Hips and the Tapered TQ

[Singingcrowsings]

Hello Everyone!

I am about to buy my first TQ, and I was wondering if any of you side-sleeping women had even felt you needed to consider your hip measurements when buying a TQ, and how that might have influenced your choice in tapered vs. non-tapered choices?

[Singingcrowsings]

No one??? Maybe I need to specify what I'm talking about?

I was just considering that a lot of women are not shaped like a V like the male body that the tapered ended top quilt is based on. A lot of women have hips that might be a bit or even a lot larger than their chest and shoulders, and hips don't shrink down like shoulders can when we sleep on our sides.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has had any problems that a woman should be aware of in keeping that area covered when sleeping on your side.

Either way, please chime in! I really want to buy a TQ asap, and this is the only consideration I don't have clear in my head.

Thanks!

[Countrybois]

My TQ is 55" full 10" taper....meaning, it's 50" in the middle. .. And it doesn't have to go all the way around.

Lay on the your side, measure up and over and add 6" for fiddle room. That is a good ballpark estimate.

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[Singingcrowsings]

My TQ is 55" full 10" taper....meaning, it's 50" in the middle. .. And it doesn't have to go all the way around.

Lay on the your side, measure up and over and add 6" for fiddle room. That is a good ballpark estimate.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Thanks!

I think I'm just having the "first quilt paranoia" thing happening, and needing some reassurance. With a very loose measurement over baggy jeans, laying on the floor, I'll have a good amount extra, way past the suggested 6" you mention. Technically, I could easily get away with a tapered 50" TQ. But I'm still concerned. What isn't helping is, I am a full-timer inside and I woke up slightly cold the other night with my fleece up above my spine. I'm assuming a quilt will lay better than my skimpy Ikea fleece? I know my sleeping bag has, but it's 60" unzipped. I had been considering getting the 50" FJ with a half taper, but that's not offered anymore, and the Bandit doesn't come in a half taper.

Anyway, I'll way my options.

Thanks again! :)

[Toast]

I side sleep and did consider the measurement but my hips had no effect on tapered vs tapered...sorry I can't help but GL!

[Singingcrowsings]

I side sleep and did consider the measurement but my hips had no effect on tapered vs tapered...sorry I can't help but GL!

Actually, this is good information! Thank you!!!

[Countrybois]

Thanks!

I think I'm just having the "first quilt paranoia" thing happening, and needing some reassurance. With a very loose measurement over baggy jeans, laying on the floor, I'll have a good amount extra, way past the suggested 6" you mention. Technically, I could easily get away with a tapered 50" TQ. But I'm still concerned. What isn't helping is, I am a full-timer inside and I woke up slightly cold the other night with my fleece up above my spine. I'm assuming a quilt will lay better than my skimpy Ikea fleece? I know my sleeping bag has, but it's 60" unzipped. I had been considering getting the 50" FJ with a half taper, but that's not offered anymore, and the Bandit doesn't come in a half taper.

Anyway, I'll way my options.

Thanks again! :)I'm not sure what your meaning by 'lay better'. If you mean that it drapes better over you, or doesn't 'bridge', the Bandit with its N-S channels on the torso is designed to minimize that effect. As far as 50" half taper vs 55" full taper, you are talking a VERY small difference. Both would be identical from the hips down, the full taper just gives 2.5" extra at the head end on each side.

If you haven't already, give Paul (UGQ) a call, he'll help you figure things out as well (and sell you an amazing quilt [emoji4])...... Or ask to talk to Missy.. Maybe she can speak to your concerns better. [emoji6]

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[souperjen24]

I JUST bought myself my first ever TQ about two weeks ago - I'm also a side sleeper, and I had similar concerns. When I measured, the smallest width was still way over the recommended 6" above what my shoulders and hips measured at. I emailed George at LLG and asked a ton of questions because I just didn't want to get it wrong. So I agree with the above suggestion in talking to the vendor, even giving them your measurements and needs and they will be able to steer you in the right direction. I understand your concern though - so many considerations, so many factors and often very expensive. You just want to get it right!

[Singingcrowsings]

I'm not sure what your meaning by 'lay better'. If you mean that it drapes better over you, or doesn't 'bridge', the Bandit with its N-S channels on the torso is designed to minimize that effect. As far as 50" half taper vs 55" full taper, you are talking a VERY small difference. Both would be identical from the hips down, the full taper just gives 2.5" extra at the head end on each side.

If you haven't already, give Paul (UGQ) a call, he'll help you figure things out as well (and sell you an amazing quilt [emoji4])...... Or ask to talk to Missy.. Maybe she can speak to your concerns better. [emoji6]

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I meant the sleeping bag doesn't move with my body like the fleece does. The fleece tends to cling, so if I move, it moves.

And, yeah, I already have an UQ from them, so I'm pretty excited about this new purchase! :D


I JUST bought myself my first ever TQ about two weeks ago - I'm also a side sleeper, and I had similar concerns. When I measured, the smallest width was still way over the recommended 6" above what my shoulders and hips measured at. I emailed George at LLG and asked a ton of questions because I just didn't want to get it wrong. So I agree with the above suggestion in talking to the vendor, even giving them your measurements and needs and they will be able to steer you in the right direction. I understand your concern though - so many considerations, so many factors and often very expensive. You just want to get it right!

Congrats on your new TQ! Very exciting! And thanks for your input, much appreciated. :)

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Thanks for your responses. I have emailed the vendor about this in the past, but my question didn't exactly get answered. I think the concern got lost in all the other questions I asked.

What I was hoping to get by posting here is the experience of different women with different bodies, with differently tapered TQ's, and why they chose what they chose, something most vendors can't really depict the outcome of once its left their shop.

I also thought it was an important thread to post since this is a women specific consideration that women seem to quietly deal with themselves and I would have thought it would be nice to be able to read about here, just like all the other informative threads on picking a TQ.

[slugbait]

One way to determine what quilt is right for you is to take a sheet or blanket and fold and safety pin it to the dimensions you're considering. Now you can test it both in your hammock and on the ground (shudder!) to see if it will work for you.

[Jumpmaster Blaster]

I'm glad you asked this question! I have the same concerns as I'm shopping for my 1st quilt as well. I took slugbait's advice and just now measured my el cheapo Black Diamond down quilt. It measures 56" by 60". With longest side running top & bottom, I felt like I had enough draped around me laying on my side. I think for a 20 degree quilt I may choose a little bit wider quilt for more coverage, but 55" seems sufficient.

Worst case scenario (and I wholeheartedly believe this) I can resell it at a small loss- someone else out there wants the gear.

[Singingcrowsings]

One way to determine what quilt is right for you is to take a sheet or blanket and fold and safety pin it to the dimensions you're considering. Now you can test it both in your hammock and on the ground (shudder!) to see if it will work for you.
Yes, thank you! Now if you could just assure me there will be no drafts, ever, that would be great! Ha ha! Since I started this thread, it's become very clear just how much I'm freaking out about that possibility as compared to a sleeping bag.


I'm glad you asked this question! I have the same concerns as I'm shopping for my 1st quilt as well. I took slugbait's advice and just now measured my el cheapo Black Diamond down quilt. It measures 56" by 60". With longest side running top & bottom, I felt like I had enough draped around me laying on my side. I think for a 20 degree quilt I may choose a little bit wider quilt for more coverage, but 55" seems sufficient.

Glad the thread helped and that you figured out what you need! What kind of taper did you end up picking?


Worst case scenario (and I wholeheartedly believe this) I can resell it at a small loss- someone else out there wants the gear.
I wish it was that easy for those of us who aren't in the States! It would be a huge loss for me to sell it right away after the exchange and taxes etc., plus the more expensive shipping here.... It's just best for me to do it right the first time, which I'm sure is part of why I'm fretting so much.

[slugbait]

After a while, one learns to "tuck and roll" and not even fully wake up.

[Countrybois]

Yes, thank you! Now if you could just assure me there will be no drafts, ever, that would be great! Ha ha! Since I started this thread, it's become very clear just how much I'm freaking out about that possibility as compared to a sleeping bag.


I had the same concern coming from a sleeping bag.... I no longer have that concern. [emoji4]



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[Singingcrowsings]

After a while, one learns to "tuck and roll" and not even fully wake up.
Ha ha ha! Yes, of course. I forgot about what we can learn in our sleep!


I had the same concern coming from a sleeping bag.... I no longer have that concern. [emoji4]
Thanks for that!

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So here' what happened.... I woke up, or was woken up rather, at around 4:30 this morning, and in my sleepy mind I started measuring me in my hammock. Because of all this, I had my sleeping bag close by, so I reached out and grabbed it. You see, as someone who sews like a 3 year old, I do not own pins to pin anything with, so that method was not as accessible to me, so what I was attempting to do is just tuck and see how much was left, or fold at an approximate width of 45" or 50" and see what would happen, but doing this was never enough; I did not feel convinced. :unsure:

Anyway, what I ended up doing was taking my barrel style sleeping bag, which measures 60" for most of it and zipped it up. This left me with 30" at the shoulders and the tiniest bit less at the hips, or maybe less because of the fold, and I laid that on top of me in my hammock. And guess what? It fit... just. It was probably the equivalent of sleeping in one of those very minimal mummy bags, but it fit. When I laid on my side, I had to really be diligent about tucking at my hips , and yes, there was some to tuck, but if that's all I had in an emergency situation, I could easily make it work, not on the ground, but in a hammock? Definitely. On my back, I was laughing, and around my shoulders, I thought I would be floating in anything larger. In fact, I wish I had done this when I was out in the bush freezing my butt off, because this sleeping bag sucks. Ha ha!

So then I imagined the quilt being 15" to 20" wider, and felt myself relax and ooze. I thought, even if I gained a few inches as I age, I would be fine. And with all those extra inches, I would be just fine on the ground if need be.

And that, wonderful women, and those in between, is how I decided a 50" full tapered top quilt, with a 45" hip area, would easily work for me! :jj:

I hope this has been helpful to someone out there! Thank you to all who reached out to help me with their wisdom!

[Bluefen]

I have been lurking on this thread because I don't own a topquilt, and have found everything very informative! Thank you for asking the question!

[Singingcrowsings]

I have been lurking on this thread because I don't own a topquilt, and have found everything very informative! Thank you for asking the question!
Thanks for reading! Maybe you could come back and let people know what helped you and what you chose, once you get a topquilt? :)