Sarah in a Hammock

           In my very first blog post, I mentioned how much I like to read in my hammock.  I would say that this is one of my favorite summer activities.  This activity is great because it combines two of my favorite things: reading and being outside.

Reading Harry Potter and eating Fish Mix in my hammock

            I started enjoying hammocking by accident.  For Christmas a couple of years ago, one of my uncles gave me a very generous gift card to an outdoor sporting supply store called Earth’s Edge in Grand Haven.  Earth’s Edge is a store for hikers, campers, kayak enthusiasts, and basically anyone who enjoys being active outdoors.  I am not a frequent visitor of Earth’s Edge (the merchandise can be a bit expensive), but my uncle is a bit of a hippie, so I can understand why he got me a gift card to this particular store.  I did not use the gift card for months because I had no idea what I wanted to buy.  Then, on a very rare sunny day in March, my best friend Suzie wanted to show me the hammock her boyfriend had given her.  It was a compact, foldable nylon hammock that could be put up and taken down in less than a minute.  I was instantly intrigued.  After spending the morning lying in the hammock, I decided that I would use the gift card to buy one of my own.

Suzie being goofy and hanging upside-down in her hammock

            Earth’s Edge had a very nice selection of Grand Trunk hammocks.  I had done some research online, and many people seemed to recommend this brand or the brand ENO (which was the type of hammock Suzie had).  I picked out an awesome white two-person hammock with a bright, colorful Hawaiian flower pattern on it.  I also purchased some extra long tree straps so that I could hang it up around wider trees. 

I can honestly say that this was one of the best purchases I have ever made.  I use my hammock all the time, especially during the summer.  I have taken it with me on trips up north to my grandparents’ cottage and down south to Florida.  Everywhere I go, people always want to try it out.  In fact, after I bought my hammock, I had countless friends and relatives go out and purchase their own.  I even helped one of my professors at Grand Valley pick out a hammock for her grandson.  I think it is so worth the investment, especially for someone (like me) who enjoys reading outside.  They are so simple to put up and they are easy to take anywhere.

Hammock selfie!

Sadly, with winter approaching, it is almost time for me to put my hammock away until spring comes again.  It is too cold to read outside in a hammock during Michigan winters (believe me, I have tried!)  I can’t wait until the weather gets warm so I can enjoy my beloved hammock again!