newbie with many ?'s

[menjr]

i am very new to hammocking. i am planning on placing my order for a WB Blackbird sometime this week but i have many insulation questions. i was planning on purchasing a montbell sleeping bag and using my thermarest trail-lite in a dual layer WB. but now after reading on here i am starting to think i may want a single layer WB and getting a TQ and UQ instead of the SB and using the pad i already own. that would cost me a couple hundred bucks more it looks like. or i was thinking of getting the dual layer and TQ and using my pad as the bottom isulation for a while. is that realistic? and if i did go single layer and TQ/UQ, should i just get the quilts from Warbonnet? or are there better options for about the same price. or should i just go with my original plan and get the bag, use the pad, and save the money. and what are the weight differences in each senario? i know i definately want a Blackbird though. any help would be greatly appreciated. like i said i want to place my order soon.

[HamMike]

My 2 cents, I'd say go with the double layer and use a pad until you get a feel for how much you like hammocking. I wish I had gone with a double layer for my first hammock.

[Beast 71]

My 2 cents, I'd say go with the double layer and use a pad until you get a feel for how much you like hammocking. I wish I had gone with a double layer for my first hammock.

I'd do what HamMike said, but if you don't have a good sleeping bag consider buying a TQ instead of a sleeping bag. If you have a good enough sleeping bag, that you already own, use it and put your money into a tarp for now. But that's just my opinion, Gargoyle makes some good points too.

[gargoyle]

Welcome to the forum, I've got family up in Manton.

As far as advice, buy what you can afford.
Buy what your going to use and for which season(s) your planning to hike/camp. You can get by with the sleeping bag for now. Good hammocks, and good tarps and top and bottom insul. will cost you a lot of dough. Closer to a $1,000.00, alltogether, with suspension and all the other doo-dads.
Try it for a while, if you buy good stuff, you can sell it later to recoup your money, if its not your cup of tea.

Or make your own, little cheaper and its a good hobby.

[Cannibal]

My suggestion would be the same as above, don't put yourself into the poor-house until you know you're addicted. Pads work fine as long as you aren't an excessive sweater. Coming into the summer months anyway and you won't need an underquilt below you for warm nights. You'll want an underquilt before it's all said and done, but waiting a couple of months and making a more informed decision can do nothing but good.

The WB quilts sure are nice. You couldn't really go wrong ordering the complete set (Full Monty) from him.

[TinaLouise]

don't put yourself into the poor-house until you know you're addicted. .

now there's a lot of wisdom in that !!!
Just wish I'd learned it sooner

TinaLouise

[10-k]

Is there a list of top quilt makers anywhere?

I know there is Speer, Warbonnet, and Jacksrbetter - who are some of the others?

[menjr]

thanks guys for the input. i decided to just go with the full monty package from Warbonnet. i placed my order last night. it was a little more than i wanted to spend right now but i'm sure i'll be happy with the results. now i just can't wait to get my new stuff.

[beep]

thanks guys for the input. i decided to just go with the full monty package from Warbonnet. i placed my order last night. it was a little more than i wanted to spend right now but i'm sure i'll be happy with the results. now i just can't wait to get my new stuff.

You won't be sorry! Hard to trade up from Brandon's gear!

[sclittlefield]

Is there a list of top quilt makers anywhere?

I know there is Speer, Warbonnet, and Jacksrbetter - who are some of the others?

ThePerfectTrees I got a sneak preview (shhh) of his top quilts and lemme tell ya, pretty spectacular!