Hemlock Mountain Outdoors was started by Kurt Zitzelman to build handcrafted, American-made hammock gear that is simple, durable, field-tested, and made for real adventures.
Hello, my name is Kurt Zitzelman. I started Hemlock Mountain Outdoors to bring handcrafted, American-made hammock gear to people who actually use their gear.
No gimmicks. No staged โstacked hammockโ photos. Just well-crafted gear designed to last through many trips, weather swings, rough nights, and the kind of trail dirt that tells a better story than a product tag ever could.
I first got into hammock camping near the end of 2015. Like a lot of people, I started with big-name gear. I liked the modular idea: hammock, suspension, bug net, and tarp all separate so I could carry only what I needed.
But after only a few months of careful use, the hammock stitching was showing wear and the bug net had holes. After spending close to $300, I knew I could build something better.
I bought a sewing machine, taught myself to sew, and started making prototypes. After testing those early versions, I kept coming back to the same lesson: simple is better.
That thinking led to the first setup that would become the Coyote System, combining what worked, removing what didnโt, and improving the parts I wished my original gear had gotten right.
I tested my original Coyote for a year and a half in sun, rain, wind, snow, and ice. Aside from some dirt and a little sap on the suspension, that original hammock is still in terrific shape.
It is still my go-to hammock. That matters to me. If I would not trust it in the woods, I would not ask you to trust it either.
Whether you are replacing tired gear or starting your first hammock camping setup, Hemlock Mountain Outdoors gear is made to help you sleep better outside.
