UNDERGROUND QUILTS & OUTDOOR GEAR TQ, UQ & Winter Dream 12

[Benny]

After hangin on Mt Barney in winter I decided two things. 1: I want a tarp with doors. 2: I want a hammock underquilt.

My search for both sent me to Paul at Underground Quilts & Outdoor Gear in the US: http://www.undergroundquilts.com/

I chose:
UQ: Zeppelin 20*F/-6ish*C with wind baffles
TQ: Fight Jacket 20*F/-6ish*C
Tarp: Winter Dream 12

The build quality for all item is great, Paul has really put a lot of thought in to his kit. I'm more than happy with these purchases & know I'll be getting my money's worth, especially with the tarp.

My reasoning for the -6 TQ & UQ was that this will pretty much cover me on my anticipated adventures. For temps down to 5ish*C my pad will pretty much do the trick, for anything below I'll the have UQ.
I do have a down sleeping bag so didn't need the TQ but given it's smaller than the sleeping bag it's a weight saving I figured was worth it, especially since I have a chronic problem with over packing as it is. Besides it can be used as sleeping bag or quilt.

I recently used the Flight Jacket up at Lammington NP, obviously there was no need for the Zeppelin. I used it both on the ground with a pad & in the hammock. Since winter is well & truly gone I'll have to wait out to really give them both a good workout.

Back yard testing the Zeppelin.





Baffles.





Top long side with extra attachment point if needed.





Flight Jacket ready for take off.





Underside/Inside.





Footbox closed.





Footbox open.





Opened up for use as a blanket.





I mostly use the Hennessy Hex for hammocking, however now that I wanted doors another search began. I looked at the Hennessy offerings with doors but they were very narrow. I checked back on Paul's site & found that he was now making tarps as well. The WD12 is the same dimensions as the Hennessy Hex but it had doors!!!! Not only that but it had two mid tie outs each side!!!! My tarp search had ended. As luck would have it he also had an introductory price so I saved a few pennies there.

You can see pics of the features on his site so I'll just throw up a few of how I had to set up one night when trees were scarce. This was totally improvised & no previous practice took place. It took maybe 15min due to the fact I only had an idea in my head but never carried it out until then, with practice you could have it down to 5ish. The only kit used was stuff I was carrying, besides the parking posts I tied off to: tarp ridgeline & tie outs, pegs & 1 walking pole.

Front door to Chalet de Benny





Side view. I used both tie outs on each side to increase head room inside the chalet.





Rear tie outs to the parking posts.





Inside looking at the front door.





Looking at the back. You can see the Flight Jacket TQ on the sleeping pad.




Cheers

[bloomgorge]

I like that orange on silver

[dragon360]

That's some really fine gear you have there - congrats! Liking the colour combos too!

[L84toff]

Looks awesome. I've been very happy with my underground UQ & TQ.

[Stone]

Very nice, Paul does great work.

[Panic]

That looks like a killer setup. Exactly same items I've been drooling over for the past several weeks. Thanks for taking the time to written this up, Benny. Much appreciated.

[stalker42]

Sweet. Love the orange.

[Benny]

Cheers guys. I'm normally a fan of the subdued earthen colours but really like the orange & silver. Good marker panel for when I go awol up in the hills.....I hope it never comes to that....kidding.

I'm happy with the silver on silver for the UQ but if not for the baffles it may take a little stuffing around to figure out the underside before setting up. For this reason if you don't get the baffles make sure you contrast the UQ colours.

Thanks again.