Underquilts I don't get it?

[jeepcachr]

It has been a big year for me. After a few years of being in narrow hammocks I upgraded to a ENO doublenest and experienced the comfort of the diagonal lay. It was a key moment for me in my development as a hanger.

This past weekend I used an underquilt for the first time. It was an Eno ember. I know not a great quilt but its what I have. I loved crawling into the hammock and not messing with a pad. This great feeling was soon squashed as I realized the quilt was keeping me from laying on my usual diagonal in my Eno double nest. As the temperature dropped so did my comfort level. I should mention the zipper in my sleeping bag was broke and I didn't figure this was a problem as I was planing to use it as a top quilt. It got to cold for that. So I spent an uncomfortable night in my hammock. I almost dropped the underquilt onto the fire in the morning along with the broken zipper sleeping bag but I didn't want to clean up the mess afterward and figured i better set a good example for the kids so I packed them both out.

I've been debating a Hennessy hammock or a Blackbird for a while now. I'm having a hard time seeing how well a underquilt works with either of those. I've also been taking a hard look at packed size/weight/cost of an UQ/TQ and am thinking that a lot less than $500 would buy an amazing sleeping bag. Combine that with a double layer blackbird to shove the pad into and wouldn't I be better off? Smaller/ligher to pack, faster to deploy/stow.

So whats this fascination with quilts? Are they warmer? Are they more comfortable? They aren't lighter, smaller, or cheaper. I don't get it.

[moski]

The UQ has to fit!
Then the UQ first of all need to be under you.
Then it has to be a snug fit.
After that, it will work like a charm!

Hammocking is (good/bad) tweaking and tweaking.
Myself, i love it.
Maby not when it's -4F
Good luck !

[Cannibal]

Same reason I sleep in a hammock instead of on the ground; comfort.

Personally, I don't like pads. I don't find them comfortable at all and when you add in the fact that I'm a sweaty sleeper, they just don't work well for me. UQs provide warmth, not just insulation. They store your body's heat and release it back where a pad just deflects warm and cold. The diagonal lay is very possible with UQs, especially if you go with something like the WB Yeti since it is cut for the diagonal sleeper. With the flat quilts, you just have to play with it a little bit to find the best way to hang it to match your sleeping style. I have not touched, felt, or played with an Ember yet, so I'm not real familiar with their attachments or their shape.

A down quilt takes very little pack space if left unstuffed. Left lose in the pack, it will fill in empty space left between other gear. I'd like to see a pad do that.

[MikeM]

So whats this fascination with quilts? Are they warmer? Are they more comfortable? They aren't lighter, smaller, or cheaper. I don't get it.

I think the simple answer is "yes"
The UQ is more comfortable, and given the morning chill of condensation with a pad, they are definitely worth the weight penalty even for only a moderate gain in warmth.
I still use a pad along with my UQ in the depths of Winter, and even with the double layer of my WBBB, there is a very noticeable change in the comfort of the lay.
Everyone is different, and so the UQ may not be for you, but I'm never going back to a pad as my primary bottom insulation.

[Shug]

When I backpack I love the UQ ..... small and packable and warm.
It may take you some slight tweaking at first to dial it in.
I know nothing of the Ember but the UQs sold on here made my Stormcrow, JRB, Warbonnet, Te-Wa all seem to be used easily by members.
Personally I have a DIY one and a Yeti for winter. Both 1/2 UQs.
Love, love, love them.
Shug

[Peter_pan]

It has been a big year for me. After a few years of being in narrow hammocks I upgraded to a ENO doublenest and experienced the comfort of the diagonal lay. It was a key moment for me in my development as a hanger.

This past weekend I used an underquilt for the first time. It was an Eno ember. I know not a great quilt but its what I have. I loved crawling into the hammock and not messing with a pad. This great feeling was soon squashed as I realized the quilt was keeping me from laying on my usual diagonal in my Eno double nest. As the temperature dropped so did my comfort level. I should mention the zipper in my sleeping bag was broke and I didn't figure this was a problem as I was planing to use it as a top quilt. It got to cold for that. So I spent an uncomfortable night in my hammock. I almost dropped the underquilt onto the fire in the morning along with the broken zipper sleeping bag but I didn't want to clean up the mess afterward and figured i better set a good example for the kids so I packed them both out.

I've been debating a Hennessy hammock or a Blackbird for a while now. I'm having a hard time seeing how well a underquilt works with either of those. I've also been taking a hard look at packed size/weight/cost of an UQ/TQ and am thinking that a lot less than $500 would buy an amazing sleeping bag. Combine that with a double layer blackbird to shove the pad into and wouldn't I be better off? Smaller/ligher to pack, faster to deploy/stow.

So whats this fascination with quilts? Are they warmer? Are they more comfortable? They aren't lighter, smaller, or cheaper. I don't get it.

They, down UQ, are lighter and smaller and less expensive than comparable bags in many cases.... The particular one (synthetic) you cite may not have been...As to warmth and comfort is a matter of getting the UQ appropriate for the range of comfort you seek and properly installing the UQ... the diagonal lay will not be prohibited with a properly fitting UQ.

Pan

[Miguel]

I mostly use UQs now but would add...a lightweight thermarest pad....partially inflated...is quite a bit more comfortable and results in less condensation issues, than a normal closed cell Wally World pad.

I like packing an UQ much better than carrying a pad in or outside of my pack. I've had great success using both methods and a combination of the two.

Miguel

[jeepcachr]

They, down UQ, are lighter and smaller and less expensive than comparable bags in many cases.... The particular one (synthetic) you cite may not have been...

I guess I've been looking at it wrong. I should be comparing the underquilt to a pad instead of comparing the weight/cost/size Underquilt and overquilt to a sleeping bag. Because with a sleeping bag I still need a pad and with an underquilt I still need a sleeping bag or overquilt.

[franksb255]

Don't destroy it!! I'll take it if you don't want it! I'll pay for shipping! lol. message me if you want to get rid of it.

[Dblcorona]

I made my uq wide enough to work with the diag. lay. Was really surprised how much it did. I used it for the first time this weekend. Even my wife was impressed with how warm it was and she is always cold. Maybe you could hook up with gargoyle and he could show off his. I think you guys are only about 20min from each other.