Hi, long time lurker about to take the leap of faith into the hammock - and here comes my first post.
Why no Top Quilt Protector?
Temperature, humidity, wind, metabolism, even the angle of breath outflux - these variables covers most of what comes into play with the emanation of the dreaded condensation/frost. There are several threads and posts but I have not been able to find anything about the elusive Top Quilt Protector. From a theoretical pov it seems a sound idea. Here are some forum links on the subject that points out the problem w condensation if anyone is unfamiliar with the horrible phenomenon.
First thread
Second thread
Selected posts:
First post
Second post
My experience of condensation is not good. I don't like it from several perspectives, there are good reasons to eliminate it. My experience w frost gives me my base line in my view.
While in military service I drove a smaller terrain vehicle during a larger manoeuvre. It was -40° (f or C, your choice), the heating system gave up and the windshield was opaque in no-time and my co-driver had to work full-time with the ice scraper. Or? The entire battalion was on the move, no time for a break trying to fix the problem - what to do? As I grew up in cold conditions I knew there was only one solution: open the windows (!). My co-driver helped me and we managed to get winter gear on while driving at the same time and arrived a few hours later quite cold but we never broke convoy.
So, ventilation. Of course not more than needed because that costs warmth. Thus, a tarp, a hammock, insulation and getting the 'sensitive gear out of harm's way'. The tarp gains degrees and is not sensitive to condensation nor frost, thus no problem. The exhalation has to be vented easily and quick or it will settle wherever we find it most inconvenient and the best way to get rid of it is to avoid cover. That's it. No sock, no mesh, no panels, no nothing. It will be warmer in there but it will also be, in 99,6% of the cases, more humid. Humid is seldom good.
Problem solved? Of course not, all the variables can never be handled with one solution but the important point is: remove humidity. Now, cold enough and air is not moving: condensation/frost is there even w/o tarp. Well, there are frostbibs and that is all well but my experience from ground camping says 'sleeping bag protector'. A bag w waterproof 'floor and walls' and a top panel of cloth that can let humidity pass (from the body) but also protect the sleeping bag from condensation/slobber/frost. That Protector is easily wiped and dried, and frost can usually be brushed off.
That takes us to a TQP. An UQP on top. Preferably attached w zippers (Chameleon, more?) and possibility to open a vent in the foot end. Like a tarpaulin for a boat as @leiavoia put it. It is a smaller 'room' to keep warm compared to a cover, the surface area is smaller so less convection, it doesn't catch your breath and in case you wake up w slobber that is not on the quilt.
So where is the TQP? Do I have to make my own or is it already tried but not trusted?
(Now, one can argue that the ridge line and tarp can catch humidity, sure - but it's it a problem? )
I see TQP as a viable path to explore. I can speculate just as much as the other guy but do you have practical experience? Please share!
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Originally Posted by MrCrumbles
what a crappy night that was... it was one of those nights that started off mild and then the temperature dropped extremely and I wasn't prepared for it but I fortunately had that. I'm sure it helped, and it seemed to it first, but I couldn't tell by morning... what a miserable SOB I was that morning, the entire inside of it was covered in iced up condensation. and this wasn't some off brand one either this is the one that you get in all the outdoors supply stores to put in your emergency kit.
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