ENO DoubleNest Review

Overview

The ENO DoubleNest is a gathered-end nylon hammock, cut wide enough for two and light enough that solo hikers buy it for the extra room alone. It has been a fixture of trailheads, campgrounds and beaches for years because it is simple, sturdy and cheap. The trade-off: it is a lounger first and a backcountry bed second, and the straps, bug net and insulation that turn it into a shelter are all separate purchases.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	538 g (19 oz)
Fabric	FreeWave 70D high-tenacity nylon taffeta
Dimensions (unfolded)	9’6” x 6’4” (2.9 x 1.92 m)
Packed size	6” x 4” x 5” (15 x 10 x 12.5 cm)
Capacity	400 lb (181 kg)
Hanging distance	9’2” ± 10” (2.8 m ± 25 cm)
Hardware	Anodized 7075 aluminum carabiners
Stuff sack	Integrated, with a webbing strap and snap buckle
Suspension	Not included (ENO sells Atlas straps separately)
List price	About $75

Performance

Setup. This is where the DoubleNest earns its reputation. Outdoor Gear Lab’s testers scored it 9 out of 10 for ease of setup. They credited the thick 7 mm attachment cord, hammock-grade carabiners and the girth-hitch hookup with ENO’s Atlas straps. A first-time hammocker can clip in and be horizontal in a couple of minutes, with no knots to learn. Reviewers at The Trek made the same point about the straps, which handle a range of tree spacings and can wrap a sturdy pole when the trees run out.

Comfort. The gathered-end design is the time-tested one: lie on a diagonal, and the fabric flattens enough for a back sleeper to get reasonably level. The 6’4” width gives a solo user plenty of room to lie off-axis. Outdoor Gear Lab rated comfort 7 out of 10, a solid but unspectacular score, and the hammock ranked sixth of 18 in its 2024 test with an overall score of 76. Two adults are a different story. Reviewers report the DoubleNest works well for two people sitting side by side, but sleeping two abreast is cramped. That is a limit of the single-layer, ungathered-width geometry, not a flaw peculiar to ENO.

Durability. The 70D nylon taffeta feels thin and silky, which leads first-time users to doubt the 400 lb rating. Owners say it holds up anyway. One Walmart reviewer reports it surviving two bouncing kids playing “boat in rough seas”, and another describes it as a durable second purchase that works for backpacking. Reviewers who inspected construction noted triple-stitched seams and hemmed channels that spread load across the end of the fabric. Outdoor Gear Lab scored durability 8 out of 10.

Weight and pack size. At 538 g, it is not the lightest hammock on the market. Dedicated ultralight hammocks made from lighter fabrics come in well under that figure, and Outdoor Gear Lab gave the DoubleNest 7.7 out of 10 for weight. The stuff sack is the real convenience: it is sewn to the hammock, so it can’t be lost at camp, and the strap on its side lets it clip to a pack. The whole thing compresses to about the size of a large grapefruit.

Versatility. This is the weak spot, at 6 out of 10 in Outdoor Gear Lab’s scoring. There is no bug protection, no rain cover and no insulation. Cold nights require an underquilt or pad, since air flows beneath a hammock and compresses insulation under the sleeper. Bugs and rain call for ENO’s compatible accessories (net, tarp), or third-party equivalents. Once those are added, weight and cost climb well past the hammock’s headline numbers. Stripped down, the DoubleNest is best for warm, dry, bug-light conditions.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Setup takes minutes, with no knots needed
• Wide enough that solo sleepers can lie on a flatter diagonal
• 400 lb rating with durable 70D nylon and triple-stitched seams
• Integrated stuff sack that can’t go missing
• Aluminum carabiners are included
• About $75 list, far below purpose-built backpacking hammock systems

Cons

• Straps are sold separately
• 538 g is not especially light for a hammock alone
• Two adults can sit in it comfortably but not sleep well
• No bug net, rain cover or insulation; all are extra weight and money
• Single layer offers no cold-weather performance without an underquilt

Who Should Buy This

The DoubleNest suits weekend backpackers, campers and paddlers who want a simple, well-built hammock for warm-weather camps, and anyone who wants a roomy lounger for rest stops and basecamps. Solo hikers who want extra width without an expensive hammock system will find it a good starting point. It is also the sensible pick for couples who want to sit and talk in the same hammock.

Thru-hikers counting every gram, hikers in buggy or cold regions who want an integrated system, and couples who expect to sleep side by side in one hammock should look elsewhere. Purpose-built bridge or bug-net hammocks and a separate underquilt are better answers for those jobs.

Verdict

The DoubleNest does the basics well: it goes up quickly, takes a beating and costs little. It is an excellent camp hammock and a decent solo sleeping platform in mild weather, but it isn’t a complete shelter, and it isn’t the lightest option. Buy it for warm-weather trips and relaxed trail days, and budget for straps.