New to hanging - I am a cold sleeper and need advice

**Cpbarnbabe** · 02-18-2016, 12:29

Good day!

Up to now, I've camped in tents with my husband. In a few months, I'll be on the Superior Trail with a friend, backpacking. Yay! Instead of tenting, I'm wondering about hanging, and need advice! I'm a cold sleeper. It'll be in the 30's at night. Can I do this? Will it be expensive? I don't want a major investment right now, but I'd love to try. I'd also love to hear about why hanging is better than tenting, and why I might love it too! Anywhere I can "rent" the stuff to try? Thanks so much!! I can't wait for my adventure!

**Snusovic** · 02-18-2016, 12:58

Welcome! I take it you are a woman? In that case you are not alone; most females are in fact cold sleepers (truth be told so am I, at least on my torso).
What can I tell you... Hammocking is not to be mixed with tenting. It is not of the same planet even! I still use a tent occasionally above tree limit, and I dread every night, while I sleep like a baby in my hammocks and simply cannot wait to go again after a trip (my trips are in addition little hiking and alot of hanging). You will not only sleep more comfortable in a hammock vs a tent, but you will also feel less (or none) of that awful feeling of being locked up in a plastic bag that even good tents may bring. It's just hard to explain how amazing it is to someone who hasn't tried...

Now to the downside; going around the freezing point in a hammock is usually quite expensive. You will be more exposed to cold from underneath and insulation is expensive. You can buy a great hammock for a reasonable amount, but the insulation follows the rule of "you get what you pay for" (in general). Do you possibly have a good down air mattress from tenting? In that case, it will probably work out in a hammock as well.

PS: If you cannot get good insulation (underneath that is; on top it'll be good with whatever bag you would use in a tent) now, I would still urge you not to discard hammocking. Try it when it's warmer. In the summertime you could do with just a foam pad or even a sleeping bag double folded if it is warm enough.

**knix04** · 02-18-2016, 13:26

I'm pretty sure either Hammock Gear or Under Ground Quilts will rent quilts for trial. Someone else will chime in, I bet!

**Zilla** · 02-18-2016, 13:32

I am pretty sure that UGQ's rent gear, and by the way - welcome to the forum!!
In my opinion go with 0 degree quilts, that's what i would do.

**BrRabbit** · 02-18-2016, 13:37

It can be done and it can be done in expensively. Get a shower curtain for a tarp (that's a parodie to Grandma Gatewood, not an actual advice - but you can buy a tarp in any range from $10 to $300 - depending how light it needs to be),a hammock, your ground sleeping pad and bag and plenty of clothes, and sturdy keds (that's Grandma Gatewood again). You are good to go

Why hammock? To stay off the ground. Ground is associated with melting snow, collected water, hard uneven surface with rocks and sticks). And you won't need to deal with any of it.

**Theguywitheyebrows** · 02-18-2016, 13:45

alla my gear gets me to the upper 50's and it's all diy type stuff I've thrown together from the forum's members knowledges. P.L.U.Q. with fleece and space blanket, P.L.T.Q. w/wool overblanket, (not UL)tarp, tree straps, hammock.

**Cpbarnbabe** · 02-18-2016, 14:54

Hi...thanks! Yes...female. Sorry I forgot that part

I am pretty well "ready" for tent camping. Zero degree down bag, warmer rated air pad for underneath my bag, plenty of clothing etc. I don't, generally, plan on "cold" weather, relatively speaking. I live in Minnesota, but I don't camp in the winter. In May, when I'll be taking my trip, it'll get to the 30-40 range at night. Day is warmer in the sunshine. It's kind of our "spring" weather

I think summer sleeping would be fantastic in a hammock, provided the mosquitoes don't eat me alive!

**BrRabbit** · 02-18-2016, 16:29

Well it's not that easy to hang a hammock inside the tent, you know. Not impossible, but a bit cumbersome with most tents. A tarp would be much easier

**OneClick** · 02-18-2016, 16:33

Originally Posted by knix04

I'm pretty sure either Hammock Gear or Under Ground Quilts will rent quilts for trial. Someone else will chime in, I bet!

If they don't, no problem. I've sold several for close to the new price. Being new, the most I lost was about $15! And I recently sold an older quilt losing $40...but I intentionally priced that one to sell quick.

So that's an option as well. And while we're at it, my first attempt hammocking 4 years ago was a failure. I sold everything and didn't lose much money at all. Then a few months later I repurchased everything to try again!

You can certainly put trust in the quilt manufacturers and their temp ratings. Of course, a little padding doesn't hurt.