Musings on reducing airflow under hammock

[Nyte]

Okay, so random thought, and I already realize it wouldn't work alone, if at all, but it could make for good discussion.

A lot of the need for bottom insulation is the movement of air under the hammock. The bridge freezes first effect. What if you had pieces of fabric hanging from the sides of the hammock, to the ground, that blocked or at least reduced the air flow under the hammock?

Would it reduce the amount of insulation needed? Would it even be worth it, in terms of weight to benefit? Has anyone tried it already and can speak to the results?

[cbbr]

Cutting the airflow by lowering my hammock/tarp to almost the ground helps because it cuts the wind.

[Bic]

that's what the uq protector is for.
http://www.2qzqhammockhanger.com/ham...cessories.html

[Nyte]

that's what the uq protector is for.
http://www.2qzqhammockhanger.com/ham...cessories.html

I'm not sure you are seeing it the same as I am. The UQ protector seems like a layer against the UQ, to protect it from wind and rain.

I am talking about fabric hanging down, like drapes, from the sides of the hammock to the ground.

[IRONFISH45]

Where we Hang a lot of moisture comes up from the ground, so dangling stuff would/could act as a wick, not be efficient if there is a breeze, be messy. In my opinion, I hate having so much stuff strung all over. Necessary, but it bothers me, hanging more stuff to keep the air from moving, not of interest to me. I like the Supershelter from Hennessy and the Underquilt Protector from our fine vendor. Nice, clean, tidy and no fluttering, nothing to fiddle with once it is in place.

I know some members love things to adjust and re-adjust in the middle of the night, I am not one of them. If you like trying new things you could test out your idea and give everyone a report, I would like to read it, besure to add lots of images.

[Nyte]

Yeah, it's mostly just exploring the musings of my mind while I am stuck in the frozen oasis, waiting on materials, and when bored, the mind wanders. I do see where wicking would be a potential problem. I really was more just curious if it's more the air flowing under the hammock, or the open air space under the hammock that robs heat.

[WV]

Nyte, I think it's worth a try. It wouldn't use as much fabric as an UQ protector. I get by just looking for a protected site. Others use a large tarp that they can stake down to the ground on the windward side. Anything you can do to block the wind helps.

[MichHiker1]

I really was more just curious if it's more the air flowing under the hammock, or the open air space under the hammock that robs heat.

It is both with moving air being the worst of the two.

Reducing wind and trapping air should help. However, I think that hanging fabric from the bottom will still result in just too much volume of air under the hammock.

[psyculman]

This is a very interesting idea, and has some merit.

Using a tarp in windy conditions makes for a rough night.

However, having a rain-fly as an over cover, or using a over-cover and a rain-fly, and shutting off the breeze under the hammock would minimize draft underneath, while not presenting a large surface to buffet the hammock around. Might be interesting to play around with to see how it works. Weigh I down with available rocks perhaps?

Of course, insects climbing up would not be good in the summer.

[Bic]

The uq protector blocks the wind from your quilt and back side.....essentially what the op is proposing. No need to have the fabric touch the ground. If the fabric "wall" method was to be used, it would, as previously mentioned, wick water up from the ground. Additionally, I think it would need to be staked out so that wind didn't blow it around, and defeat its purpose.