Our story
A hammock company from Franklin, Tennessee
Wise Owl began with one hammock that had to be good and had to be affordable. Everything it sells now grew out of that.
How did Wise Owl Outfitters start?
With a hammock. In the team’s words: “Years ago we set out to make an awesome high quality hammock at an affordable price.” Hammocks are still the store’s top seller, and the SingleOwl is still $29.95 with its straps and carabiners in the bag.
From there the line grew into what a hammock needs around it, then what a camp needs: straps, a rain tarp, a bug net, an underquilt, pillows, dry bags and trekking poles, all under the Wise Owl name.
How does Wise Owl choose what to sell?
By using it first. “We personally test each product we offer, and never sell anything we wouldn’t use personally,” the About page says. The specs on every page are written the same plain way: carabiners rated to 2,967 pounds, the WiseFly tarp to 3000 mm, the Flare underquilt to 40°F.
The team is just as plain about the pace: “Building a great brand is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”
Where is Wise Owl, and how does gear get to you?
The company is in Franklin, Tennessee, just outside Nashville, and calls itself a family business and a US company. It sells online, and Amazon fulfills and ships the orders: 4 to 5 business days standard, free over $75. Customer support answers Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Central, most emails the same day.
What we make now
Five lines, one hammock at the center
- Camping Hammocks6 products from $26.95: SingleOwl Hammock, DoubleOwl Hammock, Camo Hammock and more
- Hammock Accessories6 products from $23.95: Talon XL Straps, WiseFly Rain Tarp, SnugNet Bug Net and more
- Camp Sleep Gear3 products from $28.95: Toasty Traveler Blanket, Snoozy Pillow, NightNest Sleep Pad and more
- Camping Gear5 products from $15.95: Dry Bag 3-Pack, Tent Stakes 16-Pack, Camping Towel and more
- Trekking Poles7 products from $7.95: TrailBuddy Original, TrailBuddy CF, Wrist Straps and more
Answers
About Wise Owl, briefly
Is Wise Owl Outfitters an American company?
Yes. Wise Owl Outfitters is a US company based in Franklin, Tennessee, and calls itself a family business. In the team’s own words: “We take great pride in being a US company, working every day to improve our design, technology and processes.”
Does Wise Owl test its own gear?
Yes. The About page puts it plainly: “We personally test each product we offer, and never sell anything we wouldn’t use personally.” The line started with one hammock and has grown to more than 25 products, from Talon XL straps to TrailBuddy poles.
What did Wise Owl make first?
A hammock. The team set out years ago, in its own words, “to make an awesome high quality hammock at an affordable price.” Hammocks are still the store’s top seller, the SingleOwl is still $29.95, and the line has grown into straps, tarps, sleep gear and trekking poles.
Where can I watch Wise Owl’s hammock setup videos?
On the store’s Hammock Instructions page, which holds thirteen setup videos covering the hammocks and the gear that hangs with them. The written version is short: two trees 10 to 15 feet apart, a strap on each, carabiners clipped in, and the hammock about 18 inches up.