You have a few answers and I predict everyone will say the same. Bottom is more important than the top for the reasons stated. When you buy your first quilt or upgrade, if you can't buy both at once, upgrade the UQ first.
You have a few answers and I predict everyone will say the same. Bottom is more important than the top for the reasons stated. When you buy your first quilt or upgrade, if you can't buy both at once, upgrade the UQ first.
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With your narrow constraints, UQ is far more important. You can add clothes on top, but compressed insulation underneath you makes the underquilt critical.
But these are artificial constraints for people considering what gear to buy/upgrade as you suggest. Many people, for instance, get by with pads instead of an underquilt for a long time, making the topquilt more important for them.
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1st: You did not say you were purchasing one or the other.
2nd: If you have a choice, as said, why can you not bring both 20° quilts.
If you have additional clothing, that is essentially like a lower rated TQ. So bring both rated for 20°.
I think there is not enough information in the original post to choose.
Ken in NC
I collect vintage camp stoves.
I roast coffee at home.
you weren't asking about buying gear. You said you have 4 quilts and two choices which neither made sense. I'm If your car camping, it's easier to use what ever big heavy items you can throw in your truck to keep warm. If your hiking, you'll need the right tool for the job.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Pine Barrens Leather
underquilt
If your NOT prepared for cold weather hanging please stay home or practice in the backyard.
There is NO choice in your scenario...end of story
Life is too Short to not feed the addiction....Hang on and explore the World
There is practically a unanimous opinion that the underquilt choice takes priority. How about the fact that it is the UQ's that are shortened, such as to torso length?
I'd guess that most noobs would say the top quilt is most important. That's why they think it's a solid strategy to use sleeping bags up top.
Another reason I asked this question is because I think there is a lot of unreliability in quilt temperature ratings. This is understandable because there are so many more varying temperature inputs to a hammocker's body temp. Thus, it is inherently harder to get the right gear for hammocking compared to the lowly denizens of the tent.
Folks are right that you don't go camping at 20 with a "system" that won't insulate you at 20. So, in that regard the question is indeed weird. However, the practical part of it is that we're really not venturing to go into the outdoors unprepared, but rather, determine where our limited resources go, and in particular, what the order of procurement is, right?
You can always supplement either top or bottom side with whatever you currently have or can get on the cheap. On the bottom, though, that typically means supplementing with a pad. Nothing wrong with using a pad, but the UQ gives you something more than insulation on bottom - it gives you true hammock comfort in that nothing comes between you and the hammock. So, in that regard, the UQ would come first for me.
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In the given scenario, 20 UQ/50 TQ. Empty contents of pack on top of you.
With the added info to purchase, get the UQ First.
Shortening the UQ? Still get it first.
Enjoy and have fun with your family, before they have fun without you
If the forecast would be 20°F, and a 50° top quilt / 20° underquilt or a 20° top quilt / 50° underquilt were my only options, I would choose neither and stay at home. I wouldn't go anywhere without a 10° or possibly a 0° underquilt and a top quilt that is at least rated for 20°.
If you would put a gun to my head and made me go, I would take the 20° underquilt and 50° top quilt and put in a lot of effort of finding the most protected hang site, hang the tarp as low as possible and use everything I have in my pack to help with keeping as warm as possible. Not my idea of fun, though.
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