There are evenings that remind you why you keep coming back to the woods. This was one of them. A friend and I packed our gear, hiked out to a quiet lake and spent the night between the trees, just the two of us, the water and whatever we could cook over a small flame.
The spot we found was ideal. The lake lay still and calm in the late summer light. We strung up our hammocks with a clear view of the water, pulled a DD Tarp 3x3 m over the top as a roof and settled in for what became one of the most relaxed overnighters in a long time.
A Net Worth Its Weight in Gold#
Sleeping by a lake in August means one thing above all: mosquitoes. I had the Cradle Bugnet from onewind with me, and it was the standout piece of gear on this trip. Unlike simpler net solutions, the Cradle Bugnet wraps the hammock completely and creates a protected space underneath. The special part is the waterproof film at the foot end: I could stash hiking boots and spare clothes right under the hammock without worrying about dew, rain or crawling insects.
Combined with the double-layer hammock from onewind the setup felt remarkably secure. No buzzing at the ear, no midnight swatting. Just the quiet sounds of the lake and an undisturbed night. Anyone who has tried to enjoy a summer night in a hammock only to get eaten alive will appreciate this combination.
Fresh Water Straight from the Lake#
One of the small perks of camping by a lake: you do not have to haul all your water in. We filled the Hydrapak Seeker 3L right at the shore and filtered it afterwards. Drawing fresh water right next to camp saves weight on the way in and makes you independent.
With plenty of fresh water on hand we could cook without rationing. And we cooked plenty.
Cooking Between the Trees#
We set up a small kitchen spot a little away from the hammocks. The Bushbox Ultralight is a reliable companion for forest cooking, compact enough to forget in the pack, sturdy enough to hold a pot steady over the flame. On top sat the TOAKS titanium pot at 1.6 liters, big enough for a proper meal for two without feeling like you carry a whole kitchen.
We took our time. Chopped, stirred, watched the fire. No stress, no schedule. That is the whole point of an overnighter: you slow down until the forest sets the pace. After dinner we brewed coffee in the titanium French press, leaned back in the hammocks and watched the light fade over the lake.
Staying Until Morning#
The best part of an overnighter is the morning. Waking up in the hammock, opening the bugnet to find the lake under a thin layer of mist, hearing the first birds before any traffic or notification breaks in. We made another round of coffee, packed up at our own pace and left the spot the way we found it.
Two people, a quiet lake, simple gear, good food. That is exactly how a summer overnighter should look.
All onewind products at onewind, code KAPPE gets you 5% off.
Gear Used
OneWind
Crystal Bridge Hammock
onewind
Hammock Cradle Bugnet
Helikon-Tex
Helikon-Tex Bushcraft Satchel
Bushcraft Essentials
Bushbox XL Titanium: Ultralight, foldable, highly efficient | Bushcraft Essentials Shop
Nordic Wolf
Pot/French Press 750 ml – Titanium 3-in-1 Outdoor-Kaffeegenuss
Nordic Wolf
Feuerblasrohr – Ausziehbares Edelstahl-Tool mit Walnussholzgriff