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  1. #1
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
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    Coat And Uq In One!!

    I wanted a down underquilt... but, I had no down So I built an uq out of my old down coat.

    I took four lengths of webbing, stitched two inside the waist band near the edge of the jacket. Stitched the other two up under the collar. Clipped on a biner to the new webbing loop and strung 8 feet of paracord from biner, around the whipped bundle at foot end, and back down to the other side. On this side I used one of my plastic figure 9's for adjustments.

    Did a 4 foot length of elastic cord with biner and fig. 9 at the head end.
    I have the coat sleeves pulled inside the jacket so they don't drag on the ground and add insulation under my tush. I put the collar end of the jacket towards the middle of the hammock and waistband towards the head end.

    I also added a elastic drawstring to the waistband so I can cinch it up tight under the hammock, sealing out drafts.

    The coat is still functional as a coat, no visible diy blemishes show.

    uq coat 004.JPG
    My coat, still looking like a coat.
    uq coat 005.JPG
    New webbing and elastic cord at waist.
    uq coat 003.JPG
    Figure 9 for adjustment .
    uq coat 002.JPG
    Elastic cord going around the whipped mass of fabric.
    uq coat 001.JPG
    The coat hanging under the hammock.

    I've given it a good test fitting and everything looks promising. The waist band rides up high on the sides to the edge of the hammock, giving my shoulders good coverage. Down at the hood end, the big collar flattens out slightly, giving a good seal, and is just below my rump.
    The elastic waistband cinches down snug and I can adjust it for venting by loosening the cordlocks I put on. I can also reach inside the coat and rearrange the sleeves higher or lower, and actually pull them up to around my shoulders, giving added warmth if needed.

    The elastic cord suspension gives the set up enough flexibility when I climb in, and can snug it all up tight with the figure 9's.
    The coat is made of ripstop nylon, so it should hold up well. This is a warm jacket, has about 2 inches of loft, plus the loft of the sleeves inside, which gives me a lot of r-value.

    So, I have a nice jacket that I can still wear every day, and a half length underquilt while on the trail. Throw on my sleeping bag for a top quilt and I'm totally wrapped. My legs might need a pad, but my bag still has the zipper, so I'll see how it works when it gets cold. I can also use the pockets in the jacket for storing stuff while in the hammock. Versatile, lightweight and multi- purpose.
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
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    May 2007
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    Denver, CO
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    Warbonnet ON!
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    Very nice!
    I wonder if it will be similar in rating as an underquilt as it is as a coat. Be sure to let us know how this works for you. I've got a couple of down jackets that I could see trying this with.
    Trust nobody!

  3. #3
    Senior Member G...Hawk's Avatar
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    Aug 2009
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    Glendale, NY/ NYC
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    Gargoyle,
    Wonderful ! !

    You have opened the door to many possibilities for the adapting of existing gear while
    figuring the appropriate permanent gear.

    G.
    ( going from tent to hanging )

  4. #4
    Senior Member TiredFeet's Avatar
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    Sep 2007
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    where did you get the biner that you call a figure 9?

    Looked on their site and they don't show anything like that.

  5. #5
    Senior Member LostCause's Avatar
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    Jul 2008
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    Houston, Tx
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    Awesome idea! Let us know how it works!

  6. #6
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TiredFeet View Post
    where did you get the biner that you call a figure 9?

    Looked on their site and they don't show anything like that.
    The biner/plastic 9 is from walmart. They come in a 8-pack with thick bungees and bungee balls. I just used "fig9" as a reference, they work fine so far on my ridgeline and tarps main ridge and uq hookups.
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

  7. #7
    Senior Member spidennis's Avatar
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    Mar 2008
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    south padre island, tx
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    ok, it should be chilly enough now for a good test, hint, hint .......
    so how did this work out?

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Formerly 'TroutEhCuss'
    Trout's Avatar
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    Nov 2009
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    Elkhart County, Indiana
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    12' DIY 1.9 Ripstop Grn/HamMike RL
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    Great thinking!

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