The "Fiddle Factor" Factor
From "Fiddle Factor" thread:
Originally Posted by Crawldaddy
Am I the only one who cant seem to get a consistent setup using a 3/4 underquilt on a HH hammock? Everytime I set up the underquilt, it takes me at least 15 min to mess with my underquilt to get it just right. I think I must have at least 10 different pull lines to adjust each time... not ranting.. just wondering if thats a normal expected situation with ya'll...
Response:
If you want fiddle free, you need to dump these UQs and put a HHSS on your HH hammocks or whatever else it might fit!
Just kidding. Mostly anyway. But for a reason: I have seen many comments in the past about folks not liking the HHSS for- among other reasons- too much fiddle factor(aka FF). But as can be seen from quite a few posts over time, there are plenty of folks who end up having plenty of FF with their UQs, at least during the learning curve. And particularly if the UQs are not diff cut. Hence the invention of Triangle Thingies!
I used to agree with folks on the FF of the HHSS, and in fact posted about such myself. But I have changed my mind and decided ( just IMO ) that there is zero FF with the HHSS. If you put it on as directed, that's it. There is nothing to fiddle with. It either works for you or ( for some folks) it doesn't. But there is really nothing else to do. In my experience, it will fit perfectly and be positioned perfectly every time. It will just be snugly contacting your back. And once it is on, with pull outs through corresponding loops, it can't really move and get out of position. Just leave it on( put in one large stuff sack or your pack) and there again will be nothing else to do except hang your hammock and hop in. Done. Worst case, if you remove the pad and put into it's own dry sack and put the hammock/UC into skins, you just have to put the pad back on each night, like I used to do. Still no big deal and not a lot to do wrong. End pad elastics through the UC end opening to the prussicks, side hammock elastics through the the pad loops and UC opening. Done, and nothing left to adjust.
Really, the only thing there would be to fiddle with would be if you wanted to add jackets or whatever under or over the pad for for an insulation boost. Even that is not much once you have done it a few times.
The only quilt I have used that has about as little FF as my HHSS is the JRB MW4 when on my JRB BMBH. There is zero FF with that set up. But otherwise, my quilts ( as much as I love them) can slip off my shoulder (most common mishap), be too loose(even though pretty tight), slip off my feet if not adjusted perfectly, they or I can slip up and down letting air in (torso models). And if the quilt is not dif cut, add a whole new set of variables to all of the above.
Second place for least FF in my "quilt" products is the PeaPod. But still, even with it sense it is not dif cut, you better get that tightness just right for the hammock you are putting it on. Too tight will quickly compress loft and give you a cold butt. But, I can get away with a lot more of "too loose", as the whole thing is closed up on top and drapes over the hammock edges, so cold air does not come rushing in to fill the gap like it does with other quilts. Like it will if a 3/4 quilt moved up or down in the night as you move, or slips sideways. And if there is a gap, that is just an opportunity to fill the gap with some other insulation(down vest/whatever) for uber warmth.
Now don't get me wrong. I am still a big fan of my various quilts and have pretty much overcome any FF they might have, just having been through the learning curve with each of them. Each of them has at least some advantage making them competitive. Still, with the JRB exception mentioned above ( and with a close tie for the Pod coming in next), I don't think any quilt has anything over the HHSS for lack of FF. In fact, in most cases, the HHSS is the winner at least in that regard. You might not like the HHSS, but there is nothing to fiddle with.
There, I said it and I'm glad!
(though I have thought this for a couple of years)
OK, "rant" over!
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