New to the cold, please help

[TXHC]

Hi fellas I am faily new to hammocks but love my "mosquito hammock" jungle hammock. I have used it in warm weather but never in cold weather. I am gona use it this cold season and am unsure of how to keep warm while packing minimally. This site has so much info everywhere you turn that it is hard to sift through it all so I was hoping yall would help me with my certain situation. I have a cheap mat for the bottom insulation right now. Do you think I need a better one if I use a good sleeping bag? Would a good sleeping bag be just fine with no other upgrades? If so what would be a good sleeping bag? I really hate sleeping cold. Thanx for any and all input fellas

[dejoha]

A good closed-cell foam pad (blue pad from WalMart or similar) works fine to keep your back warm. You can invest in a few layers when it's below freezing (32°F/0°C). I like to cut a large pad in half and use one half turned 90 degrees to cover my shoulders and the other pad for under my lower torso.

I've used pads in some pretty cold weather. It's a good, inexpensive solution.

Under quilts that you can pull up under your hammock is the most common way to stay warm in a hammock. Even sleeping bags pulled around your entire hammock work, but with hammocks with built-in bug netting make pull-over or PeaPod-style bags difficult or impossible.

You can use the sleeping bag you already own inside the hammock.

[gunner76]

Be sure to test your setup under controled conditions so you know if it works as planned. Nothing worse than being out in the woods and finding out your gear does not work as expected.

I have used a wallyworld blue foam pad many a nights with great results in my double layer hammock. Only issue is that in a single layer hammock, the pad will tend to slip and slide

[HappyHiker]

Pads are more than adequate, but not as comfortable as an UQ. Still better than sleeping on the ground

The cost of the mat isn't really relevant - the thickness and material are. CCF ( Closed Cell Foam ) is what you want, and for cold weather (32 F and below) at least 1/2" thick. As mentioned above, adding a second pad in a "t" configuration will give your shoulders/arms insulation and add more insulation beneath your chest where it is most needed. Most pads are relatively inexpensive.

The sleeping bag is a highly subjective thing. Does your current bag keep you warm on the ground at low temps? If so, it's probably good to go. If not then you may want to start looking at your options.

Under quilts that you can pull up under your hammock is the most common way to stay warm in a hammock.

Personally I don't agree with this statement. If I had to put money on it, I'd bet far fewer hammockers own UQ's than don't due to the expense and complexity. JMO.

[Raul Perez]

Personally I don't agree with this statement. If I had to put money on it, I'd bet far fewer hammockers own UQ's than don't due to the expense and complexity. JMO.

Cost I'll give you. But complexity is not one of them.

[HappyHiker]

Cost I'll give you. But complexity is not one of them.

Really? Look at the number of threads on properly hanging an UQ. Seem to be quite a few to me.

There are a good number of ways to hang an UQ using different types of suspensions, and the "best" way to hang one can vary with the type of hammock as well. Once dialed in and any particular idosyncrasies are dealt with, fairly easy to attach - I'll give you that. But getting to that point is not simple. It's not just buy (or make) an UQ, hook it to your hammock and you're done.

Maybe it's just me, but being new to UQ's has introduced another set of variables to work with in the pursuit of hammock happiness. I'm having fun and enjoying the process - but it is a process and far from simple for anyone who is new to the concepts and usage.

[Raul Perez]

There are a good number of ways to hang an UQ using different types of suspensions, and the "best" way to hang one can vary with the type of hammock as well. Once dialed in and any particular idosyncrasies are dealt with, fairly easy to attach - I'll give you that. But getting to that point is not simple. It's not just buy (or make) an UQ, hook it to your hammock and you're done.

I've done some research on what you discussed here. I've found MY solution which is the Yeti under quilt (get past the tree strap segement):



Open, attach, enjoy. Done in minutes, easily compressible, light weight and tested down to 24*F now.

[dejoha]

Maybe it's just me, but being new to UQ's has introduced another set of variables to work with in the pursuit of hammock happiness. I'm having fun and enjoying the process - but it is a process and far from simple for anyone who is new to the concepts and usage.

Hammocks are fun!

Of course, do what works best for you. For me, under quilts were easy. I think what helped was my first set from Adam (HammockGear.com). Like other manufacturers, he runs a continuous loop of shock cord through the under quilt so it can slide back and forth. This makes in-hammock adjusting a breeze. Some quilts just tie off on the ends so that can complicate the process a bit, and sometimes it helps to have a second person adjust the quilt while you're inside. But, once you get the quilt adjusted, it's set and worry(less) free.

[Shug]

I will toss in my bit as well........
Did this video for folks having UQ difficulties but I found them to be a natural for me....once I trusted them
Shug

[dejoha]

Personally I don't agree with this statement. If I had to put money on it, I'd bet far fewer hammockers own UQ's than don't due to the expense and complexity. JMO.

The research I did for my book from polls on the forums and elsewhere is where I get that metric. Under quilts were by far the most common compared to pads, pull-up bags, and pods.

Under quilts do not have to be expensive. My designs for the poncho liner under quilt (PLUQ) is very inexpensive (there's even a no-sew version!). There are other ways to get an under quilt that are inexpensive; I've created two for my family out of inexpensive children's sleeping bags from Walmart.

It might be sixes on complexity, comparing an under quilt with pads. I find that pads are more cumbersome as they slide and move around _inside_ a hammock. Getting into a hammock with pads inside is challenging and I'd say more complex than an underquilt. Now, pads in a double-sided hammock is much easier.