Every spring, our inbox fills with the same question: what actually matters when you prepare for thru-hiking? After another season of testing, the answer keeps coming back to fundamentals — fit, weight and weather protection, in that order.
The short version
Start with the hammocks category: it is where beginners overspend most. Our current benchmark is the tested model from this line, which balances durability against weight.
What changed this year
Materials moved fast in 2025. Recycled fabrics closed the durability gap, and repairability became a real purchasing criterion. We now weigh warranty terms as heavily as grams — details in our help docs.
For a deeper dive, our guides section has step-by-step walkthroughs — start with the tent pitching guide.
Questions? Reach the team via the contact page. — Petra Novak