What is the ideal temp

[smalz1234]

I don't want to buy more than one underquilt i want to know in the temp range of 0-60 what temperature should i get 0 or 10 or 20 . Thanks in advance you guys have been real helpful

[Bobo1234]

I was having the same problem deciding between a 20 degree or a 0 degree, and I just decided to go with the 0 because you can always vent if you need to, and you can't always add more if you don't have it. Based on my current use of it, I've had no problem with the 0 degree quilt in 55 degree weather. That's just my two cents.

[AsaHanger]

General consensus seems to be 10° cooler than your lowest anticipated low.

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[Cabmanhang]

Consider your minimum temperature rating desired. Factor in a 10 degree buffer.

Buy that temp rating and then vent, or move the UQ to the side in the warmer temps. You could be very hot if you used a 0 degree in 60 degree temps. Lots of venting and such.

Make yourself a Gemini on the cheap for the milder temps. Spend your hard earned cash on a low degree rated UQ for the colder times.

[pgibson]

What are the temperatures that you spend 90% of your camping in? There is no perfect do everything rating. If you get a 20° quilt and your out in 0° weather without any supplementation you will be cool to cold. And on the flip side if you get a 0° quilt and your out in 60° weather you will likely be warmer than comfortable...though it is easier to vent and or remove top side layers, all the way down to nothing than it is to add to a quilt in the cold.

[Shug]

I say a 20º or 30º then boost it for colder weather and vent it for hotter weather if your going for that wide of a range.
But your asking a lot from one peice of gear.
Shug

[Countrybois]

Unless you are well experienced in supplementing your insulation go with your lowest temp need. It will work fine in warmer temps*, you'll just be carrying extra weight..

*we are talking UQs.

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[dakotaross]

I hike in N.Ga/W.NC and have a zero UQ to go with my 20 TQ. I use the zero into the 40s, though I've had it into the 50s and not been miserably warm. I'm a cold sleeper, though. I don't have xtra overstuff, and I believe having only regular fill increases the temp range usability (on the high end). While adding overstuff would certainly increase the low end range, I think it would affect the high end too much for your generalized purpose.

There are a number of cheap options for a summer UQ (50+), so being sure you're covered for your low temps would be the priority.

[Grumpy Squatch]

There is no one magic UQ that will be comfortable in that range, regardless of how you vent it. Paul and Shug speak the truth and I went through similar thoughts and experiments years ago before I broke down and ended up with a complete set of 0°, 20°, and 40 ° quilts.

Do you not want to buy more than 1 quilt because of funds or some other reason? In the beginning, many people found ways to insulate without an underquilt and if you're inclined towards experimentation with Reflextix, foam pads, blankets, socks, and precision placement of your outer insulation layers (ie adding your down jacket under your quilt) then you can probably cheat towards a warmer quilt and supplement when it gets cold. If you're not so inclined, then you're asking for a huge range from one thing.

Most of the time when I'm talking to friends about their gear needs (hammock and otherwise) I find that we all tend to over-estimate the temp ranges that we will camp in. I live in New England and have ample opportunity to spend many nights well below zero outside. I don't. Once a year I go to test myself and I've spent a few nights over the years at -5°, 12°, and -15° F but if I'm honest with myself I could happily have skipped them if I didn't already have the gear. Similarly on the other end of the scale: I've slept in Utah and Africa when it was 107° F during the day and dropped all the way to 90° at night, but those were once-in-a-lifetime trips and if someone invited me to do that for fun near home I'd tell them to get lost.

In the end, my advice is similar to Paul: I'd pick a UQ that covers my 80% range so that most of the time I'm comfortable, happy, and everything is convenient. For the rare trips on the cold end of the spectrum I'd beg or borrow the right or additional gear from a friend or even rent it. Especially an underquilt: some people get uncomfortable sharing their sleeping bags or topquilts since they touch you, but everyone I know is fine sharing an underquilt since the hammock seperates you from it. I'd cheat towards the cold side of the spectrum a bit and vent or switch to a light pad when temps hit 50°+ and go without a UQ when things are 60°+. So you're really asking about something for a range from maybe 10° or 20° to ~ 40°. And if that were me, and the 10° temps were realistic a couple nights a year, I'd get a 10° UQ, a foam pad, and a good topquilt/sleeping bag. Otherwise, I find my 20° UQ quilt is what I use for 50% of the year here in New England from Late April through June and again from September through November. I use my 40 set in July & August and my zero set in December through March.

Good luck.

[<-Pointer]

I use a 20 UQ and 30 TQ and still get a bit cold if the temp starts getting close to 40 after I have been hiking all day. I personally would take a 0 degree bag if I was really certain that I'll be hanging in sub-freezing temperatures. I think it's a rather rare bird that actually wants to be out in 0 degree weather. (You may be one but make sure you're being honest with yourself. It's extra time, money, and weight for 0 degree bag that I bet the vast majority of 0 degree UQ buyers never use/need.) You can hang the UQ lose and vent it in warmer temps, but my bet is that you'll want a warm weather set sooner rather than later.