How to Use Hammock Straps: 5 Steps (w/ Videos!)

Learning how to use hammock straps takes only a few minutes. You just need some tree-friendly hammock straps, a hammock, and a couple trees to hang your hammock from.

I’ll show you how to do it with some step-by-step photos and videos.

Let’s get to it!

Step 1: Wrap One of Your Hammock Straps Around a Tree

Unwind one of your straps and wrap it around a tree.

Tip: It’s recommended that you hang your hammock high enough that the bottom of it is about 18 inches off the ground. To achieve this, you’ll usually want to wrap your straps at a height of around 5 or 6 feet.

Step 2: Feed the End with the Attachment Points Through the Loop on the Opposite End

Locate the end with the attachment points.

Feed the end with the attachment points through the loop on the opposite end.

Step 3: Pull the End with the Attachment Points to Tighten the Strap Around the Tree

You want to pull your strap pretty tight so it doesn’t slide down the tree.

Make any adjustments, if necessary. For instance, you may want to raise or lower the strap. I like to adjust mine so that the spot where the strap exits the loop points toward the other tree.

You just hung your first hammock strap! Now you repeat the process for the other one.

Step 4: Repeat Steps 1-3 for the Other Hammock Strap

Wrap the other strap around the other tree. Feed the end with the attachment points through the loop on the other end. Pull the strap tight and make any adjustments, if necessary.

Here’s a sped-up video of the complete process:

Now both straps are set up! Time to hang your hammock.

Step 5: Clip Your Hammock to the Straps

Clip your hammock’s carabiners to one of the strap’s attachment points. Pull the other end of the hammock over to the other tree and clip it to the other strap.

Get in your hammock and see how it feels!

Make any adjustments to improve the angle or height of your hang. You can change which attachment points your hammock is clipped to, raise or lower the straps, or even tie one of the straps around a different tree.

For instance, I decided to lower my hammock by a couple attachment points on one end.

And just like that…

…you’re done! You now know how to use hammock straps.

Get in your hammock and RELAX. You’ve earned this. 😉

I’ve focused on using hammock straps to hammock in trees. But you can also use these same steps to hang your hammock from porches, balconies, wooden posts, and more.

Note: I used the popular ENO Atlas straps and ENO DoubleNest hammock in this tutorial. But these instructions will work for almost any hammock and hammock tree straps.

How to Use Hammock Straps in a Tree-Friendly Way: 7 Dos & Don’ts

Hammocking can damage trees. To limit your impact, here are some Leave No Trace-approved tips to keep in mind when using hammock straps.

1. DO use tree-friendly hammock straps. These straps are at least 0.75″ wide and made of webbing that goes around the tree to minimize damage.
2. DO make sure your area allows tree hammocking. Some public lands, such as some city and state parks, have banned tree hammocking.
3. DO inspect the trees and ground for sensitive plant life, wildlife dwellings, and potential hazards such as poison ivy or beehives. Ideally, the trees and surrounding area have little to no ground cover.
4. DON’T hammer or screw anything into trees. Your straps will stay up by themselves.
5. DON’T use straps made from non-tree-friendly material. Materials such as rope or plastic cords can damage tree bark.
6. DON’T wrap your straps around dead trees or trees with dead branches. You could get hurt if a branch were to fall.
7. DON’T wrap your straps around trees that bend or trees in wet areas. You could potentially uproot them by hammocking from them.

When used appropriately, hammock straps generally have a minimal impact on the environment. Leave No Trace, in reference to hammock camping, calls hammocks a good example of “minimum impact shelters.”

So follow these tips, then rest easy knowing you’re leaving only a tiny footprint.