It was just last year that we heard about the Atmos inflatable hammock, which was claimed to keep users warm at night without adding to the bulk and weight they have to carry. Well, as promised it would be at the time, the Atmos is now the subject of a Kickstarter campaign.
Editor's note: Readers often ask us for follow-ups on memorable stories. What has happened to this story over the years? This article was originally published in 2024 but has been re-edited and updated with new information current as of June, 2025. Enjoy!
When someone is sleeping in an unadorned conventional hammock, a thin layer of fabric is all that separates the underside of their sleeping bag from the chilly night air.
This problem can be addressed by placing an insulated sleeping pad beneath the sleeping bag, or by attaching an insulated "underquilt" to the underside of the hammock. Both the pad and the quilt, however, are extra items that the user has to carry in what is likely already a cramped backpack.
That's where the Atmos was designed to come in.
The device was invented by Canadian entrepreneur Jackson Busch after he spent a chilly night hammock-camping on the French island of Corsica. It has since been commercialized via his British Columbia-based startup, Madison River.
When deflated and rolled up, the Atmos forms a cylinder measuring 7.75 inches long by 4.5 inches wide (197 by 114 mm). The whole package is claimed to tip the scales at 3.2 lb (1.5 kg).
Setting it up is a matter of looping its two included webbing straps around two trees, attaching those straps to either end of the hammock via two included carabiners, cinching everything tight, then inflating the hammock via an included pump sack. It measures 11 ft long by 5 ft wide by 2.75 inches thick (3,353 by 1,524 by 70 mm) once deployed.
Described as being similar to a sleeping pad in construction, the Atmos is made of aluminized PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film covered in a protective layer of 20-denier ripstop nylon. It can support a maximum user weight of 300 lb (136 kg), even if it springs a leak and has to be used in its deflated state. That said, a puncture repair kit is included.
You can now order an Atmos of your own, via the recently launched Kickstarter. Assuming everything goes according to plan, a pledge of CAD$240 (about US$175) will get you one – that's 30% off the planned retail price. There's more information in the following video.
Sources: Kickstarter, Madison River
New Atlas may earn commission from purchases made via link and a version of this article was originally published in 2024.
