The Wise Owl Outfitters hammock is an affordable hammock set for beginners. In the test of the Wise Owl hammock’s 2-person version, it scores particularly well due to its good quality and the included accessories – though the weak point of this set is the carabiners.
Specifications of the Two-Person Hammock by Wise Owl
The Wise Owl hammock set* consists of a hammock and tree or post attachments.
Dimensions and Weight
| Weight | 1.6lbs |
| Lying Surface | 9.8ft x 6.2ft |
| Capacity | 500lbs |
| Material | 210T Nylon |
| Color | available in different combinations |
Included in the Package:
- Double Owl Hammock with attached stuff sack
- 2 Steel Carabiners
- 2 Tree Straps (7.9ft length)
Review of the Two Person Hammock from Wise Owl
The hammock leaves a good first impression. The stuff sack has a backpack-friendly, cylindrical shape and contains the complete set of hammock, carabiners, and tree straps.
Practical tree straps included in the package: One highlight are the included Talon Hammock Straps Lite tree straps. They are 7.9ft long, which is relatively short but still useful. Compared to separately available tree straps (e.g., Overmont tree straps), they have fewer loops for adjusting the length, and the material is slightly narrower and lighter. In 80% of cases, these tree straps will be sufficient, saving beginners from the need to purchase an additional piece of equipment. These lightweight tree straps offer a good compromise between weight and length.
Colored stripes at both sides as potential weak points
The outer sides of the hammock consist of attached stripes. In my model, they are cleanly sewn with three seams each, connecting them to the middle section. As a two person hammock, it should definitely not have fewer seams. However, each seam is a potential point of failure – friction or other external factors can damage and tear the seams. Unfortunately, Wise Owl does not offer solid-colored hammocks made from a single piece of fabric.
Good comfort of the hammock
The fabric is robust and does not stretch, significantly enhancing the comfort while lying in it. This comfort is further increased by the sheer size of the lying surface: with 9.8ft x 6.2ft, a single person lies in the Double Owl hammock as if on a king-size bed. The disadvantage of this hammock is the absence of a mosquito net.
Also usable as a single hammock
With my height of 5.7ft, I am already approaching the limits of most hammocks. In a too small hammock, I cannot lie completely straight, not even in a diagonal position. On the contrary, with this hammock, it is the complete opposite. There is plenty of space to stretch out, and I do not feel restricted in any way.
Heavy Wise Owl steel carabiners
The major drawback of this hammock set is the two heavy steel carabiners. They are simply unnecessarily heavy and unwieldy. The construction gives an impression of being cheaply made, and they easily get entangled when threading through the loops of the tree straps. I will replace them with nicely rounded wire carabiners made of aluminum.
Incorrect attachment of the carabiners to the Double Owl
The loop of the hammock is unfortunately not made of a sewn band material. Instead, a sewn sling is threaded through the hammock and looped together as a choke sling. I have only seen this unfavorable design in the Naturefun hammock so far. Interestingly, this design is quite similar to the Double Owl Hammock. Properly, each end of the sling should be attached separately to the carabiner. This evenly distributes the force on the sling, and the fabric of the hammock does not suffer as much.
Conclusion of the Double Owl Hammock test
The result of the review of the two person hammock from Wise Owl is as follows: the Double Owl is a good entry-level hammock at a fair price-performance ratio. For just under €34, you get a simple 2-person hammock with a relatively lightweight and easy-to-use suspension system. The highlight is undoubtedly the tree straps, offering a good compromise between length and weight. However, the two bulky steel carabiners are truly subpar. While they do the job, anyone who has experienced the convenience of an aluminum carabiner used in climbing will not settle for such a cheap carabiner.
Recommendation for buying the hammock?
The Double Owl offers an acceptable price-performance ratio. For a first hammock, it is certainly a good start. The hammock set from Naturefun is cheaper! With the Naturefun two person hammock, you get almost the same hammock, plus tree straps and significantly better aluminum carabiners, for less money.