Best Hammocks for Your Backyard

This Vivere Brazilian style hammock is my top recommended hammock for your backyard. The Brazilian style features a gathered end and is made from thick cotton fabric. As you get inside, the hammock will wrap around your body for support and the low sag means it’s very difficult to fall out.

The hammock has a total length of 12ft and a bed width of 5’3ft which is adequate for one or two people. The proper way to lie in a gathered end hammock is diagonally across it which helps you find a flat position.

Made from 100% cotton denim, the hammock comes in a huge range of patterns and styles, from stripped to checked and more bohemian looking options with tassels. The colours are vivid and do not fade over time. As the material isn’t treated, I wouldn’t recommend leaving it out when not in use.

If you want something that’s a bit more weatherproof and durable, then a quilted hammock like this one from Zupapa might be a better fit.

Some people feel that a gathered end hammock is hard to get in to, especially those who aren’t used to hammocking. That’s where a spreader bar comes in handy, it’s a wooden bar that runs across the strings to give it an open position. Spreader bars can make a hammock slightly more tippy, however I’ve chosen this particular hammock as the spreader bar is slightly curved which helps make it more balanced.

It’s made from two layers of polyester which is a synthetic material and much more resilient than most cotton fabrics. It’s ideal for the backyard, especially if you have kids because the polyester doesn’t absorb much water so is easy to clean. In between the two layers is extra stuffing to provide a bit of comfort as polyester isn’t that comfortable on its own.

The spreader bar is made from bamboo and has a clever clip in the middle that allows it to break in half for easy storage. Speaking of storage, it comes with a handy carry case too.

Next up is this Yellow Leaf hammock. Before I get into the details of the hammock itself, fans of Shark Tank might recognise the Yellow Leaf brand when founders Joe and Rachel pitched the sharks for investment and were inundated with proposals.

The hammocks are the only ones on this list to be made in Asia where hammocks are also popular. They are made by the Mlabri Tribe whom Joe and Rachel met when visiting Northern Thailand. The high-quality handwoven hammocks immediately caught their attention.

The hammocks are made in a traditional Mayan style, with a soft mesh-like cotton in a gathered end style without a spreader bar. The material is what really makes these hammocks, it’s extremely soft and will cling to your body in a cocoon of coziness, you’ll never want to leave the comfort of your backyard again.

The hammocks are a double size and have a 400lb capacity. One final touch that I really like is that each hammock is signed by its creator.

This bohemian style hammock shouts summer vibes. It’s made from 100% natural cotton which is more sustainable and has longer fibres which adds to the softness of the material.

It’s sold by Novica which is a marketplace that connects artisan makers in Central and South America with buyers looking for quality products. All of their hammocks are fair trade certified, so you know the maker is getting a fair wage, plus they come with a story card that tells you about the hammocks back story.

The hammock is big at 11’11ft long with a bed width of 5’5ft so it’s perfect for all the family to hang out in the garden. As it’s made from cotton, it’s not suitable for being left out in the bad weather.

The next recommended hammock for your backyard is another spreader bar design, however this one is in the Nicaraguan style (sometimes just called American style) which is made from a single piece of fabric.

The Ohuhu hammock uses a polyester-cotton blend which makes is very unlikely to tear compared to typical cotton hammocks. However, you do lose some of the breathability that cotton provides.

The hammock is 10’6ft long so doesn’t require too much space to hang, ideal if you have a smaller garden or plan to use a hammock stand. The design here features vibrant multi-color stripes but there are others to choose from. The hammock comes with everything you need to hang it from a tree or posts in your garden, plus a handy carry case.

When you picture a beach scene with a hammock, you probably imagine a loose weave rope hammock in the Caribbean. Well, now you can bring the essence to your backyard with Vivere’s rope hammock. It features a spreader bar to hold the hammock open and make it easier to get in and out of.

The rope is made from 100% cotton, so you won’t be able to leave it out year-round as cotton can be prone to mildew if it gets wet regularly. However, you will benefit from it being far more comfortable than the polyester rope hammocks, thanks to 3-ply thick cotton that’s stretchy and supports your body.

The hammock is one of the longer options at 12.5ft long from ring to ring, this is perfect.

I wouldn’t typically recommend a camping hammock for the backyard, this is because they are made from synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon instead of cotton like the others I have shared. This is less comfortable and not necessary for the backyard.

However, I have spoken to a number of enthusiasts over the years who will happily throw up a camping hammock in their backyard. This is because they don’t want to invest in multiple hammocks so having one that is fit for all occasions is important.

That’s why I’m including the ENO DoubleNest in this list. It’s a very versatile hammock that is strong and lightweight for when you’re off camping, but still comfortable enough to lounge around in at home.

As it’s made from nylon, it’s much stronger and more resistant to the weather than your typical leisure hammock that’s made from cotton. This means you don’t need to worry if it’s left out and it can easily be washed or wiped if the kids spill something on it.