taking forever to warm up

[K0m4]

Insulation does not "warm" you. It slows down the rate at which you cool down. So you must get into the hammock warm.

This is the key. The stuff holds no warmth of its own, it lets you keep yours so you need to be warm when you get in. I also like sitting by the fire until just at the moment going to bed. I mean, jumping jacks and such? Had enough of that in my youth...

[Bubba]

In really cold temperatures, the benefits of the hot water bottle are not only can you warm up your hammock but you also have hot/warm water to sip to warm up your core when you first get it and it is not frozen in the morning so you can save fuel by not having to melt ice or snow for breakfast. If you just use it to warm your quilts before going to bed, then loosing heat is not a bad thing. The down will trap the heat and then you get in and maintain the heat. Leaking is a possibility but as long as your water bottle is in good condition and of good quality, I don't see it as a problem. HYOH.

[outdoorsguy]

Anyone use those little cheap chemical handwarmers? I used them recently, one on foot end and other under my armpit, and they worked good.

[Bubba]

Anyone use those little cheap chemical handwarmers? I used them recently, one on foot end and other under my armpit, and they worked good.

Haven't used the chemical warmers but I have a couple of Zippo hand warmers and they worked for me in the past.

[Moondoggy]

Try some hot hands they always work for me!

[Klaussinator]

All great suggestions so far! I haven't tried the hot water bottle or rocks yet, but I will.

When considering core temperature, you lose a lot of heat thru your cranium, so wearing a beanie or insulated hat of some sort will pay big dividends. After all, your head is the only part of your body not getting any help from the TQ or UQ.

And hey, the proof's in Shug's videos . . .

-Klauss

[FLRider]

All great suggestions so far! I haven't tried the hot water bottle or rocks yet, but I will.

When considering core temperature, you lose a lot of heat thru your cranium, so wearing a beanie or insulated hat of some sort will pay big dividends. After all, your head is the only part of your body not getting any help from the TQ or UQ.

And hey, the proof's in Shug's videos . . .

-Klauss

Good point. And your neck; there're huge blood vessels there, really close to the surface. That's one of the few things that commercial mummy bags have that I miss on quilts: an hood (not that it gets cold enough down here for more'n a couple of days a year for me to really miss it). A balaclava (ski mask) or a neck gaiter/scarf will help out there, too.

[Wildman]

Get a Cat's Meow mummy bag; right zipper. Buy a blackbird and hang is about 4 " higher than normal. Get halfway into the Cat's meow and into the blackbird. Zip up the blackbird. Now, adjust and get zipped into the Cat's Meow.

I PROMISE you will be warmed up by the time you get through those instructions. LOL

[gunsfan05]

Get a Cat's Meow mummy bag; right zipper. Buy a blackbird and hang is about 4 " higher than normal. Get halfway into the Cat's meow and into the blackbird. Zip up the blackbird. Now, adjust and get zipped into the Cat's Meow.

I PROMISE you will be warmed up by the time you get through those instructions. LOL

you are probably right on that lol