Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip Review (2026)

What it is

The Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip is a hammock tent built around Hennessy's asymmetric bottom fabric, which lets you lie diagonally across the hammock for a flatter position than a standard parallel hammock allows. The packed hammock weighs about 2 pounds 12 ounces, not counting the roughly 3 ounces of included webbing tree straps, and packs down small enough for a stuff sack around 4 by 7 by 9 inches. The bottom fabric is 70 denier polyurethane coated polyester ripstop, and the hammock uses a side-entry design closed with a heavy duty number 10 zipper and two sliders, rather than the underneath entry Hennessy's original models use.

Rainfly and bug protection

This model ships with Hennessy's 70 denier polyester Expedition rainfly, a parallelogram shape measuring about 63 by 99 inches with a diagonal length above the ridge line near 132 inches, giving decent coverage over both the hammock and gear stored at the ends. The catenary cut trims weight and reduces fabric flap in wind compared with a flat-cut tarp. Bug protection comes from 30 denier polyester no-see-um netting sewn into the hammock body and closed by the side zipper, so the whole sleeping area zips shut rather than requiring a separate bug net to be strung up.

Fit for the job

Hennessy rates this hammock for campers up to about 250 pounds and 6 feet tall, and the asymmetric lay is the main reason people choose Hennessy's design over a simple gathered-end hammock, since it lets your body settle at a diagonal angle that reduces the banana-shaped curve typical of hanging straight along the ridgeline. That makes it more comfortable for side sleeping and stomach sleeping than many basic camping hammocks. It suits car camping and backpacking trips where two solid trees are available, though the zip entry, knot-based suspension, and asymmetric fabric take a few setups to get used to compared with simpler hammock designs, and the included tree straps run on the shorter side, so wider trees may need a longer strap added separately.

Build and materials

The 70 denier polyester ripstop bottom and 70 denier polyester rainfly are mid-weight fabrics chosen for durability over the ultralight sub-20 denier fabrics used on newer minimalist hammock tents, which is part of why this model weighs more than lighter competitors. The tradeoff is a hammock body that holds up better to repeated setup on rough bark and abrasive tree straps over years of use. The number 10 zipper with double sliders is a heavier-duty closure than the finer zippers on some lightweight hammocks, and it is less likely to snag or fail under regular use at a campsite.

Bottom line

The Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip suits campers and backpackers who want a complete, weatherproof hammock tent with a genuinely flatter lay than a basic gathered-end hammock, and who are willing to accept more pack weight for that comfort and durability. The included rainfly and integrated bug net mean there is nothing extra to buy before a trip. Campers chasing the lightest possible pack weight, or who want a faster setup with no learning curve, may prefer a simpler ultralight hammock tent instead, trading some flatness and durability for less weight and a quicker pitch.

Frequently asked questions