Benefits of an underquilt?

[MMBNM]

I've been using my hammock for about 2 years now and have pretty much totally avoided back packing in the winter due to not having good insulation and I was curious as to the benefits of an underquilt over a closed cell foam pad? I'm kind of new when it comes to insulation since I just use my 0 degree sleeping back if its gonna be under 20 degrees. So I was just curious if its worth it investing into an underquilt. I've been watching videos and looking stuff up but just cant seem to find a clear answer on it.

[Phiche]

May I suggest a group hang ?
I was recently at the Palmetto State Hangers -Spring Swing ! A lot of good people willing to share information and trying different setups !
Personally, I Enjoy my under quilts!

[jcblough]

First, a pad is a pain in the neck to get situated just so. . .then you have to stay on the thing in the middle of the night. I know some people do it, but it drives me completely crazy. Second, once you get a pad in the hammock and get on it - to me, you lose a bit of the feeling of the hammock. You have a piece of foam that wants to be flat getting bent in any number of directions at once. I just find it uncomfortable.

An UQ on the otherhand is like sleeping in a big cocoon of fluffy warmness.

[Zilla]

First, a pad is a pain in the neck to get situated just so. . .then you have to stay on the thing in the middle of the night. I know some people do it, but it drives me completely crazy. Second, once you get a pad in the hammock and get on it - to me, you lose a bit of the feeling of the hammock. You have a piece of foam that wants to be flat getting bent in any number of directions at once. I just find it uncomfortable.

An UQ on the otherhand is like sleeping in a big cocoon of fluffy warmness.

Exactly!!

[SilvrSurfr]

I used a pad for two years because I was just too cheap to buy an underquilt. I even bought a double-layer hammock to help manage the pad and keep it in place (you know you're cheap when you actually spend money on a DL hammock to avoid spending money on an UQ).

Eventually, condensation got the best of me. My last night with a pad was 22* F and I woke up in a pool of condensation. I realized that winter camping wasn't going to happen for me with pads, so I got an UQ. Now I have three, an HG 40*, 20* and 0* underquilt!

[bkrgi]

Totally worth the investment if your planning winter treks
Down is worth every penny for the cocoon of warmth...and dryness.

[Nhott]

Remember when you switched to a hammock and you thought to yourself, "Why didn't I try a hammock sooner?" ...

Well an underquilt is just like that.


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[gunner76]

The Terminator and I both started off with pads but after a week long camping trip we decided to order UQs and have looked back.

[MatthewStenger]

I love my UQ.

One benefit for you since you apparently want to expand your system is that you can always pair the UQ with a pad for colder nights.