The Best Hammock Stand for Lay-Flat Hammocks: A Guide
Derek Tillotson · September 17, 2024
What's the best hammock stand for a lay-flat hammock? One that leaves clearance for your head and feet, is long enough for your hammock's end-loop distance, has room for the spreader bars and rainfly, and is rated for your weight. Most traditional stands curve upward at the ends and press into a flat sleeping platform. For a Haven, we use the Haven Stand by YOBOGear, which we developed with YOBOGear for lay-flat hammocks and which fits every Haven model. Other stands work if they match your model's end-loop distance and give at least 48 in of hang height, and hitch mounts like the Bare Bones XL work off the back of a vehicle.
Hammock camping has come a long way from hanging a piece of parachute fabric between two trees, and for many campers the lay-flat hammock is now the standard. But if you've ditched the banana for a lay-flat hammock, you may struggle to find a stand that works. Most traditional hammock stands mirror the curve of a standard hammock, leaving lay-flat users out to dry.
Why lay-flat hammocks need a different stand
Traditional hammocks hang with a natural curve, the familiar "banana" shape. Most hammock stands are built for that, with the anchor points held up by curved arms or Y-shaped extensions. Lay-flat designs, like bridge hammocks and the Haven Tent, need a different setup. Otherwise the flat sleeping surface presses against the curved supports, which is uncomfortable and less stable.
We spent a long time looking for a good answer. We found a few workarounds (linked below), but none fully met our standards. That raises the question: what should you look for in a lay-flat hammock stand?
What to look for in a lay-flat hammock stand
Break the curve. A lay-flat hammock needs a stand that lets you, well, lie flat. Look for extra clearance at your head and feet, the two places most likely to hit a traditional stand's supports.
Enough length. Check your hammock's end-loop distance. For a Haven, the stand's span needs to be at least 104 in for the Haven Tent and 108 in for the Haven XL and Spectre; the Haven Safari needs a little more (see the setup guide).
Enough height. For a Haven, the minimum hang height is 48 in.
Strength for your setup. Some bridge hammocks need a very shallow hang angle, with the suspension pulled very tight to reduce sag. That puts a much bigger load on the hammock, straps and stand, so make sure the stand can handle it. This hang angle calculator from The Ultimate Hang helps. It matters less for the Haven, which works at a deeper hang angle. Check the stand's weight rating against your own weight too.
Make way for spreader bars. Most lay-flat hammocks use spreader bars near the ends to keep the platform open, and they can bump into a stand's legs.
Room for the rainfly. Will the fly go above or below the stand's ridgepole, and where will you anchor it?
The Turtle Dog stand
For years, the go-to for lay-flat hammock fans has been the Turtle Dog stand, a DIY tripod setup that gives most lay-flat hammocks the space they need. Using simple materials like wooden poles and metal piping, hammock campers have built their own to get comfort and flexibility. Here is the best DIY video we could find.
The Turtle Dog stand works, but it's bulky and takes time to set up compared with a purpose-built stand.
The Haven Stand by YOBOGear
That's why we partnered with hammock-stand makers YOBOGear to develop the Haven Stand. It takes the core idea of the Turtle Dog stand and builds it for lay-flat hammocks like the Haven:
Fits every Haven: Haven Tent, XL, Spectre and Safari.
Fixed ridgepole: unlike DIY Turtle Dog stands, the ridgepole is fixed in place, which makes the structure more solid and lets you move the whole stand in one piece once it's set up.
Specs: 6000-series aluminum, 127 in end to end, rated to 300 lb (136 kg). It comes with rainfly poles and a carrying case.
Quick to set up: with adjustable height and anchor points that line up with the flat lay.
Note that the stand's 300 lb rating is lower than the Haven Safari's 350 lb rating, so on a stand the stand's limit applies. Full specs and setup are on the product page.
Other stands and mounts
The Haven Stand is our favorite, but there are other options. Stands known to work with a Haven include the Tensa4 and the YOBOGear Camper, Cricket and Hive (setup guide). Whichever you choose, check the span, hang height and weight rating above.
Bare Bones XL: a hitch-mounted stand for pitching off the back of your car or truck. It's large enough for every Haven model, including the Safari.
ENO Nomad: an inexpensive Turtle Dog-style stand, but in our experience too small for most lay-flat hammocks and even large gathered-end hammocks.
Finding the right stand
Traditional stands fall short for lay-flat hammocks because they're built around the curve. Look instead for a stand designed for a flat lay, with enough span and height, a weight rating that covers you, and room for spreader bars and a rainfly.
We normally aim for trees, but a stand opens up new places to camp. One thing I've noticed since I started using a stand is the VIEW we get away from the trees. If you like HAMMOCKS and SPACE, you may need a stand! Comparing car camping setups? See Best Car Camping Sleep Setup. No stand with you? Every Haven can also pitch on the ground in bivy mode (see Going to Ground). And for more on where a Haven fits, read our outdoor sleep systems FAQ.
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