I don't think that I haver ever slept in a tent.  Don't get me wrong, I've laid in them for hours at a time, but I sure haven't spent much of that time sleeping.  OK.  I guess the last couple of sentences were a bit of an exageration.  Nevertheless, I trust that I made my point.  It just isn't comfortable to sleep on the ground.  And even the best one inch thick pads don't seem to solve the problem for me.  The solution, for me, was to switch from a tent to a hammock.  However, although my first hammock was much more comfortable than the ground, I quickly learned that a real camping hammock would need to protect me from bugs and weather as well as the ground.

Isn't it uncomfortable to have your back bowed like a banana all night?  It certainly would be uncomfortable to sleep that way all night.  However, one of the tricks to hammock camping is learning to sleep slightly off-axis (on a slight diagonal) in a large hammock. When you sleep on the diagonal, you can actually lay completely flat. 

What is the difference between a camping hammock and a backyard hammock?  A camping hammock is typically made from much lighter materials, has netting to keep out the critters, and can be rigged with a fly to shed rain.

What are the major draw-backs? 

• Hammocks are almost always cooler than tents - even when you use the same sleeping bag - because air circulates freely  under the hammock
• I don't always camp in the trees (I live in the desert southwest)
• It takes a little practice to feel comfortable wriggling around in a sleeping bag while sleeping in a hammock
• You must be careful to not damage the trees

What are the advantages?

• Hammocks are very comfortable
• Hammocks are often lighter than tents
• My gear tends to stay very clean because it rarely touches the ground
• I can sleep in camp sites that were previously unusable due to slope or water
• It feels wonderful to gently sway with the trees

My current gear:  I currently own two different camping hammocks.  Each hammock has different strengths.

• Mosquito-free Hammock Bliss Double:  This was my first real camping hammock.  It is ideal for short summer outings.  I use an unzipped Lafuma Warm-n-Light 800 sleeping bag as a quilt.  I sleep on a NightLight sleeping pad to insulate my back side.
• Clark North American hammock:  I use this hammock on all activities longer than a couple of days.  It is very handy during the shoulder seasons when you just aren't sure how dry or warm it will be from day to day.  This hammock is virtually bomb proof.  It provides exceptional protection from rain.  It is roughly twice as heavy as the other hammock, but is still lighter than many tents.  It has a series of pockets, underneath, that are extremely handy for storing your gear while you are in camp.  I sleep in a sub-zero sleeping bag on sleeping pad.

My wish list:

• I would like to purchase a Henessy Hammock Explorer Ultralight with UnderCover and UnderPad.  I believe that this combination would provide ample weather protection and would be more comfortable due to the size and shape.  Although I would miss the storage pockets that are built into the Clark North American, I am optimistic that the insulation strategy in the Hennessy would be even more effective than in the Clark. 
• While I was at it, I would purchase a pair of Hennessy Snake Skins