DIY Poncho UQ q's

[VT ONETIME]

I'm pretty new to hanging. Did 14 miles on AT 2 weeks ago and got kinda cold one night. I'm looking to DIY a UQ. Looking for most cost efficient way. Seen and heard of Poncho UQ and am very interested. Is there a certain poncho/poncho fabric that's best for constructing the UQ. I do most of my hiking in the Southeast (Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and some on the AT) so the UQ only needs to be for -40 to -20 below. Thanks for all suggestions and tips.

[FLRider]

It's a poncho liner used for the underquilt, not a poncho, and you can get 'em at your local Army/Navy surplus store for anywhere from ~$20 to ~$40. Directions can be found here for the no-sew PLUQ (scroll down to post #7 for the updated version) and here for the sewn version. Both are relatively cheap for the temperature rating.

I'd rate the no-sew version to ~45* F for the mythical "average" sleeper. The sewn-up version doesn't add much in temperature rating if you don't add insulation to it. If you do, you can get colder; I've taken mine as cold as 25* F without added under insulation and been comfortable (I've taken it as low as 21*, but I was cold that night), just from the addition of one layer of InsulBright. Buuut...I'm also a nearly inhumanly warm sleeper (I've slept cold but okay in 43* F temps with nothing but a semi-Garlington insulator under me consisting of a poncho and space blanket, in my boxers, with just a poncho liner used as a top quilt). For the "average" sleeper, I'd rate that to ~32* F.

Hope it helps!

[Deadphans]

You say you are new to hanging, maybe your not new to camping and have some sleeping bags you wouldn't mind turning in to UQ's.

I know there are threads about it here, my computer stinks, otherwise I would post the links for you. A quick search shall yield you results.

FLRider: Wow I thought I was an inhumanly warm sleeper, you topped me! LOL!

[VT ONETIME]

thanks a lot FLRider - most def will look into this - exactly what I was looking for

[FLRider]

FLRider: Wow I thought I was an inhumanly warm sleeper, you topped me! LOL!

Well, in all fairness, I woke up every 90 to 180 minutes that night, turned over to warm the other side of me, and fell back asleep. I wasn't comfortable by any means, but I was able to sleep. Aaaaaand...that's why I always try to ensure that I give the mythical "average" sleeper temps for insulation I've used.

thanks a lot FLRider - most def will look into this - exactly what I was looking for

Not a problem. They're really easy to make, and dejoha does a wonderful job of illustrating how to do that.

[bowl-maker]

find a jcpenny that still has the down puffer jackets on clearance...there are great threads on here on how to turn those things into underquilts (and topquilts, and booties, and hoods, etc)