New to the cold, please help

[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.

[Cali]

I hate sleeping bags in a hammock. It is do able, but a pain. If I didn't already have a SB, I would invest the money into a TQ and UQ. Don't buy a SB unless you find a deal you can't refuse or you like the versatility of a SB. ie. if you have to go to ground. FWIW

[KerMegan]

I use my summer weight down bag as a top quilt- open up the zipper, stick feet into remaining 'bag', then fluff the top and bottom of the bag to left and right, the loft is huge and the drafts are minimal...

N.B mountain 'summer' weight is very useful in Texas winter...only occasional supplementation is needed..

[BillyBob58]

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

Give us some more info on where you are starting from, and you will be able to get better answers.
What hammock are you using?
Single layer or double layer(pad pocket)?
What is your cheap pad? A WM blue pad will still work at fairly cold temps.
Is money the most important factor, or are you willing to spend a little if needed?
Do you already have a good bag, and do you want to stick with that and not make a new purchase? If so, it can be used as a quilt most of the time. Or when it is really cold, you just need to learn a couple of tricks so that trying to get in the bag(in a hammock) and zipping it up won't be a nightmare.

Or, if you have a good bag of the right design and size and the right hammock, you might can rig it pod style, as has been mentioned.

If you don't already have a warm bag, and getting something for your hammock is your main concern, you might be better off looking into a quilt.

[HappyHiker]

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.

I'm not discounting your accuracy - just the methodology. If you only polled hammock enthusiasts, the results will be skewed. They would have to include an entire spectrum of users: new, old, forumites, non-forumites, etc etc etc. You may indeed be correct. If your methodology was completely non biased and you had a decent sample of the entire hammocking/tried hammocking and didn't like it population, you win. I owe you $5.

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.

Expensive is relative. Some of this depends on a willingness/ability to make your own gear and even then, it is still an additional expense of time/money. Look at the commercial/DIY offerings - can I find an UQ that performs as well as a CCF pad for the same $12, or free if I already own some sort of pad?

Off topic: Great DIY contribution - I love the willingness to share ideas and information here on HF.

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.

Cumbersome does not equal complex. Challenge does not equal complex. I'll give you both of those in favor of UQ's over pads without hesitation. Complex is related to what it takes to get that UQ hung properly to work at an acceptable level. Being new to UQ's myself, the engineering/rigging seems quite complex. I've already tried 4 different suspension variations (and a couple more to go) and added a draft tube to my DIY UQ to address leakage issues. The pad is simple - put it in your hammock, get it centered, lay on it and it performs acceptably.

As always, just my opinion. No offense was intended, just offering my point of view.

[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]

/OFF TOPIC/

If you only polled hammock enthusiasts, the results will be skewed. They would have to include an entire spectrum of users: new, old, forumites, non-forumites, etc etc etc. You may indeed be correct. If your methodology was completely non biased and you had a decent sample of the entire hammocking/tried hammocking and didn't like it population, you win. I owe you $5.

I'd love me a Lincoln!

And, no offense taken or given. I know that each hanger has a preference and that's what makes this whole experience great.

Here's where I'll continue to agree with you. I worked with several manufacturers to get data for my book, including Trek Light, ENO, Grand Trunk. A majority of these hammock retailers serve a mainstream recreational base that have no intention or inclination to use their hammocks camping. Napping, perhaps, but sleeping overnight, no. So from that perspective, you're spot on.

A smaller niche are those who use hammocks for camping and backpacking as their shelter, and that's where insulation becomes a big player. Even a thousand responses from the forums is a good sampling of this smallish population.

The pie can be sliced in many ways as you said, including those who "dabble" in hammock camping, part-timers, and addicts like you and me My sampling didn't break down the demographics so minutely so it is broadly biased.

But from the work I've done, I'll stand by my data that under quilts are the preferred method. That doesn't mean that PeaPods, wool blankets, insultex sheets, pads, SPEs, reflectix, 3/4 vs. full-length, and mylar don't work -- if it works for you, that's what matters.

/OFF TOPIC END/

To the OP:

There are lots of ways to stay warm in a hammock, pads and under quilts being only two. I've experimented with almost everything and my favorite is the under quilt.

See if there is anyone from the forum who is close to you who can demonstrate a quilt and try some of the other methods and see what works for you!

[HappyHiker]

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.

Research? Was it simple? (Haha just kidding )

I'm very close to figuring out my personal solution as well. Not as elegant and well designed as the Warbonnet gear, but I'm happy with it.

Nice video! Thanks for sharing.

[Raul Perez]

Research? Was it simple? (Haha just kidding )

Simple... ha no. After 30 minutes of the initial research blood shot out of my nose from the info overload.