Underquilt endeavors: A learning experience.

**BrokenImage** · 04-20-2015, 20:18

So I wanted an underquilt. A buddy of mine purchased one recently from Arrowhead Equipment and after he let me check it out, Obviously I wanted one even more. I just couldn't talk myself into spending the money, especially after having just purchased a WBBB. So I came up with this hair brained idea that I could cut the zipper and footbox off of my Military Sleep System intermediate sleeping bag and sew some loops into it to turn it into an underquilt. That particular bag is fairly cheap and doesn't pack down super small, but it's feasible for me.

This is the result
imagejpeg_0 (1).jpg

I got it to hang fairly well underneath and it covers me from my shoulders down to the footbox fairly well. But It still sags a bit low, and i'm still getting some gap between the bag and the hammock and I can't figure out how to get rid of it. I put loops and shock cord in the end to tighten it, and the other end (head end) has the original cord sewn in from when it was made which works the same way.

Should I use something different than shock cord to hang it? Is there something I'm doing wrong without realizing it? Or did I waste my time completely and should just invest the money in a down underquilt? I must admit, Stormcrows quilts really caught my eye.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

**gargoyle** · 04-21-2015, 08:28

It's heavy but it can work.
Shock cord to hang a quilt is best. It allows for movement. You can add loops midway to pull the quilt up. You'll run this midway sc over the rl. Then clip or unclip as you exit.

Cinching the ends just right takes time. Too tight or too loose will create gaps, play with the tension (works best to lay in the hammock and have a helper adjust things until it's right)
Foot and head ends also work best with shock cord

**jtbradyl** · 04-23-2015, 16:27

Get some of those paper clip clamps used for stacks. Drape the sleeping bag over the hammock ends and/or as far up the sides as necessary for a tight fit clipping the bag as you go. A rectangular sleeping bag which spreads out flat and is long enough can be tucked over and clipped to the end edges of a hammock given the boat shape of a hammock.