IX Underquilt - DIY

**sclittlefield** · 02-14-2011, 21:24

Thanks so much for all the field reports guys - that's as or more useful than the instructions!

**reddz** · 03-24-2011, 07:32

Mr. Littlefield,

I'm new so please forgive me if I have overlooked something. I like your DIY idea, tutorial and all. I am planning to make an UQ and will use them. My question is; I am 5'8". I was planning a 6' UQ. Could I just use IX 6' long to make mine? I am thinking my head and toes would then be covered. My first hammock just arrived in the mail but I think I shall have a bottom long enough for a 6' UQ. So what say you?

**rjcress** · 03-24-2011, 07:47

Originally Posted by reddz

Mr. Littlefield,

I'm new so please forgive me if I have overlooked something. I like your DIY idea, tutorial and all. I am planning to make an UQ and will use them. My question is; I am 5'8". I was planning a 6' UQ. Could I just use IX 6' long to make mine? I am thinking my head and toes would then be covered. My first hammock just arrived in the mail but I think I shall have a bottom long enough for a 6' UQ. So what say you?

I'm not Scott, but I made one of these and also yearned for a longer UQ.
The 60" length of this design appears to be a result of the 60" wide roll of IX.
The way Scott laid this out allows very efficient use of the IX material so that a 3 layer UQ that covers the main heat producing areas of the body to be insulated with a minimum IX used.

I think you will be surprised how effective the less-than-full-coverage design is at keeping you warm. However, some folks use their sit pad or jacket under their feet to cover the area the UQ does not.

Seems to me that the only down side of making a bigger one is that it will be larger and heavier in your pack.

I'm experimenting with a much larger design and substituting 1/32" PE foam for IX. You can follow that thread to see how that works out (haven't field tested it yet) http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=30375

**rjcress** · 03-24-2011, 20:15

Finally weighed my 3 layer IX UQ. I had guessed it would be around 16oz
The new scale said 454.7 grams or 16.03 oz, including the stuff sack (about 1 oz, suspension triangles, shock cord suspension, and several barrel locks in the suspension. Not bad.

**BodhiKnight** · 03-31-2011, 21:16

I'm having cbs issues even after installing triangle things in my 3 layer. I don't get it. It's making my ocd flare up. Any help out there in hammock land¿?

**rjcress** · 03-31-2011, 21:30

Originally Posted by BodhiKnight

I'm having cbs issues even after installing triangle things in my 3 layer. I don't get it. It's making my ocd flare up. Any help out there in hammock land¿?

A CBS cold spot is often from having that part of the UQ too tight to the hammock so that the IX layers are pressed together with no air gap between the layers. Fit I rather important with IX

**BodhiKnight** · 03-31-2011, 21:48

I'll loosen it up a bit and see what happens. Thanks RJ

**BodhiKnight** · 03-31-2011, 22:30

Its loose but sealed and cbs persists. How much gap between body and underquilt?

**sclittlefield** · 03-31-2011, 22:31

Originally Posted by rjcress

A CBS cold spot is often from having that part of the UQ too tight to the hammock so that the IX layers are pressed together with no air gap between the layers. Fit I rather important with IX

Agreed, I think this is right on the money. You may need to scrap the triangle thingies - it may be that they're wanting to pull up too much, instead of up and out. UQ's can take some serious tweaking to get set up just right, but once it's set, you should be good to go and not need to change anything unless you change hammocks.