help that the Expedition Classic is challenging to assemble and not suitable for extreme conditions.

The Deep Jungle Zip is Hennessy’s approach to offering shelter in some of the most inhospitable warm-weather environments around. For starters, this hammock boasts some of the best waterproofing we encountered with a rain fly that supports a 2000 mm hydrostatic rating.

This waterproofing comes from the unusual material used whereby nylon and silicon threads are woven together and then treated with a polyurethane coating. Also, the Deep Jungle Zip has a dual hammock layer and the bug net zips up completely, so you do not have to worry about insects.

Unfortunately, as great as Hennessy Hammocks already are, improving on one of the best hammock brands costs money, and this is an expensive hammock. On top of that, all of the extra features and treatments also weigh down the Deep Jungle Zip, which tips the scales at 2 lb 10 oz.

While Hennessy always provide good performance, they tend to be more expensive than competing brands, which is where the Leaf Lounger comes in. For a full-size adult, this is a surprisingly inexpensive hammock that does not disappoint in many other areas.

For example, this is one of the more portable hammocks on our list with the Leaf Lounger weighing in at 1 lb 3 oz and packing down into a compact 3” x 4” x 10” stuff sack. Even better, you still get the same excellent build you would expect with a hammock base made of 70D nylon taffeta.

That said, finding a budget-friendly hammock will cost you somewhere down the line, and for this model, that cost comes in the form of protection. Specifically, this is the only product that we reviewed, which provides neither a rain fly nor a mesh layer.

Finding a hammock for full-sized adults is one thing, but making sure the hammock can accommodate a child without swallowing them whole is another. The Cub Zip is not only designed specifically for a child but still meets most other high standards.

As you generally expect from Hennessy, the Cub Zip is made of 70D polyester for the base and features 70D polyester treated with polyurethane for the rainfly. Even better, this hammock zips up entirely and is much easier to carry, weighing only 2 lb 1 oz and packing down into a 4” x 7” x 9” stuff sack.

That said, being made for a child tends to restrict this hammock for use by only a child as it has both the lowest height and weight limits on our list at 5’4” and 120 lbs, respectively. As if that were not enough, the Cub Zip also has the lowest test rope at only 720 pounds.

While Hennessy makes various models for different sizes of people and environments, their Ultralite Backpacker Classic is one of the few for specific types of camping. What is more surprising is that this hammock maintains most of the same specs while still accommodating backpackers’ needs.

For instance, the Ultralite Backpacker Classic is one of the lightest models reviewed and is the lightest one made for adults at only 1 lb 15 oz. On top of that, the lightweight design finds itself complemented with one of the most compact profiles on our list at a svelte 4” x 6” x 9”.

On the other hand, keeping the relative durability and general specs equal is a costly process, and the Ultralite Backpacker Classic is an expensive option. It also does not help that this hammock has the lightest adult weight limit at 200 pounds and only a 1200 lb test rope.

Many of the hammocks we reviewed focus on one area or another, but the Safari Deluxe Classic XXL is among the few to aim the highest. For example, this hammock is tied for first place in terms of height limit, able to accommodate someone up to 7’ tall.

Likewise, the Safari Deluxe Classic XXL tops our list concerning weight limit and can hold up to 350 pounds. However, the construction of this hammock stands out the most with a hammock base made of 210D Oxford nylon and rope with a 2100 lb test to match.

Unfortunately, all of these specs that rate at the top of our list does not come cheap, and the Safari Deluxe Classic XXL is an expensive model. This is also not the hammock to take along if you need to hike to your campsite as it weighs the most at 3 lb 14 oz.

While this model may not top our list in all categories, it ranks second in most of them and comes with additional features not often found. For instance, this is only the second hammock made for an adult that features a fully zipped enclosure to offer more protection from insects.

Of course, this hammock can accommodate some of our larger campers, tying our list with a height limit of 7’ and earning the second-best rank for its weight limit at 300 pounds. Even better, the Explorer Deluxe Zip XL makes it a point to provide a durable build with a 140D nylon taffeta hammock base.

As with any hammock that exceeds the company standard, the Explorer Deluxe Zip XL is an expensive model. Likewise, as a hammock that accommodates larger campers and offers thicker fabric, it also weighs more at 3 lb 9 oz.