Radiant Pad and Condensation

[Rrb4kids]

Hello! Ok ... i have searched the forums and i'm not finding an answer so if there is one out there please excuse this (dumb?) question. My son and i have a Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip with the Radiant Pad. Last weekend we camped up in Duluth MN. Weather wasn't too bad at night (maybe around 65-70 at night?). In the morning our sleeping bags were wet and so was the top of the Radiant Pad. Nothing too bad. We have the Pad inside the hammock with the sleeping bag on top of that. How can we get around this condensation? Should we be using the pad at all with these temps? The sleeping bags we are using are +50 degree bags.

Would like to get this figured out as we are going for a week long trip to the BWCA in a few weeks and would hate to have to dry our bags and pad everyday.

Thanks for your input (or just pointing me in the right direction!).

Rob

[Knotty]

Anytime you lay on a vapor barrier, like the radiant pad, there's a risk of condensation. A lot depends upon the weather conditions and the person. I always seem to end up wet when using a vapor barrier.

At 65-70F most people will need some sort of under insulation. With just a +50F bag I would guess that you will as well.

[Shade-Dog]

I have had similar issues with too warm a pad. I bought a thinner pad.

I recall someone drilled/poked 1/4 holes in their pad to help circulate air. On cooler nights a plastic sheet was applied to the underside. Makes some sense I guess.

That was a hot night if you hit Duluth with night time lows in the upper 60s.

[Shug]

I feel your frustration.....I always had a bit of condensation with pads. Less with my Thermarest ProLite slightly inflated.
Once I went under-quilt.....condensation went away and comfort increased.
Shug

[PDA]

I use just a torso pad and have the SB over me as an over quilt. That way only me and the pad get any wetness, the SB keeps dry. I use a cut down WM blue pad.

[Shade-Dog]

found the link on the same subject:
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=13567

[G.L.P.]

the only way you can control condensation is with air flow... trying to control it is all you can do

the only way around it is a UQ ....

it's not what you wanted to hear i'm sure .. but there is no real way around it some ppl have no problems with it and others get wet

[Rrb4kids]

Thanks all for your input... sounds like i'll just go with the Radiant Pad when i'm on my trip to the boundary waters... my sleeping bag wasn't that wet in the morning and i wasn't cold at all. I'll keep everybody posted when i return... nice thing is i'm going with somebody that has a few years hanging so maybe he'll have some tips as well.

[nothermark]

I use a ccf pad with a sleeve over it, One side is fleece the other nylon. I sleep on the fleece and have not had condensation issues. Must be airflow? ;-)

[DaleW]

Thanks all for your input... sounds like i'll just go with the Radiant Pad when i'm on my trip to the boundary waters... my sleeping bag wasn't that wet in the morning and i wasn't cold at all. I'll keep everybody posted when i return... nice thing is i'm going with somebody that has a few years hanging so maybe he'll have some tips as well.

Try a wide CCF pad, like Gossamer Gear offers, or one of the wide segmented pads sold at Wall Mart and Big 5 stores (in the West) --- see the photo of a black one below. I got a wide Coleman convoluted CCF pad to work for me too.

I was a little bent when I found out that my expensive 20" wide hiking pads didn't feel very good in a hammock. After much fiddling, I found that the wider pads work a little better and with practice and some bronco-riding wiggle sessions, I learned where to place the pad and how to get in with it roughly in place. CCF pads are the least expensive way to insulate a hammock, but they detract from the nice cushy feel of the hammock surface. Underquilts have some fiddle factor, but are more comfortable and work with the breathability of the hammock.