The Cart before the Horse!

**aclawrence** · 11-20-2012, 22:26

Hey guys see what you think about this. I enjoy backpacking and camping and I'm eager to get into using some hammocking gear. I am thinking about asking for a top quilt and under quilt from all my family for Christmas. I don't have a hammock yet but it looks like the hammock will be about the cheapest part of the system. From what I've seen there are lots of great hammocks for two hundred bucks or less, but the quilts are a little more expensive. I could ask for a hammock but then I won't be able to afford the rest of the system. If I can get the quilts or at least one of them I know I can come up with the cash for a hammock. I'll have to get a tarp too. Do you think this is a good strategy or not so much? Some of the gear I've been looking at are the dream hammocks by papa smurf, JRB quilts, and the Old Man Winter tarp. Thanks.

**Sidewinder** · 11-20-2012, 22:46

Seems reasonable to me. Quilts will comprise the majority of your cost for your setup. Hammocks are easy to get/make. You could use just about any tarp for the time being. Good luck in getting yourself set up!

S

**OrangePeel** · 11-20-2012, 22:48

Makes sense to me.

IMO, if anywhere, the UQ and TQ are a great place to "invest" a bit more money than you normally would, so to speak. I went with an ENO Doublenest for my first hammock (got it last week). I'm now scratching my head trying to figure out how to get a TQ and UQ.

Getting the most expensive thing as a present makes perfect sense, if money is tight... and I don't know many people where its not.

Brandon

**Mouseskowitz** · 11-20-2012, 22:57

In the sense of the order of things, you are putting the cart before the horse. That being said, free/present is always the right price and negates any logical order, provided you can eventually get your hands on a hammock and tarp.

**aclawrence** · 11-20-2012, 22:57

I've actually got a pretty good Exped sleeping pad but if I get a hammock I really would like to go ahead and get the quilts. Maybe I can get my family to go in together and help get me started. Probaly try to get the underquilt first and use my sleeping bag till I can get a top quilt.

**Mouseskowitz** · 11-20-2012, 23:02

Originally Posted by aclawrence

I've actually got a pretty good Exped sleeping pad but if I get a hammock I really would like to go ahead and get the quilts. Maybe I can get my family to go in together and help get me started. Probaly try to get the underquilt first and use my sleeping bag till I can get a top quilt.

Sounds like you're on the right tract in your thinking.

**TallPaul** · 11-20-2012, 23:21

Originally Posted by aclawrence

I've actually got a pretty good Exped sleeping pad but if I get a hammock I really would like to go ahead and get the quilts. Maybe I can get my family to go in together and help get me started. Probaly try to get the underquilt first and use my sleeping bag till I can get a top quilt.

I was going to suggest getting the UQ first, then if you have a good sleeping bag, you might go with that while you outfit the tarp/hammock.

**HangingOut** · 11-28-2012, 18:23

Originally Posted by aclawrence

I've actually got a pretty good Exped sleeping pad but if I get a hammock I really would like to go ahead and get the quilts. Maybe I can get my family to go in together and help get me started. Probably try to get the underquilt first and use my sleeping bag till I can get a top quilt.

I would try it with the Exped first(if it is a downmat) before getting a bottom quilt. I have a Yeti UQ but have only used it a few times because I think the downmat gives me a much better nights sleep. I might even try selling the yeti here on the forum if I can get my post count up to 50. Oh, did anyone notice I have made several posts today?

**aclawrence** · 11-28-2012, 18:56

I really like my exped. I slept on it for thirteen nights in the pacific northwest this summer. It's a great pad. It seems that the general consensus is that most people prefer the UQ though. I will definitely try both ways when I get a hammock. Oh, mine is not the downmat. It's the synmat 7 I think (its yellow). I think the r value is 3.7 or something like that.

**olddog** · 11-21-2012, 00:29

I would love to get a TQ & UQ for gifts. I can make and hang a tablecloth hammock for $25.00. Hammocks are the least expensive segment of a hanging rig. TQ's, UQ's and tarps are the major expense.