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I am going to be buying a Henessy Expedition with the Supershelter. My question is this. . .would it not be more effective to use an unzipped 45 degree lightweight sleeping bag in the under cover rather than the open cell pad? I have one that is a 45-50 degree bag designed as a stand alone bag or liner for heavier systems.
Would not a sleeping bag do the same thing as an under quilt?
A sleeping bag will help but when you get into cold weather camping it won't work as well as a pad or underquilt.
The reason? The bag will compress when you lay in it. This won't be apparent when you crawl in it - but when it cools down in the morning the cold spots will become more noticeable :scared:
I used a pad and bag my first season hanging - it worked, was inexpensive - but overall was sort of a pain (my SBB doesn't have two layers for a pad) so there was a lot of sliding, trying to align the pad just right, etc.
I've since gotten a KAQ and it was well worth the investment!
Jim
If I understand correctly the OP was referring to using a SB in the place of an UQ. If so, the compression of the insulation would not be an issue and you should be able to stay reasonably warm.
I admit I'm looking for an inexpensive option for TQ and UQ and have considered doing what (I believe) the OP asked - suspend an open SB under the hammock. Usne another open SB ans a TQ and yer done.
My friend actually just made his sleeping bag into an underquilt. I haven't talked to him about the results. Only difference is that it's a lightweight sleeping bag and he's using it indoors -- although his basement does get pretty chilly at night.
One thing I was a little unsure of (This goes for ALL underquilts), is how do you keep the UQ/SB nice and snug against the bottom of the hammock? At least without having extra supports via the ridgeline (that's what mine currently has, haha.)
You could put the sleeping bag (SB) between the UC and hammock, but the UC is designed to allow enogh space for the OCP and and a space blanket. There is some adjustment to the UC but not allot. The SB will get compressed to some extent, and reduce its effectiveness.Quote:
Originally Posted by kycamper
The real question is... What is your expectation/ plans for your system? After you know that then you can configure you system to meet that. Meaning... if you plan to do more above freezing hanging or more below freezing hanging.
The SS will work for both temp ranges and several hangers on HF have used it down in to the teens. But this is all subjective to each person on wether they are cold or warm sleepers. The best thing to do is try a setup in the backyard and see how it works.
Do a search and you will find several threads on using/ converting a sleeping bag into a UC. From what I remember the suspension is the tricky part to support the bag.
You can also search on SS and you find many threads on many hangers experiences with the SS.
Ive got a HH setup, and ive made a UQ from a SB. its held in place by shock cords at each end (this lets me get into the hammock and it just pulls right back where it needs to be) and the sides are held in place by clips at the pullout lines either side. It is just a simple setup and the old SB was just a thin one. As i am a warm sleeper this does me fine down to freezing point. Below that i put a sleeping mat between the UQ and the hammock.This seems not to move about too much in the night. but i do have to have the sleeping bag open as i get a bit hot to start with but then early hours i have to zip it up to get through the rest of the night. I think every one has to find what works for them. Oh i wish one fits all. but it dont and its very much a try it and see job.
That aint warm enough for summer, maybe for late spring its fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by kycamper
I was talking about using a lightweight (45 degree Columbia bag) unzipped as insulation between the hammock and the under cover. I have a 45 degree, 15 degree and - 10 degree bag to use inside the hammock depending on temps.
Wouldn't the sleeping bag have the same effect as a down under quilt?
and 'warm enough for summer' depends heavily on where you live, and where you camp out; generally not the same...
KM (in DFW where 'warm enough for summer' does not compute...)
it really depends on if you are squishing the loft of the sleeping bag while in between the undercover and hammock
Iv'e been using a North Face 40 deg. rectangular sleeping bag as an UQ for the past year. Coupled with a wool blanket between the layers of my WB double and a synthetic -35 deg sleeping bag, I comfortably hung at -10 deg. F this winter. Hoping a Singer 15-91 threadinjector is still at the local thrift store. If it is, will buy it today and properly modify the NF into an official UQ. Wish me luck. The Power Of Wool
"it really depends on if you are squishing the loft of the sleeping bag while in between the undercover and hammock"
Wouldn't that be the same case with the Super Shelter OCF pad? I would think that if a quilt undercover is what everyone says is the best. . .isn't that the same idea as an unzipped sleeping bag used as an undercover?
Te-Wa is modding one of my sleeping bags to use as an UQ. Should work fine although its heavier than a down UQ...
I meant warm enough for winter, not summer. It is not warm enough for winter.
see my thread here about mod-ing my center zip sleeping bag into an underquilt here.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=15000
I've been trying to come up with a system for hanging or going to ground with as large as possible temp spectrum. I like when one piece of gear can do several things ..... sleeping bag for summer or uq in this case ....
here is my blackbird,
it will also work on my eno,
with some adjustments to the shock cord length.
http://www.sandslave.com/uqtarpmods/IMG_8417.jpg
Putting a sleeping bag inside the HH supershelter would compress the sleeping bag, which works by trapping warm air inside the loft of the insulation - pads work differently than fabric/fill insulation. The supershelter/undercover holds the pad up against the bottom of the hammock - ocf is less stiff than ccf, so that works. Stiffer pads need to be inside the hammock itself. With a sleeping bag or underquilt, having that extra layer of fabric to hold the insulation against the bottom of the hammock is unnecessary and compresses the fill so decreases the warmth of it. You might add a loose water resistant/proof barrier in the rain or wind to compensate for the weather, but you would not hang it so tightly that it constricts - an underquilt works best suspended on the hammock bottom without compression, which is what the supershelter would do, as it is intended to snug up a thin pad against the hammock bottom.Quote:
Originally Posted by kycamper
I think that this might be what the OP was asking about - if not, hopefully he'll clarify or ignore me entirely. ;)
I am looking online for cheap down sleeping bags and whatnot... And I find these Lafuma 40 and 30 degree sleeping bags... I was wondering if I could just use one of those for an underquilt? or even 2 and make a pea pod out of em? Just ideas for cheap and light?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lafuma-Warmn-Lig...item414da89fb9
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lafuma-Warmn-Lig...item3efda19165
overstock.com has some interesting stuff you'd might consider. from their commercials you'd think is was only a girly girl place but, hey, they got camping equipment too? I recently got a sewing machine, I'm shopping at overstock.com, so what's next to challenge my manhood?Quote:
Originally Posted by theerb
http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys...id=127814&fp=f
I have friends that are guys that have been knitting and crocheting since High School. They make hats n stuff. I dont know about the rest of the world but in the paciffic NW its no big deal to be crafty.
How do you keep a sleeping bag or diy underquilt snug against the bottom of the hammock??
Anti-gravity powder.:lol::)Quote:
Originally Posted by charley
Seriously, elastic shockcord works better than AGP.
If you see in my photo, there are suspension lines, adjust them til it's snug. it's all shock cord btw. since I took that pic I replaced the suspension lines and repaired the draw string at the foot and it all snugs up nicely now. Now there's no adj needed, just clip it on and it's done. If it's too warm I can let it out some .......Quote:
Originally Posted by charley
i've been using a synthetic 20 degree bag as a peapod , and it's just darn uncomfortable ,so i've been thinking about cutting it up , sewing it up and adding some shock cord and runners to my ridgline and using it as an UQ. i'll get some pictures up if all goes well. im sure others have done this before...
Kycamper,
I use the setup you describe.
bottom to top: open cell foam
zipped down sleeping bag (30 degree)
space blanket
So the sleeping bag is sandwiched between the open cell foam and the space blanket.
The down compresses a bit, but still adds a lot of warmth to the system.
I sleep comfortably down into single digits with this setup.
FYI, I use a 15 degree bag inside the hammock.
try it and see how it works for you...:)
Dewey
did you see the pics of mine earlier in this thread?Quote:
Originally Posted by zgadow20
I did exactly what you're about to do.
I sewed on loops as attachment points for the shock cord.
carabiners quick connect it all ......