Since transitioning to hammock camping, I've yet to take it out during adverse weather (other than an overnight rain/hang in the backyard). My main concern is humidity/mist and the underquilt. I hike a lot on the AT in GA and NC. It can get very humid. Has anyone here experienced significant loss of insulation, or gradual accumulation of moisture in their UQ over a multi-day hike in humid conditions? I'm trying to determine how necessary an UQ might be.
I thought an UQ protector was to shield the UQ from rain blown under your tarp or water splashing up from below. I don't think it would help much against humidity.
Agree with this +1Originally Posted by Tim_807
Mike
"Life is a Project!"
To clarify, a better way of asking would have been humidity induced mist...such as when hiking in the smokies.
I wonder about this. While I almost never encounter this type of weather, there was ONE time when I was on the Manistee River in MI. Actually, it was my last time in a tent right before getting a hammock. I woke up at 2am for some business and it was just a thick fog/mist. Looking back, I thought I would have been screwed with my down gear and a hammock! I bet a UQP would have actually helped in this situation, but can't say for sure.
My way of thinking...I could always hang low, pull the tarp sides in to prevent splash, etc. The mist will always be there. My HG UQ has a DWR finish...I might just manage that. Ensure I refresh it periodically and call it good.
I don't own a UQ protector because I plan to do what you mentioned hang low and pull the tarp in. I've never seen crazy weather where a protector would have helped but then again I'm a weekend kind of backpacker and would probably cancel my trip if the forecast was calling for really terrible weather.
I've done up to 2 week stretches on the AT, and by the end of some of these trips...my down had accumulated quite a bit of moisture from the environment. I'll need more experience, however having exposed down is worrisome for me. I'm not sure I'd take it (hammock) into the mountains during the colder months. One option I'd like to see on zero degree UQ's, is one made with GWR (gore wind stopper) fabric.
Do you have that new treated down (for example Activ-Dri) which is supposed to increase the water resistance? I suppose for really damp environments there are always the synthetic UQs.
Yes. The down will still lose a lot of loft from the humidity and the 8+ hours of compression each day. If you have sunshine, it's no problem to dry it out and restore loft...however, I've had weeks of gray...
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