The Pro Double is our Top Pick for Ultralight Versatility because it keeps the weight low without losing too much comfort. It isn't quite as comfortable as the asymmetric models we tested like the spacious and feature-rich Warbonnet Blackbird or the 32 ounce Hennessy Backpacker Ultralite but is a more luxurious hang than the minuscule ENO Sub6 in the Sublink system. If your plans include both sheltering and chilling at the crag, you can leave the components you don't need behind and have a compact end-gathered hammock that is as comfortable and easy to hang. It's as functional for day-use as the other large end-gathered models we love like the Best Buy winner from Kootek. Read on to see what we love as well as what we aren't thrilled with in the Pro Double.
Sea to Summit Pro Double Review
Cons: All components sold separately, can only use branded suspension system, pricey for the full system
Manufacturer: Sea to Summit
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
Our Analysis and Test Results
Sea to Summit's Pro Double hammock allows you to pick and choose the components you need for any outdoor hammock adventure. This long and wide 'mock gives you plenty of space to find a comfortable diagonal position for sleeping or sitting with a friend at the park.
Add Sea to Summit's lightweight tarp and zippered entry bug net with a spreader bar, and you have an a la carte system every bit as light as all but the lightest hammock systems on the market. With the combination of comfort, low weight, and versatility, it's easy to see why we chose the Sea to Summit hammock system as our Top Pick for Ultralight Versatility.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The larger size of the Pro Double makes it almost as comfortable for lounging as some of the other end gathered hammocks, like the voluminous Kootek. Sea to Summit's Pro Double exceeds the ENO Doublenest in length and only comes up 9" short of the longest hammocks we tested, the Dutchware Chameleon and Dream Hammock Sparrow. In width, the Pro Double is 7", 6", and 2" narrower than the Kootek, Wise Owl, and ENO Doublenest respectively. It measures a whopping 26" wider and 15" longer than the ENO Sub6, which is what gives it superior comfort.
The Pro Double is decently comfortable as a shelter system. Our testers like its width and were able to find a comfortable, flat position much better than smaller shelter hammocks like the ENO Sub6 and REI Flash Air. Still, the size and shape don't provide as much of a spacious feel and flat position as the asymmetric Warbonnet Blackbird and Hennessy hammocks. And nothing can touch the comfort of the Warbonnet Ridgerunner.
When using an end-gathered hammock, comfort is dictated by the size of the fabric and how you hang it. Because the Pro Double is larger than other ultralight models we tested, 10 feet long and just over 6 feet wide, it makes it much easier to find the diagonal sweet spot. Even our 6' tall testers had plenty of room to stretch out. Another benefit of the large size is that we can get comfy and when sitting sideways whether we hung the hammock loosely or taut. The hammock also has plenty of room for a buddy.
Weight
The hammock itself weighs just a pound. It's 2 ounces lighter than the ENO Doublenest and 7 ounces lighter than the Kootek, making it viable for taking on multi-night backpacking trips where weight is important. While this weight itself isn't impressive compared to the ENO Sublink (5.7 ounces), once we added in the tarp, straps, and bug net, these two shelter systems came to the same weight at 42 ounces.
Sea to Summit uses a lighter weight material in their tarp than ENO does in their Sublink system, saving 5 ounces. They save another almost 2 ounces on the bug net and 2 ounces on the suspension straps. Add in ENO's fleece lined stuff sack pillow, and you make up the 10 ounces difference in hammock weights. If you prioritize comfort, the Pro Double is going to make you happier, but if you like the idea of being able to drop the protection and have the lightest hammock possible, try the ENO Sub6. It's so tiny that you can carry it around in your fanny pack.
Durability and Protection
In many ways, the Sea to Summit Pro is identical to the other basic end gathered hammocks we tested, but the thing that sets it aside is the material. The hammock is made with lighter weight nylon than hammocks like the ENO Doublenest, Wise Owl, and Kootek but not as light as the ENO Sub6. Sea to Summit uses a ripstop material to increase durability while decreasing weight. This also makes the Pro Double a very compact hammock. Only ultralight models like the Sub6 and Sea to Summit Ultralight are smaller, and we can almost conceal them in the palm of our hands!
When using the Pro Double as a backpacking shelter with a rain fly, Sea to Summit's Hammock Tarp really shines. It is light-weight and easy to set up and adjust with built-in cord tensioners on each corner. Sea to Summit's tarp uses a 5 point shape that gives you more protection from the wind and blowing rain on one side of the hammock and more visibility on the other. You can set the hammock up so that the large side faces into the wind and enjoy the weight savings that come from not having an entirely rectangular tarp. The tarp is an excellent compromise between protection and weight savings for those who like to camp even if there is rain in the forecast. If you plan to camp in even the worst wet weather conditions, you might be better suited to add a full coverage Warbonnet tarp to your hammock system.
We like that the Sea to Summit Hammock Bug Net has a spreader bar to keep the net off our faces. The world's tiniest little tent pole is inside the stuff sack, and you assemble and slide it into a pole sleeve on the net. The pole doesn't keep the net very high off of your face (a few inches lower than the ends of your hammock). If you tend to be claustrophobic or want to be able to sit up a little bit better, a bug net with a ridgeline might be a better fit, like the ENO Guardian SL. If a less versatile hammock system with built-in bug netting would work for you, try the Warbonnet and Hennessy hammocks. Even though the net isn't very high off your face, the material is soft and stretchy, so we found it pretty easy to sit up anyways. For the hammock with the highest ridgeline and most interior space that we tested, take a look at the Dream Hammock Sparrow. Our testers were able to sit up fully inside this one.
We like the large door of this bug net. It is much easier to get in and out of than the ENO Guardian SL bug net, which you have to slide down over you like a sleeping bag. We suspect that ENO removed the zipper feature in this bug net to save weight but, even with the zipper, the Sea to Summit Bug Net still only weighs 13 ounces (an ounce lighter than the ENO).
The Sea to Summit Bug Net is very soft, but the less dense weave leaves us concerns about smaller insects such as no-see-ums. We also suspect the durability of this material which showed tears near the snap that holds the bar in after just one use. This area sustains the most force when setting the net up and is easily stressed. The other durability issue we found with this bug net is that it drags the ground unless your hammock is set pretty high, therefore, when you get out of your hammock you are likely to step on the net if you're not extra careful.
Ease of Set Up
Setting up the Pro Double is very quick and intuitive. We tested it with Sea to Summit's Ultralight Suspension Straps. These have a metal hoop on one end, allowing you to quickly pass the end of the webbing through. It's not hard to pass a webbing line through a webbing loop, but the metal buckle means that you encounter virtually no resistance, so the process is smooth; no fiddling required.
The tree straps should have been wider, at ¾-inch they don't provide much protection for the tree's bark, but they are better than just a piece of cord. Similar to the REI Flash Air, Sea to Summit uses an innovative metal buckle to hook the hammock suspension to the tree strap. This makes hanging your hammock a cinch and reduces wear on the webbing and cord. The other complaint we have about the suspension system is that the webbing doesn't tighten or release very easily. We had to manually thread the webbing through the adjustment buckle rather than lifting the end and sliding it smoothly. It's important to note that Sea to Summit hammocks can ONLY be set up with Sea to Summit straps and vice versa. Don't buy one without the other.
If you are using the bug net accessory, you'll need to slide it on over one end of the hammock. Our testers found that if you try to do this after putting your sleeping bag and pad inside the hammock, it is a tight fit and a little harder to hold the hammock off the ground as you unhook its attachment to the tree. The best idea is to put the bug net on when you set the hammock up and just leave it bunched up at one end until you need it. We also found that it is difficult to attach an underquilt with a bug net like the Sea to Summit or ENO because the net is cinched up around the hammock ends, right where you need to attach the underquilt.
Versatility
Again the Sea to Summit's hammock shelter system is versatile enough to award it our Top Pick for Versatility. Its combination of lightweight materials and the ability to pick and choose which components to take on any given trip allow you to buy one hammock for all uses. Without an integrated bug net or tarp, you can just take the parts you need in your day pack and head to the park or pack everything for a week on the AT and still have your shelter only weigh in at 42 ounces. This is the same as the less comfortable ENO Sublink and less versatile Warbonnet Blackbird systems.
Because this hammock is almost as large as the comfortable day use end-gathered hammocks, we often chose to bring it along because of its lighter weight. The 400-pound weight capacity also let us rest easy knowing that it wouldn't limit most people from hanging out and watching the sunset with a friend.
Best Applications
If you're just getting your first hammock for day-use and might want to use it as a backcountry shelter the Pro Double is a great way to get started. It also works if you love slinging up a hammock at the park and camping on the trail in one as well. Because it is a comfy open model, you'll be happy relaxing in it during the day, but it is also light enough to become your long-distance shelter when you add in the tarp and bug net.
Value
For the lightweight versatility and comfort, you get with this hammock, the higher price tag is worth the price. But, if you're considering the whole system, it's the most expensive one we tested at over $300 for all the components. And you can get a more comfortable hammock with the same protection for the same or less weight. So why buy the Pro Double? The value of this hammock comes in its quality components and ability to hold its own in weight and comfort while giving you the option to pick and choose what pieces you need. For those who want that flexibility, the Pro Double holds tremendous value because we couldn't find another system that rated so high in all metrics including versatility.
But if the price tag is just too much for you and you won't sacrifice versatility, take a look at the Dream Hammock Sparrow and Dutchware Chameleon, two hammocks with just as much versatility and comfort but a lower price tag (depending on features selected). If you can sacrifice versatility, check out our Best Buy for Backcountry Use, the Hennessy Backpacker Ultralite or the Warbonnet Blackbird. If a simple day hammock is all you need, take a look at our Best Buy for Day Use, the Kootek Camping Hammock.
Conclusion
They say that you can get one piece of gear that can do it all, but it won't be able to do any one thing all that well. We think the Pro Double comes pretty close to being able to do it all and do it well. It balances low weight, quality components that protect you from the elements, and a spacious hammock. It also leaves your options open as to which pieces you want to carry with you on each adventure. If versatility is number one, the Pro Double with a tarp, bug net, and straps may be the system for you.
Other Versions and Accessories
Sea to Summit offers a Pro Single that we haven't tested and an Ultralight hammock if you like this system but want to save a little or a lot of weight. Sea to Summit also sells 1.5-inch wide tree straps that would probably work better.
— Elizabeth Paashaus