FS: Down UQ. Full-sized. Homemade.

**SimpleRabbit** · 05-18-2012, 00:50

Hallo! This is an UQ I made for my bicycle touring...unfortunately, after making it, I discovered that I am allergic to down! So I'm making a synthetic one and selling this.

Pictures: see below!

Moneys: $70 + shipping from Seattle, WA. Paypal preferred or cash if you're local.

Facts:
- 48" x 80" [4' x 6'8"]. I'm 5'10". Easily wraps around me and covers both feet and head.
- rusty brown color
- ripstop material recycled from a tent
- 100% goose down recycled from pillows
- 3-5" loft
- karo sew-through quilt style so you can massage the down around inside if you need more in an area
- unfortunately I don't have a scale. It feels very light to me. I wish I didn't have to go synthetic!
- all four sides have shock cord channels. The suspension is one long loop that goes along both long sides with a quick-lock pully to tighten it up. I just looped each end around the gathered ends of my hammock and that held it up nicely. In each shorter end is a line of shock cord that you can either use to bunch it together, or loop it around the hammock to pull it tightly around. Lots of versatility here!

I took this out on a night that was supposed to be 55 degrees, but turned out to be 35. So all I had was this underneath me, nothing but a sheet of ripstop over me, jeans and a fleece top. I was chilly, but only from above

the next night it was 45 and I was comfortable in the same setup. My guess is that with a proper setup, sleepingbag or TQ, this would take someone comfortably below freezing.

The not-so-good: after sewing this, I discovered that this is NOT downproof fabric and the sew-through design lets little bits of fluff out. It isn't so bad though that you'll be "losing down." So this is functional and nice in many ways, but not the most perfect thing ever. Yet, for an occasional hanger, or for someone who just wants a cheap UQ that packs tiny, weighs very little, and is very warm, this is a great option

It includes the stuff sack that has easily enough extra room inside for your hammock and suspension. I squeezed my whole setup into it. The stuff sack has a reinforced hole I put in the bottom so it can sit on the suspension line like a snake skin and can be packed or hung while in the air without touching the ground.

That's it! Let me know if you have any questions.

**AaronAlso** · 05-18-2012, 06:54

Ok I'll bite!

Tell me how bad is the down leaking from this thing? Does down come flying out if you shake it. Do you see tufts each time you unpack it? Would you dare putting it in a dryer to fluff? I just need to judge what type of service life I can expect.

Will you take $75 straight-up delivered to my door? If so I'm in.

**dammfast** · 05-18-2012, 07:39

second dibs

**Unmighty** · 05-18-2012, 08:51

if still avalible I will take it!!

**AaronAlso** · 05-18-2012, 09:00

I'm still awaiting a response. Lets keep in mind that it's only 7a on the west coast. I'm glad others are interested cause I was afraid that $75 for a leaky down UQ was a waste of money. I don't feel like quite the fool for making an offer now

**NCPatrick** · 05-18-2012, 09:02

AaronAlso has dibs if the offer is accepted.

**SimpleRabbit** · 05-18-2012, 12:49

PM sent to AaronAlso. sgeary28, dammfast, and nulisticONE in line

As for the down, you can kindof see in the third picture what it looks like. Some spots its slightly worse, some spots slightly better. It'll always be there, but doesn't go flying out all over the place when you shake it - I machine washed and ran it through two dry cycles just fine. It isn't to the point where I'd be worried about having an empty blanket in a year and a house full of down, but to the point where you'll have little bits of down clinging to it and the underside of your hammock. Think...shorter haired shedding cat, not a lot of fur, but you might want to lint roll the couch when guests come over

but that's why it's not a $200 UQ.

I think it will last a bit - my plan was to sleep in it just about every night for the next 6 months on the road, until I wound up allergic to it! It isn't a "tank" [as much as an UQ could be described as that] but I think it would have lasted the trip and more.