Sub-freezing Backyard Test Hang

[Jd1983]

Awesome. I just ordered a pad to try out with this hammock. I might have missed if you said earlier, but what is the R- Value of your sleeping pad?

[509-T203-KG]

All right! Still on a pad?

Awesome. I just ordered a pad to try out with this hammock. I might have missed if you said earlier, but what is the R- Value of your sleeping pad?

Still on the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX. R-Value = 5.7.

Full report to come...

Jd - what pad did you order?



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[Jd1983]

I ordered an REI Air Rail 1.5 because I had a gift card to use and it was on sale. Says that has an R Value of 4.2. I don't know what that translates to for temperatures in a hammock so I may have to do some backyard testing of my own.

[Shug]

I ordered an REI Air Rail 1.5 because I had a gift card to use and it was on sale. Says that has an R Value of 4.2. I don't know what that translates to for temperatures in a hammock so I may have to do some backyard testing of my own.

4.2 R-Value is around 10ºF...subtract a wee bit for the pad being in a hammock.
Shug

R Value Pad Chart copy.jpg

[Jd1983]

Thanks for the temp info. Looks like I will have to wait until at least Monday night before it is that warm here in SW Minnesota.

[509-T203-KG]

You could try supplementing with a closed cell foam pad on top of it if you have one.

Looks like you got a good deal on the pad. The fact that it is 23” wide and has the rails should make for a nice sleeping surface. I wondered about it myself. You’ll have to let us know...


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[509-T203-KG]

After tonight, I’ll be 2 reports behind... and have a new personal best

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[509-T203-KG]

Ok... February 5, 2019:

Conditions:

• Low temp 15°F
• Wind - forecasted 3-5mph all night. This seemed accurate.
• Light/swirling snow for 15 minutes while falling asleep.

Clothing: Same as before, but with the addition of a pair of sweatpants

• Feet - Medium/Heavy wool socks.
• Bottom - Medium/Light long johns, cheap cotton sweatpants.
• Top - Medium/Light long john, Lightweight down hoody.
• Head - Wool/Polyester beanie.

Gear:

• Hammock - REI Quarter Dome Air.
• Tarp - None.
• Pillow - Sea to Summit Aeros Premium.
• Under insulation - Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm air matress w/5.7 R-Value rated to -10°F.
• Top Insulation - 40°F Sierra Designs Mobile Mummy, Costco Down Throw (blue) laid over top.
• * Also tried CDT (silver) laid over pad with sides folded back inside & clipped to sides of hammock with binder clips to create two layers on sides.
  P1090854.jpgIMG_2294.jpgIMG_2327.jpgIMG_2317.jpg

Sleep Summary:

• Lay - Probably the flattest and most comfortable I've ever had. I decided to try a self-adjusting ridge line per kitsapcowboy thread here https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...Integrated-Net even though I had no idea what I was trying to accomplish. I'm still not sure. But I do know I had a great lay (could've just been a lucky perfect setup though).
• Wind - I didn't notice that the consistent 3-5mph winds affected warmth. They certainly weren't getting through the pad, and I've always felt that the thicker material walls of the hammock seem to deflect wind over and around me.
• The light/swirling snow flakes occasionally making contact with the exposed skin on my cheeks at this temp was somewhat distracting. Took maybe 15 minutes to fall asleep instead of 5-10.
• Slept well from 12am-5am, only turning sides 2, maybe 3 times before having to get up to pee. While up, I wasn't sure whether to believe my fairly new thermometer showing 15°F because of how warm I was. Unfortunately this caused me to dilly-dally, making a couple of adjustments, before truly noticing the cold and getting back in the hammock, at which point it was difficult to regain my warmth. This was the first time that I've felt any cold beneath me using this pad. I wonder if in the time out of the hammock, the heat contained within the pad was lost and I didn't have enough body heat to re-heat it. It wasn't bad, but was definitely not as warm/comfortable from 5-7 as from 12-5.
• Condensation/frost - Strangely, none.
• Impressed that a 40° mummy bag with a CDT blanket over top was sufficient top insulation.
• As I figured, the CDT underneath and on the sides was a flop. Not likely to try that again.

[oldpappy]

Thanks for the report.
FYI - I have experienced the same 'better than predicted' results using a summer down TQ over a mummy bag.
Also, I find a fleece TQ/Bag liner inside a mummy bag works better than I expected.
Before long I had so many possible workable combinations the hard part became choosing.

Thanks again for the reports.

[BillyBob58]

Yes, thanks! You have certainly proved that a pad can be used very comfy and warm- with little worry from wind or splashup- in some hammocks.