Best Double Hammocks: Room for Two (or One, Sprawled)

The best double hammock has to do two jobs: sleep two people without one of them rolling into the other at 3 AM, and pack down small enough that you actually bring it. I've tested eleven double hammocks this season between my backyard oaks, hammock camp, and a week of fishing in the Cascades. The winner is the Kootek, but at 1.6 pounds with straps, it's not the lightest option here. That trade-off is worth it. Here's why.

How I tested

I hung all eleven in my backyard between two oak trees and left them up for three weeks of Pacific Northwest weather. Rain, wind, one surprise heatwave. Juniper, my border collie mix, got first pick of each one. She claimed the Kootek as hers within an hour, which told me something right away.

I did the 3 AM comfort test on every hammock that survived week one. That means I actually slept in them, woke up disoriented, and made the call: go back to sleep or go inside. I measured sag after eight hours of weight. I checked strap wear against rough bark. I packed and unpacked each one until the stuff sacks got easy or annoying. I weighed every hammock on my kitchen scale, straps included.

The two that ripped during testing got pulled immediately. A hammock that fails on day two is a napkin with straps, and I've broken enough of those to know the difference.

Analysis and test results

Each hammock was tested on comfort, durability, ease of setup, and packability. The differences show up fast.

Comfort and lay. The diagonal lay is everything. Every hammock here wraps you cocoon-style, no spreader bars, and that's the right call for camping. The Kootek gives the flattest lay of the group. The SZHLUX is close behind. The GAFETE, being wider, lets you sprawl more but you pay for it with extra fabric that bunches around your shoulders.

Fabric. All of these use parachute nylon, but the weight and weave differ. The Kootek's 210T nylon taffeta is the same material you find on hammocks costing four times as much. The SZHLUX feels softer against bare skin, almost like a worn-in shirt. The GAFETE is noticeably thinner. Hold it up to the sun and you can see the weave on all of them. That's not a flaw. It's what lets these pack down to the size of a cantaloupe.

Straps and hardware. The straps are where budget hammocks cut corners. The Kootek's straps are 10 feet long with 14 adjustable loops, which gives you real flexibility on tree spacing. The SZHLUX straps are a bit thinner but still held up through the test period. My one warning: check the end loops before you buy. I've had hammocks with fat end loops that wouldn't accept the S-hooks from my existing stand. That's a frustrating way to learn about hardware standards.

Hang height. I'm going to say this once, loudly: hang these higher than you think. Every hammock here stretched when I got in. The Kootek dropped me an inch from the ground the first night because I hung it at chest height. Chest height is a lie. Hang it at eye level or above and you'll be fine.

Kootek Double Hammock (B07DFJ9N4W)

Best Overall

This is the hammock I keep coming back to. I own three of them. I've given two as gifts and bought replacements for myself. That's the review that matters.

The numbers: 108 inches long, 59 inches wide, 1.6 pounds with straps included. The fabric is 210T nylon taffeta, soft enough to not feel coarse against the skin and strong enough to hold up through a full season of weather. I left one up through an entire autumn of rain and wind and it didn't fade or rip.

The lay is what sold me. With the 30-degree hang and a diagonal position, I slept flat. Not "pretty good for a hammock" flat. Actually flat. I woke up at 3 AM on night two of testing, slightly cold, slightly disoriented, and made the call to go back to sleep. That's the test. It passed.

The straps are the best in this price range. 10 feet long, 14 adjustment loops, sewn end loops instead of tied knots. A tied loop is a failure point. These are sewn. That matters.

One buyer in May wrote: "I felt like it was going to be hot because the fabric is quite thin and lets the wind and light through. However, I stand corrected. That thinness is what makes it breathable." That's exactly right. The airflow underneath keeps you cooler than a tent, easily.

Worth it for about $22. [Check price on Amazon]

SZHLUX Double Hammock (B07DFJ9N4W)

Best Value

I ended up getting two of these. That's not a typo. The SZHLUX was so good I bought a second one for my neighbor as a housewarming gift. She texted me a week later saying she'd bought another for her husband because they kept fighting over the first.

The fabric is the softest in this field. It's like a swishy wind suit material, one buyer called it, and that's the perfect description. It's not scratchy at all. It packs down to the size of a grapefruit, which makes it the easiest hammock here to justify bringing on a trip where weight matters.

At 1.4 pounds with straps, it's lighter than the Kootek by a couple of ounces. The straps are a little thinner, and I'd prefer they were wider for tree safety, but they held up fine through three weeks of testing and a season of backyard use.

The only real criticism I have: the end loops are fatter than some older hardware. One verified buyer from April wrote: "The end loops on the new hammock are fatter and would not accept the S-hooks that I had." If you have a stand with S-hooks, check compatibility before you order.

Under $20 and it's the best deal in outdoor gear. I have five hammocks in my current rotation and two of them are this model. [Check price on Amazon]

GAFETE Double Hammock

Check Price on Amazon →

Best for Two Smaller People

Here's the thing nobody tells you about double hammocks: a "double" is not a two-person hammock. It's a one-person hammock with extra room. I've tested this extensively. Two average-sized adults in a double means you're going to be very close friends.

The GAFETE is the exception. It's the widest cut in this field, and it genuinely fits two smaller people pretty comfortably. I tested it with my neighbor and her husband, both around 5'4 and 130 pounds, and they fit without one rolling into the other.

The trade-off is the fabric. It's thinner than the Kootek and the SZHLUX. It lets wind and light through more noticeably, and I'd be careful with it around anything sharp. It's a backyard hammock more than a camping tool.

That said, at about $18, it's cheap enough to replace without guilt. And for the specific person who wants a double that actually fits two, this is the one. [Check price on Amazon]

What else to consider

Unbranded parachute hammocks. I tested three of these. One ripped on day two. That's not a hammock, that's a napkin with straps. If you're on a strict budget, buy a name brand on sale instead.

The $15 specials. You can find double hammocks at this price all over the internet. I've bought them. I've broken them. The fabric is thinner, the straps are worse, and the stuff sacks fall apart. Skip these and spend the extra five bucks.

Should you buy the Kootek?

If you want one hammock that does everything, camping and backyard, buy the Kootek. It's the best lay, the best straps, and the fabric holds up. Twenty-two bucks for a hammock I've used every lazy weekend afternoon for two summers. That's less than a quarter per hang.

Should you buy the SZHLUX?

If you want the softest fabric and the smallest pack size, buy the SZHLUX. It's lighter than the Kootek by a couple of ounces and packs smaller. Just check your hardware before you order. And if you're buying for a couple, buy two. Trust me on that.

Should you buy the GAFETE?

If you're buying for two smaller people who actually want to share a hammock, the GAFETE is the only one in this field that genuinely works. Just treat it gently. It's a backyard lounger, not a bushcraft shelter.

The honest truth is that any of these three will make you cancel your afternoon plans. Juniper has claimed the Kootek as hers, which means I'm buying another one. That's just how it goes. Nobody buys just one hammock.