Sometimes, You Just Need to Pack Up and Leave. Vancrafted.

Every National Camp at Home Day celebration needs tasty refreshments. We think this one's a crowd pleaser for sure. Learn more about how you can make the most of your camp at home celebration here.  Ingredients: Vodka 2-3 Grapefruits Sparkling Water Sugar Kosher or Sea Salt Fresh Rosemary Preparation: Juice your grapefruits until you get 1/4 cup of juice. Pour juice into a sauce pan and add 2 tablespoons of sugar. Turn burner on low heat and let simmer until all the sugar is dissolved. Prep your favorite rocks glass by rimming it with salt and filling it with ice. Add 2 ounces of vodka to your cup. Add the grapefruit and sugar mixture to your cup. Top it off with sparkling water. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and rosemary sprig. National Camp at Home Day is all about one thing: outdoor relaxation. What that means to you could be completely different for someone else. Whether you feel inspired to go on an afternoon jog, set up your tent in the back yard, or just spend an hour reading in your hammock, we hope you'll make the most of it. And if you need one more way to maximize your relaxation vibes, the official cocktail of National Camp at Home Day is here to deliver.  Are you celebrating National Camp at Home Day in the Austin area? Drop by our gear shop for a hassle-free, ready-to-drink canned cocktail from All Hands that's sure to put you in the right mindset when the 27th rolls around. Sure, you can spend the extra time to make it yourself, but with a canned cocktail this good, why would you? Cheers, y'all!

Kammok is on a mission to make 2022 the year of restoration. We feel most rejuvenated when we seek time outside on a daily basis, even if only that only means stepping outside for fifteen minutes. Here are seven super achievable ways that you can find the outside rest you're looking for.   1. Go camping once a month. This might sound like an ambitious goal, but that’s what goal setting is all about! Car camping with a few friends or your family is always a great way to get outside and decompress. Plus, between national, state, and county parks, plus the addition of sites like Hipcamp, finding a last-minute campsite is usually possible. When adventure calls, book a campsite!   2. Take some work calls outside. The nice thing about work calls is that you can take them almost anywhere. Bring the office outside, stretch your legs, and enjoy the fresh, open air. A small step like this can really refresh your day. Who says getting outside always has to be an adventure?   3. Cook outside more. This is a team favorite for the Kammok crew. On the one hand, cooking outside is a bit of a production compared to quick pre-made meals, but we’d argue the finished product is always better with open-fire cooking.  Bonus: It’s simply good for the soul. Recent favorites: grilled broccoli, sweet potatoes, and flash-grilled romaine heads. Toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and throw them directly on the grill. Top with lime juice or balsamic and some grated parmesan before serving to really kick up the flavor. Looking for dessert? Check out our favorite s’mores recipes here.   4. Sunset walks for the win. By far our favorite time of day is golden hour, and if you work a typical 8-5, your schedule is likely clear when the sun is going down. To us, there’s no better way to enjoy the sunset than with a walk around the neighborhood. You could even pack some snacks and your favorite picnic blanket, and head up to the most epic sunset spot you can think of.    5. Sign up for an outdoor race or club. Signing up for a race can be a great way to motivate yourself to get outside more. If you have ambitions to run, cycle, or swim any distance, the promise of a future event can be just the extra push you need to get outside and do what you love more often. If you’re looking for a change of pace, consider an adventure race. These often rely more heavily on the use of map skills, navigation, and often include some kind of paddling activity.    6. Read in your Roo. I think we can all agree that indoor reading can get a bit stale. Grab your favorite book and hit the trail to your favorite hammock spot. Get some steps in, enjoy the outdoors, and read in the most comfortable outdoor spot possible: a Roo Double (on flash sale right now, for a limited time). No trees? No worries—the Swiftlet portable hammock stand has your back.   7. Plan one epic adventure this year. If you’re like us, the call of the next big adventure is always present. We often dream of taking five months to hike the PCT, venturing up north to paddle the Boundary Waters, or going on a month-long fly fishing expedition in Patagonia. But most often, these dreams aren’t realistic for our busy lives. We make a goal of one extended trip in the outdoors per year, and planning for them always gets us jazzed. Set your sights on a paddle trip, backpacking expedition, or whatever it is you’re into, and make something happen.    Want more tips and tricks? Check out our DIY Tent Glamping Guide!

Don’t let your hammock collect dust all winter. Here are five tips for staying warm and elevated all winter long: 1. Get out of the wind. One of the biggest favors you can do for yourself when hammock camping in cold weather is to find a campsite with natural wind protection. For example: Instead of camping on the edge of a tree line, walk twenty paces in or so to allow denser foliage to act as a natural wind barrier. The addition of a rainfly hung snug over the top of your hammock can also work wonders on extra gusty evenings, plus a proper rainfly will trap in some of your body heat as it rises to escape. If you’re looking for a complete setup, the Mantis all-in-one hammock tent offers a hammock body, bug net, and rainfly in a convenient, packable stuff sack. 2. Pack an Underquilt Sleeping bags are a must when camping in cold weather, but the pro move for hammock camping is to attach an underquilt beneath your hammock. Since insulated materials need loft to work properly, using a sleeping bag in your hammock makes for less effective insulation because your body is compressing the underside of the bag. Instead, opt for an underquilt that hangs snug to your hammock with maximum loft and effectiveness. Depending on where you camp and the temps you usually experience, we offer three trail quilts with varying temperature ratings. 3. Consider a Sleeping Pad We designed our Insulated Pongo Pad to fit perfectly in your camping hammock and shield you from the bitter cold. Our sleeping pad does double duty, acting both as an insulator and the deliverer of ultimate hammock comfort. Cloud nine, here we come! The Insulated Pongo Pad works great in any season, but you’ll definitely never want to leave home without it when the weather turns south. 4. Add Warmth With a Top Quilt Now that you have a wind-free spot, a cozy underquilt, and the comfiest sleeping pad in the woods, it’s time to lie down for a toasty snooze under the stars. But what about your top quilt? Both our Mountain and Field Blankets make great basecamp options, each offering snaps along the edge that allow complete integration with your Roo hammock. For packing light and heading into the backcountry, our lighter and more packable trail quilts offer a huge advantage. However, depending on the weather, your underquilt might be cozy enough of a cocoon that all you need are your base layers to stay warm. 5. Final Tips Here’s a sneaky tip that lots of cold weather campers know well: Boil water over your stove before bed, fill up a Nalgene, and slip it in your hammock to warm the top quilt and underquilt. If you have an extra sock or two, slip them over your water bottle and leave it at your feet. This way you stay warm, but the bottle doesn’t burn your skin. If you’re not wearing your jacket to sleep, keep it at your feet as well so it’s warm when you’re ready to wear it in the morning. Lastly, test your setup before setting off in extreme conditions and know your limits. Everyone has different sleep preferences, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to hammock camping in cold weather. The better you know your gear and your sleeping preferences, the more you’ll be prepared when those ultra-cold temps hit. And of course, if you ever feel uncertain with extreme temperatures in the forecast, be safe and maybe plan for a night indoors.

Once you’ve picked out which Kammok hammock style works best for you and your favorite color (we think that’s the hardest part), it’s time to learn how to hang and care for it. We’ve compiled a guide for all your hammock care needs that can be applied to any Kammok hammock type (Roo Single, Roo Double, Roo Jr., Roo Double XL, and Roo Single UL)   How to Set Up Your Hammock Applies to all Kammok hammock types excluding the Roo Single UL. Find two points to hang your hammock between. Each hammock size calls for a slightly wider or narrower set up, however the standard to look out for is 12-15 feet. Grab your hammock straps. Wrap the widest part of the strap around the tree or post. Pull the strap through the end with the single loop. Ensure to loop your straps around the tree about 6 ft high. Unbuckle the rolled up top from your Roo hammock and pull out the fabric. Clip the hammock carabiner through one of the Python strap loops and repeat this step on the other side. Tip: Clip the strap bag onto hammock carabiner for safe keeping. For a safety check, press into the center of the hammock to test before sitting down. Adjust your hammock as needed to rest at a 30 degree angle and try out the other ways of hanging below.     How to Hang In Your Hammock  Applies to all camping hammock types. Who said hammocks are only for laying down? There’re so many ways to hang in your favorite Kammok hammock depending on where you are and who you’re with. Here are a few of our favorite ways to hang.  The Chair - Perfect for talking in a group, watching the sunset or hanging around a campfire. An easy way to sit upright and relax with legs hanging over the hammock or cross legged.  The Lounge - Our favorite way to nap, relax and look up at the sky on a starry night. Lay diagonally, spreading the hammock fabric for space and comfort. This one is great for cuddling with your adventure dog (or human). The Perch- A good way to hang while reading a book or hanging with a buddy in a Roo Double or Double XL. Scoot to one end of your hammock and sit upright while keeping your legs straight.   How to Pack Your Hammock  Applies to all camping hammock types. When you’re done using your hammock for the day, it’s important to pack it after each use to protect the fabric from long-term exposure to the elements.  To do this, unclip one side of the hammock and pack it into the stuff sack, one side at a time. Then, unclip the second side of the hammock. We recommend keeping the carabiners on the top.  Roll the stuff sack twice and and buckle the sides.  Roll up each Python strap and place them back into the stuff sack.     How to Wash Your Hammock Applies to all Kammok hammock types excluding the Roo Single UL. Hand wash Roo Single UL only. If your hammock is soiled or stained from all your epic adventures, we recommend hand washing when possible. However, avoid washing your hammock frequently since this will deteriorate the DWR coating and lessen durability of the fabric over time. If using a washing machine is necessary, make sure to use one without a center agitator as this can tear up the fabric. Remove the carabiners and slings prior to washing. Place the hammock fabric in the washing machine. Fill the Grangers Down Wash + Repel cap to the recommended level. A gentle powder  detergent will work as well. Do not use fabric softener, bleach, or stain removal products. Wash the hammock fabric by itself on a gentle, cold-water setting.  Hang dry in a warm and non-humid environment until the fabric is no longer damp. Once the fabric is completely dried out, attach the slings and carabiners to the ends. You can use an unopened pen to help thread the sling back through the hammock fabric. Your hammock is clean and ready for more time outside.   These tips and guidelines will help you make the most of your Kammok hammock. Make sure to check out our Help Center FAQ for all of your product use and care questions.