This is exactly what I just got through doing. I hung in my front yard, in 26* weather...which is about the coldest I expect to be camping in...to test out what I'd need to be comfortable to sleep in. The gear I used aside from hammock/tarp/suspension was an Alps Mountaineering Clearwater 20* synthetic bag, a Stoic LTWT self inflating mattress(1.5" 3/4 length, 1" under the legs, R value average of 2.9), and a Driducks poncho hung as an undercover below the hammock body. Basically using my ground sleeping gear in the hammock, as it's new and I already have this gear at my disposal. The first night I put the pad inside the sleeping bag, as I've done on the ground to keep from sliding off the pad. It worked, but was hard to get everything situated properly. This night I slept in boxer briefs and a fleece hat, and was comfortable the whole night through with the exception of perspiration collecting on the sleeping pad since it was directly against my skin, and moving around and finding a cold spot on the hammock. The second night I put the pad in first, then the sleeping bag. It was a bit harder to get situated, but once there, stayed in place all night and was more comfortable. This night I wore thermal bottoms and an underarmour top, and the fleece hat. I had my shoulders out of the bag all night so I didn't get too hot. This was WAY more comfortable. Definitely don't inflate the pad all the way, so that it will conform to the hammock body. I also think this helps it stay in place. Since I was using a synthetic bag, I zipped up inside it to get what little help I could from the bottom not being completely crushed under me, and wrapping around the sides. I'm a side sleeper, so a 20" wide pad was ok for me to stay on without hitting many cold spots until I moved. You may want wider if you're a back sleeper. It should also be noted that I'm a pretty warm sleeper. With all that said, I am saving for an underquilt/topquilt setup because after sleeping a couple nights in the hammock I can definitely see the advantage of being able to just get in and lay down without moving stuff around and zipping up and staying off of cold spots etc. I'll use what I have for now though.
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