It’s only December, I know. But when I found this Nube Stratos Hammock Shelter by Sierra Madre Research on Kickstarter, my mind immediately went to June. By a lake somewhere, in the mountains. No one else around for miles. Maybe I have a tent and maybe I don’t. With this hammock shelter, I don’t really care.
I love this because it’s a hammock. And sleeping in hammocks has always been fun for me. But it’s also great because it keeps you and your gear elevated and dry. No need for ground tarps. You won’t be sitting on a puddle of water that’s going to try to seep into your tent seams if it rains. The Nube Stratos is set up to cover you in 360 degrees from rain and wind. Insects too. Up 10 100 pounds of extra gear beyond the weight of the user can fit in the Gear Stash section underneath.
One layer made of 15D Nylon Ripstop is called the StratosFly. It protects against the elements. The StratosShield, made of 15D Quad-layered Lockstitch mesh, protects against insects.The Nube Stratos is offered at $308. Lots of cool add-ons make this even more useful. for instance, for $15 you can add on a storage line and pocket. For an additional $105 you can add a floor, to turn the whole system into a ground tent. This will be particularly useful if you’re in a place where there’s no trees, or you can’t find two that are close enough together. Altogether, $500 or so for a really useful, modular, customizeable tent available in three colors seems a pretty reasonable purchase.
Images from Nube Stratos on Kickstarter
