Using Black Fabric to warm up during the daylight

[friedlink]

I am making a sock out of black ripstop in hopes that it could capture some heat from the sun inside during the day, so I'd have a warmer cocoon to get into at night. However, now I'm second guessing this "solar-powered" heating.

Has anyone done this? Do you think condensation would build up even if I'm not inside? Do you think it would even trap much heat?

[Cannibal]

I dunno. Black fabric certainly heats up my quilts quickly when placed in the sunlight. If your sock would actually hold that heat for very long, well that's the real question.
If you're a late sleeper, it would sure be a nice warm way to wake-up on a winter morning.

[angrysparrow]

Do you think it would even trap much heat?

In a word, no. Even a black tarp isn't appreciably warmer than a light colored one. The fabrics used for tarps and hammocks are thin enough that there isn't a noticeable amount of heat retention from color variations.

[Just Jeff]

I think if your sock were exposed directly to the sun, you'd notice a difference between a black one and a gray one. But nearly as soon as you take it out of the sun, that heat would go away...it wouldn't hold the heat until you got in that night. And if you had a tarp over it I don't think you'd notice any difference at all.

But it would be good for stealth camping, though.

[Knotty]

There's no significant thermal mass to a hammock so even if the sun warmed it up there'd be little energy stored.

[friedlink]

Thanks guys, very helpful advice.

It's funny how when you switch to hammocking, science text books and a sewing machine suddenly become as essential as a firestarter and water.

I'm learning a lot here. I never thought I'd need to understand physics in order to hang between a couple of trees, but its a lot cooler that I do.

[oldgringo]

Thanks guys, very helpful advice.

It's funny how when you switch to hammocking, science text books and a sewing machine suddenly become as essential as a firestarter and water.

I'm learning a lot here. I never thought I'd need to understand physics in order to hang between a couple of trees, but its a lot cooler that I do.

Fortunately, you don't have to understand it much more than superficially.

I would be SO screwed.

[gargoyle]

I've seen darker fabrics dry quicker when exposed to the sun. But in your case a dark black sock may seem kinda gloomy once inside (I'm thinking tomb, here). I'd shoot for a lighter colored fabric. Since sil doesn't hold moisture, drying shouldn't be much of an issue. The sock will be under a tarp. As far retaining heat, aren't you mostly sleeping at night? If your a third shifter and sleep outside during the day, then I could see the advantages of black sock fabric.

[Gumbi]

While black may absorb more heat in the sunlight, it will also cool off faster in the shade.
Radiators and tires are black because they cool faster than they would if they were a different color.

I don't think it will help you any.