I want to get into hammocks on the cheap, and have been looking at some good DIY options. Here's what I'm looking at with an integrated underquilt:

  • 1.9oz ripstop, 115" by 60" as the main hammock body
  • Structural ridgeline
  • 1" polypro webbing, lark's head-ed onto the hammock bindings and 4-wrapped to the tree
  • 50" by 70" undercover of 1.1oz DWR ripstop, with "darts" along all 4 sides to create a loft cavity
  • 13 ounces of 800fp down, providing 3" of loft.


To get started, I'm going to use my 20 degree bag as a top quilt.

A few questions I have:

  1. Do I need baffles to keep the down in place or will it loft on its own?
  2. If I need baffles, horizontal or lengthwise?
  3. Also, what's a good, dry, inexpensive tarp option to get started? I'm willing to make it myself.
  4. What's the best way to utilize noseeum bugnetting over my hammock?