Kammok Mantis UL Review

Overview

The Mantis UL is Kammok’s ultralight take on the all-in-one hammock tent: hammock body, zip-off bugnet, integrated ridgeline, full-coverage rainfly, and suspension straps all designed to work together out of the box. It’s aimed at backpackers who want to skip the à la carte hassle of matching a hammock, tarp, and straps from three different cottage brands, while still keeping the weight in ultralight territory. The all-in-one nature of the system is likely to appeal to hammock beginners — people who want to experiment with hammocks but are intimidated by the cost and knowledge barriers of assembling a system from à la carte components. It’s just as reasonable a pick for an experienced hanger who’s tired of fiddling with mismatched gear.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Trail weight	893 g (31.5 oz)
Weight capacity	300 lbs
Hammock dimensions	120” x 56”
Rainfly dimensions	136” x 88” (tapers to 72” at foot end)
Packed size	8” x 6” (6” x 6” compressed)
Hammock fabric	Levitas™ 20D nylon diamond ripstop, fluorocarbon-free DWR
Rainfly fabric	Patagium™ 15D nylon diamond ripstop, 1500mm PU/Silicone/DWR
Suspension	(2) Python 10 ft UL straps
Setup time	~60 seconds
Includes	Hammock body, mesh canopy, structural ridgeline, (2) Kanga Claws, rainfly w/ 6 guy-outs, (2) Python 10’ UL straps

Performance

Comfort and fit: At 120” x 56”, the hammock body has enough real estate that testers well over six feet still had room to get a flat, comfortable lay. Even with a 5 foot 11 inch frame, CleverHiker found the Mantis UL provided plenty of space to get comfortable. One reviewer who is 190cm and 94 kilos found the Mantis UL to be a great size, though on the limit — someone a little taller might want to look elsewhere. So if you’re pushing 6’3” or taller, it’s worth checking Kammok’s sizing notes before you buy.

Weather protection: The rainfly is one of the standout pieces of this kit. Unlike the notoriously stingy stock tarps bundled with budget all-in-ones, the Mantis UL tarp is a great size — unlike the asym tarp on Hennessy Hammocks that barely covers the hammock, the Mantis UL tarp is more of a flat tarp that covers the entire hammock and even leaves room to spare if you want a little camp space in the rain. CleverHiker echoed this, combining a comfortable, 10 foot hammock with tons of thoughtful features and a full coverage hex tarp that is a dream to set up.

Setup: This is where the “all-in-one” pitch really pays off. Kammok’s suspension system uses a self-contained ladder-style strap rather than knots or whoopie slings. As one reviewer put it after unboxing, their first impression when the kit arrived in the mail was wondering whether Kammok had forgotten something. The complete package is genuinely compact — it’s considerably smaller than hammocks like the Warbonnet Ridgerunner or Hennessy, with the entire Mantis UL system taking up about the same volume as just the Ridgerunner or just the Hennessy hammock alone, minus tarp and pegs — not much larger than a 1-liter Nalgene bottle. Adventure Alan’s comparison against the Hennessy Hyperlight Asym Zip found the Mantis UL system a much more refined, easier-to-use feature set that requires no fancy knots or special skills to quickly hang.

Features and build quality: Reviewers consistently call out the small details as the system’s strength rather than any single headline spec. The feature selection is robust and well thought-out, with side pulls, LineLocs, interior pockets, and more small touches that made it clear it was designed by people who loved hammocking. The feature that adds most to livability is the inclusion of side pulls to help keep the bug netting away from the face, and the Mantis UL does a great job with these. The one consistent knock against the kit is the included stakes — CleverHiker appreciated that stakes were included but found they were of low quality and probably will be the first thing that needs replacing. Budget a few dollars for a set of decent titanium stakes and you’ve solved that problem permanently.

Insulation compatibility: Because a hammock puts open air on both sides of you, you’ll need both top and bottom insulation to stay warm — this isn’t a Mantis UL shortcoming, it’s just hammock physics. The Mantis requires both top and bottom insulation, best served by a top quilt and underquilt — you can’t use peapod-style insulation when the bugnet or winter barrier are attached, but you can if you zip them off; a sleeping pad can also be used underneath, though there’s no dedicated pad sleeve on the Mantis UL to keep it from sliding around. The upside is Kammok built in grosgrain loops around the hammock’s perimeter to which Kammok underquilts can be snapped, which help keep the underquilt snug to the hammock bottom and prevent sagging and drafts. Worth noting: Kammok’s dedicated Winter Barrier accessory has reportedly been discontinued, so cold-weather hangers will need to look at third-party wind socks instead.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Genuinely all-in-one — hammock, bugnet, tarp, and suspension arrive matched and ready to hang, no à la carte shopping required
• Full-coverage rainfly that outclasses the skimpy tarps bundled with cheaper hammock tents
• Fast, nearly knot-free setup thanks to the integrated strap and ridgeline system
• Thoughtful livability touches: side pulls, LineLocs, interior pockets
• Compact packed size for a complete shelter system
• Grosgrain loops make adding a Kammok underquilt simple and snag-free

Cons

• Included stakes are widely considered the weak link and likely need replacing
• No dedicated pad sleeve, so a sleeping pad can shift around inside the hammock
• Taller hikers (roughly 6’3”+) may find the hammock body a tight fit
• Premium price relative to building a system piecemeal from budget components
• No current cold-weather barrier accessory in Kammok’s lineup

Who Should Buy This

The Mantis UL is best suited to backpackers who want to switch to hammock camping without assembling a Frankenstein system from five different brands, and who are willing to pay a bit more for that convenience. Its asking price is a little steep at first glance, but assembling a comparable kit from high-quality components on your own would cost a similar amount — you can definitely get lighter, and you can definitely get cheaper, but Kammok has found a sweet spot for all the components here. If you’re under 6’2” or so, camp mostly in three-season conditions, and want a shelter you can hang in under a minute without a knot-tying tutorial, this is a strong match. Hikers who already have a favorite underquilt/tarp combo they’re attached to, or who run consistently taller than 6’3”, may want to look elsewhere.

Verdict

The Mantis UL delivers on its core promise: a complete, well-integrated hammock shelter that’s genuinely quick to set up and comfortable to sleep in, backed by a rainfly that actually covers you in bad weather. Swap the stakes for something sturdier and add your insulation of choice, and you’ve got a shelter system that competes well against far more expensive à la carte setups. I’d rate it an 8/10 — it loses a point for the stake quality and the lack of a pad sleeve, but the fundamentals here are hard to fault.