How low would you attempt to go with a blue Walmart pad?
Is there a cheap option for cold temps?
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How low would you attempt to go with a blue Walmart pad?
Is there a cheap option for cold temps?
Yes, there is. My Speer Snugfit Universal for more than $100 off. See separate thread. Sorry, just tryin' to make the sale. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by HuskyHiker
Nevermind, sold. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Hooch
I have used the blue pad and an inexpensive inflatable pad (Coleman, I think) down to 9 degrees. I just taped them together. It's bulky, if you are backpacking, but better than freezing. You could try just taping 2 blue pads together for something cheap. Of course, I'll be crucified for not promoting an UQ, but I am not blessed with an UQ budget, either.:DQuote:
Originally Posted by HuskyHiker
we all have used pads at some point in time
lowest i would use a CCF pad is 35 degrees....maybe 30
anything lower add at least another pad to the setup
when i first started out i used a truck window shade with a 40 x20 inch piece of CCF the ccf pad was held in place by Velco....it worked pretty good...and since the TWS would fold up it packed down pretty small for what it was
my buddy has my old setup and uses it to this day with no problems..
lowest i took that was maybe 28-30 degrees ...
if you can find yourself a SPE ...if you are going to use pads the SPE is the way to go
the only bad part of pads is fighting to get on them and stay on them
once you get some cash saved up ...and get an UQ...you will never look back ;)
I've used the truck window shade thing, don't, I repeat, DON'T use it in the summer months, you will wake up doin't the backstroke!!
I have been down to 11 deg F and was not cold. Had an old sleeping bag, not sure of the rating and a wool blanket and was warm all night. I agree that keeping the pad in place on a gathered end hammock is a pain. Like Shrek I do not have a UQ budget. Some day but not soon.
people often underestmate the warmth of a blue walmart pad b/c of the general badness of it. i mean, it's ugly blue, bulky, and costs $6. it can't work well right? wrong. i admit it is not as comfy as just my hammock alone, but i've used a blue pad + big agnes inflatable airmat down to single digit windchill (i think it was 15 degrees taht night)
For only one pad and a down sleeping bag, 23 degrees was miserable. You could double it up and go lower, but that doesn't sound very appealing to me. To each his own, though.
My cheap option is carpet padding. The 1/2" thick heavy kind. My piece is about 34" x 72" and weighs over 4 lbs. Yeah...it's crazy heavy, but I've used it with my sleeping bag down to 7-9 degrees. Again, not lightweight, but I got it for free and it's really warm.Quote:
Originally Posted by HuskyHiker
A 20 degree square footbox sleeping bag and a blue "Wally-Pad" got me to 30 degrees last night. No problems.
Been down to 14 DF with a golite ultra 20, 2 pads crossed, one long one short at the shoulder and a garlington taco.
i knew it when I moved off the pad.
It really depends on your sleeping bag. I did 20F with a blue foam pad and a -30 bag, it was "too warm". I wouldn't want to try it with my 15 bag though... I'd expect to freeze.
I took a 30deg Mummy bag with a zipper in the foot box and sipped it around my hammock. I was warm at 35deg however I had a problem with the hood of the bag.
I've been down to freezing with a blue CCF from Wally World. Get a second one and tape wings onto it at the shoulders and it'll work even better.
I don't use wings on mine anymore. I just put a plain CCF pad inside a fleece sleeping bag, put my down sleeping bag over me like a top quilt and crash out. In a Hammock I don't tend to move around much when I sleep. Bouncy sleepers will have a lot more issues with this setup than still sleepers.
I'm about to convert a Alps Mountaineering down throw into an Underquilt.
Hello! I need to hear more about this...:woot:Quote:
Originally Posted by wirerat123
Got these down throws at The Sports Authority on clearance for $9.99 each.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalo Skipper
Once unpacked they actually puff out pretty good. They are sewn through baffles, and after sitting out of their stuff sack for a minute loft to about 2". The fabric leaves a little to be desired, but they weigh about a pound. I plan to put a couple of darts in each side and put grosgrain channels into each end to run shock chord through.
I'm gonna say 35 degrees or so comfort level. I might put a nylon shell over one side with a slight droop to it to create a thin air pocket and wind block.
I will be posting pictures as I do the process.
I criss cross two pads one full length and one around 36 or 48 inches. This gives double thickness under entire torso. and it's pretty easy to stay on top and centered.
I've been down near freezing with this and was warm.
I have a DIY double layer hammock.
AND. It's not hard to carry if you use a DIY gearskin type pack.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...searchid=55435
I'd embed the pic, but I don't know how.
well, I gave it a shot on an overnight trip with a 20d bag and it was warm enough... cold shoulders at times it got down to 32. I think I just need a wider pad, I'm a big guy... What would you recommend for a cheap wider pad that would perform about the same?
The answer to that question is already in the thread, either add wings or criss-cross with a cut-down pad.Quote:
Originally Posted by HuskyHiker
You can also buy larger (and better) foam and shape it to your needs... check out options at http://www.foambymail.com/closedcell.html (I'd get the minicell) but of course we're talking more $$ now.
The coldest I remember was 15°F in the George Washington National Forest in Virginia. I was miserable. I also had a 20°F down bag, so I was probably pushing it anyway. There was a slight breeze and I even had a Nalgene with hot water in with me. Soon my head was hurting from the cold and I knew I was in bad shape. Luckily I was car camping with the scouts (all snug in their tents) and I ran to my car and ran the engine to get warmed up. Probably my most miserable night in a hammock ever.
From what I know now, I could probably make a closed-cell foam pad work at that temperature, but I think there would need to be some serious reward money involved.
Dejoha, you did all right. To me it seems like sleeping bag ratings are more "you won't die at this temp" than "comfort ratings". I have a 15 bag I like a lot but I really don't care to sleep in it much below 32F. I tested it at 20F sleeping on a cot with a thick foam pad... slept ok for 4 hours and woke up cold. I definitely wouldn't last too long at 15F with that bag and just a CCF pad...
Quote:
Originally Posted by dejoha
Thanks Festus!Quote:
Originally Posted by Festus Hagen
I think you're right -- the bag wasn't much help. In fact, I think it was a synthetic bag, not down. Man, my memory is fading! Yes, it was a 20°F Coleman Klickitat x20. That was early on in my backpacking days and I've learned a hard lesson that inexpensive, synthetic bags are best used for living room sleepovers. I think that 20°F bag should have been rated at 60°F.
My 20°F down bag is cozy at 15°F.
It's sort of amazing how soon lessons learner drop off the radar once a product has been discontinued. Ed Speer sold his Segmented Pad Extenders (SPE) up until the merger this Spring. If you use one of those, you can stack pads and have wings on the side good down to as low as you dare. I used my DIY SPE many times in the teens with no issues. I stacker a Big Agnes insulated air core on top of a blue foam pad using blue foam wings and slept pretty darned toasty at 15° with a 15° synthetic bag. It tends to stay put even in a single layer hammock, but the volume will raise you higher in the hammock.
There are many ways to overcome low temperatures and a small budget. I prefer my UQ's, but I'll take a pad set up with me every now and then just for a change. Pads also withstand wet conditions more than UQ's.
I made it down to 23* with a military poncho/liner UQ and Walmart blue pad.
My lowest is -2 degrees at the Colorado WInter Hang last Febuary, up at 9,500 ft. I used a Warbonnet Blackbird with a Walmart pad with wings and space blanket, Big Agnes pad, and an old down bag of unknown rating (it's a good one!). I was toasty warm.
....A Nalgene bottle of hot water tucked in there against the femoral artery, and having my feet tucked in the liners of my Sorrel boots helped out, too.
Here's the thread for how to make the DIY pad - space blanket combo:
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=14196
What Wisenber said exactly! Been there and done that, my 1st ever "toasty" hammock night below 20. Good old Speer SPE and a couple of stacked pads.Quote:
Originally Posted by wisenber
I just went to the site. I am wondering which thickness is sufficient for 30 deg and above. I have a 30 deg colman sleeping bag as it was the widest I could find.Quote:
Originally Posted by Festus Hagen
I can't say what will work for everyone, but I've used 3/8" wally-world pads below 30F, although I was using a backpacking 15F-rated mummy bag which I zip into.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunny's_Trike
Thanks for the input. I just checked and a piece 48"x72" is $42 with shipping. It will roll to approximately 10" in diameter. My plan was leaning towards cutting it in a mummy configuration, but wide enough to keep me on it at all times. But I think I can spend that much or a little more and get something not so bulky. I just have to make sure it is wide enough as I have that old age arthritis and getting cold would kick my butt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Festus Hagen
Any suggestions, please dont hesitate :lol:
I guess I would say, consider that a DD Underblanket (the full length UQ I use) would cost about $119 shipped to your door... almost 3x as much, sure... but almost definitely 3x as good.
That said, if you don't want to spend on an UQ I don't blame you... for a budget insulation solution I wouldn't bother with the $42 pad, just get a second wally-world pad, cut it to place width-wise at your torso/shoulders, and rock a pad-and-a-half.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunny's_Trike
WallyWorld sells 2 different blue pads. One is the semi smooth finish and is 20 inches wide and the other is 25 inches wide and has a waffle like finish. I use the wider one and have used it into the 30's with a North Face Ibex down bag as a top quilt and my poncho liner over my head.
I haven't gotten to use it in a hammock during cold temperatures yet, but I've got a Therm-a-Rest Ridge Rest Solar Sleeping Pad for $40 and it's pretty warm. It's got some sort of aluminum coating that reflects heat. I'll have to post an update when I get to try it out after the weather gets colder.
I use a plain smooth blue CCF from Walmart. I cut mine lengthwise to reduce bulk & weight in my backpack. 42 inches long. I also am currently using a cheap 40* sleeping bag, and have slept very comfortably, and consistant multi-nights 40*-50*.
I wore multiple fleece layer shirts, single unlined pants, and socks. I was comfortable sleeping every night. Not sure I would want to go much lower by choice. I could get a bit lower I feel. Remember too, I'm in Florida. :D
I also say this as I am awaiting delivery of a Hammock Gear 3 Season Crowsnest UQ.
One new, warmer, lighter piece of gear at a time. Next up for me, Jacks-R-Better Hudson River TQ.
Roger all that! I have only set out to use pads at cold temps one time. As opposed to adding a WM blue torso pad near dawn when whatever I was using (if anything) was not quite warm enough. But one time I did set out to use pads from the get go at ~ 20 . I was in a loaner/trial Speer. With a Thermarest ultralight ( 1" thick?) torso length inflatable stacked on top of a TE Ridgerest, both inside an SPE. With WM blue pad cut outs in the wings.Quote:
Originally Posted by wisenber
I've never been toastier. I was not really uncomfortable, though maybe it was not quite as cushy as in a hammock without pads. Still, plenty comfortable. No condensation noticed.
I've always said the pad users, if they can be comfy enough, are the lucky ones. No worries about moisture or wind, and your all set if something forces you to ground or a shelter.
torso length blue walmart pad + big agnes insulated aircore took me into single digits :D
I'm looking at Walmart online and don't see a blue ccf pad for under $10. Maybe they're cheaper in the store? Cheapest one is over $12. Maybe I'm missing something, I don't know.
I think about $12 is the going price with some thicker, larger, or dual-density pads priced higher. I think I've paid less than $12 but it was some years ago. Also know that individual stores will have different pricing. Seems they have some leeway in that area.
Yea the $12.49 pad is what most here are talking about. You may find a cheaper version or catch it on sale in the store.
Oh, ok. Thanks for clearing that up for me!
you have a link to the throws?Quote:
Originally Posted by wirerat123
I believe the waffle pattern wider blue Walyworld pad was about $17 the other day at my local WallyWorld
They don't sell them online anymore because they are discontinued, you'll hve to go by your local store and check em out.Quote:
Originally Posted by NickRP
Thanks!!! Ill take a look!Quote:
Originally Posted by wirerat123