Upper comfort range for underquilts: at what temp does a 20 degree underquilt get too hot?

[chrisgarrison888]

I'm in the Southeastern US, and it doesn't get that cold here. I'm interested in an under-quilt but I'm concerned about it being too hot.

For a 20 degree UQ, at what point does it get too warm? It will typically (year round) be between 35 - 70 degrees at night when I go hang so...I'm worried it will almost always be too warm....much like a 20 degree sleeping bag would be too warm at all but the lowest of that temp range.

I'm looking at the Warbonnet UQs because I have a Blackbird XLC (and a wb tarp) and they make nice stuff. I'm not worried about brand or cost as long as it's comfortable, light, and well built. Any advice &/or recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks!
Chris

[TFC Rick]

I'm successful with 40* ratings in North Florida. My HG UQ has 2 oz. overstuff so technically I guess that is a 30*.

[Nodust]

I use 20 degree UQs. That's all we have.

Change to lighter TQs when the temps will be in upper 40's.

South Louisiana BTW

[silentorpheus]

I own 0˚ and 20˚ underquilts. I've used my 0˚ full-length quilt in the summer , mid july in NJ, when it was 70˚ at night (I had nephews and let one of them use my 20˚ since I figured less fiddling needed for them). I wore shorts and a t-shirt, and had a 20˚ TQ in the hammock with me. I fell asleep without being under the TQ, and in the middle of the night woke up and tucked my feet in (I always get cold feet, no matter the season) since they were chilly.

I was not too hot at any time, and did not feel the need to 'vent' or to make any changes to mitigate the temp rating from below. Think of it like a mattress - when it's summer and hot, your mattress gives you the same temp rating from below, and you adjust for temp with the blankets/sheets, etc. I've found the same to be true for a hammock. the only difference is when dealing with cold.

YMMV. But if you'll ever be out in 35˚ weather, I'd suggest getting the 20˚ quilt you're talking about, and then regulate temps using varying weights of quilt/blanket on top.

[Floridahanger]

At what temperature do you change your mattress from a thicker to a thinner mattress?

I only state that because it's easier to "cool off" an UQ than to take a 40*F UQ down to the 20's. I would get the warmest UQ you could possible use. If you just can't vent it enough for Summer, than get a Summer Series 40*(North) or 60* UQ.

I have used the same synthetic partial UQ from the 70's at "No Underquilt hang" down to 23*F at 4th Annual Florida Hang. To me, the more important question is the temp rating of a TQ for Summer or Winter.

[Madsent]

Down will be much more forgiving than a synthetic due to its superior breathability. My synthetic quilts seem to get hot about 20-30 degrees over their rating, down has a much wider comfort range.

[SpitballJedi]

I have a 20* UQ and it doesn't really get too hot until about 70ish. It is very easy to vent when it starts getting hot. It seems more difficult to vent a TQ because it lays on you, but a UQ hangs under you so you can much more control of ventilation.

It seems that once it's too warm for my 20* UQ, it's really warm enough to not need anything at all.

[OneClick]

At what temperature do you change your mattress from a thicker to a thinner mattress?

When the air conditioner breaks! But it never does

I never understood this thinking. My house varies between 67 and 69°. Outside varies -5° and 70° for me.

But either way, the end result is the same. You can use a winter UQ in the summer without issue.

[TallPaul]

My logic when buying the 20° UQ was it would cover probably 80% of the time I was in the woods. Real hot or real cold and I would likely need a different bag anyway.
With that said, you can vent your 20° and it should be fine in the summer.

The only time that did not work for me was when it was both hot and windy. When I would vent, I would be to cold from the wind. When the UQ was against me, I was too hot. Of course, I like to hang in the mountains, so you may not have these conditions.

[SilvrSurfr]

I have an HG 0*, 20* and 40* UQ, and I've used them all in overnight lows up to 70* F with no venting. If I want to vent, it will be the TQ, not the UQ.