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  1. #1
    New Member Guero Mochilero's Avatar
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    Homemade underquilt

    I have had an HH hammock for about 5 years now. I do most of my backbacking in the Sierras and right away I needed insulation. I started by using pads but really didn't like those. Half the time they would slide out from underneath me and I would get condensation on their surface. An under quilt seemed like the best solution and now 5 years later I am convinced it is the best way to go by far. I got my idea to make an under quilt from some guy named bluecanoe on the Thruhiker.com website. What makes this under quilt best is that is shaped exactly like the bottom my hammock with me lying in it. In fact that is how it was made. I lay in the hammock while my friend shaped the pattern underneath. Now every commercial under quilt I've seen so far are basically rectangles held in place with some sort of shock cord system that pulls it tight to the bottom. A lot of people complain about voids and cold spots and I can see how that is a problem. The real trick in making the under quilt is by cutting what they call darts into the pattern to allow it to take the shape of the hammock bottom. I have no voids. My under quilt has 11 darts cut out. My friend is a grader for the clothing industry and he has made a computer generated pattern that prints out onto pattern paper with a giant printer he has in his office. So I really had an advantage in making the quilt. Hammocks are the best. I get a better nights sleep then in my bed. Who would have ever thought that. Backpacking and a good nights sleep can go together

    I've added pictures. You can see from the first 2 pictures how this quilt holds it shape without shock cords or cinching up anything. The next pictures show how it fits on the hammock with . pillows in it. It fits better with a body in there. the last 3 photos I have tried to show the darts. They are the stitch lines that aren't parallel to the baffle stitch lines. Not easy to make but I did it and I never sewed anything before.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Guero Mochilero; 03-10-2009 at 20:37. Reason: Add pictures

  2. #2
    Senior Member headchange4u's Avatar
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    You gonna tell us something like that and not include any pictures?

    You using synthetic insulation or down?
    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." -Terry Pratchett



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  3. #3
    New Member Guero Mochilero's Avatar
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    Pictures

    I'll try and set it up and take some pictures in the next few days. It is filled with down and weighs 21ozs

  4. #4
    Senior Member
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    I'm anxious to see your design, too.

  5. #5
    New Member Raven-US's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alan View Post
    I'm anxious to see your design, too.
    Ditto! I'm on the verge of buying materials for my next UQ (and one for my buddy)... please share!
    There's no such thing as bad weather... just bad gear.

  6. #6
    Senior Member gunn parker's Avatar
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    I have had similar thought about under quilts my self. I have been planning to cut another set of darts at each end of the under quilt to more follow the shape of the hammock.
    Something like this image below.

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  7. #7
    New Member Guero Mochilero's Avatar
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    pattern

    That's the right idea but I have 11 darts in mine. We stared with an old sheet the approximate size we needed, then with someone lying in the hammock, preferably it's owner, rolled and tucked it until it took the right shape. We made the pattern based on my HH Ultralight Explorer with all of 6'2" 215 lbs of me in it. We made another one using the same pattern for my friends Ultralight Asym. He is 5' 9 and weighs 165 lbs and it works fine for his as well. Oh man nothing like an under quilt under you and and a top quilt on top of you swinging in a hammock like your in your Momma's arms or something.

    Baby!

  8. #8
    New Member Guero Mochilero's Avatar
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    More

    Another reason to make an under quilt this way is that there is no extra wasted material. This quilt is made with 1.7 nylon and a mixture of 600 and 800 weight down. I am starting to make another and this time I will use Momentum 0.9 ripstop nylon and 800 fill down. I'm sure I can get this thing down to around 15-16 ozs. Commercial makers can't touch this quilt with it's fit and it's weight. They would have to charge 3-400 bucks for the thing. And oh yeah it keeps you really warm.

    Todd

  9. #9
    Senior Member Mustardman's Avatar
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    That UQ is a thing of beauty...

    How much time did it take you to make? And will you make one for me?

  10. #10
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    That is a warm looking rig! Be proud and hang toasty!!!!!
    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

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