Now for something totally different....

**mitch** · 03-14-2009, 21:06

You might begin to realize that I have way too much time on my hands after you read this one. I was just thinking about my last camping trip in January, with the temp. at 25 and a WC of 18. I was using my tarp on the ground, with my ALPS comfort pad and 2 wool blankets. But I had also gathered up a pile of leaves under me about 2 feet thick. Helped a lot with insulating from the ground. My thought is, why not take a piece of nylon that is filled with leaves and tie it up under the hammock? Talk about being light and packing small! Of course the leaves might be under 6" of snow, or you might be above the tree line, but I think that there might be many times that it could work. Has anyone ever tried this? What's your take on this crazy idea?

**Ewker** · 03-14-2009, 21:09

if I am not mistaken Ed Speer has said you could put leaves in between a hammock and a peapod for extra warmth. I haven't done it so I don't know but knowing Ed he has

**GrizzlyAdams** · 03-14-2009, 21:10

Originally Posted by mitch

You might begin to realize that I have way too much time on my hands after you read this one. I was just thinking about my last camping trip in January, with the temp. at 25 and a WC of 18. I was using my tarp on the ground, with my ALPS comfort pad and 2 wool blankets. But I had also gathered up a pile of leaves under me about 2 feet thick. Helped a lot with insulating from the ground. My thought is, why not take a piece of nylon that is filled with leaves and tie it up under the hammock? Talk about being light and packing small! Of course the leaves might be under 6" of snow, or you might be above the tree line, but I think that there might be many times that it could work. Has anyone ever tried this? What's your take on this crazy idea?

See the Garlington Taco idea. I've read of folks stuffing leaves into it just exactly as you have described.

so not so crazy after all!

Grizz

**stoikurt** · 03-14-2009, 21:12

Originally Posted by GrizzlyAdams

so not so crazy after all!

Grizz

Just time consuming and a little more effort than most want to do after a day of hiking.

**GrizzlyAdams** · 03-14-2009, 21:34

Originally Posted by stoikurt

Just time consuming and a little more effort than most want to do after a day of hiking.

yeah. And for me, I want to know that when I set up camp I'm going to have the insulation I need, carried on my back. Not counting on finding a nice pile of dry leaves.

But...as an add-on, e.g. if I'm carrying an undercover for rain, and there's a handy supply of ready leaves and it's gonna be cold...it's a good technique to have at the back of your mind.

Grizz

**lori** · 03-15-2009, 01:06

Why bother gathering and loading with leaves when you could pile them up under the hammock and loosen the suspension so the hang is a few inches off the ground?

**Roadtorque** · 03-15-2009, 01:27

Seems like this would only work in the fall time of the year anyway

**warbonnetguy** · 03-15-2009, 01:27

it's probably not something you can rely on, if it rains hard you'd could get into trouble if that's all you planned on using.

**Raven-US** · 03-15-2009, 07:40

Originally Posted by lori

Why bother gathering and loading with leaves when you could pile them up under the hammock and loosen the suspension so the hang is a few inches off the ground?

I like your style!!

BTW, didn't we read about a young lady recently who got a little confused in the woods and survived the cold by packing leaves in her hammock? As someone said above, it's a nice backup plan to have in your head, I think. You know, I might just go ahead and tack together a two-layer, unstuffed UQ shell and waterproof liner, with maybe 2 or 3 baffles, to tuck into my pack for warm weather hiking just in case the temps drop or winds howl. That's what I really love about this forum... good ideas!

**turk** · 03-15-2009, 08:53

I have used leaves for insulation and ran into several condensation problems
as a result. First used in conjunction with a JRB nest in an attempt to
extend the temp rating. What i found was that leaves off the ground still
contain plenty of water even though they may feel bone dry to the touch.

Leaves straight off a branch, or still green will have you waking up in a
pool of condensation. fallen leaves weren`t nearly as bad, but the
white noise of shifting and moving around is almost unbearable. worse
than space blankets imho. My equipment was filthy dirty after just 2 nights.

I took a large amount of effort, to make little gains in insulation.

Hanging just a few inches off the ground and piling yourself in leaves would
take a huge pile of leaves to substitute for the insulation value of even a
summer rated underquilt.

Might be okay in a survival situation. But the end result is you get filthy,
you`re sleeping with untold bugs, its loud, takes much work, and will
likely leave you wet.

Not to disuade you. If you find some coping techniques please share.
I would be interested. I thought about using a VB liner and trying leaves
again, but havent got around to it. The biggest issue is how to combat
being wet.