Bedding inside hammock

[Bigbaby]

Hello, I am new to hammock camping and I am looking into purchasing a hammock. I have a question though. What do y'all use for bedding inside tue hammock? Do you use a sleeping bag or a quilt? I am trying to picture a sleep system with a hammock. Weight is a concern for me and if I can do without a sleeping bag then that helps.

[griesl]

Hello, I am new to hammock camping and I am looking into purchasing a hammock. I have a question though. What do y'all use for bedding inside tue hammock? Do you use a sleeping bag or a quilt? I am trying to picture a sleep system with a hammock. Weight is a concern for me and if I can do without a sleeping bag then that helps.

I've used both, but prefer a quilt.

[Joey]

the hammock itself is pretty comfortable. Most use a top quilt as it's hard to get into a sleeping bag once in a hammock, and the insulation would be compressed and useless with you laying on it anyway.

With temps above 70F you may not need anything underneath of you. For temps below 70F, an pad or underquilt will be necessary. There's a sub forum here on under quilts and pads you should glean for info on this.

[RootCause]

Lightweight sleeping bag, opened out as a quilt. How's that for splitting hairs?

I don't recommend an indoor standard quilt if you plan to sleep outdoors. I'm not assuming you are planning that, but you said you're new to this.

[weaver2469]

If you go to the "top insulation" section of this forum, you will get a bunch of good info and ideas about what everyone uses inside the hammock. If you get bored with that, move on to "bottom insulation" and read until your eyes fall out. A quicker way is to go to Shug's youtube series on hammocking. Everything you want to know in one easy, pretty funny package.

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=15516

[DaleW]

On a hot night in Loozi-anna, you won't need much. Hammocks are surprisingly cool on the bottom, which is nice at 90F, but not so much with a slight breeze below 70F or so.

If it is hot, a fleece blanket might be okay. I use my sleeping bag open like a quilt and can use it normally if I need to go colder. Quilts are easier to live with in a hammock-- getting in and out. Do be prepared to part with some cash for some bottom insulation too. There's plenty of info in the forums mentioned above.

[Catavarie]

Quilts are generally used for all the above reasons. That said some people do successfully use sleeping bags (my self included) in hammocks. Many people when first starting off in a hammock will use their ground pad untill they can obtain a good underquilt, because chasing a pad around all night makes for losey sleep. And will continue to use their sleeping bag, often in "quilt mode", with the UQ until they can then obtain a suitable TQ.

But general concensus is that Quilts are easier and far more comfortable than sleeping bags in hammocks.

[Bigbaby]

Hey, thanks everyone for the tips. They have all been a big help!

[FLRider]

Personally, any time it's above 70 or so, I use a poncho liner as a topquilt and don't worry about any bottom insulation. A poncho liner is big enough to fit under me if needed to block the wind. I'm a fairly hot sleeper, though (I'm good on the ground down to about 60 with a simple thin sheet, in my skivvies). I've yet to experience temperatures lower than that in a hammock, so, we'll see come October-November...

[gargoyle]

In the top left corner of the HF page, there is a link to all the hammock videos done by members. Give it a look thru. Many good examples of insultion and set up options.

Videos. <---or click here.