TreeLineBackpacker

Hammocking in the dessert? On a barren peak? In the middle of a desolate snow field? Easier than you think. The Eno Nomad Hammock Stand can be set up anywhere, tree or no tree. Let’s review this thing.

The Nomad Hammock Stand system is essentially two freestanding hammock mounts. Each mount has four durable 6061 Anodized Aluminum Alloy legs which are connected together via impact resistant plastic and high strength 1000D Polyfilament Webbing. Two two stands connect to each other via a beefy aluminum crossbar. The quadpod like legs stake down to the earth to ensure the system will not shift or move. The Nomad supports most of Eno’s more traditional hammocks and most of their rain covers for use in wet conditions. The entire kit packs into a relatively small and included travel backpack and weighs just under 19 pounds for everything. MSRP is $299 and it is available now.

Let’s talk about the purpose of the Nomad Hammock Stand. We all know hammocking is just delightful. Anyone who has fallen in love with it also know it’s not always an option. Trees are generally required and often need to be perfectly spaced, sturdy, and generally speaking in a safe area for the concept to work. The Nomad Hammock Stand more or less eliminates most of these variables. It can be used just about anywhere that offers a patch of relatively flat space. This means hammock car camping is always an option. So if someone only hammock camps or only has that equipment, this basically makes that universally an option, which is super nice.

Setting up the Nomad is relatively quick. After a few practice runs I found I was able to get it up and functional in about 5 minutes. This included unpacking, assembling the poles, connecting to two poles together with the central pole, staking it down, and attaching the hammock. The process is mostly painless, with the only trick part being connecting the horizontal pole to the webbing. It requires these small hook like connections to slide into the webbing, which can be a little fussy. It’s really not difficult but I’m being picky about it. A couple of practice runs and I found I was setting the system up with speed and confidence. breaking it down is a little tougher as the poles lock together fairly tight and the cordage can get in the way, but that’s minor as well. I have had a few nasty knots tie in the cordage between poles, but I sorted that quickly enough.

Once setup, the whole system is surprisingly stable. I do recommend staking it down as it can theoretically tip over without the reinforcement, but so far that hasn’t happened to me on flat ground and a little care. There is some flex when sliding inside, which is a little unnerving until confidence in the design sets in, but I quickly adapted to the sensation and found myself drifting away happily and securely. It doesn’t move around in the wind and it holds up well in storm weather as well.

Comfort wise, the Nomad is basically identical to hanging in a tree, or perhaps even better. The hammock is perfectly spaced by default, so a perfect hang is essentially guaranteed as long as you’re using an ENO hammock with it. It sits at the perfect height from the ground as well, making it easy to climb in, without being slumped or dragging the dirt. It is quite appropriate for safety and the ease of entry and egress is appreciate. Tarps can be attached at a low height for better weather protection, or placed in an elevated position by simply moving two aluminum extensions to a higher peg. This allows the system to be tweaked for better rain protection, or better visibility and ventilation accordingly. It’s not going to be fun to do in the rain, so error on the side of caution.

The entire kit is a little weighty at just over 15 pounds including the pack, but that isn’t bad considering the burly construction. The pack weight will be heavier once you add a hammock, accessories and a tarp of course. The carry pack is relatively comfortable and provides an easy to carry option for hauling the hammock for short distances. It will grow fatiguing rather quickly if attempted to carry the kit for a mile or more, but that really isn’t what this is designed for, so that’s O.K. The straps aren’t padded, so some users may find that they dig in a bit under the weight. The pack is easy to load and unload thanks to long half lenght/u-shaped zippers, and provides ample space for everything one would need for a luxurious evening. There is even internal organization and some cinch straps to keep everything in place and quiet.

Construction wise, the Nomad is built extremely well. The aluminum tubing is thick, robust, and only flexes what I consider to be an acceptable amount. The straps and webbing provide an extremely high tear strength and instill a lot of confidence when using the stands. The setup does a flex when in use, but this is mitigated by the nylon webbing and tent stakes. There are some plastic components on board, but it is mostly hubs, feet and intersections, and feels extremely robust. It doesn’t flex or creak, and seems to be extremely high quality, thick plastic.

The only real complaint I have with the kit is it does only work with all ENO hammocks. ( Sky-series and SuperNest hammocks are left behind). It is Universally compatible with hammocks up to 10′ long as long as they use carabiners. They suggest a maximum tarp length of 10’6″ in high mode or 13′ in low mode (the position of the tarp poles). In the photos you’ll notice that I’m using a traditional ENO hammock and tarp. These both work just fine with the Nomad and simply clip into place.

Overall

The Eno Nomad is a sensible, relatively easy to use solution when hammocking is life, with or without trees. It’s easy to setup with some practice, holds strong in a storm, and is usable in just about any condition. The included travel pack makes short distance carry feasible even if not terribly enjoyable, which opens up a lot of hammocking options beyond car side. For car camping, backyard adventuring, or enjoying the local views, it’s a lightweight option that is hard to go wrong with. It does need to be paired with specific Eno hammocks, but otherwise there isn’t much to complain about. It’s solid, convenient, and extremely enjoyable to use.

Highly Recommended

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Big thanks to Eno for sending this over for review. I reached out and they were happy to provide me sample for testing. We couldn’t do this without their support.

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