DIY CCF Pad-Space Blanket Combo for WBBB

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02-03-2010, 23:35
Kaliram

DIY CCF Pad-Space Blanket Combo for WBBB

I just got a WBBB 1.1 dbl, and am using my Big Agnes sleeping bag with it. Because both the sleeping bag and the hammock have "sleeves," this is what I have been doing the few times I've hung out this winter, with temperatures down in the 20's.

I put my 20 inch wide Big Agnes Insulated Air Core pad in the sleeve of the sleeping bag. This in itself is a lot of insulation, but more is needed for winter hanging - both under the Air Core pad and along the edges of the sleeping bag, where the insulation gets compressed by the hammock.

So I took a couple of $5.00 Walmart blue 1/2 inch CCF pads and a $2.00 mylar Emergency Space Blanket and fabricated something that looks like a Speer Pad Extender. I cut one pad into thirds, and then connected these back together with pieces of para-cord. I put a drop of Superglue on each knot, so that it wouldn't come undone.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...mmockPad-2.jpg

Next, and cut four 10 x 20 pieces and two 5 x 20 pieces out of the 2nd CCF pad, and attached these "wings" in pairs to each of the three sections with para-cord.

I also spray glued pieces of Emergency blanket onto what would be the top side of the pieces of CCF pad, and duck-taped the edges for added strength and durability.

The result: a pad that I can put in the sleeve of the WBBB, and which contours to the shape of the hammock perfectly. The BA Insulated Air Core pad and the sleeping bag nestle right into it, and the sides of the sleeping bag have an insulated wall around them.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...mmockPad-4.jpg

Note: the "wings" are shorter than each of the three inner sections. This works perfectly, as the wings come together when the pad is in the hammock, due to the curved shape that the center three sections assume.

When I remove the CCF pad from the hammock, I can fold the "wings" inward,

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...mmockPad-3.jpg

and then fold the three inner sections together, making a light-weight package about 20 x 24 x 3 inches.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...mmockPad-1.jpg

I can carry this on the back of my motorcycle without any concern for it getting wet, as it's all CCF.It also is flexible enough to curve around the outside of my backpack when hiking instead of motorcycle camping.

Total weight of the CCF pad: my guess is: under a pound.

The real low temperature test of this arrangement will be at the Colorado Winter Hang in the end of February, up above 9,000 ft. in the Rockies. It should be pretty cold at that altitude.

I'm thinking and hoping that in the summer, here in the Rockies, the inflated Insulated Air Core pad might be enough bottom insulation all by itself. - I will find out, I am sure!
02-04-2010, 06:01
oldgringo

Good job.

Have you given it a test drive yet?
02-04-2010, 07:40
kayaknut01

looks really good i like it, waiting for reports on the perfomance of this keep us posted!!
02-04-2010, 09:21
Kaliram

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgringo

Good job.

Have you given it a test drive yet?

It's worked great in the 20's. When I do the hang at the end of February in the Rockies, we'll see if my teeth are chattering or not ! :scared:
02-04-2010, 09:30
headchange4u

That's a great looking pad setup you got going.

Just FYI, the edges of the Duct Tape you used to secure the space blanket to the pad will eventually start to come up around the edges, possibly leaving adhesive on your hammock or gear. Barge Cement will make an extremely strong and permanent bound between the SB and the CCF and won't leave a sticky residue behind once it dries .
02-04-2010, 09:37
Kaliram

Great idea with the Barge Cement. Thanks. I could see the sticky problem with the duck-tape on the horizon!
02-04-2010, 11:53
UncleMJM

Quote:

Originally Posted by headchange4u

Just FYI, the edges of the Duct Tape you used to secure the space blanket to the pad will eventually start to come up around the edges, possibly leaving adhesive on your hammock or gear. Barge Cement will make an extremely strong and permanent bound between the SB and the CCF and won't leave a sticky residue behind once it dries .

Would 100MPH/Airplane Tape have that same problem? I've heard it holds much better than duct tape.
02-10-2010, 16:31
rainyseason

Very nicely done. Let us know how it holds up over time.
02-11-2010, 00:49
spidennis

lets see it all loaded onto your bike!
what kind of bike do you have?
..... and I gather a cross post to advrider as well!
02-11-2010, 18:35
Kaliram

Quote:

Originally Posted by spidennis

lets see it all loaded onto your bike!
what kind of bike do you have?
..... and I gather a cross post to advrider as well!

'09 KLR 650. I'll gladly post pix of it all loaded onto the bike, and cross post to ADVrider.com, but ask a bit of patience, as I have 2" of solid ice going from the garage all the way to the road right now - The Rockies aren't exactly the place to do winter camping on a motorcycle!

We do have a good group doing a Colorado Rockies winter hang at 9,000+ at the end of the month (no Motorcycles, I believe!), and I'll post a report of how my pad works out. I've tested it at 20 degrees, and it's been fine. The end-of-month hang at altitude could go down to well below zero.
02-18-2010, 23:58
Wags

i'll tell you what that is an awesome solution for under $10
02-28-2010, 17:56
Kaliram

DIY CCF Pad-Space Blanket Combo just tested!

I just returned from the 1st Annual Colorado Winter Hang. It was awesome! This was a good test for my DIY CCF Pad-Space Blanket Combo, as we were hanging at 9,600 feet and the temperature got down to 0 degrees Friday night, and then +9 degrees Saturday night. I was warm as toast both nights, with no cold spots whatsoever. This was a pleasant surprise for me, this being my initiation trip into hanging!

Variables to note:
* I put an extra 5 x 7 tarp, which was aluminized on one side, under the pads;
* My clothing: Heavy socks along with the liners to my Sorrel boots; long undies and blue jeans; t-shirt, flannel shirt, sweater and thin down vest; wool cap;
* down bag of unknown temperature rating used as a top quilt;
* Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Inflatable Pad;
* Warbonnet Blackbird hammock and Speer Winter Tarp.

:)
03-04-2010, 09:43
oldgringo

I'm not a pad guy, nor am I an extrme cold weather camper/hanger.

That said, I like this approach for this reason: if you're going to sleep on a VB anyway, incorporating the reflective qualities of the SB makes very good sense. Used in conjunction with an UQ, it could only be toasty.
03-14-2010, 15:17
Kaliram

My DIY CCF Underpad loaded on my KLR motorcycle

Quote:

Originally Posted by spidennis

lets see it all loaded onto your bike!
what kind of bike do you have?
..... and I gather a cross post to advrider as well!

Here's my DIY CCF Pad-Space Blanket Combo loaded on the back of my KLR 650 motocycle.

An added bonus: the yellow color of the waterproof bag and the red color of the backing of the space-blanket/tarp go well with the blue of the bike... :)

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...d/IMG_1709.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...d/IMG_1708.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...d/IMG_1707.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...d/IMG_1706.jpg
03-17-2010, 17:33
GW Sears

I'm thinking more of more moderate temperatures for my activities. I'll just throw this idea out for what it's worth.

Some people have problems with condensation on CCF, and some of those found that a layer of flannel helped the problem. I wonder if you could substitute flannel for the space blanket and glue it to the ccf instead?
03-18-2010, 19:44
Kaliram

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear Rider

I'm thinking more of more moderate temperatures for my activities. I'll just throw this idea out for what it's worth.

Some people have problems with condensation on CCF, and some of those found that a layer of flannel helped the problem. I wonder if you could substitute flannel for the space blanket and glue it to the ccf instead?

I'm sure it would be just as easy to spray glue flannel to the CCF as it would be the mylar space blanket material.

For me, this CCF pad is in a sleeve of the Warbonnet Blackbird. As a result, I'm not so sure that there would actually be any problem with condensation, as there's already a layer of fabric between the pad and one's body. When I did the two day winter hang last month in low (0-10 degrees) temperatures, there were no condensation problems, but then, again, I was also using a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core pad on top of the CCF pad. - Lots of variables!
03-18-2010, 20:07
spidennis

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaliram

Here's my DIY CCF Pad-Space Blanket Combo loaded on the back of my KLR 650 motocycle.

An added bonus: the yellow color of the waterproof bag and the red color of the backing of the space-blanket/tarp go well with the blue of the bike... :)

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...d/IMG_1709.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...d/IMG_1708.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...d/IMG_1707.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...d/IMG_1706.jpg

that's a good looking adventure bike!
let us know where you take it and how you're using your gear.
and of course, we want pics!

I'll have to get a pic of my rig and setup soon .....
04-24-2010, 18:30
clearskyblue

I have only just seen your pad desgn and think its great well done.Makes me wanna start chopping up ccf.nice looking bike you have there.
04-29-2010, 12:51
kilgore trout

isn't that open celled?
10-17-2010, 16:32
Kaliram

Quote:

Originally Posted by kilgore trout

isn't that open celled?

Nope. It's made with the blue Walmart closed-cell foam pads....
01-18-2011, 02:07
TheTorch

Would this work in fair weather? I will probably be cold hanging once or twice a year, but for all the other times would I need to use just one pad?