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Wondering if it would be best to have a shorter bag. I'm 6' and thought maybe a regular length or a women's length might be better. There would be less bag to deal with (weight, although minimal), no hood to get in the way, and I think it'd fit right up under my chin. Does this make any sense?
I'm gonna order one today to make sure I have it for next weekend's plans and am tryin to figure this out.
Thanks again.
I took mine to the local tailor and had the hood cut off. I haven't tried it yet but it looks like it will work.
People always talk about the hood getting in the way, but I really like it. With the open zipper under me the hood is off to one side and since I tend to sleep partially on my side it makes a great pillow. It just depends on how you like to sleep.
I use a full sleeping bag as tq and would keep it that way. It has never gotten in the way and has been useful for many situations. Using it will show you what is best for your particular situation..
I have had times I was glad I had the hood if the wind picked up during the night. It does make a good pillow like Oldragfreeze says too. I just like having the flexibility if I need it.
I think cutting the hood off is a fad. I am with the other posters here. I use a sleeping bag with hood outdoors, and a pltq indoors so I see both side of it. Honestly if my wife didn't keep it 80 in the house I would use my bag to have a built in pillow like suggested. As far as size, I would stick with one designed for 6ft.
BOOM!! Exactly what I was just going to type. I haven't carried a pillow since my second time hanging because of this.Quote:
Originally Posted by OldRagFreeze
I am considering a TQ to really cut down on bulk or simply out of boredom (NEED more gear), but the sleeping bag is just so comfortable. I appreciate my down mummy bags even more when temps are colder than expected and I can zip the hood around my head and have no chace of cold drafts entering.
Thanksd folks. I've been shopping for a good down bag today and havin a helluva time findin the right one at the right price.
i think I want a 20* bag that I can keep warm with if I need it that cold, just the right one hasn't magically appeared yet.
Search goes on.
Brutus, I went thru the same questions today in my head. My 30 degree back is a long, and I pulled the trigger on a regular(6') length 0 degree bag. We shall see, 4oz weight savings over the long though.
I grabbed a old bag cheap and chopped the hood off of it and then overstuffed it a bit with great down that I got last year from one of the guys here and I love it. I just opened each "cylinder" and gave it a bit of down and then ran a new seam up the side and joy oh joy. As for a pillow I have inflatable pillows that weight next to nothing with a fuzzy soft stuff sack of a cover.
2 lb. down bags can be found on ebay or similar. The great thing about down, it ages very well. (Unlike myself.)
mine doesn't have a hood... but it is full length and i like being able to cover up more with it without having to scrunch myself up to do it... i know its not normally a good idea to cover your face with condensation issues, but when you can't feel your nose your willing to do just about anything, i put a little vent around my head so moisture wasn't too much of an issue... the next night i used a clean t shirt to cover my face up so i didn't have to use the bag...
I used a snug pac mummy bag which goes down to 10°. That didn't have any hood, that I would call a hood, and polyester insulation.
I have a down mummy sleeping bag left zip extra large. I did't care that it was left zip and I use right zip usually because I use it as a quilt in the hammock. The extra large has come in handy as I like to pull the hood up over my face when it is super cold out only leaving a small area to breath from. I also use the hood as a cushion on top of my inflatable plastic pillow and it works great. since it is extra large and I am not. it works great to wrap the hood around my shoulders and over the pillow.
I did a test hang friday night in the back yard. I used a synthetic mummy bag (heavy n old) that has a hood. As far as I could tell, the hood kept gettin in my way. The bag I ordered is a 20* down mummy with hood. I'm hopin the old n heavy bag was the problem as it was old n heavy :D
Reckon I'll see this coming weekend.
I've taken that extra hood material and used it to seal up around my neck from breezes blowing in. For the weight of some of my quality down bags, I can't see spending the $ on a top quilt anyway.
I use a western mountaineering alpinlite. Wouldnt change it for anything. I can move all i want,there is plenty to stuff along side of me,and if its really cold I can take out the spreader bar on the foot end im narrow enough to double the thickness of the bag over me. The bag is used for a top quilt,but can be used as a bag with a pad ,if going to the ground or plan to use shelters on the A.T. this summer. I like the hood just like it is.
I have a long mummy bag that has a hood and I like the hood for colder nights. I zip it up and the hood helps keep my ears and head warm. But I went through scouts using a mummy bag so I find them quite comfortable. When I've used it on warmer nights and leave the bag unzipped the hood has not been an issue either. So its hard to tell you what your preference might be.
I use a whole mummy bag w/hood. I don't have a problem with the hood getting in the way, and the bag retains its original utility as... a sleeping bag!
Take it easy,
desmobob
I modified my sleep system bags with no zippers. Crept the hoods, every once in a while I'll tuck under at night when it gets to drafty. But works as a hood.
Im not sure why you cant use a bag as.... a bag. I understand that the compressed down does nothing but it does notthing when you sleep on the ground so whats the differance? If I open the zipper and spread it above me as a quilt I have the same amount of down on top as i would if I were inside it. Why not just sleep inside and use the hood as it was intended? Other then the trouble with getting in and out witch is minimal if you unzip it.
I use mine as a bag. I think you gain a lot of warmth that way. The way I look at it, even though you are compressing a lot of the down underneath you, you aren't compressing ALL of it, right? I figure you have to be keeping some additional warmth below, as well as enjoying it above. I really don't think it's much trouble getting in or out, either.Quote:
Originally Posted by stalker42
Someday, I'll spend the money on real top quilts, but until then, I'll use my sleeping bags. As bags!
Take it easy,
desmobob
I'm still dealing with some claustraphobia from time to time. Zipped up in a sleeping bag and rolled up like a big doobie in my hammock is no place for a "get the hell out now" episode.:D
I bought a new mummy bag back in '87. The first time I tried it was on my bed. I zipped up in it for minute and realized I was wrapped up in fabric, flipped out, and fought outta the bag. Luckily, the zipper went "ZIIIPPPP" and opened right up. Still not over that one LOL!
+1 works the same for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by OldRagFreeze
Grin,im with you on the too close thing. Try an m r i tube,took a whole lot to get me in there with my shoulders dragging the sides of the machine. Just use it as a top quilt,unzipped,with half of it tucked under one side.You will feel like your in a bag ,but leaves on side free to move for those oh crap im trapped hulk moments. Did not even mention being in a sleeping bag with a stuck zipper when the third prostate pee of the evening is about to happen. the body wants what it wants,not careing about the delay factor lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brutus
Actually that's not true. The down that would be under you is moved to the sides, and some actually gets pushed up on top. When I use my bag as a TQ the bag is noticeably more lofted on top of me than when it is snug the whole way around me.Quote:
Originally Posted by stalker42
That's not the main reason I do it that way though... It started when I was napping in my basement and just grabbed the bag and pulled it over me and I realized that I was much more free to roll around and get comfy as needed than when zipped all the way in the bag. I'm sure it's a preference thing, but if I have tried both (I've actually just started doing this so 90% of my time out in a hammock has been zipped into the bag) and decided I was more comfortable that way then why wouldn't I do it?
It's kind of interesting to see that the problem I had backpack tenting still exists while hangging.
Can't say I've used down much though as it's too bulky for carrying.
I have on the design board at home, a hiking sleeping bag that should compress small, but be at or better then 0'C rating (without a mat, I don't backpack with a mat). Being new to hammock camping, I think this bag design should transition over to hanging.
If I can talk the wife into allowing me some R&D money from her online buisness, I'll start a thread looking for input as to how to better suite my backpack (tenting) design for hammocks. It'll be a mummy style, but with extras.
My mummy bag gets used exactly as I'd see it in a tent - hood and all. I find that the cinched hood dramatically increases warmth and helps to keep the hotter air inside the bag where it belongs. Summer? Not necessary. Anything cold weather related? Gimme the hood, please.
I was going to start a DIY TQ project but I'm just not sure it's worth it.
What are the advantages of using a TQ over a quality sleeping bag? Is the main advantage weight savings? You lose some versatility going with a TQ, but if the weight savings was significant I guess I can see the advantage.
The way I see it, I'm going to spend about the same amount of money so why not go with a good bag that has more versatility. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
The difference is you're hanging off the ground where air is free to travel under you and wick away the precious warmth your body is generating. The same issue does exist in a tent, except it's the ground sucking your heat out of you, and this is why we sleep on foam pads. You can also use a foam pad under you in a hammock but I find it to be uncomfortable having *anything* underneath me in a hammock. So this is why I also no longer use my sleeping bag + pad in a hammock, it was a nightmare gettng in and out of it, constantly squirming about trying to get it in just the right position. I can't even begin to tell you how much more comfortable it is having nothing between you and the hammock, a TQ/UQ setup is expensive but far superior in terms of warmth and comfort.Quote:
Originally Posted by stalker42
I was on my second hang last weekend. I simply took my sleeping bag out of the hammock, steped into it, zipped up, and mine has double full length zips, and got into the hammock, lay down and I was out as a candle. No squirming around at all, and warm as toast all night.Quote:
Originally Posted by psilokan
You are right on the money. In fact, depending on the temp rating, many down bags can be found this time of year (close out/ last years model) for much less than a TQ. Whether a TQ is worth the extra money depends on how far you plan to carry it.Quote:
Originally Posted by gagodfrey
That makes sense. If I'm going to spend $250 on either a quality bag or a TQ. I feel like the bag is a lot more versatile...it can be used as a TQ as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrPappy
So a quality 15 degree bag is going to weight about what? 32 oz? Does a comparable TQ weigh a lot less than that?
I can second this from a tenting perspective. I got caught in freezing temps with no mat and a light hiking bag. My emergency banket kept the heat from excaping through the top of my bag, but the cold came in from ground on the bottom.Quote:
Originally Posted by psilokan
I use a mummy bag as a tq and am wondering if anyone thinks the zipper will ever be an issue? possibly tearing the hammock, or your back?? thinking about removing it. any thoughts:)
Hi Gnar and welcome. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by gnar
It may do, I have ripped a hammock like this with a metal zip on a cheap bag.
Not fatally, but it punched a hole.
Making sure its kept down the foot end or even better with a piece of gaffer tape wrapped round any sharp bits of the zip.
I like the options and flexibility my bag gives and won't remove the zipper. Nice smooth rounded plastic zippers should be fine though. :)