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Has there been any discussion around using a down filled air mattress as a pad without a UQ? It seems to me the air pressure would keep a hanger from compressing his insulation and so this would work between layers of a double layered hammock.
I've found http://warmlite.com/down-air-mattress-alone . Are there any better?
I don't know about better, but Bender (on BPL) makes custom down pads that get good reviews. His company is Kookabay.
Bill Fornshell likes downmats. He posts here some and on BPL.
I've heard of great results with an exped downmat in a hammock.. just leave them partially inflated so it comforms to the hammock. Would probably work great in a bridge hammock
If you search exped down mattress you should come up with a number of links - I know the idea has been well-discussed. I have been experimenting with a DAM in my Griz-style bridge and find it works well.
That said, I think you would be better spending the money on an under quilt - unless you plan to spend time sleeping on the ground.
I can attest to Downmats in bridges - it's what I prefer. Haven't tried in a BB though. But my Exped downmat takes me down to freezing temps without problem.
As already mentioned, Exped Downmat is what you want, i've used mine in a gathered end hammock and kept me warm, although a little fiddly to get setup right (too much inflation = tippy, not enough inflation = cold)
I also like my Exped Dam9 in my bridges. Wonderfully warm, but a bit heavy compared to other options. But mine serves dual purpose, so makes sense for me.
I've been using an Exped 7 DAM for years now... home & trail.
I have a Stephens "Warmlite" too, but I prefer the Exped.
But you are right in that the inflated mat keeps the down from being compressed. Works great!
The only issue with using the DAM as your only under insulation is that the colder it gets, the more noticeable it will be when your shoulders, hips, etc press against the side of the hammock, compressing your top quilt.
But some use the Exped 9 which is even wider than the Exped 7 I use.
When I switched to hammocks (many moons ago) I was using two Exped DAM's, a reg 9 and the short (I think 7). The short didn't work out so well in my hammock, it tended to move about just to much for me. The 9 worked well as long as I carried enough insulation to pack around the top edges of my shoulders where they touched the hammock. I always slept very toasty. When I first started with hammocks, I was switching from a tarp/tent. The only thing I changed was to go from that to my hammock. Top insulation and bottom stayed the same until I could afford to make/buy gear dedicated to just hammocks. The Exped 9 down air mat worked very well, but for me it was heavy. I had just given up the lighter tarp/tent for a much heavier hammock and the Exped's weight was the breaking straw, so to say. I wasn't giving up the comfort of the hammock, so I had to find lighter under insulation.
If you do use a down or synthetic filled air mat, remember to keep the pressure way less than what you're used to using when on the ground.
TinaLouise
this is kinda new to me don't know a lot about this so what about the weight seem knida heavy to pack
It is... but it sure does feel good... & warm too:)Quote:
Originally Posted by alacamper
In addition to the extra weight, a couple other cons are that I sometimes feel a light dampness from condensation (probably when I get too warm) & the extra work of inflation & deflation when backpacking.
If I get a hammock that feels good enough on my back (scar tissue from two surgeries) & a nice warm UQ, I may drop the DAM. But for now, it's the best sleep I can get.
Yes, the weight is high, but if you need to sleep on the ground, then you still have a comfortable place to sleep.Quote:
Originally Posted by alacamper
Yep.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slo
I fill mine about half way then I let out all but about 1 inch of air as I lay on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by markie*mark0
+ 1Quote:
Originally Posted by BER
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by krugd
I love my Exped 9 DLX especially when I am not sure if I have to go to ground or can hang.
I've been using an Exped 9 DLX on the ground in the winter. great pad, but 41 ounces.
Recently got one with the integrated pump, and I have to say, if it weren't so heavy (44oz), I could consider sleeping on the ground full time. :scared: Yes, it was that good!Quote:
Originally Posted by kayak karl
But I decided that what really worked for me was the confidence the pad gave for me taking my hammock in colder weather and having something that supplemented my gear enough that I didn't need to bring extra gear to stay warm, whether in a hammock or on the ground.
The wide pad didn't work so well in my Claytor DL, so I was going to go down to the 20" pad and then ran into the Bender pads (Kooka Bay). As good as the exped pad is, its going back. Not only is the Bender pad warmer and lighter (29oz) and less expensive, but it has a standard Thermarest valve that works well with an Instaflator. I got the mummy cut and that seems to work better for me in the hammock.
Down mats I have found work real well.
Exped will be having a new DAM UL 7 out this March 2012 , it will weigh
only 26,5 oz . 1lb lighter then the DAM 9LW, 12,5 oz lighter then the
DAM 7 LW (77,5 " longer x 26" wide)
For hammock or cold weather use I wouldn't go smaller.
They also come with what they call the "Snoozle Dry Bag". That acts like large dry bag/rapid inflater. Weighs only 1,4 oz.
fourdog
www.fourdog.com
IIRC Gardenville on Backpacking light created a silk hammock with tubes running down it that he inserted plastic tubes into and added down as well. A bit like the cuben underquilt hammock but with silk and plastic.