When I said barrel, I meant the hammock looks like a cross-section of a barrel - curved as opposed to flat. I looked at the pictures on hammockforum.net, and it didn't help me understand what it might be like to sleep in one. I will have to do as Tango61 suggested, and try one out. I do like that there is less impact on the ground, and there is a separation between the bugs and the hiker. I'll look into it, 'cause I don't have a sleeping pad, and maybe a hammock would suit me better.

Question: I noticed all the hammocks in the pictures were hung with a droop in them. Why aren't they pulled tight, to minimize this droop? It seems like that would be flatter and thus more comfortable. Is there an instruction page that explains how to use one? Thanks.