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VonHaus 2-Person Hammock review: is this the best garden hammock out there?
Affordable, great looking and easy to assemble: is the VonHaus 2-Person Hammock too good to be true? We put it through its paces over the course of a sunny summer weekend. Hey, somebody's got to do it - here's our verdict.
By Poppy O'Neill | Last updated Apr 17, 2024
Price on writing: £25.99 | Buy now from Amazon
What we like
Soft, thick fabric
Room for two
Good looking
Great price
Cool and breathable
Easy to put up and take down
Kids and pets love it too
What we don't like
Needed straps (sold separately) to fix it to two trees
Much comfier with just one person inside
Key specs
Size: 200 x 153cm | Maximum weight limit: 130kg | Stand included: No | What's in the box?: Hammock, travel bag, instructions
Our verdict
This is a stylish, affordable and breathable garden hammock that’ll be used for years to come as a spot for relaxing, reading, cuddling and Mumsnetting. As long as you have two fixed points - trees, thick beams or a stand are ideal - that are 3m+ apart, it's quick and easy to set up.
If you're planning on using trees to hang the hammock from, you'll need to invest in a set of hammock straps. I went for COADILNIO Hammock Straps, £9.99 from Amazon and they did the job beautifully. However, it was disappointing to have to wait until the straps arrived before I could begin chilling/rigorously testing the hammock.
Once up, it's everything you look for in a hammock - comfortable, secure and swaying gently from side to side. The perfect place for a leisurely scroll of AIBU. It is, however, a two-person hammock, and even the best hammock isn't going to be as comfy with two people in it. Dutifully, we did try it with two and we could indeed fit, but it wasn't especially relaxing.
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How we tested
I tested the hammock over the course of a sunny week with my wife, our two children aged 10 & 12, two dogs and two cats. An absolute beginner, I set the hammock up in our big-ish garden between two trees following the instructions provided. I took notes based on quality, how safe it felt, how easy it was to put up, take down and store - plus, naturally, how good it was for relaxing in with a cuppa.
How easy was the hammock to set up?
At first I tried to set it up with the loops provided, but the branches that would fit through the loops provided weren’t strong enough to hold my weight, so this option is only for if you’re hooking it onto a stand or hooks. And yes, I did hurt my bum in the process of working this out.
I bought a cheap set of hammock straps from Amazon and they made it easy peasy to sling the hammock between two trees.
If you’re not a hammock aficionado (and you've already learned the hard way not to use too-skinny branches) then getting in is a bit nerve-wracking. Go slowly and take my word for it: as long as you choose thick, sturdy branches you can trust the hammock and straps to do their job. It’s worth installing it a bit higher up than seems necessary too, as it dips quite a lot with someone lying in it and you don’t really want your bum grazing the ground. There are detailed height instructions in the information booklet, so do refer to these before you set it up to ensure a safe hammock experience.
How comfortable is the hammock?
Super comfy. My kids and pets were all drawn to lie in the hammock too, and once you’ve gotten in, it’s hard to drag yourself away.
The fabric is thick, soft and breathable. The fabric supports your head and shoulders in a way that makes you relax instantly, and the gentle rocking motion makes you feel like you're in a crib, making it the perfect place for a cup of tea and a spot of Mumsnetting. Just make sure you’ve got somewhere to rest your cuppa.
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"I loved the fact that I as a bigger person could lie in it and felt safe."
How do two people lie in a hammock?
This hammock is a two-person but it’s perfectly comfortable for one to relax in. For two, it’s cosy and snug, but working out how to comfortably lie is quite the challenge. The nature of any hammock (except perhaps something premium and more structured like the Fatboy Headdemock) is that weight is tipped into the middle, which is fine for one but not so comfy for two.
We ended up googling it, and according to this Reddit thread top and tail is the way forward, with one poster recommending a ‘scissoring’ technique after 8 months of trial and error on a backpacking trip with his girlfriend. It seems like a lot of manoeuvring so the hammock gets used far more by one person at a time, with the occasional four-legged companion making two.
How do you wash the hammock?
It’s hand-wash only, with warnings not to tumble dry, iron or dry clean it. The hammock is pretty bulky so it would take a long time to dry, and the instructions warn against wringing it out.
Once you’ve chosen the right branches it’s very easy to put up and take down, so I’d recommend bringing the hammock in at the end of each day, to keep it in great condition and avoid the need to wash it.
Is it easy to store?
The hammock arrived neatly folded in its carry bag, and if you have the inclination to neatly fold it up again, it fits snugly back in the bag. However, if you’re more of a roll-it-up and chuck it somewhere person, it’s not that easy to squeeze back in, especially if you’ve bought straps and want to store them with the hammock.
We decided a hook in the shed would be the best place to keep it at home, for ease of getting out and putting away again. For taking the hammock out and about, a large bag for life is perfect.
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"I liked putting it up with my wife, it’s been on my bucket list for years to have a hammock."
Is the VonHaus 2-Person Hammock good value for money?
While I had to spend 40% of the price over again on a set of straps, I still think the hammock is good value at under £40 all told. The fabric is high quality and I feel secure and comfortable inside the hammock. It gets lots of use - if my WiFi was strong enough I’d be writing this review from inside it.
The hammock is enjoyed by every member of the family - cats and dogs included. It gives you a lovely way to relax in the garden, and I’m sure it’ll last for many years.
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About the author
Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for over 2 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers and outdoor play equipment. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.
Poppy is also the best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won the Kate Betts Memorial Prize in 2019, her books have been translated into eight languages and her writing has featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.
After earning a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Leeds and a PGCert in Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism from University of the Arts London, she worked in fashion for most of her 20s. When her children were young, she undertook an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester and re-trained as an author and freelance writer. When she's not working, Poppy enjoys Pilates, hunting for sea glass on the Sussex coast and playing with tarot cards.