Fleece Underquilt

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10-22-2012, 19:03
KC8QVO

Fleece Underquilt

This is my first attempt at an underquilt. I know Fleece isn't the ideal material, but it was cheap and I figured it was worth a shot. So I am going to try it. Not much to loose, only some pack weight.

My idea is to line the fleece with grommets that I can pass shock chord through. For the sides this will probably be OK, but my concern is the head and foot ends. I see some designs have V notches cut in the material to allow the foot and head ends to come together more.

Question:

Will the material "scrunch" up enough with the shock chord to not need to worry about it? Or is it really necessary for the V notches?

My under quilt will be 2 layers and I am hoping that will get me down to near freezing. I will be in a 0deg down bag inside.
10-22-2012, 19:07
Catavarie

My Fleece UQ has no such notches or pleats or darts taken out. Just shockcord through a channel. As far as the temp ratting goes, even with two layers fleece will probably only get you down to around 45-50 unless you're a really hot sleeper. Even the slightest breeze will strip any heat out of it.
10-22-2012, 19:12
fallkniven

Instead of grommets, you could sew button holes like on your jeans. Could make things a bit easier...
10-22-2012, 20:02
HomeMadeHiker

I Made a 3 layered fleece uq last spring no darts or pleats just shock cord and it scrunched just fine. But at best with baselayer and fleece hoodie on, it has gotten me to 42*f. But barely.

Layers:
Fleece inner
Aluminized hospital gown (think emergency blanket backed with tyvek)
Nonripstop nylon outer.

It's what I had around and it does the job.
10-22-2012, 20:06
KC8QVO

HomeMadeHiker:

Did you have a sleeping bag at all? Or just the layers you mention?

I will have a 0deg down bag for my top (and squished bottom) insulation.
10-22-2012, 20:22
HomeMadeHiker

top

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC8QVO

HomeMadeHiker:

Did you have a sleeping bag at all? Or just the layers you mention?

I will have a 0deg down bag for my top (and squished bottom) insulation.

I use 20 degree TQ. But in experience the underside gets colder than the topside. I might try out but bring some reflectix or a ccf pad just in case. With the right gear 0* might be toasty but with the wrong gear 40* can suck really bad.
10-22-2012, 20:58
grich9860

I really don't see a double layer of fleece getting you down to the temps you are looking for. I have a diy UQ made of one layer of fleece, one ripstop layer, and one layer of quilt batting between the fleece and ripstop. I did make V cuts to aid with the ends and used shock cord run through channels around all edges. gets me down to 40* no problem but I am a cold sleeper. best of luck!!
10-25-2012, 06:46
KC8QVO

My under quilt came out 3 layers. I cut it 44" wide and the excess I trimmed off both pieces was enough to line the greater majority of the inside so I put it between the two layers for some extra insulation. It is heavy, but I will trade the extra weight for comfort (in the form of pads not shifting in the middle of the night). I'm all packed up and heading out this evening! I'm excited. I hope I can get it to all work well as I haven't had a chance to pre-trail test the under quilt (rule number 1, ok maybe the ABC's, so rule number 2: pre-test all gear so as to avoid a catastrophe half way through the trip!) Keep your fingers crossed....

On the trails again,
Steve
10-25-2012, 07:14
Catavarie

Good luck and if staying near the car the first night I'd suggest taking a pad just in case. :cool:
10-25-2012, 11:48
Peter_pan

Nice material, wrong application,

Fleece works best as an inner layer...Warmth quickly passes thru it if not sealed in by a wind layer or better yet an outer insulated garment or layer.

Fleece is also realitively heavy compared to both down and synthetic insulations....This exaccerbates the issue that a single layer of 100 weight fleece probably will not take one below 55* and that is only in a well protected windless site.

FWIW an outer wind proof layer over fleece will be both lighter and warmer than a double layer of just fleece.

Pan
10-25-2012, 15:59
Shade-Dog

I made a ripstop/fleece lined blanket for use while sitting in my hunting stand. I sewed the ripstop to one side of the fleece (edges and a big X across the middle). It stands up to wind and a little rain. My original was an old army blanket covered with ripstop. Fleece was lighter.
10-25-2012, 16:37
JohnSawyer

I have a TQ made from (out to in) Ripstop, Insul-Brite, Fleece. (really cheap, light fleece)

The TQ, I would guess is good to 45, and warms quickly... More-so than nylon inners..

Listen to Pan, he knows what he's talking about...
10-26-2012, 10:25
Theosus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_pan

Nice material, wrong application,

Fleece works best as an inner layer...Warmth quickly passes thru it if not sealed in by a wind layer or better yet an outer insulated garment or layer.

Fleece is also realitively heavy compared to both down and synthetic insulations....This exaccerbates the issue that a single layer of 100 weight fleece probably will not take one below 55* and that is only in a well protected windless site.

FWIW an outer wind proof layer over fleece will be both lighter and warmer than a double layer of just fleece.

Pan

If you don't want to go making a full UQ- try some M50 on the outside of your quilt for wind proofing, and then one or two layers of fleece. A think I got my M50 from thruhiker, but I used climashield inside, not fleece
10-26-2012, 12:25
FLScouthanger

+1 on what Pan said...
10-28-2012, 20:07
KC8QVO

Thanks for all the information.

I am thinking I might retire my fleece underquilt idea after this weekend. It is was a good thought, but entirely too heavy.

Here are a couple pictures:

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...f/DSC02443.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...f/DSC02438.jpg

The under quilt came out to be essentially 3 layers. My idea was to use small grommets around the edge to pass bungee chord through. The grommets did not crimp up right to the fleece for some reason so I bagged that idea. I used the crimp tool to cut holes in the fabric itself and just used the bare holes.

The material was cut in to 40" x 90" pieces. I had 18" left of each after I cut it to width so I laid the two 18" pieces inside.

Temperature wise the underquilt was very warm. This was the most comfortable I have ever been in a hammock. The weight is just not practical though.

Here is a shot of our camp site. There wasn't a flat piece of ground anywhere - it was the crappiest camp site ever. My hammock was perfect. Hangers don't need flat ground to be comfortable :D

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...f/DSC02440.jpg
10-28-2012, 21:12
theVandeman

I've been following this post for a while now, and I'm sorry to hear the idea didn't pan out for you as I was hoping for a success story to base my own trial on. In any event, a thought occurred to me a few days ago and that's whatI led me to this thread: what if you could supplement a summer UQ with a fleece layer to add warmth? I only considered it since fleece is relatively cheap and not terrible to work with. Again, it wouldn't be a stand-alone insulation answer, but rather an 'in addition to' piece of gear. Anybody have thoughts on this? Or would it be better weight/size wise to go with 2 UQs instead?
10-29-2012, 09:57
1bigpaddle

buy one precut piece of nylon for the outer layer and then place your fleece inside of that, the nylon will help with the wind. you could even spray some silicon on it to aid in that.