Battle of the UnderQuilts: First draft

Warning: this is another 'witch UQ should I choose' topic.


I have a few months to choose my first UQ and I would like to hear everyone's suggestions. I browsed trough entire UQ sub-forum and learned a lot but it's not easy to decide between all the great fabricators.

I'll be camping in mild and very hot weather, for now, with night temperatures as high as 30C and low as 5C. My current setup is: WBBB, Exped Wallcreeper and a thin Exped MultiMat. I'm pretty sure this will work in the heat of the summer but I was getting 'cold butt syndrome' at around 10-15C. I must admit that I've never slept in adverse (outdoor) conditions but I think I qualify as a hot (or at worst, neutral) sleeper.
Most of my trips are by motorcycle so weight is not an issue, but bulk is. I have limited space for an UQ therefor I'm not considering synthetics. Price is important and I'm looking to spend as little as possible for a quality gear.

I'm also on the fence about full length or 2/3 UQs. I'm 190cm/6'2'' tall and I would like full body coverage but facts like warm weather, warm sleeper, low bulk and low cost are pushing me toward 2/3 cut.

Here is how I see it at the moment:
Please forgive my childish handwriting.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...G_6406copy.jpg

I almost feel guilty for choosing one cottage-industry fabricator over an other because they are all great people and make quality products. Crossed out are the Quilts that are too expensive or to warm for me. Highlighted are my considerations. I'm open to any suggestion and critique. If vendors want to chime in, I'd like to hear what they think.



Cheers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Balkan boy

[SIZE="1"]
I'm also on the fence about full length or 2/3 UQs. I'm 190cm/6'2'' tall and I would like full body coverage but facts like warm weather, warm sleeper, low bulk and low cost are pushing me toward 2/3 cut.
Cheers.

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In reguards to the full length or 2/3's UQ.... I'm an extreamly cold sleeper (especially after back surgery and having a ton of metal put in me) and my UQ only goes from my feet to my shoulders. I will have something else for insulation for my head, like a pillow or my jacket. This works for me and I don't have to carry a longer quilt for the head area. Hope that helps with you deciding how long a quilt you need. By having my jacket under my head, my full body is covered.

I think you've boiled it down to some great choices to fit your needs. There's a lot of value for the money there. Any one of them will work nicely.

That JRB Greylock's introductory price at only $15 more than lowest 40ºF quilt price you have highlighted is a great deal for a 20ºF quilt.

No complaints here about my Underground Quilt. If you want to go full length its a great value. Its width makes it forgiving to user error, IMO. All good quilts can't really go wrong.

As far as full length vs 3/4, its a personal choice.

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Originally Posted by angrysparrow

I think you've boiled it down to some great choices to fit your needs. There's a lot of value for the money there. Any one of them will work nicely.

That JRB Greylock's introductory price at only $15 more than lowest 40ºF quilt price you have highlighted is a great deal for a 20ºF quilt.

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I agree with everything angrysparrow chirped. :D

As a dedicated partial length UQ user, or course my recomendation will be for the 3/4. The fact that you specifically listed "bulk" as a concern, just makes me think it will be the better choice. It really is just a personal preference IMO. I've been as low temp wise as folks using full length, although when it really gets cold, there is some creativity that comes into play with staying warm.

With regards to the Underground Quilts, IIRC you can just e-mail Paul if you want a shorter length. It will be cheaper since it will be shorter as well.

I have and really really like my 40 degree Underground UQ...excellent made,,very nice,,use it in the house at 70 degrees vented and it works perfectly,,can't wait to get it outdoors in the summer to use..vents fantastically. And the wife likes her 50 degree Jarbridge from Arrowhead too,,it works great for her as she is a hot sleeper. So take your pics,,down or synthetic, Both work great. One is full length quilt,,other is 3/4,,but fits her to a tee,,as she is only 5'2". I also had Paul of Underground Quilts also make me a 50 degree Top Quilt with 5 oz of 850 down that is on its way to me right now. Can't wait to get it as I know it will rock and do what I want as for coverage. Will report on it with pics when i get it and get time too.

I'm interested to find out what you choose as I'm making the same decision. I'm leaning toward HG, but I don't think there is a bad choice.

Quilts aside, who is the greatest fabricator?:jj:

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Originally Posted by oldgringo

Quilts aside, who is the greatest fabricator?:jj:

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Watch out....OG is chumming. :)

Cheers for the input fellas.

2/3 may just do it for me.
I have a strong favorite in mind and I'll report with the winner in a few weeks.

Get the Incubator when they go on sale.

As a happy owner of the MollyMac Shamu IX underquilt. I will say that it packs pretty darn small. Unless you have outrageously high humidity it will function just fine down to 40*F


And to address OG's question ... You are OG, you are.

I've chosen one of UnderGround Quilts from Paul.

He's making me 40*, 3/4, 55Lx45W UQ.
Should be here in about a month.
Stay tuned. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Balkan boy

I've chosen one of UnderGround Quilts from Paul.

He's making me 40*, 3/4, 55Lx45W UQ.
Should be here in about a month.
Stay tuned. :)

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I have an UnderGround quilt too!!:) It took me a couple of weekends to really get it adjusted right so that now all I have to do is attach the ends to my hammock. I do take the extra shockcord that's pulled out at the foot end and go over the ridgeline on my BlackBird and attach to the other side of the quilt. I only do this when the night time temps are below freezing to help keep the foot end around my feet. After you get your quilt, do some testing to get it adjusted for you. Something else I did was to use the small S-binners to attach the quilt to my hammock ends. I use silver at one end and black at the other end. This way I know which end of the quilt I've adjusted tighter for my foot end.

I'm reporting about the quilt I've chosen. Maybe it will be helpful to someone.

It turned out to be an easy choice for me. I was approached by Paul, of UndergroundQuilts, with a fair offer and a lot of patience. We agreed upon a 3/4, 40 degrees quilt in 'Coyote brown'. Reason for 3/4 (instead of a full quilt) was a combination of price and bulk and an attempt to keep both as low as possible.
Paul is quite a craftsman and he did a great job. All materials and stitching give the impression of quality.
This quilt is type of gear I like - set it and forget it. It simply does what it should: stays in place and keeps me warm. I also ordered a pair of 'triangle thingies', but it turns out those aren't really necessary. Entire setup is clipping two S biners to the ridgeline and that's it. I'm 190cm tall, and this quilt runs from my neck to my calves. As expected, I needed something (pad) under my feet to keep the cold out.
I stil haven't spent a night with this current setup so I can't tell you about temperature tolerances. For what is worth, I was perfectly comfortable at around 15C with wind and rain around me.

Here are some pictures.

Large storage sack with quilt inside:
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6647.jpg

Smaller sack:
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6648.jpg

Quilt stuffed inside Exped sack with two sacks from UGQ. It can be stuffed a lot more.
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6650.jpg

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6652.jpg

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6651.jpg

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6656.jpg

Inside with triangle thingies attached:
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6661.jpg

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6662.jpg

Here it is against the Sun so you can see the down. It didn't turn out that well. :roll eyes:
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_6664.jpg

Around the WBBB:
http://i.imgur.com/5QBqy.jpg

Around me:
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/DSC_0036.jpg

Cheers.

I really like the look of that quilt, and there is nothing better than a recommendation, but why oh why do so many cottage manufacturers have such bad web pages.

UGQ's pages really put me of buying anything.
It's impossible to get any kind of overview over what's being sold, where one item ends and another begins, no way to compare the products, and the pages simply look like they're made by a five year old.

There tons of pre-made (even open source) web commerce platforms available. Please start using them!

EDIT:
Ok, Paul from UGQ just reminded me of why cottage (despite terrible webshops) rock. Coming home after work a personal response from Paul is sitting in my forum inbox. That level of customer support is something which is simply missing from chains and large vendors.

To Paul and other cottage manufacturers, I love the products, I just think that if there is something one is not so good at, get someone else to do it and don't undervalue a good looking shop front.

Balkan Boy,
QUilt looks great.
What FP and how much fill weight?

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Originally Posted by logrus

I really like the look of that quilt, and there is nothing better than a recommendation, but why oh why do so many cottage manufacturers have such bad web pages.

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I hear you about that.
Web design isn't a strong side for hammock gear makers, but they make it up with great products and customer care many times over.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wwk10

Balkan Boy,
QUilt looks great.
What FP and how much fill weight?

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It should be: 5 OZ 850+ FP IDFB CERTIFIED GOOSE DOWN
Weight: 14 OZ +/- INCLUDING SUSPENSION (REG SIZE)

To me it weighs nothing at all. I don't even have a scale for so little mass. :)

I have underground UQ also. Paul was great. Communicated with me many times. Great customer service. I love my UQ

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Web design isn't a strong side for hammock gear makers, but they make it up with great products and customer care many times over.

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I can make great websites, and I am willing to be paid in hammock gear :-)

Balkan Boy,

Did you get the draft collars? I've been leaning heavily towards UGQ, but now have to decide about this new option.

Mike

No draft collars on mine.
When I tighten the suspension quilt wraps around my shoulders nicely. I'm expecting it will be enough for mild temperatures.