Jungle Hammock - DD Hammocks

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Tropical / Jungle Hammock Camping & General Advice:

If travelling to a tropical/ jungle area you should always check what the local health risks are as well as the weather (will it be monsoon season?) and take the neccesary precautions.
The number one precaution when jungle hammock camping is to avoid being bitten:

Which Hammock?
We strongly advise using one of our hammocks with built on mosquito nets when in the tropics / jungle. Both the DD Travel Hammock and DD Frontline Hammock have mosquito nets but we normally recommend our Frontline Hammock for junge hammock camping as its very breathable. The Travel Hammock has a waterproof base so is not as breathable although there are some people who've been to the tropics who prefer the Travel as they want the option to use it as a bivi on the ground (this would be handy if going to a tropical country but not camping in areas with trees / jungle). As well as the mosquito net above you - both Frontline and Travel Hammocks have a two layer base, under you, which helps to prevent bites from below. Mosquitoes have been known to bite through single layer hammocks so having the two layers helps protect against this.

Treating the mosquito net with DEET based insect repellent is also advisable for jungle expeditions. A slow burning mosquito coil placed under the hammock at night also helps.

Its hard to give specific advice for jungle hammock camping as it can vary alot depending what part of the world you are in and there are often a large number of local conditions to be aware of. However we've included some tips below which we hope you find useful:

Wear clothes that cover as much of you as possible, long trousers and long sleeved shirts (especially at night). They should also be lightwieght and quick drying.

Where should I set up my hammock in the jungle?
Do not camp close to rivers, as well as the risk from flash floods there is also the risk of dangerous animals nearby (this is obviously dependent on where you are).

Try to find a clearing that is slightly higher than the surrounding land - what is dry land when you go to sleep can turn into a river/ small lake by morning.
Check the trees around your camp for bee / insect nests.
A key thing to do is keep your gear off the ground (keeping it dry). It is VERY important to keep food and even toothpaste off the ground (ideally in a sealed container as a number of nocturnal animals will go for these, given the chance, and you could find your burgen/ rucksack destroyed in the process). A small netted hammock hanging just under/ above your sleeping hammock is ideal for this and allows you access to your gear while in your hammock. You can also hang your bag from a tree branch. At night set two strong 3 ft sticks into the ground near your hammock - when sitting in your hammock take your boots off and put them on these sticks (wake up to dry/ insect free boots).

It can be very hard, sometimes impossible, to keep things dry in the jungle. Having a number of dry/ sealable bags is extremely useful.