it's dangerous but I've been thinking

**ratrodder69** · 02-20-2014, 12:05

I've built hammocks for my whole family and my boys and I are going on a 50 mile backpacking trip this summer and I am thinking about bottom insulation. We have used pads in cold weather and I like them (built double layered for this purpose) my problem is I move around in my sleep and prefer to go side to side in my hammock and of course the pad is only on one side. I know the answer is an UQ but I don't want to make one and I want something multi functional in case I have to go to ground (not always enough trees in the desert. I've been thinking about bedrolls/bivy bags. So here's the hair brained idea take a down sleeping bag and rip all the stitches out of the bottom and empty the down and insert foam pad with seams to hold it in place. Then open the top and put the extra down in to make it even warmer.Then as I move around the pad moves with me and in the event I have to go to ground I at least have a pad. BTW I already use sleeping bags in my Hammock I just get in the bag first.

**Tendertoe** · 02-20-2014, 12:21

You can experiment with any quilt-style bag which is already made like you're saying - all insulation on top, area for pad on back. Some come standard with cordage or straps to keep the pad in place.

There are a few "major" brands that make quilts. And of course most/all of the hammock cottage insulation companies make quilt style top quilts.

You can test this out with your current sleeping bag by using it as a topquilt and attaching some loops at the zippered opening portion down the back and running some shockcord through the loops to keep the pad in place.