DIY down UQ - planning

[lmoseley7]

I'm probably not the best person to answer this since I don't have to deal with high humidity situations very often, but I've seen people use coated and uncoated material. It seems to me that you would want the material to be breathable. and so uncoated would be better - although I don't know how it would handle the humidity that you're describing. I've also seen threads where someone used a coated layer for the layer at the bottom of the UQ and an uncoated layer for the layer against the hammock.

I was just reading some info on Just Jeff's site and he mentioned that he used coated for the outside of the UQ but generally I don't think people mention it so that leads me to believe that they are using uncoated. It's nice to get feedback though.

[MAD777]

There are two types of "coated." One is a DWR (durable water resistant) which will bead up water drops when hit with ground splash, but is breathable. Then there is waterproof which is non-breathable.

My preference, even in the humid southeast, is breathable material. If you want to use waterproof fabric then both sides (the hammock side & the outside) need to be non-breathable.

The worst case scenario is to have breathable fabric next to you & waterproof on the outside because water vapor from your body will totally wet out the down & make it useless.

[lmoseley7]

MAD777, that was exactly the type of information I wanted and is in line with what I was thinking anyway. I did notice on one overnight hang that a ground pad does wonders with blocking the dew from wetting the hammock so I think I'll probably start by making my quilt with breathable material and if moisture becomes an issue I'll make a cover for the quilt that I can use when needed.

[G.L.P.]

i just use downproof ripstop.... no need to use silnylon
just reg old downproof ripstop ...you can find it for $3 a yard at backwoods daydreamer .. your not going to get any cheaper then that and he is a great guy to buy from and ships fast

[Syb]

+1 on what G.L.P. said.

[catalyst]

A couple recommendations to get down from StormCrow. Does anyone know for sure that you can still buy down from StormCrow? I can't find it or any other DIY materials anywhere on the website and I'm still waiting for a response from him through PM.