Dutchware Chameleon Review

Dutchware Hammocks began with a Kickstarter campaign and took off with great success in the hammock camping community. We are impressed by the Chameleon's simple-yet-comfortable end-gathered design, its inclusion of all the features a hammocker could need, and the nod to the discerning nature of diehard hammockers who want to select certain features and leave others behind. It is a true shapeshifter, allowing you to swap components out to adapt your hammock to your environment. If you're intrigued by this model, we also recommend taking a close look at the Dream Sparrow. This nearly identical hammock performed as a very close second, with close to the same level of customization.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Chameleon is among the most comfortable hammocks we tested. Most essential to comfort in an end-gathered hammock is the size, and the Chameleon is one of the two longest we tested, measuring in at 10 feet, 8 inches. During our testing, all hammocks were measured from where the fabric ended and the suspension began. We found this length gave us a lot of room to maneuver into just the right diagonal position to get very close to flat, so it didn't cramp our feet or heads in the fabric pinch at the ends. Also very important to the overall comfort is the width of a hammock. Although long, the Chameleon falls in the middle of the tested models with a width of 58 inches. Dutchware offers a wide version of the Chameleon that boasts an additional 10 inches of width.

Symmetry is the next component that contributes to the comfort of a good overnight end-gathered hammock. Any asymmetric hammock tends to give more room to your feet and head. Dutchware's design is different here; the hammock is symmetrical, but the bug net is asymmetrical. We found that when relaxing in “chill mode” (no bug net), we could lay in either direction comfortably. Still, we noticed the fabric pushes your feet toward the center like any other symmetrical end-gathered hammock. When we put the bug net on, the tension of the hammock fabric and netting gave the hammock more of an asymmetric feel, with more spacious foot and head zones. The asymmetry makes the Chameleon more comfortable for overnight sleeping than a basic end-gathered model. Still, it doesn't have quite the same spacious feel as a true asymmetrical model with a built-in foot box.

The ridgeline length to hammock length ratio gives the Chameleon the highest ceiling of any model we tested. Although most of your time in a hammock will be spent lying down, we were slightly let down when we found that you can't sit up without your head pushing against the netting, even though we still had enough room to change clothing and arrange our sleeping bag. The only thing we found a bit awkward with this hammock was when using it to lounge or sit in without the bug net; the ridgeline can end up right in your face.

The Chameleon comes with tie-outs that can be easily snapped on or off the sides of the hammock to tie out the sides for added livability. Tying out the head and foot angles of the hammock makes it easier to keep your sleeping bag and pad in place when moving around. When they are not tied out, the loose fabric and netting can brush up against your face. The tie-outs aren't necessary for a comfy sleep, and ditching them at home can make pitching your hammock quicker and easier, not to mention the slight gain in weight savings.

Ease of Setup

A hammock that is easy to set up typically means that it has an intuitive and quick suspension system. The Chameleon uses a quick-adjust buckle system, and the integrated bug net and ridgeline made the setup of accessories a non-issue.

The customizable nature of the Chameleon allows you to select their Beetle Buckle with webbing suspension – which is the type we tested – a whoopie sling suspension with tree straps, or no suspension at all, if you want to build your own. Dutchware sells 10 types of suspension systems and all kinds of suspension components à la carte, so you can always get something different if you later decide you don't like what you have.

The Beetle Buckle suspension uses 1-inch flat webbing and an easily adjustable buckle with little hooks on one end that allow you to connect and disconnect the continuous loop on the hammock quickly. The detached suspension allows you to set the straps in the trees and then connect the hammock, a helpful feature for keeping the hammock off the ground in wet conditions. The Beetle Buckle has a small hole in the center that is designed to allow you to add a spreader bar between two hammocks so both can hang from the same trees. We didn't test this feature, but we like the prospect of added versatility.

The integrated ridgeline on the Chameleon is a feature that we find useful for a few reasons. Firstly, if you leave the bug netting connected, setting up the hammock, ridgeline, and netting involves the single step of connecting the hammock to the suspension. Secondly, you can check to see if you have set your hammock up with optimal tension for comfort by feeling the ridgeline tension when lying inside. The ridgeline should be taut but not so tight that you can't bend it with your hand.

Staking out the head and foot angles of the hammock is an extra step that some models don't have. As we mentioned before, it is an optional step, so rather than being something that detracts from the ease of setup, it's a bonus feature you can choose to use for added comfort. Unfortunately, the ties do not come with stakes, yet another add-on with your purchase. If you're picky about stakes, Dutchware offers a selection of nine different stakes on their site.

Durability and Protection

The construction and materials of the Chameleon gave us no reason to question its durability. The 1.6-ounce fabric we tested is sturdy yet soft to the touch. The titanium buckles are beefy enough to impart confidence and light enough that we didn't think twice about their weight. As with any lightweight equipment, you'll want to take good care of the hammock and avoid sharp objects. When buying the hammock, you can opt for a lighter 1.1-ounce fabric or the burlier 2.4-ounce fabric, depending on your own priorities around weight and durability.

The zip-in bug netting will keep out all but the most industrious mosquitoes. The way the netting zips to the hammock, a small 1-inch hole is left at either end, but the hammock makers have protected this hole with a covering sewn into the hammock body itself. A mosquito would need to do some serious route-finding to make its way inside.

We are a bit skeptical about the durability of the zipper. It is a plastic-toothed zipper that slides smoothly but is more prone to snagging than a coil zipper. As soon as one tooth gets damaged, it will have to be replaced entirely.

You can intentionally add a second body layer onto the hammock as a sleeping pad pocket. Our testers much prefer using sleeping pads with this feature; otherwise, pads slip all over the place. For protection from rain, Dutchware has a selection of ultralight tarps made of both Dyneema and sil-nylon fabrics.

Versatility

A chameleon easily adapts to its environment, which is why the name is so fitting for this model. Dutchware prioritizes customization and versatility, so their products can be used in a variety of environments and for a variety of purposes.

The fully removable, zip-on bug netting is unique to the Chameleon and only a few other models we tested. As a fully removable netting, it is just as versatile as a sleeve style, but it is lighter weight and offers easier access through the zippered netting. We love this feature for trips in the early and late seasons when you don't expect many bugs, or if you just want to take your hammock to a slack-lining session at the park.

Another unique feature of the Chameleon is the reversible bug netting. You can opt for a symmetrical bug net if you choose, but we tested the asymmetric option and learned that you could change the lay direction by flipping the netting over. The zippers are double-sided and open on both sides of the hammock and in both directions. Zippers that open up both directions on both sides of the hammock make it easy to get in and out, regardless of how you set it up.

Interestingly, the zippers have no endpoint, which means you have to remember where along the hammock you closed them together. We like that we can choose where the zipper closes and make it close to our heads for easy reach. But we realized that in the dark, we don't always remember whether we put them at our heads, feet, or in the middle and if we positioned them in the same places on both the right and left sides of the hammock. A small glow-in-the-dark pull could easily solve this issue.

Much of the versatility of the Chameleon is in the ordering and the ability to add and subtract components. You can choose to purchase the hammock, bug net, tarp, and suspension separately or buy them together. Only with Dutchware Hammocks are you able to choose from so many options: two sizes, three fabric weights, nine solid colors, 31 printed patterns, single- or double-layer fabric, whoopie sling or webbing with buckle suspension, type of bug net, top cover for cold weather, integrated sidecar pockets, and a whole variety of other accessories. It can be hard to make all these decisions if you are new to hammocking. But for the discerning hammocker, being able to customize your hammock to this extent is a luxury one doesn't often find.

Weight

The Chameleon scored high in this category but is not necessarily the lightest of the bunch. To look at weight differences between hammocks, we need to make sure we are judging those with similar features and accessories side by side to get a true apples-to-apples comparison.

This hammock was tested using the heavier-weight webbing and buckle-style suspension system. You could cut a couple of ounces by purchasing the whoopie sling suspension. One advantage of the Chameleon is that the bug net can be completely removed when you don't need it, saving you 5 ounces.

Should You Buy the Dutchware Chameleon?

Although the Dutchware Chameleon isn't cheap once you purchase the necessary add-ons, it still retains enormous value regarding quality, comfort, and versatility. The components are functional and easy to integrate into the setup. Ultimately, this model is a one-stop shop for a hammock you can use anytime, anywhere. If the price tag is intimidating, you can always choose the right add-ons that fit your needs and return to other items like a rain fly, bug net, or stakes when you're ready to upgrade your system.

What Other Hammocks Should You Consider?