Warbonnet Blackbird XLC Review

Overview

Warbonnet’s Blackbird XLC is the larger, more feature-rich sibling of the original Blackbird, designed to accommodate users up to 6’6”.

It packs a lot of interesting and useful features into what at first appears a conventional hammock — most notably, a zipper system that allows full removal of the bug netting, which pairs with an optional Winter Topcover to convert the hammock from a summer shelter to a closed, insulated system for cold-weather use.

Warbonnet Outdoors is a small outfit that handmakes all of their gear — hammocks, tarps and quilts — in their workshop in Evergreen, Colorado.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Dimensions	11 ft × 62 in
Weight — Single Layer (40D)	19 oz
Weight — Lightweight Double (40D/15D)	25 oz
Weight — Heavyweight Single (70D)	23 oz
Weight — Heavyweight Double (40D)	29 oz
Max Load — Single Layer	350 lb (comfort: up to 250 lb)
Max Load — Lightweight Double	350 lb (comfort: up to 275 lb)
Max Load — Heavyweight Single	350 lb (comfort: up to 300 lb)
Max Load — Heavyweight Double	400 lb (comfort: up to 400 lb)
Fabric Options	40D Nylon Single, 40D/15D Lightweight Double, 70D Heavyweight Single, 40D Heavyweight Double
Suspension	Sold separately (Continuous Loops, Webbing/Buckles, Whoopies, or Becket)
Made In	Evergreen, Colorado, USA
Comparison	See how Blackbird XLC compares to similar gear

Performance

Comfort and Lay

This is where the XLC earns its reputation. It’s a classic end-gathered style hammock with an asymmetrical design that allows the user to lay diagonally, with extra room for the head on one side and a roomy footbox on the other — meaning users can lay completely flat, rather than in a banana shape, reducing strain on knees and neck and even allowing comfortable side-sleeping.

The asymmetry isn’t just marketing copy. What makes it so cozy is that it isn’t made of one large rectangular piece of fabric. The shape has extra room on the right side of one end and the left side of the other, so the hammock doesn’t fight back when you position your body on a diagonal — giving your feet and head space to exist with less restriction.

That said, getting this right requires attention to setup. Due to the unique shape of the XLC, proper setup technique is mandatory for a good night’s sleep. The comfort is superb if you hang it correctly, following Warbonnet’s written guidelines and video guides. Setting the hang angle to near 25 degrees — tighter than you’d use with most gathered-end hammocks — and keeping the foot end at least 6 inches higher than the head end locks in the flat lay and eliminates calf ridge problems. Give yourself a few practice hangs before you depend on this in the backcountry.

Bug Net and Convertibility

Hammocks tend to be a bit cocoon-like in design, which can feel claustrophobic. The Blackbird XLC excels here.

The integrated ridgeline and elastic side lines keep the removable mosquito net well expanded and pulled aside, and the opaque sides down, meaning you have plenty of room once inside — and when lying diagonally you still have a very good view out of the hammock.

The “C” in XLC stands for Convertible, and it means something. If you’re planning on a hammock specifically for winter with occasional 3-season trips, the Blackbird XLC is the better choice over the standard Blackbird since it offers a fully removable net. Swap in the optional Winter Topcover and it traps heat better than mosquito netting, is made of breathable fabric with two built-in vents to avoid condensation, and will generally raise the interior hammock temperature. Specifically, it raises the interior temperature to 5–10°F above outside ambient air temperature.

Insulation

Here’s the thing about hammock camping that catches people off guard: the cold comes from below. In general, sleeping pads work quite well in bridge-style hammocks like Warbonnet’s Ridgerunner, but not so well in end-gathered style hammocks like the XLC — where underquilts are king.

If you go the sleeping pad route with the double layer, results are mixed. Some users have found that even using a pad sandwiched between the layers alongside an underquilt, a fully inflated NeoAir simply will not stay in place — it slides to the side, blocking access to the footbox and the gear shelf. The fix? Let a good percentage of the air out. Better still, invest in an underquilt from the start and skip the frustration.

Durability and Construction

The Blackbird XLC, for all its complexity of form, is flawless in its fit and finish from one whipped end to the other.

This is a consistent theme across reviews spanning years of use.

The durability is above that of other ultralight models — an abrasion test involving trees, rocks, and pavement showed no legitimate signs of scratching, tearing, or seams busting.

The 70D heavyweight fabric option offers additional durability and pushes the max load to 400 lb.

Setup Speed

Beyond comfort, hammocks have another great advantage: ease of setup. They’re quick to pitch in under 2 minutes and require just two good trees to hang from.

The double-ended stuff sack is a particularly clever touch.

It opens on both ends, allowing you to attach the suspension to a tree, close one end, and pull the hammock out of the other — maintaining tension to keep your hammock off the ground. It never touches dirt, which keeps it looking new trip after trip.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Asymmetric design delivers a genuinely flat lay — back sleeping, side sleeping, and fetal position all work
• Fully removable bug net is a meaningful upgrade over the standard Blackbird, enabling winter topcover use
• Spacious footbox and gear shelf are extremely practical on overnight trips
• Exceptional build quality; Warbonnet’s craftsmanship is hard to fault
• Wide fabric and weight limit options to match user size and insulation strategy

• Has been successfully used as a complete sleep system on thru-hikes like the PCT

Cons

• Taking full advantage of the “Convertible” aspect means purchasing the topcover at additional cost — and the topcover must be ordered at the time the hammock is built; you can’t add it later.

• Suspension is not included and adds meaningful weight and cost depending on which system you choose — the buckle webbing alone runs 6.7 oz

• Setup has a steeper learning curve than the average tent; it helps to watch videos, and you’ll want plenty of time for trial and error the first few times.

• Sleeping pad retention inside the double layer is unreliable — an underquilt is effectively a required purchase for cold-weather use

• In treeless terrain — alpine zones, deserts, Icelandic highlands — the hammock is a non-starter, so tent campers still have a more versatile shelter.

• The default configuration is a right-hand lay (head left, feet right); if you strongly prefer a left lay, confirm this at order time.

Who Should Buy This

The XLC is the right call for hammock campers who are over 6 feet tall and want one hammock to cover three seasons and beyond — especially if they plan to add a topcover for colder trips. It’s specifically the better choice over the standard Blackbird for anyone planning winter hammocking with occasional 3-season use, given the fully removable net. It’s also the logical choice for bigger and heavier users: the weight limit is a robust 350–400 lb depending on the options selected, which is significantly higher than most other shelter models. If you’re under 6 feet, the standard Blackbird is lighter and costs less — but plenty of shorter hammockers happily use the XLC for its extra room and open feel.

Verdict

The Warbonnet Blackbird XLC is as close to a benchmark hammock as this category has. The asymmetric design, removable bug net, integrated footbox, and gear shelf are all genuinely functional rather than marketing-speak — and the American-made build quality backs it up over years of hard use. The real caveats are financial: the topcover must be ordered upfront, suspension is extra, and cold-weather use all but requires an underquilt, so budget accordingly. Rating: 9/10.