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Sea to Summit Pro Double Review

This specialized, lightweight setup makes no sacrifices when it comes to all-around comfort and versatility
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Sea to Summit Pro Double Review (We combined all of these separate components for an ultimate shelter system. During many times of the year, the bug...)
We combined all of these separate components for an ultimate shelter system. During many times of the year, the bug net will be unnecessary saving you a full 13 ounces!
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Price:  $120 List
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Manufacturer:   Sea to Summit
By Elizabeth Paashaus ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 18, 2023
70
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 40% 6.0
  • Ease of Setup - 20% 7.0
  • Durability and Protection - 20% 8.0
  • Versatility - 10% 8.0
  • Weight - 10% 7.9

Our Verdict

We've highlighted the Sea to Summit Pro Double as a great choice for a comfortable, ultralight setup when you combine it with particular Sea to Summit accessories to create a custom kit. It isn't quite as comfortable as the asymmetric models we tested, but it is a more luxurious hang than the ultralight models. If your plans include using this as a backcountry shelter system and chilling at the crag, you can pick and choose components to create the most comfortable hang. This customizable setup is as compact and easy to hang as other end-gathered hammocks and as protective as other fully-established shelter systems we tested.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Spacious
Easy setup
Versatile for day use or as backcountry shelter
REASONS TO AVOID
All components sold separately
Can only use branded suspension system
Pricey for the full system
Editors' Note: We updated this review on July 18, 2023, to adjust our weighting metrics and to provide additional buying advice.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Sea to Summit Pro Double hammock lets you pick and choose the components you need for any outdoor adventure. This long, wide hammock gives you plenty of space to find a comfortable diagonal position for sleeping and offers more than enough weight capacity to share a hang with a friend at the park.

Add Sea to Summit's ultralight Ultra-Sil Nano Tarp and their zippered-entry bug net with a spreader bar, and you have an à la carte system every bit as lightweight as all but the lightest hammock systems on the market. With the combination of comfort, low weight, and versatility, it's easy to see why we chose the Sea to Summit hammock system as our Top Pick for Ultralight Versatility.

Performance Comparison


sea to summit pro double - the pro double is spacious and comfortable for day trips and is...
The Pro Double is spacious and comfortable for day trips and is light enough for overnight backcountry excursions. Just add or subtract components to get the right fit for your trip.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus

Comfort


The larger size of the Pro Double makes it almost as comfortable for lounging as some of the other voluminous, end-gathered hammocks. This model exceeds many others in length and width, coming up only nine inches short of the longest models and seven inches narrower than the widest hammocks we tested. As a result, this hammock is very comfortable as a shelter system. Our testers liked its width and could find a comfortable, flat position much easier than lying in smaller hammocks of other comparable shelter systems. Still, the size and shape don't provide as much of a spacious feel and flat position as the asymmetric models.


When using an end-gathered hammock, comfort is dictated by the size of the fabric and how you hang it. Because the Pro Double is larger than other ultralight models we tested – measuring ten feet long and just over six feet wide – it makes it much easier to find the sweet spot lying in the diagonal. Even our six-foot-tall testers had plenty of room to stretch out. Another benefit of the large size is that we could get comfy sitting sideways whether we hung the hammock loosely or taut. The hammock also has plenty of room for a buddy.

sea to summit pro double - in traditional hammocks without spreader bars, you'll find the most...
In traditional hammocks without spreader bars, you'll find the most comfort when you lie on “the diagonal”.
Credit: Adam Paashaus

Ease of Setup


Setting up the Pro Double is quick and intuitive. We tested it with Sea to Summit's Ultralight Suspension Straps, which are now included. These have a metal hoop on one end, allowing you to pass the end of the webbing through quickly. It's not hard to pass a webbing line through a webbing loop, but the metal buckle means you encounter virtually no resistance, so the process is smooth – no fiddling required.


The tree straps could be wider. At ¾-inch, they don't provide much protection for the tree's bark, but they are better than just a piece of cord. Sea to Summit uses an innovative metal buckle to hook the hammock suspension to the tree strap. This makes hanging your hammock a cinch and reduces wear on the webbing and cord. The other complaint about the suspension system is that the webbing doesn't tighten or release easily. We had to manually thread the webbing through the adjustment buckle rather than lifting the end and sliding it smoothly. It's important to note that Sea to Summit hammocks can only be set up with Sea to Summit straps and vice versa. Don't buy one without the other.


If you use the bug net accessory, you must slide it over one end of the hammock. Our testers found that if you try to do this after putting your sleeping bag and pad inside the hammock, it is a tight fit and a little harder to hold the hammock off the ground as you unhook its attachment to the tree. The best idea is to put the bug net on when you set the hammock up and leave it bunched up at one end until you need it. We also found it difficult to attach an underquilt with the bug net because it is cinched up around the hammock ends, right where you need to attach the underquilt.

sea to summit pro double - the durable trekking pole hole, integrated tensioners, and included...
The durable trekking pole hole, integrated tensioners, and included guy lines are nice touches that make this system quick and easy to pitch.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus

Durability and Protection


In many ways, the Pro Double is identical to the other basic, end-gathered hammocks we tested. But the material really sets it apart. The hammock is made with lighter-weight nylon than most day-use models we tested. Sea to Summit uses a ripstop material to increase durability while decreasing weight. This also makes the Pro Double a very compact hammock – only a few ultralight models are smaller.


When using the Pro Double as a backpacking shelter with a rainfly, Sea to Summit's Hammock Tarp really shines. It is lightweight and easy to set up and adjust, thanks to built-in cord tensioners on each corner. Sea to Summit's tarp uses a 5-point shape that gives you more protection from the wind and blowing rain on one side of the hammock and more visibility on the other. You can set the hammock up so that the large side faces into the wind and enjoy the weight savings that come from not having an entirely rectangular tarp. The tarp is an excellent compromise between protection and weight savings.

sea to summit pro double - you can pitch one side of your tarp up with a trekking pole for...
You can pitch one side of your tarp up with a trekking pole for better views while leaving the wider side pitched low to block the wind and rain.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus

We like that the Sea to Summit Hammock Bug Net has a spreader bar to keep the net off our faces. The world's tiniest tent pole is inside the stuff sack, and you assemble and slide it into a pole sleeve on the net. The pole doesn't keep the net very high off your face, really just a few inches lower than the ends of your hammock. If you are claustrophobic or often want to sit up, a bug net with a ridgeline is a better option. Even though the net isn't very high off your face, the material is soft and stretchy, so we still found it easy to sit up. Thanks to a zippered door, it is much easier to get in and out of this netting than the sleeve-style netting, which you have to slide down over you like a sleeping bag.

The Sea to Summit Bug Net is very soft, but the less dense weave concerns us about smaller insects such as no-see-ums. We also distrust the durability of this material, which showed tears near the snap that holds the bar in after just one use. This area sustains the most force when setting the net up and is easily stressed, so we don't have much faith that it will hold up that well over time. The other durability issue with this bug net is that it drags the ground unless your hammock is set pretty high. Therefore, you will likely step on the net if you're not extra careful when you get out of your hammock.

sea to summit pro double - stepping on a delicate bug net like this one is bound to quickly...
Stepping on a delicate bug net like this one is bound to quickly tear holes in it, so you need to be extra careful getting in and out.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus

Versatility


This customized Pro Double system is our top pick for overall versatility. Its combination of lightweight materials and the ability to pick and choose which components to take on any given trip allow you to buy one hammock for all uses. Since the bug net and tarp are accessories, you can take the parts you need in your day pack and head to the park, or pack everything for a week on the AT and still have your shelter only weigh in at 42 ounces.


Because this hammock is almost as large as the comfortable, end-gathered hammocks we tested, we often chose to bring it along because of its lighter weight. The 400-pound weight capacity also lets us rest easy, knowing that it won't limit most people from hanging out and watching the sunset with a friend.

sea to summit pro double - the pro double makes an excellent spot to get out of the sand, lie...
The Pro Double makes an excellent spot to get out of the sand, lie back, and enjoy springtime in the canyon.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus

Weight


The hammock itself weighs just a pound. It's lighter than all but the ultralight models, making it viable for taking on multi-night backpacking trips where saving weight is important. While this weight isn't impressive compared to ultralight hammocks, once we add the tarp and bug net, at only 42 ounces, the Pro Double system is directly comparable to shelter systems with lighter-weight hammocks.


Sea to Summit uses a lighter material in their tarp construction than other directly comparable systems, saving you an average of five ounces. You save two additional ounces on the suspension straps and nearly two more on the bug netting. If you prioritize comfort in an ultralight setup, the Pro Double will make you happier.

sea to summit pro double - pictured here is your entire shelter! the hammock itself (top) is...
Pictured here is your entire shelter! The hammock itself (top) is about the size of a 32-ounce bottle. Add in the tarp (left), bug net (middle), and suspension straps (bottom right) and you have everything you need.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus

Should You Buy the Sea to Summit Pro Double?


If you're considering the whole system, this is one of the most expensive models we tested once you include all the components. You can buy a more comfortable shelter system – so why buy this hammock setup? They say you can get one piece of gear that can do it all, but it won't be able to do any one thing all that well. Well, the Pro Double comes close to doing it all and doing it well. It balances low-weight, quality components with a spacious hammock design. The custom setup also opens your options about which pieces you want to carry on each adventure. If versatility is number one, the Pro Double with the added Sea to Summit tarp and bug net should be your go-to system.

What Other Hammocks Should You Consider?


If weight and packability are your top priorities – and you don't need a full shelter system – both the Grand Trunk Nano 7 and Grand Trunk Ultralight are solid budget-friendly backpacking options. The Dutchware Chameleon has a very similar design to the Sea to Summit Pro Double and offers tons of customization options to dial in your hammock setup. The Kammok Mantis should also be on your shortlist for a comparably ultralight shelter system.

Elizabeth Paashaus