What to do with old down mummies??

[sotaram]

I have 2 old down mummy bags that are in good shape. These are Army style, front(top) zip, and have some type of rubberized bottom. Thinking about making either a peapod, or an underquilt from them. I kniow there's info here somewhere on doing a conversion like this, but can't seem to locate it.
Ideas wlecome!!

[Mustardman]

I think you should implement a top quilt idea I have but am too chicken to try

The general idea is to cut the hood off, remove the zipper, and build a top quilt. But then after you make a good top quilt, re-attach the hood, so the opening of the hood is on the opposite side from the opening in the quilt. So when you put the quilt over top of you, you can stick your head up in the hood and have the biggest benefit of a sleeping bag in a hammock, but without the hassle of getting inside a sleeping bag.


Did that make any sense at all? It's tough to explain what I'm seeing in my head.

[sotaram]

I think I get it(kinda). How would the hood attach? Would you just sew the bottom corner of the hood to the edge of the quilt?

[sotaram]

Seems like it would just be easier to cut the hood off and use it as a down hood with the quilt. Nothin fancy. I'm mor interested in the underquilt or peapod idea. Going to BWCA in July, and it can still get pretty cool up there-40's is not unheard of.

[gargoyle]

How much does the bag weigh? Does it pack well?
If your in the bwca, your probably canoeing? so weight won't be quite an issue. I did a mod to my synthetic bag and works great. Had it at 11 degrees. But it is bulky.
I sliced a hole in the foot end, and feed the hammock suspension thru the hole. Added a few tie out points to the bag and suspend the bag under the hammock. Depending on your bag and hammock, when zipped shut, it can be a little confining. But it is warm.

If you have a full length, two-way zipper, you can put your hammock thru the foot end and keep the rest zipped.
Works best with the shockcord suspension tho.
pics in my gallery

[Chocolatier]

My thread may be helpful. http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=17039

Rich

[sotaram]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help.

Gargoyle, the bag is a little bulky, but I'm not real concerned abou tthat. I have 2, I make take you idea and slice the foot, pull it up and attach the top portion of my seconf bag as an "extension" to get enought length so it will cover me completely. But like you said, it would probably be confining, if it was even wide enough to zip together-not sure-sounds like measure and cut time!
I also like the UQ idea, and just using my good sleeping bag as a top quilt.
Pretty quick I'm just gonna say screw it and start cutting and see where the down falls!

[spursfiend]

I've used a rectangular bag in a similar manner as Gargoyle's mummy mod and even the larger size of the rectangular bag was confining and laying off-center (flat) wasn't an option. An underquilt is a far better option in terms of comfort, weight, and pack size.

I also have used a down army extreme cold mummy bag as an overquilt (no modification). It is extremely warm! Too warm for even a cold snap in central Texas. In your neck of the woods it should be perfect.