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Kirkman
12-30-2007, 11:00
Hi guys/galls I am kind of new here. 8^) I have done allot of winter camping, but only one trip in my hammock. I'm new to this hanging thing and I love it. My question is most of the backpacking I do is in the winter in temps from 20 to -10. I don't mind the bulk of ccf pads because I am usually towing a sled with most of my gear in that..... I have a claytor jungle hammock with the dobble bottom so I don't have the problem with the pad moving around on me....I have -20 bag and a walmart egg crate pad with wings now. I was wondering if ya all think just add another pad would give me the R-factor to get down to -10? :confused: I don't really want to go the under quilt way. I was also thinking about maybe a hammock sock/travelpod like Jeff's. http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearTravelPod.html

Thanks ! I think this sight is great. What a great bunch of people!:D

Jason

FanaticFringer
12-30-2007, 11:12
Hard to answer the pad question. Many variables involved. I'd suggest testing near home if that is an option. I think I would need well over 1" thickness of pads in that temp. I needed 3 pads totaling 1 3/8" thickness to get me down to 10°F. No anti-freeze in this body.:eek:

Just Jeff
12-30-2007, 11:14
The TravelPod is good for another ~10F or so, but it also blocks the wind and provides more dead air space under the hammock...so it's hard to say what the "feels like" temp difference is. Might be enough...as FF says, there are too many variables to really say for sure. Just gotta try it.

Youngblood
12-30-2007, 11:33
Hard to answer the pad question. Many variables involved. I'd suggest testing near home if that is an option. I think I would need well over 1" thickness of pads in that temp. I needed 3 pads totaling 1 3/8" thickness to get me down to 10°F. No anti-freeze in this body.:eek:

That's in line with my results, I need about an inch to get to 20F.

But even in a two-layer hammock you are going to feel the pads and a big stack of pads like that may not be so comfy for you on long winter nights. Of the pads I used (and the egg crate WalMart pad wasn't one of them) the RidgeRest was by far the most comfortable as the top pad on a thick stack.

The weight penalty of things like self inflating pads and down air mats (DAM) are primarily in their shells and they can end up lighter weight than closed cell foam when you need a lot of insulation. They certainly have a lot less bulk when packed. I think you can find DAMs that will handle 10F all by themselves.

The Thermarest is the brand of self inflating open cell foam pads that most folks are familiar with and they have various models. They trade off insulation with some of those models for less weight (and maybe comfort as well) by using foam that is not solid. You can probably find some of those models that can handle your 10F all by themselves if you stick with the ones with solid foam. Most of the cheaper brands of self inflating pads are heavier and use solid foam and are probably pretty warm if they are thick enough.

And you can always mix ccf pads with sif pads and a DAM as well.

Kirkman
12-30-2007, 12:19
Thanks guys! I have tried the one pad in my back yard and was warm down to 27. But I did get little chilled at the coldest part of the night. I think it was do to condensation that I noticed on the pad in the AM. Any ideas of how to counter act that?

Jason

neo
12-30-2007, 13:08
Hi guys/galls I am kind of new here. 8^) I have done allot of winter camping, but only one trip in my hammock. I'm new to this hanging thing and I love it. My question is most of the backpacking I do is in the winter in temps from 20 to -10. I don't mind the bulk of ccf pads because I am usually towing a sled with most of my gear in that..... I have a claytor jungle hammock with the dobble bottom so I don't have the problem with the pad moving around on me....I have -20 bag and a walmart egg crate pad with wings now. I was wondering if ya all think just add another pad would give me the R-factor to get down to -10? :confused: I don't really want to go the under quilt way. I was also thinking about maybe a hammock sock/travelpod like Jeff's. http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearTravelPod.html

Thanks ! I think this sight is great. What a great bunch of people!:D
Jason

i am planning glueing my 1/4 in ed speer pad that is 30 in wide together with an army pad that i have been in the single digits with,this pad is 24 inches wide
the will give me a little more r value,plus 3 more inches widethon each side.the finished length will 56 inches.i will use this in only the coldest weather in my claytor jungle and my claytor no net hammocks.:cool: neo

neo
12-30-2007, 13:12
Hi guys/galls I am kind of new here. 8^) I have done allot of winter camping, but only one trip in my hammock. I'm new to this hanging thing and I love it. My question is most of the backpacking I do is in the winter in temps from 20 to -10. I don't mind the bulk of ccf pads because I am usually towing a sled with most of my gear in that..... I have a claytor jungle hammock with the dobble bottom so I don't have the problem with the pad moving around on me....I have -20 bag and a walmart egg crate pad with wings now. I was wondering if ya all think just add another pad would give me the R-factor to get down to -10? :confused: I don't really want to go the under quilt way. I was also thinking about maybe a hammock sock/travelpod like Jeff's. http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearTravelPod.html

Thanks ! I think this sight is great. What a great bunch of people!:D

Jason


you dont need no underquilt in a claytor,i have been down to 8.6 degrees
in my claytor with a 5 dollar army pad and a 15 dollar 10 degree m-1949
mountain down army sleeping bag:cool: neo

slowhike
12-30-2007, 15:09
you dont need no underquilt in a claytor,i have been down to 8.6 degrees
in my claytor with a 5 dollar army pad and a 15 dollar 10 degree m-1949
mountain down army sleeping bag:cool: neo

how about you other claytor users... how well can you do in 8°f w/ a 1/2" pad on bottom?
i don't think it's wise telling folks, especially people who are new to hammocking, that they can go out in the single digits w/ a 1/2" ccf pad & a sleeping bag & expect to do fine.
fact is, it's poor judgement.

even if you did get by once like that, few if any others make the same claim.
you should know that every one's body doesn't get the same results, nor does the same person get the same results each time w/ the same set up.
there are a lot of variables that change the results from time to time.

the purpose of HF is to help steer people in the right direction even though we have different opinions. but if someone gives advice that clearly could put someone in danger, it's going to be brought out as such.

telling people that thet don't need an under quilt & they can go out in such conditions w/ your set up just because they have a claytor hammock is not cool, it's irresponsible neo.
...tim

Youngblood
12-30-2007, 15:45
Thanks guys! I have tried the one pad in my back yard and was warm down to 27. But I did get little chilled at the coldest part of the night. I think it was do to condensation that I noticed on the pad in the AM. Any ideas of how to counter act that?

Jason
A small amount of moisture due to insensible perspiration is usually wicked away by the fabric between you and the pad where it evaporates, causing very little if any problem. A little dampness on your clothing isn't usually a problem unless you expose it to wind. I always deal with it the same way I deal with a perspiration on my back from hiking with my backpack... I put a jacket on if I take my pack off when it is cool and/or windy.

You have the same issue with insensible perspiration sleeping on pads in tents or under tarps or on shelter floors. Hammocks are one of the few sleeping platforms where you have the option of having something highly breathable underneath you.

Craig reis
12-30-2007, 18:23
i have done a lot of winter camping and we found that works great is a bubble pad it is mad for in-floor heating but it seems to work great for my self and my troop you can pick up a roll at any hard wear store

neo
12-30-2007, 18:32
how about you other claytor users... how well can you do in 8°f w/ a 1/2" pad on bottom?
i don't think it's wise telling folks, especially people who are new to hammocking, that they can go out in the single digits w/ a 1/2" ccf pad & a sleeping bag & expect to do fine.
fact is, it's poor judgement.

even if you did get by once like that, few if any others make the same claim.
you should know that every one's body doesn't get the same results, nor does the same person get the same results each time w/ the same set up.
there are a lot of variables that change the results from time to time.

the purpose of HF is to help steer people in the right direction even though we have different opinions. but if someone gives advice that clearly could put someone in danger, it's going to be brought out as such.

telling people that thet don't need an under quilt & they can go out in such conditions w/ your set up just because they have a claytor hammock is not cool, it's irresponsible neo.
...tim

i told him what i did,i did not tell him to do it,you sound like a mother hen
i am not irresponsible,i am responsble for my self,people hear are adult enough to make there own choices:cool: neo

Kirkman
12-30-2007, 19:42
Thanks guys for all the help keep the suggestions coming!....Oh and no fighting...lol....I am learning allot.... Neo... let me know how you like your no-net when you get it!...Craig reis....Bubble rap ..OK sounds like that could be a option

greggg3
12-30-2007, 20:07
This is just my opinion for what its worth, so please don't take it the wrong way or treat it as gospel, like slowhike says, try it in the backyard first, etc. but...I find I get much more warmth from ccf pads than I do from underquilts. For some reason it doesn't work the same for me, the part about 2" of uncompressed insulation is the same, whether its a down underquilt or a ccf pad or a thermarest. I have to try them to tell.

For example, I was amazed at the warmth from the supershelter with the open cell foam and a space blanket. My only problem with it was it restricted the hammock, it made it narrower and created this hump or ridge in the center, so it wasn't as comfortable with the supershelter on, otherwise it would be my winter setup, nontheless I was amazed how warm it was, for its thickness.

Anyway, I sortof agree with neo, with a ridgerest and a thiner wider ccf pad underneath it, I've slept in 15-20 deg and been warm on the bottom, but I just have to fight keeping the pads in place and its not as comfy as with an underquilt. My problem with underquilts is they aren't as warm for me and they're very sensitive to set up, keeping the gap just right. I made a hammock with a sewn in layer of polarguard, and its warm but its heavier than pads, and bulkier.

Anyway, I can't wait to get the no net claytor to try it out and see if I agree with Neo (I've never seen time go so slow waiting on this hammock!). But sure, I'll try it in the backyard before I head out to Mount Washington with it. But isn't that half the fun, trying the different set ups, seeing what works and what doesn't, then sleeping in comfy warmth on all those outdoor adventures. My homemade bridge is almost done so I've got that to play with too. I love this stuff!