For several years now I've been using and enjoying my DIY IX-UQ, made from 4 layers of large screen TV wrap plus an outer shell of material very similar to what an UQ protector is made from. I've been down to 22º with it, and although it doesn't pack as small as a down UQ, I'm not complaining because it was basically free. Just a few nights ago I was out enjoying a hang on a local mountain. The low only got down to 46º but there was a constant light breeze all night. Several times I woke due to a cold shoulder / back / or butt, and would readjust or snug-up the UQ to try to seal up the gap. Even though it wasn't very cold out, I couldn't seem to keep the wind out of my UQ. This was a new problem and it kinda bothered me.
I set the hammock up the next day in my shop and got to looking at how the UQ fits (or doesn't fit!) around the ends, where the hammock material is sort of like an accordion when someone's laying in it. Even with the UQ snugged up against the hammock, the in-and-out ridges of material allow a lot of air to get past the edge of the UQ if the breeze is coming from either end. Sure the draft collars help, but not enough.
So here's my dilemma:
- Pads eliminate the air gap problem because your body weight is against the pad. They're plenty warm. But they're uncomfortable, move around, and are huge to pack.
- Down underquilts work great, are comfy, and pack small. But they don't come cheap, and there's always fiddle-factor to eliminate air leaks.
So what if I take my IX-UQ and stuff it inside my dbl-layer hammy??? I'd call it an Insultex Inner Quilt, or IX-IQ !
I know the premise has always been, "...the air gap between the IX layers adds to the insulating value..." thus the differential cuts and overall shape. This has worked well. But would it work if those layers were packed tight against each other without the air gaps? Easy enough to find out ...
I removed the suspension and the cinch cords so the UQ would lay relatively flat as a 40x60 panel, and then slipped it inside my dbl-layer hammock, orienting it like I would a pad with one corner at my head and the opposite corner toward my feet. I crawled in and within a few seconds was amazed at the warmth I felt. Wow, potential! The neat thing is that it seems to have the warmth of a pad, but with the comfort of an UQ, since the layers are thin and can adjust to your body shape or pressure points. Since there's no rigidity to it, the Insultex didn't try to move around at all. It really is comfy and it really is warm!
Some thoughts I need to work out:
- Since the panel is 60" long, I may add an attached foot pad.
- Also considering a simple way to clip the IQ inside the hammock at the head & foot points so its always at the right place. Lastly, if this seems to work, I'll make a dedicated IX-IQ without the differential cuts, more like 4 identical layers plus the shell for a windbreak. I think this would lay flatter plus would be much easier to assemble, even if you wanted to change the shape a bit to better fit the diagonal lay.
If folks are DIY-minded and looking for a cheaper alternative to down quilts, an IX-IQ could be made for very little cost if they source an Insultex substitute like I did, perhaps from big TVs or furniture wrap.
Testing will continue and I'll let you know what I learn ...
-Klauss
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Originally Posted by Jayson
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