Quote Originally Posted by rip waverly View Post
thats what i've been doing - with sleeves its a bulletproof system




the arm holes do zip up for pod mode - and zip down for venting / camp wear / arm dexterity when in the pod

the pod doesn't "hug" the bottom of the hammock, but.....
if one rigged some shockcord to the foot cinch and hammock end, that would effectively tether the wren into place.
and, once you hop in and zip the bag up, it stays put around the shoulders.
i think the philosophy of the pod and actual use negates a lot of what the underquilt set up involves.
intrinsically, it retains heat in a 360* --pod-- as opposed to something modular that produces potentially weak points at edges

all that said... this has been the easiest, most "fiddle-free" insulation system i've tried to date.
i've done no real mods, adjustment, tweaking, at all. simply cinched the foot end drawcord, hopped in and zipped up. the hood
really seals against the users head.

now of course.... i still see the speer peapod as the ultimate, as you have no real gaps to speak of at all, no weakpoints.
but what you lose is a little bit of versatility- as i've also very much enjoyed using the wren IN the hammock as a top bag w/ UQ. it allowed easy exit,
and was worn outside for mid-night pit stops at the tree. the hood is great too, and solved the issue of needing a pillow.

again, wider folks (or anyone really) may find the pod "confining" - but i find comfort in it. sorta sets me into place, but allows
enough for side sleeping / fetal. i've found no real shortcomings, except, as fourdog mentions, the ease of use a full length zipper would allow.

feathered friends has new options too, like zipper customization, pertex quantum? i think, 900 fill power down, -- all of course at a higher price point. but a great company, willing to work with their customers- and walk you through the attributes of certain systems.
I have wanted one of these babies, or maybe an Exped version, for years, long before I ever got into hanging. It looks wonderful. Incredible hood.

I have always wanted it for warmth around camp, the arm holes, not having to get out of your bag if you have to get up during the night, etc. And more recently, for a really easy bag to use in a hammock, or a summer model inside a Pea Pod, even though you will compress the bottom insulation.

Only recently, from reading guys like you and fourdog, have I realized what a great pod they would also make. This side steps compressing the bottom insulation, and looks like it works good. But then it seems you loose the ability to stay in your bag for night time watering trips. And it you will loose the ability to get your head inside that spectacular hood. Though you could stil; use it for around camp warmth, then put it on as a pod just before bed time.

Then again, is sitting around it for camp warmth a bit of a fantasy if friends around the fire are part of the camping scene? I'd be worried about a spark landing on that thing of beauty. As I would with a JRB wearable quilt. But if a big fire was not used, it would be the ultimate way to stay warm in camp. A head to toe parka.

Watching you in the inside video, showing pod use do I see something like a reverse Pea Pod top gap? In the Pea Pod, I can easily get the bottom snug against my back, but depending on hammock width, I might have a big gap on top. Or a very small to no gap with a narrow hammock. Watching you in the FFWW as pod, it looks like it is laying right down onto your chest/stomach, but with a big gap beneath. Is that correct? But I guess you could rig a small mod to pull it tighter for less gap, as you mentioned in the previous post.