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  1. #1

    AT: Underquilt & Sleeping Pad

    Has anyone thru hiked the AT using only an underquilt and wished they would have brought along a sleeping pad? Considering adding a 9 oz neoair short to my pack for times when going to the ground is more appealing and for the smokies and whites. Might even cut it down shorter and save a few more ounces...

  2. #2
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
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    A small sit pad is pretty important, but I never once longed for a sleeping pad.
    Trust nobody!

  3. #3
    Senior Member lazy river road's Avatar
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    I have not thru hiked but when ever I go for multi day trips I always bring a 4 to 6 section Z-Rest which is used for insulating my feet, my pack frame and sit pad and when all else fails and I cant hang, my ground sleeping pad.
    Sometimes I like to hike and think, And sometimes I just like to hike.

    Hiking is'ent about waiting for the storm to pass its about learning to hike in the rain.

  4. #4
    Senior Member scottpash's Avatar
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    I Did a 12 Day section Hike this year and I slept in a shelter just for the experience of it
    I used my DIY insulbrite UQ as a pad and it was OK but no way near as comfortable as my Hammock
    "HANGING OUT" has taken on a whole NEW MEANING

  5. #5
    Senior Member Dos's Avatar
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    I thru hiked the AT this year.

    In GA, I used an UQ and sock , although I had trouble using the sock. (I ditched that after several tries.)

    After I got half way through NC, I sent my UQ home and used a Z lite.
    this was a really great set up until I got into VT and NH.
    The Z lite hung up on trees and rocks and it felt like I was being pushed from behind. NOT FUN!! -esp with those climbs.
    So I switched to a Neo Air Trekker thru VT, NH and Maine.
    It was the best set up ever, esp with a couple of downpours that I either had to take a break at a shelter or sleep in the shelter due to so much rain.
    It was only a couple of times though.

    you can get a better idea of my day to day happenings, if you are so inclined at:
    www.trailjournals.com/twoisles

    feel free to PM if you have any more questions.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    AT '12. AT '14. FT '15. CA '15.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Dos's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cmich View Post
    Has anyone thru hiked the AT using only an underquilt and wished they would have brought along a sleeping pad? Considering adding a 9 oz neoair short to my pack for times when going to the ground is more appealing and for the smokies and whites. Might even cut it down shorter and save a few more ounces...
    get the longest, widest one possible for a 4-5 month stint. Trust me.
    I used a shorter version of a Therma rest as I am only 5'2". It sucked.
    Hence later moving to Neo Air.

    the concern for weight in the sleeping dept will be of no concern after the first couple of days. I later grabbed someone's free 8 oz of sunscreen, maple syrup, a bottle of jelly. I ditched the sunscreen cuz I never needed it.

    Try not to overthink the ounces you will need for sleeping.

    Sleep.
    Food.
    Hike.

    Without proper sleep and food, you cannot hike very well.

    Pretty simple.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    AT '12. AT '14. FT '15. CA '15.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dos View Post
    or sleep in the shelter due to so much rain.
    OK, you've got me curious.
    How, or why, was there too much rain to sleep in your hammock? I get the lazy-factor for wanting a quick nap without setting up a tarp and using the shelter, but too much rain? I saw monster storms in 08, but can't remember a time there was too much rain to setup. In fact, the bigger the storm, the less desire to be anywhere near a shelter because they filled instantly. Never a better time on the AT to have a hammock.
    Trust nobody!

  8. #8
    Senior Member Dos's Avatar
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    There were 2 instances where when I got to the shelter for the evening, the second I stepped my foot IN the shelter just for a sit after a long day, there was a DELUGE.
    Had I gone out and hung my hammock, I would have been drenched.

    Having hiked in the Smokies with rain water up to my shins,
    I now CHOOSE if I get wet or not.

    Once I hung my hammock inside a shelter.
    that was pretty cool as well.

    I was in a "bubble" for much of the way, except on the Long Trail (which the weather was very nice for) so I did not have to worry about being inundated at the shelters. I don't fancy people much in these situations. Just enough to chat about the before or after climbs or what to expect as far as water or hitching rides.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    AT '12. AT '14. FT '15. CA '15.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Dos View Post
    get the longest, widest one possible for a 4-5 month stint. Trust me.
    I used a shorter version of a Therma rest as I am only 5'2". It sucked.
    Hence later moving to Neo Air.

    the concern for weight in the sleeping dept will be of no concern after the first couple of days. I later grabbed someone's free 8 oz of sunscreen, maple syrup, a bottle of jelly. I ditched the sunscreen cuz I never needed it.

    Try not to overthink the ounces you will need for sleeping.

    Sleep.
    Food.
    Hike.

    Without proper sleep and food, you cannot hike very well.

    Pretty simple.
    I'm definitely going to be using an underquilt, I cannot hammock well with a pad. So my thought line is that since I will very rarely use the sleeping pad I do not want to carry around a ton of useless weight. I can probably get by the few nights on so-so sleep on a smaller pad. I will probably use it in the smokies if I decide to "behave" and not stealth somewhere and in the whites at a few huts. Will also possibly use if Im just feeling to tired or lazy to set up my hammock. Really i'm just debating whether I should even bother with a pad at all...

  10. #10
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cmich View Post
    Really i'm just debating whether I should even bother with a pad at all...
    It really just depends on how loyal you intend to be to your hammock. There is no "need" for a pad, but some don't mind sleeping on the ground/deck from time to time. I never slept (outside of accidental naps) on the ground; not once. Course, I'm about as stubborn as they get about sleeping on the ground.

    Setting up in bad weather can be a pain, but a little practice and some thought about the order of setup makes it pretty easy to stay dry while setting things up. A solid poncho, or better yet a Packa, will make things much easier.
    Trust nobody!

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