New Guy with some questions

[yakyakgoose]

Hi All-Ive been reading about hammocks for the better part of three days now (dont tell the boss) And Im having information overload, maybe I can get some help getting pointed in the right direction?

Needs: I live in colorado and want to be able to use a hammock down to around 10 degrees F. Im really worried about sleeping in a bend and on my back so been leaning towards hammocks that I can lay on my side etc. I also like the larger tarps that I can do stuff under. I also would rather use a insertable mattress pad than those bottom quilts if I can get away with it.

Current Gear: 0 degree down sleeping bag and an Exped UL 7 pad.

So...what can I get to hopefully use my current gear in addition to a hammock and a tarp to use in the rocky mountains? I did get the pad at REI and can return if need be.

Ive looked at the Exped Ergo Hammock but since Im 6' 210, its apparently made very short.

Any other hammocks I should be looking at?

[breyman]

I have a Warbonnet Ridgerunner (bridge style hammock) that is great and works especially well with pads. Dream Hammock also has some great options. Any number of tarps would be good, depending on budget, etc. The Warbonnet Cloudburst is large and designed to go with the Ridgerunner.

The Warbonnet Blackbird is also great. I understand the desire to want to keep a pad but under quilts really are the most comfortable option.

What will you be using it for? Car camping, backpacking, a bit of everything?

Where in Colorado do you live? It might be worth attending a group hang (one is coming up in January/February) or meeting up with someone that has options you can try, including under quilts... Brandon's Warbonnet offices are in Evergreen... I live in south Denver.

[spaceweaseal]

Get a Warbonnet's Ridgerunner and a Phoneix UQ, (perfect match).

[breyman]

Get a Warbonnet's Ridgerunner and a Phoneix UQ, (perfect match).

Or the Lynx under quilt, which is made specifically for the Ridgerunner.

[spaceweaseal]

Or the Lynx under quilt, which is made specifically for the Ridgerunner.

Yes indeed but the phx will work with everything...

[breyman]

Yes indeed but the phx will work with everything...

Fair enough. The Phoenix or Incubator are definitely more versatile as they go with other hammocks too. The Lynx just fits it so well i was hard (for me) to pass up.

[spaceweaseal]

Fair enough. The Phoenix or Incubator are definitely more versatile as they go with other hammocks too. The Lynx just fits it so well i was hard (for me) to pass up.

Either way, you can not go wrong

[Bubba]

For getting to low temperatures (and true comfort), don't rule out underquilts. While more expensive, they make up for it in insulation properties IMO. Its hard when first starting out to make decisions without first trying out the gear but I suspect you will get the same recommendations as others chime in.

[HangingOut]

Is your Exped UL 7 down or syn? If it is down read some of my recent posts about my down UL 7. I love it in a hammock for both warmth and comfort. I do have a top of the line Warbonnet under quilt but stopped using it when I got this pad.

[yakyakgoose]

Thanks for all of the replies. I live in Breckenridge for the ski season right now, I managed to get on a project working from home and am taking full advantage. But I def wouldnt mind meeting up for a group event to see some of these in action and meet people.

The pad is the sythetic version and the reason Im partial to the pad is that it packs up so small. Doesn't the underquilt end up being like packing a second sleeping bag?

I plan on using it mainly for backpacking.

So does having a down sleeping back rated more than the temps I want to be in and a pad make up for the underquilt? Hows that work?

Im going to look up the hammocks everyone listed and ask more q's