new UQ have problems

I made a new uq with ripstop, glued on layer of emergency blanket and then 3oz primaloft one. I had left over primaloft so the core area is doubled up. First I am having a hard time getting it tight up to the hammock with out the shock cord digging in to my head and feet, making it very very uncomfortable. Second the forecasted low was 40 with no wind. I woke up at 4:30 with my whole back side freezing. I reached my hand down and it felt like the there was 4-5 inchs of air space. Tried to tighten everything back up but was still cold and everytime I moved at all a new blast of cold hit my back. Any help? and any Idea what a realistic temp rating would be for a warm sleeper. I hope better than what happened last night.

Why is it so hard to get tight? Is the space blanket making it to stiff? Is the extra insulation on the inside or outside. How is your suspension set up?

Get a helper to work out your suspension adjustments while you're laying in the hammock. A second set of hands and eyes make short work of finding the problems.

David

No the space blanket is soft. I have the shock cord running down the lenght of each side then hooked to the hammock. Is it possible to have it to wide? The middle seams to sag way from the hammock.

What are the dimensions of your under quilt and hammock?

Maybe try a shock cord over your ridge line in the middle like the Shug uses sometimes! Put mitten clips on it so you can get in and out easy!

If its sagging way then you need to draw the suspension up. The wider it is the more dramatic that will be. Widths of 40-44 inches are probably typical.

It is closer to 50-54 inchs wide by 80 ish long. Dont know hammock length. It is a hammock bliss no see um.

You may need some extra support to pull up the sides since it is quite wide. The problem is you hammock does not have a structural ridgeline which could help support some side mounted shock cord.
Are your ends cinched up to prevent drafts from entering the head and feet ends?
Another thing to consider is the space blanket acts as a vapour barrier so if you use it in warmer weather you may find your back getting wet.
As mentioned, get someone to help you. Let them lie in your hammock so you can see where the problem are.

As Bubba asked, do you have shock cord in the head & foot ends of your quilt running across your hammock? Also, did you see darts near the head & foot end to make the quilt curve like the hammock bottom? These things are needed to seal the quilt to the hammock.

Also Bubba's point about the space blanket material acting as a vapor barrier and causing you to sweat and become cold is a valid concern.

I have shock cord at the ends and at least head end was sealed well. When I was cold and stuck my hand down the side there was a large gap. When I pull it tighter to get rid of that gap the cord is to tight and hits my head and feet to hard.

Maybe triangle thingies will help change the angle of pull on the UQ allowing you to relax the tension to a comfortable level. Arrowhead Equipment sells them.

Before you spend much, get yourself several safety pins and some elastic -- sewing elastic is cheap and fine-- with which to simulate a field-worthy solution.

Just to try different language: Your goal is NOT to pull the UQ up. Your goal is to have the the top layer of the UQ all intimate with the bottom of the hammock, with no spaces, dirty dancing if you will. If that happens the, rest of it, --the good stuff like insulation -- will follow.

Per others, get some help, someone else to get in the hammock and move around while you watch and adjust and learn what is happening, including gaps opening up, and maybe some never closed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MAD777

Maybe triangle thingies will help change the angle of pull on the UQ allowing you to relax the tension to a comfortable level. Arrowhead Equipment sells them.

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I'm with the triangle thingies, since they'll help change the pull of the UQ and also change the position of where the shock cord is hitting you. You don't have to use material and sew these. You can just use braided mason line or some other line and tie it off in knots in a Triangular shape. This is an inexpensive way to change your size, the shape, where you want it to end and so on.