onewind Aerie Double Review

The Onewind Aerie Double is perfect for anyone seeking an entry-level backcountry shelter system that won't break the bank. The spacious hammock body is comfortable for one person overnight or two people who want to snuggle in the shade. Although more affordable, we think the components offer ample durability and protection, and if you want a full shelter, you can purchase a compatible rainfly separately.

Comfort

The Aerie Double features a durable and sturdy 70-denier ripstop nylon hammock body thanks constructed from a single panel (rather than the standard triple panel) of material to increase comfort next to skin. This stitch-free construction is most appreciated when utilizing the design as a day hammock rather than an overnight shelter system, as we would often toss a foam pad underneath for more comfort throughout the night. This hammock is spacious, measuring over 11' feet wide by 64" long, there's plenty of room to spread out when sleeping alone as well as plenty of space to share with your sweetheart. This extra space also makes it easy to sleep diagonally, allowing for a more “flat lay” that enhances the comfort provided by the affordable design.

During testing, we preferred to sleep solo in the Aerie Double when it came to overnights, however, there's plenty of space to take a comfortable siesta with your sweetheart. And while we can appreciate the thicker, more durable nylon construction, it doesn't breathe super well, that is unless there's a good breeze kicking up. Although not the most comfortable of fabrics out of all the hammocks that we tested, we can appreciate the seamless, single panel construction, as well as the spacious hammock body that allows us to enjoy this design whether sleeping solo or chilling with your sweetheart in the afternoon shade.

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Ease of Setup

At first, it was a little tricky to setup the Aerie Double without checking out the small instruction page. We didn't nail it the first try and set up the hammock without the bug netting fully covering the gathered ends on both sides of the hammock. This was somewhat of a beautiful mistake as we realized that we could enjoy the hammock itself without the bug netting, which increased the overall versatility of the design. The suspension straps are easy to figure out, simple to adjust, and long enough to attach to larger trees for more options. The ridgeline for the bug net attaches easily to the suspension straps via a plastic ball that slips through a rubberized loop and remains attached when weighted. However, we did notice this would fail in high winds if you weren't weighting the hammock to help maintain some tension.

If you want to use the bug net, be sure to thread it over the hammock before setting up the suspension straps, there is also a way to tighten the bottom of the bug net on the bottom of the hammock, this can be done from the inside or outside of the hammock. Our first try, it took us over 10 minutes to fully setup, however, we got more efficient and could set it up in about 5 minutes after a little practice. Once you get the hang of it, the Aerie Double features a simple setup, especially compared to other more frustrating and cumbersome setups involved with setting up a backcountry shelter.

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Durability and Protection

Although The Aerie Double is a more affordable shelter system, we can appreciate the quality included in the components. The hammock body is constructed from 40-denier ripstop nylon that feels sturdy and doesn't make you worry about rips or tears during your adventure. It also features a greater weight limit of 500 pounds rather than the standard 400 pound limit.

We liked that the hammock body is rugged and durable without feeling itchy, while the single panel reduces the risk of tears as well as increases the comfort of the hang. The 500 pound weight limit is nice too, we felt protected when napping with our sweetheart, although the suspension straps did creak a little as we got into the design, keeping us on our toes. The bug net is effective, yet delicate, so we made sure to secure the net if we left the hammock setup in high winds as tree bark would definitely damage the effective netting. The pocket that runs along the ridgeline isn't the most sturdy component, but we found it worked best when placing items on either side to create more stability overhead. And our only other complaint may be regarding the gathered ends that are constructed from a thinner cord, which is durable in theory, but made us do a double take, especially after the creaking when loading two people into the design. Overall, the Aerie Double exceeds the durability and protection of its more modest price tag.

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Versatility

The Aerie Double design includes a ton of versatility thanks to its spacious size, integrated bug net that can be removed for evenings later in the season, as well as the adjustable ridgeline which allows for ample storage, and finally longer suspension straps that give you more options in the backcountry. We love that the bug net covers the top and bottom of the hammock, although we typically snoozed on top of a foam pad to keep the bugs from bitting, and to increase the comfort of the design during longer sessions. We also used the dual-sided stuff sack as a pillow by simply stuffing a puffy jacket (or two) inside the design.

While we only tested the hammock, bug net, ridgeline, and suspension straps, Onewind does sell more compatible accessories, should you also want to purchase a rain fly or to better customize the design to meet your needs. While the standard Aerie Double design doesn't include all the bells and whistles, all the components work well together to create a solid and versatile backcountry shelter or open hammock design on cooler days without the bugs.

Weight

Compared to other hammock shelter systems, the Aerie Double is relatively lightweight. Weighing only 26.95 ounces for the hammock and bug net, and 41.16 ounces for the complete shelter system that includes the suspension straps, the overall weight and bulk remains competitive. The included, dual-sided, stuff sack increases the packability of this design and measures about 11" long x 5" wide. We also love the elastic keepers on the suspension straps so you can roll them up and the elastic will keep them in place.

Although the stuff sack is nice, it is just barely big enough to fully enclose the hammock, bug net, and suspension straps, if you were to purchase any additional accessories, there wouldn't be space inside the stuff sack to store them. And while we took the extra time to roll the 12' suspension straps into a more tidy loop, you may not want to take this extra step every time you break down the shelter, however, if you don't, it's difficult to fit them into the stuff sack. For a backcountry shelter, the Aerie Double compresses easily into a small stuff sack that's easy to toss into a backpack, while the relatively lightweight design makes it easier to tote the shelter between campsites.

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Should You Buy the Onewind Aerie Double?

The Onewind Aerie Double is the perfect entry level backcountry shelter system for those who want to give it a try without making a substantial investment. Although affordable, we think the design includes quality and lasting components that make it a worthy investment. Whether you just want a spacious hammock body to snuggle with your sweetheart or are seeking effective bug protection during backcountry trips in the height of mosquito season, the Aerie Double checks all the boxes, making it the perfect choice for those seeking an affordable shelter system.

What Other Hammocks Should You Consider?

The Onewind Aerie Double is by far our favorite affordable hammock shelter system that we've tested. We love the simple design that doesn't skimp when it comes to quality and performance. That said, if you're willing to invest a little more to increase comfort, we think the Warbonnet Ridgerunner is an excellent choice thanks to the spreader bar and softer fabric for a more comfortable night sleep. The Warbonnet Original Blackbird is definitely a lighter option, and for this reason, our favorite backcountry shelter out of all the systems that we've tested. And for those seeking a hassle-free and intuitive setup, the ENO JungleLink is at the top of our list.