Underquilt needed under your head for winter use or not?

[anichol8]

I have a New River (full length synthetic) UQ but I am upgrading to a down UQ. I am just wondering if it is necessary (in the winter) for the underquilt to cover me from the top of head down or is from the neck down okay?
I would be wearing a beanie of some sort and maybe using a small non insulated inflatable pillow. I have used the setup with the full length UQ and was cozy, I don't want to find out that I should have purchased a longer UQ once winter rolls around.
Thanks.

[weaver2469]

Many people use partial underquilts for winter. I have a 20 degree phoenix that only covers my shoulders and I have never had a problem with my head or neck being cold. I always wear a hat and have a neck pillow or a rolled up jacked under my neck. If you watch Shug's winter videos on Youtube, I think he usually uses a Jacksrbetter Greylock 4 for deep winter camping, and that is only partial length. Same with the Winter Yeti from Warbonnet.

[Ratdog]

Up to my shoulders with the under quilt. Pillow (actual our improvised) and beanie cap (smart will, fleece or knit) for the head. Balaclava for sub 10 degrees. This setup worked well when sleeping outdoors for an entire winter.

Under quilt and top quilt were full length for sub freezing temps, otherwise 3/4 length under quilt.

[bkrgi]

If your not counting grams I would cozy up fully in the down ....winter is not a time to skimp on max warmth and considering the head is a huge heat loss point I would say bathe it in downy goodness as well....oh and one of them down hats would go nice as well

[ksbcrocks]

It rarely gets below freezing where I am, but even down to freezing I've never had any need for the uq to go past my neck. I usually use my rain jacket as a pillow and wear a beanie though.

[anichol8]

It rarely gets below freezing where I am, but even down to freezing I've never had any need for the uq to go past my neck. I usually use my rain jacket as a pillow and wear a beanie though.

This seems to be the consensus. Thanks for all the input everyone.
I have been lurking around this site for a couple years and have received lots of great info.

[Whiskeyjack]

I use my down jacket under my head in the winter. I'm pretty sure my head spends most of the night off of the UQ. Never been cold.

[Otter1]

I'm in the minority - I love full length.

I move around a lot and the little cool spot that I get (even if only until I reposition myself and the pillow) annoys me. If I slept still I would go with a partial UQ.

[Gruxxx]

Winter = full length for me.

[The Tree Frog]

My best sleep in a hammock was at 15 degrees. That's because I was so well insulated that I never woke up....not even to relieve myself. And that was unusual for me.