View Full Version : Polar pod dimensions
Does anyone have the Polar pod? How big is it? weight? packed size? Does it have more loft than the pea pod? Would it be a better choice to use around a WB Blackbird hammock (with the sides not pulled out) than the peapod?
Does anyone have the Polar pod? How big is it? weight? packed size? Does it have more loft than the pea pod? Would it be a better choice to use around a WB Blackbird hammock (with the sides not pulled out) than the peapod?
Hey yakrs4,
The PolarPod is 10'6"L x 7'6"W. It weighs 48.5 oz It will pack into a 16L comp. bag (16" x 8"). It has the same loft as the PeaPod (std.) We do have an overstuff option. It would be a better choice due to the extra width.
Cheers, Dale
KayakCarl
01-11-2011, 17:29
Hi Darby,
Will the polar pod fit over larger hammocks with ridge lines, and bug nets?
I'm going to do some measuring this weekend and see what circumference would work best for a pod around an occupied blackbird. I do wonder about the length of 10.5 ft being too long for the BB length of 101 inches, even allowing for some sag and expansion in every direction when surrounding the BB. I'll try to guesstimate that too. I'm expecting the Polar pod will be plenty big enough. More to come.
MedicineMan
01-12-2011, 02:50
Say it does cover the complete Blackbird....won't there be a HUGEACIOUS amount of space to heat inside?
I'll call it the "Great Room" for its hugeaciousness. I like using my PL over the ridgeline and net already. I know it just won't be as thermally efficient as a smaller dead space. We'll test it with multiple PLs at near zero and see how much warmer the space is. We'll call it the PMPP (poor man's peapod)...but certainly not as poor as if I actually buy one. The polar pod should do even better due to no areas of nylon not being insulated. I prefer the BB for the footbox, and I like the idea of full pod, so I'm exploring.
BillyBob58
01-13-2011, 09:33
I use a regular PeaPod over a WBBB. But of course, i unzip the net and push it to the side as much as possible and do not even attempt to close the pod over the RL. It goes under a RL, then it is usable. A fair amount of gap on the right side(by the shelf) and very little gap on the left. Really quite functional depending on what you want to do and what temps and what extra insulation, etc. If you want plenty of top room it is great. But that is obviously not going to get you the max temp efficiency for the weight. Irrelevant if you are going to fill that space with top quilt/clothing anyway, or if it is not going to be all that cold. But it would be much more weight efficient to use the PeaPod with a narrow no net hammock like the Claytor, with which it mostly drapes down right on top me.
But it appears the PolarPod is 1.5 feet longer and 1.5 feet wider than the 9x6 PeaPod. I still would not want to try to put that over a RL, unless temps allowed for it. But I imagine with the net back and closed under the WB RL, it will drape down on top pretty well, both sides and head to toe. Plus, with the narrow no net hammocks, it should provide a ton of extra room for adding quilts/clothing for severe weather.
Hi Darby,
Will the polar pod fit over larger hammocks with ridge lines, and bug nets?
The PolarPod will close up around the ends of a SRL (leaving most of the SRL exposed). It will not work with bugnets that are sewn on one side such as the Claytor, HH (without zip mods). It is designed to go around the hammock body & drape over you. The bugnet must be out of the way. Hope this helps.
Cheers, Dale
I use a regular PeaPod over a WBBB. But of course, i unzip the net and push it to the side as much as possible and do not even attempt to close the pod over the RL. It goes under a RL, then it is usable. A fair amount of gap on the right side(by the shelf) and very little gap on the left. Really quite functional depending on what you want to do and what temps and what extra insulation, etc. If you want plenty of top room it is great. But that is obviously not going to get you the max temp efficiency for the weight. Irrelevant if you are going to fill that space with top quilt/clothing anyway, or if it is not going to be all that cold. But it would be much more weight efficient to use the PeaPod with a narrow no net hammock like the Claytor, with which it mostly drapes down right on top me.
But it appears the PolarPod is 1.5 feet longer and 1.5 feet wider than the 9x6 PeaPod. I still would not want to try to put that over a RL, unless temps allowed for it. But I imagine with the net back and closed under the WB RL, it will drape down on top pretty well, both sides and head to toe. Plus, with the narrow no net hammocks, it should provide a ton of extra room for adding quilts/clothing for severe weather.
I had thought about using the Pod in this manner, but I wasn't sure how it would work. This is one of the things that makes HF so awesome, folks experimenting with gear in ways some of us wouldn't normally think of and then sharing it with everyone.
Cheers, Dale
Temps at -15F last few days. I skiied today but need to hang at a more reasonable temp to see what a pseudo polar pod will do. Weatherman says warming trend ahead.
Tested the poor man's polar pod last night. It just seemed logical to me that the pod must be the most effective hammock insulation overall, although not minimalist.
- temp 18F all night, no wind, snowed 1-2 inches during night.
- blackbird 1.7 DL hammock with second ridge line for suspending UQs.
- shelf and entry side pullouts not staked
- no tarp
- wiggy's 20 degree UQ 42X 82, wiggy's 20 degree mummy bag
- mil spec poncho liner and wiggy's PL (twice as thick as mil PL) draped over
the hammock and tied at each end, covered nearly end to end
- hung for two hours, underside slightly cool but I could have slept (barely)
- air temp inside pod was 58F!!
- air was cooler above head and at end where had 12 inch long cone
shaped gap of exposed hammock netting and nylon had no UQ. This was
also the large area of dead air space due to the high right sidewall of the
BB design. This acted as a chimney, with warm air and condensation
escaping together. Snow all over topside and sneaking down into
crevasses between UQs but no condensation inside pod whatsoever.
Some dampness at ends from melting snow but none near me.
- added another 20 degree wiggy UQ to spend the night. This one wider, 54
inches foot end, 62 inches head end and 80 inches long. More coverage up
the sides of the pod now. Slept warm all night.
- air temp in pod 58 F again!! extra UQ made no difference. Hmmm...
- minor annoyance was netting being pushed down onto my face on left
side by droopy PL weight. Pulled side of hood up along there to fix.
This is pure luxury, a 58 degree climate controlled room with the i-pod in the shelf. I am sure that a full coverage polar pod with no exposed areas except a small blowhole would be even warmer. I could probably have been fine in my 35 degree bag or less, but the chunky footbox on my 20F bag is good to have.
I'm convinced that polar pod would work well on BB. My circumference including hammock, UQ and PL at largest point was 85 inches as measured by teenage son with my 235 lb body in hammock. PP is 90 inches around so room to spare. would need to decide where to leave blowhole, side or top. Not sure if the polar pod could be used on a simple gathered end hammock due to sag underneath, although I guess it could be suspended from a second ridgeline to fit well underneath. For most temps it would need very little bag or TQ inside, whatever gets you to 58f plus maybe a little extra around and underneath you.
I haven't bought a down item in 30 years, but I want a Polar pod. Maybe with a little overstuff.
16 lbs of synthetic insulation that will compress down into a small closet did the job last night so I'll have a spare for son.
BillyBob58
01-22-2011, 18:11
I think it will fit to spare also. It should give you ~ 50F worth of protection- by itself- on bottom. On top will depend on amount of gap, but I'm thinking there won't be much gap. Then there should be room to add plenty and handle serious temps.
Any way, if/when you get one, you will be the first to tell us how it works for you! Looking forward to the report!
Smithobx & myself just returned from Mt Rogers. What a great time ! We were both using PolarPods & Top Blankets. We also had a LightHiker Bedroll each. Thursday night we had single digit temps with high winds all night(gusts to 60 mph according to Park Police). Friday night we again had single digits with little wind & a light dusting. Saturday night, single digits with some sporadic gusting. From what I gather (http://www.weather.gov/om/windchill/), the wind chill on Thursday & Saturday was in the negative teens at times. We could not use the Bedroll, it was simply too much. One thing we both did though is shift some down in the bottom to increase the loft under our bodies. The Top Blanket took up all the gap on top(the PolarPod was laying on it). It was toasty goodness. Conclusion: The 20 degree rating is conservative.
Cheers, Dale
I covered most of the remaining exposed fabric and netting at the ends of the hammock and snugged the 2 UQ's better and slept comfy at 9F last night. 67 degrees inside the pod.
BlazeAway
02-19-2011, 13:25
Why use the Speer PolarPod with a netted hammock if the net is not going to be used?
I have had the Speer PolarPod with 6 oz. overfill for 3 days now and it is simply magnificent.
I use it on Warbonnets Traveler which it fits like hand in glove.
Should circumstance demand it, there is room for a Hammock Gear Winter Incubator in-between the Pod and the Traveler.
At the same time you can have a Hammock Gear Winter Burrow on top of you inside a Exped Dremwalker 650 L sleeping bag. All of this inside the Speer PolarPod while laying comfortably on the diagonal.
I am at the moment suffering from the last of a bad flue, but on the 1. of March I will be going out with some friends for a hang and will report back.
And by the way, the Traveler is now my preferred hammock.
BillyBob58
02-19-2011, 13:57
Loving the PolarPod reports! I knew it would be great!
OK now, here is the thing: the giant Polar Pod weighs 48.5 oz, right? What would be the weight of 2 LONG 25*F rated quilts, about 46 oz, right? Plus need to add a few oz for a hood? With a lot of hammocks, not just a Claytor No Net, I bet the pod will lay down right in contact with your body, so I bet you can get below 30 on top easy with just the Polar Pod with nothing or just some warm clothing to fill any gaps. But with all that room to stretch out in the hammock without having the TQ come off, and all that room to add plenty more insulation- top and bottom- if needed.
Very interesting product!
MedicineMan
02-19-2011, 16:58
bottom line is that the pod is back! If I know the temps are going to be below 20F I'm podding it.
Blaze, that setup looks awesome. Maybe add a down UQ and you could go really low. A polar pod will be mine eventually. I've been thinking about getting a traveler but wanted to be able to use a pod on my BB...my only hammock right now.
BlazeAway
02-21-2011, 07:25
Blaze, that setup looks awesome.
It is, it is. Think it is close to optimal.
Maybe add a down UQ and you could go really low.
If you look close you will see that an UQ already has been added.
The setup is:
Pod
UQ
TQ
Sleeping bag
+ the clothes I wear at camp.
With all that down you probably could do 20 belowF no problem. I love your setup. Not sure I could get out of the hammock in the am though. On the wish list. Thanks for the pics.