First serious Winter hang.

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02-06-2010, 14:59
Miguel

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First serious Winter hang.

Couple friends and I went on a shake down cruise for my upcoming Adirondacks winter trip. The temps fell to a reported 11 degrees...my personal low prior to that was about 27 degrees. Both hammocks are Claytor Jungle hammocks...one with a diamond stock tarp and the other with Claytors large rectangular tarp. Even though I didn't do it, both ends of the Rec. tarp could have easily being closed.... being a bit claustrophobic....I declined that option.

I had a home made full sized UQ with a Wally world full sized pad with wings for shoulders and knees. I had a Mountain Hardware Zero degree synthetic bag. I wore 300 weight fleece bottoms and thin long john top with a lightweight Patagonia down sweater to bed. I also had a pair of North Face down booties. I can honestly say I was totally warm all night. I slept from about midnight until 9:00 AM.

Both of my buddies complained about cold feet in their -30 degree bags...both only wore socks to bed. Those booties rock! I wore them in the snow for about an hour in the morning and my feet stayed very warm.

I'm glad I went on the shakedown as I now feel very confident I can survive the Adirondacks. My new (to me) Clark NX 250 should arrive in a day or two which will make the upcoming trip even more enjoyable.

Winter camping is great...if you haven't tried it...you should.

Miguel
02-06-2010, 15:34
Hobbit

Sounds like you had a great time. I've been testing things out in the back yard today. Its about 20 deg but the wind is howling. The feet do get cold. I did a search on the North Face down bootie you mention and come up with the North Face NSE Tent Bootie. Is that the kind you have? Also, on your underquilt I wonder how much loft you have on that?

Thanks
02-06-2010, 16:20
Miguel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobbit

Sounds like you had a great time. I've been testing things out in the back yard today. Its about 20 deg but the wind is howling. The feet do get cold. I did a search on the North Face down bootie you mention and come up with the North Face NSE Tent Bootie. Is that the kind you have? Also, on your underquilt I wonder how much loft you have on that?

Thanks

I believe the underquilt insulation is 5oz climashield.

Yes...my booties are the NF Tent booties. I highly endorse them.

Miguel
02-06-2010, 16:37
Hobbit

Thanks for the info. on the booties, will check them out. I use an older design 7.5 oz Climashield XP quilt from Mountain Laural Designs and was trying it today. Compared to a down quilt I have it seems to work better in the wind. Sounds like your 5 oz climashield does a nice job. Nice to be able to try this stuff before your Adirondacks winter trip and hope that goes well for you.
02-07-2010, 19:35
keys?

Glad you had fun. I too, went winter camping this weekend (first time in a hammock), and reached a personal record low of 17. :D Thanks for sharing, hope you like your clark.
02-07-2010, 19:38
Hawk-eye

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahgirl

Glad you had fun. I too, went winter camping this weekend (first time in a hammock), and reached a personal record low of 17. :D Thanks for sharing, hope you like your clark.

Did you use your incubator on this trip?
02-07-2010, 23:55
Miguel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawk-eye

Did you use your incubator on this trip?

I have to admit...that incubator looks pretty sweet. I always use a pad with my UQ when it gets cold. I'd love to have an UQ that really works into the mid twenties.

I know that mileage varies by user's cold threshold but does that thing really work on it's own in the mid twenties?

Miguel
02-08-2010, 13:35
keys?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawk-eye

Did you use your incubator on this trip?

I did use my Incubator. I also used a fin weathershield (I thought it was a sock, but i stood corrected). The UQ wouldnt stay put. It kept hugging to the right side for some reason. Since I didnt have anything at hand to remedy the situation, I used a pad with it. I'm going to try to come up with something in the next few days to try to keep it in place.
02-08-2010, 13:40
keys?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miguel

I have to admit...that incubator looks pretty sweet. I always use a pad with my UQ when it gets cold. I'd love to have an UQ that really works into the mid twenties.

I know that mileage varies by user's cold threshold but does that thing really work on it's own in the mid twenties?

Miguel

I can't exactly answer that question. I have a few more test runs to do in the next few weeks, and will let you know if you are seriously interested. What UQ do you currently use?
02-08-2010, 14:53
Miguel

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahgirl

I can't exactly answer that question. I have a few more test runs to do in the next few weeks, and will let you know if you are seriously interested. What UQ do you currently use?

I currently use a full size homemade UQ with 5oz (I think) climashield. When it's cold I almost always use it with a Thermarest pad. The other night at 11 degrees I used it with a 25" Wally World pad with wings. With a zero degree bag and plenty of clothing....I was toasty for nine hours.

I'd love to be able to go down to the low twenties without adding a pad. BTW...I think I'm a relatively cold sleeper.

I'd appreciate your feedback.

Miguel