Pad for DH Thunderbird?

**Donfish06** · 02-26-2017, 18:01

I am looking at getting the DH Thunderbird and I haven't ever slept in a hammock below 50 degrees. I do not have a UQ, but have 2 50 degree sleeping bags. My question is: Do different types of pads work better for certain hammocks, or are they pretty universal? If not universal, which type would work best in an asym gathered end such as the Thunderbird, or even the HH Explorer that I currently am using? I am pretty inept in the ways of hammocking compared to all of you! Thanks for your insight!

**Tikker** · 02-26-2017, 18:50

pads can be finicky in hammocks that don't have a dedicated sleeve or double layer

if you're the type that can get in and sleep like a log, then probably just about any pad will work pretty alright

there's a couple pads that are more hammock friendly (imo) like the https://www.klymit.com/insulated-hammock-v.html

**Donfish06** · 02-26-2017, 19:26

Originally Posted by Tikker

pads can be finicky in hammocks that don't have a dedicated sleeve or double layer

if you're the type that can get in and sleep like a log, then probably just about any pad will work pretty alright

there's a couple pads that are more hammock friendly (imo) like the https://www.klymit.com/insulated-hammock-v.html

Thanks for the link! It looks like a very nice pad, but out of my price range! I saw hennessy's double bubble pad which will clip on inside my HH Explorer, and I suppose that I could put two clips in a new hammock if it isn't a double layer. I was thinking that since the HH double bubble was made for their asym hammocks, (shaped, specifically) that it would be somewhat interchangeable. In this circumstance, would you agree?

**Afterparty** · 02-26-2017, 20:42

Have you watched shugs videos yet I know there's maybe 2-3 videos on pads

**Donfish06** · 02-26-2017, 21:17

I have not, I will have to do that!

**IRONFISH45** · 02-26-2017, 21:50

I liked Hennessy's Winter insulation, my daughter hates it. The Hennessey I had is shorter than my Thunderbird. I think it might take a lot of tinkering to get the HH foam insulation to work well in a Dream Hammock. However everyone seems to need to find their own way. Your body size is a factor also.
You could easily make a bubble pad out of a windshield reflector. My Bubble Shield from HH did not fit my Hennessys. I used the foam pad, space blanket and the HH top cover. It worked well for me down to 38F, with minimal clothing. I was using a sleeping bag at that time. I also had a Viet Nam era poncho linner I used for warmth.

**Donfish06** · 02-26-2017, 22:12

Originally Posted by IRONFISH45

I liked Hennessy's Winter insulation, my daughter hates it. The Hennessey I had is shorter than my Thunderbird. I think it might take a lot of tinkering to get the HH foam insulation to work well in a Dream Hammock. However everyone seems to need to find their own way. Your body size is a factor also.
You could easily make a bubble pad out of a windshield reflector. My Bubble Shield from HH did not fit my Hennessys. I used the foam pad, space blanket and the HH top cover. It worked well for me down to 38F, with minimal clothing. I was using a sleeping bag at that time. I also had a Viet Nam era poncho linner I used for warmth.

That sounds like something I could do. Do you have a double layer or single? If single, how does your pad do through the night with not shifting?

**OlTrailDog** · 03-03-2017, 19:59

I heard all the horror stories about pads in GE hammocks. I have quite a few pads, but have settled on the Downmat 7 UL MW as the pick of the litter for a "pad alone" configuration ( I also have successfully used 3/4 pads with CDT, AHD Ridgecreek, or a jacket for UL backpacking combinations). When I bought my Raven I didn't have an UQ for it. Nonetheless I thought I would give the DM a go because I simply needed to sleep in the Raven and couldn't wait. I have been very content with it, including last night.

What I do is sit on the pad making sure my sleeping bag isn't under me (makes it much easier that you don't have to wrestle with free the TQ from underneath you), pivot my feet into the hammock, stretch out on the pad, cover myself with the sleeping bag as a TQ, grab the sides of the pad, adjust the pad's lengthwise posittion if needed, and finally scooch the pad into a diagonal lay position. I have not had a problem with the pad squirting out of position even though I sleep both on back and side. A caveat, the Raven I have is the hexon material and perhaps that is why it stays nicely in place.