Ridgerunner neck support questions and how I faired sleeping at 16º

[johnrhopkins]

As it has been getting colder I've been taking a night or two in the hammock on the back deck. Last night got down to 16º.
I have a Ridgerunner with a 3/4 Yeti UQ. I added some thin CCF and the reflective bag that my flat screen TV came in folded up on top of the foam. In the hammock I have a JRB TQ (I forget which one). I also tried the water bottle trick.

I was HOT! The water bottle (Gatorade bottle in a sock with hot tap water) felt great at first. Then I realized it was overkill. I was too hot and had to take out the bottle.
I put a rolled up blanket under my knees to keep the blood to my legs flowing better. As long as I didn't let myself slide to far down and allowing my feet to slide past the protection of the foam/mylar I was toasty warm head to toe.

The only issue I've not yet sorted is my head. It stays plenty warm, but I wake up with neck pain. I've tried a pillow (down), no pillow and even one of those U-shaped airline pillows. I'd love to hear how other bridge hammockers have sorted this.

[kbajg]

I use a small camp pillow its pretty thin but I normally sleep on a really slim pillow always have for some reason.
A thick pillow gives me a pain in the neck. Try to sleep with the same size you normally use just to see if it fixes the problem & go from there with experimenting.

[pgibson]

kbajg's advice is sound. In most hammocks I use one of our Cub Pillows which is just right for neck support. In the RR I like a little more than that and switch out to our Bear Pillow. Another thing is it sounds like you were slipping to the foot end....punch that end up a little higher up on the tree. How much will depend on your build and weight distribution, I hang my foot end about 4-6" higher with the RR to prevent sliding down.

[gmcttr]

Assuming the WBRR is still the same as when they first came out, the RR has a built in "head shelf", when the 4" spreader bar extension is used, that I find uncomfortable to sleep on. I use the RR without the 4" extension and add my own pillow. This also requires less additional foot end elevation to prevent sliding down.

[wrangler88]

I definitely hang my feet slightly higher up. I can't stand the sliding down effect. I use a small kelty camp pillow I've had for a long time. But even that is a little too thick for me. Its hard to explain but the pillow mostly rests in the little pocket above the head shelf. I just barely have it under my head. Its not ideal, but it works. And I've been sleeping in my ridgerunner almost every night here lately. Love it.

[IRONFISH45]

I have neck and shoulder problems, what I have found since I found ways to manage my pain, is a small rolled up towel placed under my neck, under the occipital bone. It gives my neck support while not elevating my head too much. I think it keeps the area in a neutral position. I do have a half round Tempur Pedic travel pillow I use sometimes, it rolls up into a small carry case, or I flatten it and stuff it in with my book and light while traveling. The problem with Tempur Pedic is it becomes very stiff when cold, so that could be a problem for some people, for me I do not care. I hook the pillow where I want it, so I am not trying to retrieve it from under my shoulders or something when I make my nocturnal trip.

I have become very careful how I hang my hammock, after a few rough nights then waking up all crunched in the center of the hammock, I take the time to get it hung properly so I am comfortable and able to walk like a human in the morning. Just a part of the learning curve.

[Miguel]

I've always found that I'm most comfortable with a pillow much smaller than what I would normally use in my bed. That's true in my RR and other gathered end hammocks as well. Experiment.

[PTAaron]

kbajg's advice is sound. In most hammocks I use one of our Cub Pillows which is just right for neck support. In the RR I like a little more than that and switch out to our Bear Pillow. Another thing is it sounds like you were slipping to the foot end....punch that end up a little higher up on the tree. How much will depend on your build and weight distribution, I hang my foot end about 4-6" higher with the RR to prevent sliding down.

I'd like to second the Cub pillow. Perfectly sized.

[hikenbike]

+1 on hanging the feet slightly higher. I also use a Big Agnes pillow. I inflate it all the way and then let most of the air out until it is just right. Very happy with the results after trying various stuff sacks, etc...

[Chriss]

I use a slumberjack while backpacking but at home or car camping in my RR and my BMBH I use the same down pillow I sleep with in the bed. It took me a while to work through the pillow thing and I am on the side that has to have one. I can get away with it in my WBBB. Stay after it. You will work through it. I am going to check out the cub next!