When Do You Pack Up Your Bottom Insulation For The Season?

**P Chang** · 04-03-2015, 23:57

At what degree do you all pack up your bottom insulation for the season?

I'll be doing some hiking & hanging on the night of the 11th and the 10-day forecast is showing a low of 60 degrees that night. I'm thinking I won't even bother with anything other than a sleeping bag. But, wanting to be prepared, I may take a sleeping pad to put underneath me in case it's needed.

**Trail Runner** · 04-04-2015, 05:34

Bring the pad. Most folks need bottom insulation for temps below 70F. I'm a full-time hanger and I need my underquilt in my climate controlled house for all but the very hottest nights (I rarely use my AC).

**hutzelbein** · 04-04-2015, 06:37

Originally Posted by P Chang

At what degree do you all pack up your bottom insulation for the season?

Never.

**sargevining** · 04-04-2015, 07:08

When I know temps will be above 70* all night long. Down here that's about July & August---but a couple years ago, I needed a light UQ one July weekend.

**Red Langford** · 04-04-2015, 07:24

Where I normally travel the temps routinely fall to single digits (CELCIUS) at night even in August. I'm sort of wondering what sort of under quilt I would need, a three season or winter one.

**P Chang** · 04-04-2015, 09:43

I don't have a nice civvy-style pad...just an old Army-issued PT mat that I'll bring along. I've not used it for anything other than keeping my duffle bag smooth-sided and upright for the past quarter decade or so, but it will save me from paying for a pad that I'd otherwise not get much use out of.

**kessler556** · 04-04-2015, 10:06

The pad is not only insulation but also a your chill pad lol by the fire.

**Mountnman** · 04-04-2015, 10:22

Yea I always pack an UQ. If the breeze is right I have gotten chilled in the 80's especially by water.

**P Chang** · 04-04-2015, 19:02

Funny you mentioned setting up near water. I scouted out a nice place to set up and it's on a piece of land between two small lakes. Might have a good breeze going through.

**P Chang** · 04-13-2015, 09:32

Went camping this past weekend and the temperature dropped to 54 degrees before I had to put my Army PT mat in my hammock. Once the mat was in, I noticed an immediate difference...felt like it warmed up the underside of my hammock 10 to 15 degrees and I slept fine using just that and a summer-weight sleeping bag. An UQ would obviously be nicer to have, but it's good to know I can skip that expense and get by with my PT mat for a few months.