If a hammock was absent from or low on your camping must-have list, you haven’t met the Hami yet, writes Sonya Schoeman, after finally tearing herself away from it.
Hami is a family-owned South African brand and very new – it launched in July 2022. The concept is by husband-and-wife team Gen and Idan Burstain, both active outdoor people and nature lovers, who have three kids and a dog. They created a hammock that can fit them all in.
Finding a good hammock
We searched for “travelling hammock” in PriceCheck and a few options came up. The Hami was the most expensive. From a quick online comparison, I could see the thread count is relatively high (meaning it’s stronger), that it’s big, and that it can carry a lot of weight. It is the only hammock we found that comes with tree-friendly adjustable straps and it has a lifetime warranty.
Key product features
The Hami hammock comes in nine two-tone combinations, from a pretty pink and light grey (the Coral) or forest green and dark grey (the Evergreen), to the pragmatic Volcano, a charcoal and deep red hammock that generously hides a smudge or two. It folds out of its attached bag (which turns into a handy side pocket for goodies). It consists of: a double-size 3m x 1.8m hammock, two end straps, and two heavy duty steel carabiners.
The Hami is made from 100% recyclable materials, triple-stitched and tear resistant. The material is a 75D nylon with a 210-thread count. The “D” stands for “denier”, indicating the thickness of a material. In this case it is quite low because it needs to be lightweight, soft, and comfortable. The thread count, though, makes it strong – one hammock can carry a weight of up to 225 kg.
The other advantage is that the material dries quickly. The straps are excellent and strong, with a weight rating of 450 kg, and super-adaptable as described above. Together with the carabiners, the entire Hami hammock weighs 900g.
Testing the Hami
We loaded the Hyundai Tucson with camping supplies and hit the road. The objective was to test the Hami in two spots: Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve, close to Touws Rivier in the Karoo; and Beaverlac, in the Cederberg, also in the Western Cape. The two campsites were perfect opposites.
Gecko Rock was set up amongst thorn trees with thin trunks and branches, and our Beaverlac campsite had trees with firm, large trunks. In the first case, we had to twist and turn the straps so that they would be short enough to hold the hammock at both ends. In the latter, we were worried that we wouldn’t find trees close enough to put the Hami up. But that’s the advantage of these double straps with their units of openings that you can hook the carabiner through – they are very adaptable.
What we like about the Hami
The brand is consistently eco-conscious in its design. The Hami’s material is made from recycled material, taking it out of circulation in the environment. Also clever are the Hami straps, which are designed to hug a tree branch or trunk, rather than harm them by cutting through the bark. It’s so quick to set up – a minute or two, max. The weight and compact design are fantastic – the hammock is simply stuffed back into its 20cm x 10cm pouch. The straps neatly roll up into rounds that are packed on top, and the entire thing is synched in with a drawstring.
The hammock is a double size, so you can fit two people comfortably (if, together, you’re under 225kg) and it’s a nice, comfy lie. Another thing: it dries so quickly that there’s no need to take the hammock down in the rain.
What could be improved
Can’t think of anything – perhaps a mosquito net, as some hammocks have built in.
Score
The Hami hammocks are light, easy to use and handy, and have lifetime warranties. It’s the perfect travelling hammock, and fully worth its R999 asking price.
The Hami scores 5 out of 5.
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
