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Due to the added shelter components (the OverCover and the Torso and Kidney pads) sent to myself and the other HH SuperShelter testers in February of 2005, our Long Term report date was pushed back to allow for more testing of the new items. I have now been using the SuperShelter for almost a full year and despite the additions I have only been able to sleep comfortably down to about 50 F (10 C) degrees without wind. This is using only the provided shelter components. With the addition of closed cell foam padding inside the hammock I have taken the SuperShelter down to as low as 27 F (-3 C). Many of the comments/observations I made in my Field Report still stand and will be referred to periodically during the rest of this report.
Jamie J. DeBenedetto
Dec. 12th, 2005
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But this winter is the reason why we extended the test. Having received the optional hip and shoulder pad too late to test it last winter, we extended the test so as to give it (the SuperShelter) a proper test. In my previous reports, I noted that when out in the teens, I did get a chill when the temps dropped to the low teens - 13 F (-11 C). When able to get out and test the SuperShelter with the new pads, I did not get any chills - the pads are an excellent addition to the included underpad. Being made of the same contoured open cell foam as the underpad, the pads stay where I put them regardless of how restless a sleeper I happen to be. That was nice. I wasn't sure that the pads would stay put since there was nothing to "attach" them to the underpad. However, the "grippy" nature of the open cell foam allows the pads to be placed where I want them to be and they stay there.
Temperatures during this testing period ran from 65 F (18 C) to lows of 0 F (-18 C). The weather was calm and warm during the summer with some rainy nights, and this winter testing has had temperatures that have ranged from 26 F (-3 C) to 0 F (-18 C) with heavy snows, some winds (5 to 20 mph /8 km to 32 km) and some clear, frosty nights. I have woken in the morning with snow piled on top of the hammock but did not get any moisture inside the hammock. I stayed very warm with the extra pads - every evening I wore the following: my sweats, wool socks, and my Psolar Balaclava ®. My sleeping bag is my Slumberjack Ultimate + 20 F (-7 C). These, along with the pads, kept me comfortable.
Jodi Cornelius
So that's quite a range.