heating the hammock

[blackd]

Time honored hot water bottle is a blessing.

The large heat pads 6x8 that last 8-12 hours work super fine under the pevic area.

And of course adequate winter UQ and TQ.

Pan

Agreed, those pads are great across the kidneys. My goal here is to try and MAKE something though :-)

[blackd]

If you are considering solar power, you must be desiring to stay in one place long enough to benefit from the passive solar collection.

You might, therefor, be interested in passive solar water heating. You can collect an amazing amount of heat in the dead of winter.

A good idea but i think weight would a factor there. Looking more along the lines of a pad or blanket that can be turned on for short periods just to heat under your butt or shoulders etc. Point specific heat maybe that would kick on and off once an hour just to keep a consistent temp under your torso etc.

[blackd]

Sharpen up your Google skills and search - 12 volt heating pad (or incubator pad, or reptile warmer, etc.).

Another product.

I suspect you're going to need a big battery.

Yes...this could work. Maybe combined with a rechargable battery set up with a flexible solar sheet. Somehow incorporate it into a sleeping pad and recharge the battery all day with the panel. Now just to see about ordering the components and some creative soldering and gluing

[uutuku]

I sleep in a DIY hammock, indoors, every night with an electric blanket hung under it like an underquilt. It works great, but your greatest challenge will be a power supply.

[peripatew]

Interesting pursuit. I've got a light weight, rollable solar panel that attaches to the outside of my pack. Maybe 20x40? Total guess. It's pretty slow, and haven't really needed it yet, but it was a good nerd project with a friend. We just use it for phone/GPS or camera batteries

[blackd]

I sleep in a DIY hammock, indoors, every night with an electric blanket hung under it like an underquilt. It works great, but your greatest challenge will be a power supply.

Exactly, i need a light weight rechargeable battery that will be strong enough to handle the intermittent draw for a night but will fully charge via solar panels over the course of a day.

[blackd]

Interesting pursuit. I've got a light weight, rollable solar panel that attaches to the outside of my pack. Maybe 20x40? Total guess. It's pretty slow, and haven't really needed it yet, but it was a good nerd project with a friend. We just use it for phone/GPS or camera batteries

I know they are available on the market and they roll up fairly small. Just a question of matching the right panels to the right batteries to supply sufficient power. Trial and error time begins soon

[hairbear]

this may sound weird, but i saw a show on big ideas for a small planet.they were producing power fron walking on metal plates ,the flexing produces the power .they were saying that in places of population the side walk traffic could produce enough power to run the street signs and signals.hikers could in effect produce power from each step.

[Fish<><]

A good starting point may be Columbia's omniheat electric jackets (electric and battery powered) also available in a shoe. Expensive, but if you can dissect one to see how it's made, maybe we could have a new thing for our world...good luck with your project.

[kayak karl]

the batteries of today go dead fast in the cold. why i carry spares in my socks.
winter sun is not great for solar charging especially in the woods.
this stove converts heat to electricity. http://biolitestove.com/
how about using a campfire to power your hammock. you will have to workout a log per watt ratio to see if it's feasible.