Sea to Summit Pro Double Review

The Sea to Summit Pro Double hammock lets you pick and choose the components you need for any outdoor adventure. This long, wide hammock gives you plenty of space to find a comfortable diagonal position for sleeping and offers more than enough weight capacity to share a hang with a friend at the park.

Add Sea to Summit's ultralight Ultra-Sil Nano Tarp and their zippered-entry bug net with a spreader bar, and you have an à la carte system every bit as lightweight as all but the lightest hammock systems on the market. With the combination of comfort, low weight, and versatility, it's easy to see why we chose the Sea to Summit hammock system as our Top Pick for Ultralight Versatility.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The larger size of the Pro Double makes it almost as comfortable for lounging as some of the other voluminous, end-gathered hammocks. This model exceeds many others in length and width, coming up only nine inches short of the longest models and seven inches narrower than the widest hammocks we tested. As a result, this hammock is very comfortable as a shelter system. Our testers liked its width and could find a comfortable, flat position much easier than lying in smaller hammocks of other comparable shelter systems. Still, the size and shape don't provide as much of a spacious feel and flat position as the asymmetric models.

When using an end-gathered hammock, comfort is dictated by the size of the fabric and how you hang it. Because the Pro Double is larger than other ultralight models we tested – measuring ten feet long and just over six feet wide – it makes it much easier to find the sweet spot lying in the diagonal. Even our six-foot-tall testers had plenty of room to stretch out. Another benefit of the large size is that we could get comfy sitting sideways whether we hung the hammock loosely or taut. The hammock also has plenty of room for a buddy.

Ease of Setup

Setting up the Pro Double is quick and intuitive. We tested it with Sea to Summit's Ultralight Suspension Straps, which are now included. These have a metal hoop on one end, allowing you to pass the end of the webbing through quickly. It's not hard to pass a webbing line through a webbing loop, but the metal buckle means you encounter virtually no resistance, so the process is smooth – no fiddling required.

The tree straps could be wider. At ¾-inch, they don't provide much protection for the tree's bark, but they are better than just a piece of cord. Sea to Summit uses an innovative metal buckle to hook the hammock suspension to the tree strap. This makes hanging your hammock a cinch and reduces wear on the webbing and cord. The other complaint about the suspension system is that the webbing doesn't tighten or release easily. We had to manually thread the webbing through the adjustment buckle rather than lifting the end and sliding it smoothly. It's important to note that Sea to Summit hammocks can only be set up with Sea to Summit straps and vice versa. Don't buy one without the other.

If you use the bug net accessory, you must slide it over one end of the hammock. Our testers found that if you try to do this after putting your sleeping bag and pad inside the hammock, it is a tight fit and a little harder to hold the hammock off the ground as you unhook its attachment to the tree. The best idea is to put the bug net on when you set the hammock up and leave it bunched up at one end until you need it. We also found it difficult to attach an underquilt with the bug net because it is cinched up around the hammock ends, right where you need to attach the underquilt.

Durability and Protection

In many ways, the Pro Double is identical to the other basic, end-gathered hammocks we tested. But the material really sets it apart. The hammock is made with lighter-weight nylon than most day-use models we tested. Sea to Summit uses a ripstop material to increase durability while decreasing weight. This also makes the Pro Double a very compact hammock – only a few ultralight models are smaller.

When using the Pro Double as a backpacking shelter with a rainfly, Sea to Summit's Hammock Tarp really shines. It is lightweight and easy to set up and adjust, thanks to built-in cord tensioners on each corner. Sea to Summit's tarp uses a 5-point shape that gives you more protection from the wind and blowing rain on one side of the hammock and more visibility on the other. You can set the hammock up so that the large side faces into the wind and enjoy the weight savings that come from not having an entirely rectangular tarp. The tarp is an excellent compromise between protection and weight savings.

We like that the Sea to Summit Hammock Bug Net has a spreader bar to keep the net off our faces. The world's tiniest tent pole is inside the stuff sack, and you assemble and slide it into a pole sleeve on the net. The pole doesn't keep the net very high off your face, really just a few inches lower than the ends of your hammock. If you are claustrophobic or often want to sit up, a bug net with a ridgeline is a better option. Even though the net isn't very high off your face, the material is soft and stretchy, so we still found it easy to sit up. Thanks to a zippered door, it is much easier to get in and out of this netting than the sleeve-style netting, which you have to slide down over you like a sleeping bag.

The Sea to Summit Bug Net is very soft, but the less dense weave concerns us about smaller insects such as no-see-ums. We also distrust the durability of this material, which showed tears near the snap that holds the bar in after just one use. This area sustains the most force when setting the net up and is easily stressed, so we don't have much faith that it will hold up that well over time. The other durability issue with this bug net is that it drags the ground unless your hammock is set pretty high. Therefore, you will likely step on the net if you're not extra careful when you get out of your hammock.

Versatility

This customized Pro Double system is our top pick for overall versatility. Its combination of lightweight materials and the ability to pick and choose which components to take on any given trip allow you to buy one hammock for all uses. Since the bug net and tarp are accessories, you can take the parts you need in your day pack and head to the park, or pack everything for a week on the AT and still have your shelter only weigh in at 42 ounces.

Because this hammock is almost as large as the comfortable, end-gathered hammocks we tested, we often chose to bring it along because of its lighter weight. The 400-pound weight capacity also lets us rest easy, knowing that it won't limit most people from hanging out and watching the sunset with a friend.

Weight

The hammock itself weighs just a pound. It's lighter than all but the ultralight models, making it viable for taking on multi-night backpacking trips where saving weight is important. While this weight isn't impressive compared to ultralight hammocks, once we add the tarp and bug net, at only 42 ounces, the Pro Double system is directly comparable to shelter systems with lighter-weight hammocks.

Sea to Summit uses a lighter material in their tarp construction than other directly comparable systems, saving you an average of five ounces. You save two additional ounces on the suspension straps and nearly two more on the bug netting. If you prioritize comfort in an ultralight setup, the Pro Double will make you happier.

Should You Buy the Sea to Summit Pro Double?

If you're considering the whole system, this is one of the most expensive models we tested once you include all the components. You can buy a more comfortable shelter system – so why buy this hammock setup? They say you can get one piece of gear that can do it all, but it won't be able to do any one thing all that well. Well, the Pro Double comes close to doing it all and doing it well. It balances low-weight, quality components with a spacious hammock design. The custom setup also opens your options about which pieces you want to carry on each adventure. If versatility is number one, the Pro Double with the added Sea to Summit tarp and bug net should be your go-to system.

What Other Hammocks Should You Consider?