Haven Tent Hammock Review (A Fantastic Idea)

Love the comfort of a cozy tent but hate setting it up and taking it down? Or perhaps you love stringing up a hammock in seconds but hate sleeping like a banana? Well, you’re in luck. The Haven Tent combines the comfort of a tent with the simplicity of a hammock to bring you the best of both worlds!

Founded by Derek Tillotson, the Haven Tent was originally funded via a Kickstarter campaign back in 2019. Since then, the concept has become reality and you can now buy your very own tent-hammock hybrid.

The main selling point of the product is its hanging design combined with an entirely flat bottom, which means you get all of the perks of a hammock but don’t miss out on the comfort of a good old-fashioned ground tent. Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it?

But does the Haven Tent really work as well as it claims to? And will it really stand up to life in the great outdoors or is it just a gimmick designed for fairweather campers? To find out, let’s take a closer look into the Haven Tent and review its performance in several key areas.

Materials and Durability

One issue that tents and hammocks both face is how to strike the perfect balance between weight and durability. The Haven Tent Hammock has remained in the realm of lightweight outdoor gear, but has this come at the cost of durability?

Hammock

The main hammock is constructed from 70D ripstop polyurethane, a fabric known for its high durability. The plastic fibers themselves are wound nice and tight so they can stand up to the test of time, and they’ve been reinforced to make them especially resistant to rips and tears. Despite this, the fabric is light and breathable, so it’s a great choice for tents and hammocks. It also has a 3000mm waterproof rating (but more on that later!).

Fly

The regular fly has been constructed from the same sturdy material as the hammock itself. It has the same waterproof rating too, so it will double your protection from wet weather. Although the durability of this fly will appeal to some, others might be concerned about the weight it will add.

If you’re looking to shed some extra pounds, then you’ll be pleased to know that there’s also a lightweight fly available. The 20D polyester fabric used is constructed of thinner plastic fibers than the 70D used for the regular fly, which means the fibers are lighter. Just bear in mind that this thinness also reduces the durability – so it’s a bit of a trade-off. You also get a bit more rain protection (4000mm waterproof rating instead of 3000mm) with this option.

Pads

The pad is also constructed from 40D ripstop nylon, another fabric known for its lightweight and durability. There are actually two pads available – the insulated and the ultralight – and we’ll discuss how they differ in terms of warmth below.

Weather Resistance

So, the Haven Tent is built from durable materials that should stand up to some bumps and scrapes, but how well will it stand up to the elements?

Water Resistance

So, the main fabric has a waterproof rating of 3000mm, and you can go for a fly with the same or up it to 4000mm – but what does this actually mean? Well, generally speaking, anything with a rating of 1500 or over is considered waterproof.

Tents and hammocks typically have waterproof ratings ranging from 1000-10,000mm, so a 4,000mm rating definitely means you don’t need to worry about a bit of drizzle. For hardcore rain though, you should definitely consider taking a fly with you too – no one likes a soggy night’s sleep!

Wind Resistance

Many tents feature dome-liked structures to avoid getting caught in the wind. One of the great things about hammocks, though, is that you can hide in small gaps in the trees, where tents might not fit or stake down well, and escape the wind slightly.

Although the Haven Tent can stand up to a reasonable amount of wind, its almost cuboid shape is a tad prone to catching n gusts of wind. Although this might mean the odd sway, the robust internal spreader bars will at least make sure the walls stay strong, so you won’t have a face full of polyurethane in the night.

Warmth

The ultralight pad comes with no insulation, but there’s an insulated version available too. With an R-value of 4, the insulated pad is certainly suitable for 3-season camping, and almost suitable for 4. Plus, if you want to top up the warmth, there’s a pad cover that will give you a boost and propel this set-up into the realms of 4-season camping.

Convenience

One of the main selling points of hammocks is their convenience compared to traditional tents, so let’s see how the Haven performs in this department.

Portability

With a total weight ranging from 4-7lbs (depending on which options you go for), this certainly isn’t a backcountry option. In cold, rainy weather, you’ll want the insulated pad and rain fly with you, and this will make it a bit tricky to carry solo. If you’re just walking a short distance though, it should be manageable. The Haven doesn’t fold down as small as other similar products either, so you might struggle to find room for it in your pack.

Set-Up

Set-up is super simple compared to a traditional tent (yay) – hang the straps between two trees, clip on the hammock, and then add the spreader bars. If you want to add the fly, use the (included) carabiners to connect it to the holes in the main fabric, and voila! Plus, if you really want to, you can pitch the HAven as a ground tent using little more than two trekking poles – pretty neat as a back-up.

Livability

And now for the all-important question – how does it actually feel to spend a night or two inside this tiny contraption?

Well, in terms of space, the Haven performs exceptionally well. The spread does a fantastic job of keeping the walls taut, and the sheerness of the walls really maximizes internal space – you definitely fit a medium-sized pack inside with you.

The structure ridgeline and suspension arcs do an awesome job of keeping the base flat, and it really does feel like your sleeping inside a tent. One recommendation, though, is to string one strap slightly higher than the other, so your head is slightly elevated.

There’s a bug screen that keeps away any tiny intruders, internal pockets, and we absolutely love the dimmable LED accessory that attaches to the ridgeline (purchased separately) – perfect for festivals or anyone keen for some ambiance in the woods!

Value For Money

Overall, the Haven isn’t the cheapest or the most expensive option out there, which is about right for what you’re getting.

While it’s hardier than your run-of-the-mill festival tents, it’s not constructed from high-end backcountry materials. What you’re really paying for is a hammock with a super comfy flat base, something the Haven does exceptionally well at.

Rating

With a rating of 78, the Haven Tent has performed pretty well overall.

It lost a few points for materials and weather resistance – it certainly isn’t a hardcore backcountry hammock (we’d expected some extra weather-resistant features and lighter materials for that) – but it’s definitely durable enough for outdoor life.

But the Haven wins the day when it comes to convenience and livability. It may be bulky, but the Haven is super simple to set up and, once it’s set up, you really are in for a treat – this is one super comfy hammock!

Verdict

So, what do we think of the Haven overall? All things considered, the Haven smashes hammocks out of the park when it comes to livability and tents out of the park when it comes to convenience.

We also love how versatile this product is – choose what fly and pad you want, consider extras like pad covers and decorative LEDs, and even pitch it on the ground if you like!

The price is a tad high considering it’s not constructed from premium materials, but what you’re really paying for is a hammock that provides the comfort of a tent – something the Haven does exceptionally well at.

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