Matt S. is an Alabama Outdoors employee and an outdoor enthusiast in the Birmingham area.

When I first joined the outdoor retail industry more than six years ago, parachute hammocks were all the craze. A hammock company called ENO (Eagle Nest Outfitters) helped fuel the popularity by creating the very first knotless anchoring system, which allows anyone to hang a hammock easily. Hanging an ENO hammock only requires two perfectly spaced out trees or sturdy anchors.

Not the classic rope hammock

I had always pictured hammocks as the traditional rectangular design made from uncomfortable rope that would brand my skin with diamond-shaped red marks if I laid on it too long. These classic rope hammocks lived in two scenes in my mind.  One, hanging between two palm trees with some beautiful sunset sinking into the ocean’s horizon or, two, at my grandmother’s house hanging for the last 30 years where it had become a small safety hazard.

Parachute hammocks, however, feel sturdy. Constructed from durable nylon fabric that is lightweight and breathable, they can hold up to 400 pounds!  So I decided to purchase a new ENO hammock and take it along with me on some of my camping trips and casual day hikes.

Love for my hammock

My new hammock compacted down small enough that it easily fits into my larger Osprey Atmos pack for extended adventures, but more importantly, it fits into my Osprey Manta daypack, enabling me to hike to quick scenic places like King’s Chair at Oak Mountain State Park. I could enjoy beautiful, relaxing views while swinging in the breeze. But something happened. Eventually, my hammock ended up in a storage box after moving into a new apartment, and I forgot about it.

I continued my day hikes and overnight camping trips, where I typically opted to bring my Helinox Chair Zero, which gave me a place to sit and relax and ponder the meanings of life or maybe drink too much camp coffee and watch fireflies.

And then something happened again. Within the last month, COVID-19 began affecting the way I and others live our day-to-day lives. As this virus sweeps across the world, governments are currently asking citizens to self-isolate and to spend more time away from others.

A newfound appreciation

Like everyone else, I am devoting more thought to how I spend my time outdoors. I’m also tackling a lot of spring cleaning tasks a little earlier. On one of these spring cleaning adventures, I opened a brown cardboard box (that I should have unpacked a long time ago) and discovered that familiar oval ball of nylon.

Suddenly, in a world of uncertainty and stress, my colorful hammock made more sense than ever.  I now have it hanging on my balcony where I can lounge and watch the birds, listen to my music, or catch up on reading.

I used to look at my hammock as just a tool to use on the hiking trail, but now, for me, it symbolizes “slowing down and relaxing.” Being intentional to find a brief moment whenever you can to breathe and realign yourself has never been more critical.

And the new appreciation for my hammock helps me to do just that.

Ready to be outdoors this Spring? We have the Spring outdoor gear you need to get you back on the trails! We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time. Visit one of our stores or take advantage of our shipping or curbside pickup! #BeOutdoors