Hi, I am very new to hammock camping. I have spent only 4 nights in my ENO doublenest. I have Big Agnes zero degree bag and am looking at getting a either an insulated sleeping pad to slip in to the bag's pad sleeve or an under quilt. Any suggestions or recommendations would be much apprecitated!
Depends on how you like to lay in the hammock. If you like the way it lays now without any pad or air mattress under you, then wait until you can get a quilt.
A foam pad OR mattress will completely change the feel of the hammock underneath you.
I personally LIKE an air mattress as it mostly does away with calf ridge pressure and I don't need a pillow.
YMMV
I used a BA Encampment and insulated air core pad for a couple years before going to an UQ. It work ok. The pad was a bit small width wise but very doable. I just let the pad deflate about half and it conformed to my hammock.
You can also sew 4 small tabs on your bag and make it into an UQ. I just did this out of curiosity and was surprised at how well it worked. Here's a picture of it from last night. I didn't add anything to the sleeve as it was thick enough. My feet went into the pocket it made on the left side of the picture- I have a WBBB.
I'm new here as well and have the same question. For my first time out I just used my old Coleman heavy-duty flannel and cotton batting monster with no pad or under quilt. It was 58° at nigh and I was very comfortable, but I would like to save weight and space and use my Big Agnes system. Next time out it will probably be in the 40's maybe even high 30's. My thought was to use the BA with a windproof reflective tarp (not the mylar kind) under the bag and pad for warmth. Any thoughts on this? or is an UQ the way to go.
Currently we are using the BA and pad. It has worked well for us thus far. I am thinking of adding a PLUQ for extra measure as they are inexpensive options for a bit more bottom warmth.
"Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.
My first two years I used a BA Encampment 15 degree bag with an exped downmat 9 pad. Worked well and justified the exped purchase for tent dwelling and hammocking. Since, I have graduated to under quilts, specifically JRB Shenandoah or Old Rag Mountain depending on temp. I wouldn't go back to a pad in a hammock, since I have slept remarkably well with uq's.
If it's between a pad and a top quilt I vote for top quilt. To me, it's just more comfy (having tried BA insul aircore, CCF pad and now and underquilt).
Being wrapped in a cocoon of down is soooooo nice!
I'm new myself and I don't have a UQ, but based on the popular opinion it seems the best solution for warmth and comfort would be an underquilt. However, it is also a much more expensive solution. I have read post from people who seemed perfectly happy with the BA/pad system. I imagine the sleeve really helps. If you are able to get inside the sleeping bag, stay on the pad, and your comfortable it might work for you.
I guess if cost is not a factor, you could go straight for the UQ. It sounds like many people start with a pad, then graduate to the UQ
The pad works. I don't like it, but it has saved my posterior on more than one occasion. It works for me with the Knotty mod done to the hammock, otherwise, I had trouble with it sneaking out of the foot box area. May end up going with just the pad and a 0-20* Western Mountaineering bag (funds permitting). No bargain that way, but I like the bag better than the TQ.
Love is blind. Marriage is an eye opener.
I have tried different combinations of pads and UQ's and have found a Exped downmat UL 7 keeps me warm and gives me the most comfortable nights sleep. It also seems to be less hassle than UQ's. I second the remark of an inflatable pad eliminating calf pressure that can result from not having the hammock set-up just right. I sewed a short pad sleeve in the foot pocket to keep it in place.
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