Summer UQ Less Finicky Than Winter UQ?

[SteveE]

I got myself a 0 degree UQ this past year and had it out for about 8 nights with temps getting down to about -10C. I found that I had some issues dialing in the UQ and that any little pocket of air would result in a very noticeable cold spot. I'm now in the market for a 40 degree UQ for summer here in Ontario and I'm wondering if it's less important to have your UQ dialed in SO perfectly when the weather is warm? I'm assuming that is the case and that if there are gaps, etc then it won't be nearly as big an issue as the temps aren't anywhere near winter temps. Am I correct in this thinking? My thought is to get a 40 Degree UQ and pretty much vent it right open and have it fairly loose (temps in the summer here usually hover around 65-75 at night)...

Thanks!

[SilvrSurfr]

The principles remain the same whether it's a summer or winter UQ. My personal philosophy is to get an experienced hanger to snug up my UQ for me - that way I know it's set and don't start playing mind games with myself.

By the way, I have never vented my 40* UQ, even in overnight temps up to 75* F. I vent with the TQ.

[OneClick]

I would say you are correct. While both need to be set up properly for 100% comfort, I think we can all agree that the stakes are much higher at 5° opposed to 55°.

If you get the slightest draft at 5°, you'll feel it, and you may not fall asleep until it's fixed. If you get a cool spot at 55°, you may not even care. The warmest I've been out was near 90° and sunny, so you can bet when the lows were in the mid-60s, I wanted all the cooling I could get. I literally clipped on the UQ and didn't even look at the suspension until the next morning. Everything was sloppy and loose, but it didn't matter. That was with a 30° custom UQ. The 40° you mention will be great in the summer, and possibly beyond.

[SteveE]

The main reason I'm thinking this way is that I find I'm able to get a more relaxed diagonal lay in my 0 degree when I loosen it up. With the corners and shock cord relaxed a bit I find it doesn't try to push me more into the center lay position (but then with the winter UQ the cold spots sneak in).. I'm hoping with the summer UQ I can leave it fairly loose so that I can get that nice diagonal lay.

[Grumpy Squatch]

I actually think the greater loft of a 0° UQ is slightly more forgiving than a thinner 40°. The extra fluff is tolerant of some slight misadjustment. But - once the cold gets in at -15° F, you do feel it immediately.

[Country Roads]

Might be because the winter quilt does weigh a bit more. I find that I have to have the quilt suspension a bit tighter on the heavier UQ to hold it up better, and I tighten the secondary suspension more than I do on the lighter quilts.

[cmoulder]

I've got a 'shortie-forty' (EE Revolt) and find it isn't critical to have it juuuuust right until it gets below 50°F or so.

Above that, as long as it's in the ballpark I'm good. One time it got down to 32°F and I barely noticed it, so it must have been adjusted perfectly then.

[bkrgi]

I will say anytime I am in that 10*f buffer zone (ie 20-30* with a 20* UQ) with my UQ's, set up is critical to get the max warmth.
Now your new 40* paired with your 0* will help a lot in them cold situations by moving the buffer a little deeper into the chill

Don't push any Quilt and know the buffer that you need to be perfectly toasty cause it can be consuming trying to get everything just perfect all the time.