Hack Job Underquilt

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06-02-2010, 08:47
WonderMonkey

Hack Job Underquilt

I'd love to go ahead and buy everything I want for Summer and Winter camping but I need to add a piece here, add one there, over a few years. Until then I need to handle Winter camping.

I was thinking of getting a cheapy-cheap-O hammock with an old sleeping bag (or a quilt) in it and putting it under my normal (as yet unpurchased) hammock. I would attach the cheapy-cheap-O hammock ends to my normal (and unpurchased) hammock to keep everything lined up and snug underneath.

Any reason why this wouldn't work?
06-02-2010, 09:35
Cannibal

Can't think of a reason. Weigh a bunch less to just attach the bag to the existing hammock like an underquilt, but I suppose this way you have an extra hammock around and who doesn't need an extra hammock, or twenty. :D
06-02-2010, 10:49
KerMegan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannibal

and who doesn't need an extra hammock, or twenty. :D

and he of all people should know!

To WMky- look up peapods, you might could kludge up some rough approximation with the sleeping bag you already have...KM
06-02-2010, 11:18
WonderMonkey

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannibal

Can't think of a reason. Weigh a bunch less to just attach the bag to the existing hammock like an underquilt, but I suppose this way you have an extra hammock around and who doesn't need an extra hammock, or twenty. :D

I'm concerned about keeping the UQ snug to the top hammock. If I can find another way to keep my "It will do until I get something better" UQ snugged up there without the second hammock them I'll be happy.
06-02-2010, 11:19
WonderMonkey

Quote:

Originally Posted by KerMegan

and he of all people should know!

To WMky- look up peapods, you might could kludge up some rough approximation with the sleeping bag you already have...KM

I did see those and that is what I want to head towards maybe next year when my gear fund actually has "funds" in it. But like you mentioned maybe I can kludge something up until then.
06-02-2010, 11:33
Harpo63

Know what? Just thought that WonderMonkey is not the only newbie who is going thru this route... Im sure there are some -now- experienced hammockers who have already started out with a cheap-o hammock, and have purchased a little by little over time and has alot of gear... wonder if any of them still have their old cheapos that people like wondermonkey can take off their hands for very cheap?
06-02-2010, 11:52
WonderMonkey

I'll bet there is! I'd want the cheap-O just to keep the underquilt snugged against my slighty nicer hammock that I am going to either buy or DYI.
06-02-2010, 12:22
Cannibal

I would go with the DIY route personally. You don't HAVE to be able to sew and it doesn't need to be pretty. Since the secondary hammock won't be supporting any weight, it doesn't even have to be structurally sound.

What more could you ask for in a DIY project? :D
06-02-2010, 12:30
WonderMonkey

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannibal

What more could you ask for in a DIY project? :D

Admiration of my fellow forum members?
06-02-2010, 12:31
WonderMonkey

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannibal

I would go with the DIY route personally. You don't HAVE to be able to sew and it doesn't need to be pretty. Since the secondary hammock won't be supporting any weight, it doesn't even have to be structurally sound.

What more could you ask for in a DIY project? :D

The one thing I like about putting the quilt in the secondary hammock is that it would also protect it from snags, a bit of splashing, etc.

And maybe I could hide a few candy bars in there that the wife won't find.

Maybe.
06-02-2010, 12:34
Cannibal

Quote:

Originally Posted by WonderMonkey

Admiration of my fellow forum members?

We give admiration to anyone willing to step-up and try. I believe it was Just Jeff that once said something to the effect of....

Quote:

My stuff looks fine from a distance and not bad up close. My stitching might not be line straight, but if someone is going to bag on gear that I built, I don't want to camp with them anyways.

Kind of the way most of us feel about our DIY gear and the gear that others make for themselves. It doesn't have to be the best looking piece of gear in camp to make you feel warm and fuzzy knowing that you made it yourself. That right there is a very nice feeling. :shades:
06-02-2010, 12:41
krugd

Quote:

Originally Posted by WonderMonkey

Admiration of my fellow forum members?

I think you will find that easy to come by. Go to a hang sometime and see!
06-02-2010, 13:15
Beast 71

I've never had any luck using a sleeping bag as an under quilt (UQ), (it's been too heavy and sags away from the hammock) but, I've never tried your idea. Some pitfalls you'll need to avoid are; hanging the under hammock too tightly and compressing the insulation, or hanging it to loosely and having air gaps of course. Since you don't have a hammock yet, you might want to consider making, or buying, a double layered hammock and using a pad in between the layers. IMO that is the simplest and easiest approach.
06-02-2010, 13:30
WonderMonkey

Whatever hammock I will buy or make will be double layered, that is the easiest choice I've had to make so far.

I'm kind of hoping that the "Under Hammock" (UH) will give and take a bit to prevent too much compression. The first time I use it I'll lay in it and have a camping buddy help me get the tension right.
06-02-2010, 14:51
seawolf

Quote:

Originally Posted by WonderMonkey

I'd love to go ahead and buy everything I want for Summer and Winter camping but I need to add a piece here, add one there, over a few years. Until then I need to handle Winter camping.

I was thinking of getting a cheapy-cheap-O hammock with an old sleeping bag (or a quilt) in it and putting it under my normal (as yet unpurchased) hammock. I would attach the cheapy-cheap-O hammock ends to my normal (and unpurchased) hammock to keep everything lined up and snug underneath.

Any reason why this wouldn't work?

Made my UQ out of a army poncho liner that I paid 12 bucks for, works for me.
06-02-2010, 19:15
GingivitisKahn

Quote:

Originally Posted by seawolf

Made my UQ out of a army poncho liner that I paid 12 bucks for, works for me.

+1 though my poncho liner deal wasn't nearly as sweet.
06-03-2010, 09:54
Beast 71

+ 2 on the poncho liner.
06-03-2010, 10:29
Kudu

Quote:

Originally Posted by seawolf

Made my UQ out of a army poncho liner that I paid 12 bucks for, works for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GingivitisKahn

+1 though my poncho liner deal wasn't nearly as sweet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beast 71

+ 2 on the poncho liner.

That's sounds brilliant, have any of you guys got a link or pics on how you did it?
06-03-2010, 10:49
GingivitisKahn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kudu

That's sounds brilliant, have any of you guys got a link or pics on how you did it?

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...91&postcount=7

That's more or less what I used though my poncho liner's tie outs were different than the one pictured. Routing 550 cord (or shock cord) through the channels is easy if you use a section of wire hanger or something to drag some light line (I used mason line) through there and then pull the heavier cord behind.
06-03-2010, 10:56
WonderMonkey

Very nice! Good illustration as well.
06-03-2010, 12:34
Kudu

Quote:

Originally Posted by GingivitisKahn

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...91&postcount=7

That's more or less what I used though my poncho liner's tie outs were different than the one pictured. Routing 550 cord (or shock cord) through the channels is easy if you use a section of wire hanger or something to drag some light line (I used mason line) through there and then pull the heavier cord behind.

Thanks a stack, that really helps - any Ideas on how low you could take the poncho before freezing your but off?
06-03-2010, 15:04
CMPops

Should have known someone would have tried it

I was meandering around the surplus store yesterday and wondered if anyone had tried a poncho liner as an UQ. Then here it is.

As far as a second hammock holding it up underneath, what about a supremely cheap (and small) mesh hammock? At same surplus store, I saw a couple that weighed pretty much nothing and packed down to about about the size of a baseball. If you want to go with a hammock hanging underneath, I would think that could be an answer. Probably cheaper than even DYI (the one I saw was about $10). As far as drooping, that seems like an issue that could be corrected by possibly clipping the sides to the hammock, perhaps? For compression, it shouldn't be any different than any other UQ system or a true double layer hammock.
06-03-2010, 15:14
WonderMonkey

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMPops

I was meandering around the surplus store yesterday and wondered if anyone had tried a poncho liner as an UQ. Then here it is.

As far as a second hammock holding it up underneath, what about a supremely cheap (and small) mesh hammock? At same surplus store, I saw a couple that weighed pretty much nothing and packed down to about about the size of a baseball. If you want to go with a hammock hanging underneath, I would think that could be an answer. Probably cheaper than even DYI (the one I saw was about $10). As far as drooping, that seems like an issue that could be corrected by possibly clipping the sides to the hammock, perhaps? For compression, it shouldn't be any different than any other UQ system or a true double layer hammock.

Good idea for space and weight savings. The only advantage I could think of by going for a more traditional cheap hammock is the protection against some splashing or maybe heat retention in the wind. Otherwise I think you may be on to something.
06-03-2010, 17:17
GingivitisKahn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kudu

Thanks a stack, that really helps - any Ideas on how low you could take the poncho before freezing your but off?

I can't confirm this yet but some of the threads suggest it's ok down into the 40s or 50s as is. I'd think you could augment it with clothes or a pad or something between the UQ layers to go lower but it hasn't been much below 70* since I made mine.

Took a nap in my hammock today around 80* with bugnet on - the PLUQ would have caused me to burst into flames. :scared:
07-02-2010, 20:35
Dudorino

I made my under quilt using 1 layer of Thinsulate. I've used it from 65 down to 40 degrees. I use various weights of mummy sleeping bags for my top quilt. I'm ready for below 40 with a mummy that goes down to zero and a mylar space blanket to go between my under quilt and the hammock.

Here's a link to one of the pictures of it:
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery....php?i=9908&c=
07-02-2010, 20:52
Hangin'Yankee

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudorino

I made my under quilt using 1 lawyer of Thinsulate. I've used it from 65 down to 40 degrees. I use various weights of mummy sleeping bags for my top quilt. I'm ready for below 40 with a mummy that goes down to zero and a mylar space blanket to go between my under quilt and the hammock.

Here's a link to one of the pictures of it:
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery....php?i=9908&c=

Nice looking UQ! Fit looks good. It looks like an old style KAQ.

HY
07-02-2010, 21:54
Dudorino

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hangin'Yankee

Nice looking UQ! Fit looks good. It looks like an old style KAQ.

HY

Great observation. I used the KAQ pattern and instructions that are posted on this site. I couldn't get it snug enough with just shock cords at the ends so I added the end pieces with toggles to make it attach like the HH SS. It's not pretty, but it functions well. Thanks

http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...imageuser=6545

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