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This Gravity-Defying Hammock Removes the Biggest Pain Point in Elevated Sleeping

This unique design intended for comfortable backcountry snoozing may just be the coolest approach we’ve ever seen.

Person wearing a patterned bandana and sweater attaching a warm LED strip light to a tent at dusk.Haven
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By Hayley Helms

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Sleeping in a hammock sounds cool in theory, but in practice it’s often a pain in the neck … literally.

Traditional hammocks sag, placing enormous amounts of pressure on your body while you snooze. And if you’re a stomach sleeper like me, then sleeping in a hammock is essentially an exercise in smothering yourself, which isn’t exactly restful.

Person sitting in a black suspended hammock tent with mesh sides in a wooded outdoor setting.
The Spectre uses Haven’s flat-lay technology to finally allow hammock sleepers to have a good night’s rest.
Haven

The Spectre, a new hammock from Haven, doesn’t just solve those sorts of problems; the lightweight design is also half the weight of its other offerings, making it even more backcountry-friendly.

Sleep tight

I’ll get right to the point: the Haven Spectre’s most impressive design feature is its lay-flat, supportive design. Unlike traditionally-constructed hammocks, which bow in the middle and place tons of pressure on your back, the Spectre is constructed to support any type of sleeping position while eliminating pressure points.

Dark gray inflatable sleeping pad inside a tent with mesh walls and autumn foliage visible outside.
Breathable mesh on the main body of the hammock tent brings a whole new meaning to “sleeping under the stars.”
Haven

This is achieved by integrating a tensioned sleeping platform with a lightweight suspension system, resulting in a stable sleeping surface. But if that sounds like a heavy set-up, it’s not: the Spectre weighs just over four pounds.

Gray woven Spectre Straps by Haven with black label and metal loops on a stone surface.
Heavy-duty straps help support the Spectre’s 285-pound weight capacity.
Haven

Sleeping in the Spectre isn’t just comfortable; it’s dreamy, too, thanks to the semi-transparent mesh body that allows for snoozing under the stars without worrying about bugs. The proprietary mesh is ultralight and breathable but retains enough toughness to resist tears.

There’s even an included gear sling that hangs below the tent, as well as two pockets in the interior of the tent, constructed from the same hardworking Monolite mesh.

Brown and black hiking backpack with gray straps being packed with a rolled black sleeping bag on rocky ground.
Designed for backpacking, the Haven’s base model weighs less than 5 pounds, which makes it easy to pack.
Haven

If you add in the Dyneema rainfly and Spectre Pad, the entire kit weighs just over 6 pounds, which is pretty heavy in terms of backpacking, but totally manageable if you’re car camping or split the weight between multiple packs.

In case there aren’t any trees around, you can erect the Spectre in “Bivy Mode” — that is, right on the ground — and it’ll work just fine.

Haven says set-up of the Spectre takes less than five minutes, which sounds great, but beginners may take a little longer to get the, ahem, hang of the hammock.

Availability and pricing

The Spectre is available now on Haven’s official website, starting at $485 without add-ons.

About the Author: Hayley Helms is an associate editor at Gear Patrol specializing in outdoor gear. Once upon a time, she wrote for Men’s Journal, Gearjunkie and Shape. Whether it’s testing a new rain shell or putting a pair of hiking boots through its paces, she leaves no stone unturned (however, she always Leaves No Trace).

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