Pea Pod thoughts....jump in here in thought

[MedicineMan]

Woke up thinking about the Pea Pod this morning and its cost. Specifically wondering if the major cost of a pea pod is in the sheer amount of down that is in it--surely because the design complexity is nothing like the Snugfit.
I was wondering of the cost thinking why not a Son of Pod because a lot of us Pea Pod users agree that it is collectively warmer than the sum of its individual parts....and coupling this with the belief that many of us sleeping in our camp clothes which is to say our camp clothing weight is part of our sleep system.
So why not a more affordable pod that is geared toward 3 seasons? The implication of the Pea Pod is deep winter use-at least for me.
There was a time when the Pea Pod was a much lighter sewn through model...I wouldn't want that back on the market necessarily but a Pod with the benefits of the larger siblings (PeaPod and Polar Pod), read extreme draft protection; but geared toward three season use. Thoughts?
I also wondered if Professor Hammock or Shug-two of our sports most knowledgeable participants, have or use pods in any variant.

[Catavarie]

Would a hammock sock be able to provide sufficient draft protection to fill this void?

[WV]

I saved $$$ and weight on my insulated sock by using Climashield and tailoring it to fit my winter hammock closely (but not too closely). That was complicated because the hammock has adjustable cords forming the ends, so I had to use velcro to close the sock over the cords. The labor to produce something like this is awful, so it's not commercially viable, but it does suggest that a lightweight insulated sock is a good idea as part of a layering system of winter hammock insulation. Someday I will post pics of this. No one else has ever seen it because in use it's hidden inside my winter hammock tent (outer layer). I like the top-center zipper.

[nothermark]

It seems to me the Hennessy super shelter is a half way move in this direction. The same thing could be said for the thread about hanging a poncho liner over the SRL. Just stopping air movement across the sleeper makes a significant difference. We discovered this years ago when the tent industry switched to a lot of mesh instead of cloth. The drawback is the more space the more heat the sleeper needs to generate. That leaves me thinking a lighter top quilt inside a top cover is a good cool weather compromise.

[AaronAlso]

I'm looking at a pea pod as a simpler option for hanging with the 10 year old. Instead of confusing him with UQ/TQ, draft tubes, venting, ect. I just want something simple that he can use by himself. The pea pod came to mind as an all inclusive solution. I still haven't decided, mostly cause I'm not looking forward to making it myself. Maybe the sew-thru constrution would be easier for my first DIY with down. Would that be sufficiently warm for moderate 3 season use; maybe as low as 40Fdeg?

Just ranting out loud, not meaning to hijack your thread. I'm interested to hear everyone's opinion on the PeaPod and alterations that could be made.

[MacEntyre]

Would a hammock sock be able to provide sufficient draft protection to fill this void?

I saved $$$ and weight on my insulated sock by ... tailoring it to fit my winter hammock

Good fit underneath is important for making a sock that can do nearly everything a pod does. It mitigates poor UQ fit, eliminates drafts, protects from the wind, and is vapor permeable.

Medicine Man, I feel that a good fitting sock, insulated or not, will make the rest of your insulation act like a pod.

Still, if you come across an old sewn through PeaPod, grab it! They are surprisingly useful, especially when combined with other gear.

I'm coming to appreciate the non-insulated sock more and more... nylon for three seasons, lightweight canvas for winter. Inside, during winter, I put either a Snugfit or a PeaPod.

- MacEntyre

[born2roam]

Hi list,

I have a peapod, an old one from Ed Speer...but since my DIY skills are practically non existent, how can I tell the difference with sewn through (where/what?) with the new ones?

Since the colder season is approaching, this might turn out my first true winter hanging (only been down to -5 C, so that would be 23 F, not much to some of you.... colder temps where always ground dwelling in Sweden e.g.))

Grtz Johan

[Shug]

I have never been inside of an actual Pea-Pod....but I did mess with a sleeping bag as a pod. I had my FrankenQuilt UQ and a light TQ in it as well down to -17º. The bag alone on the hammock is snug against my buttocks and back....gap in the chest area. May be fine for milder weather.
Shug

[BillyBob58]

Woke up thinking about the Pea Pod this morning and its cost.

And this is how we hangers know we are indeed obsessed! Happens to me too!

Specifically wondering if the major cost of a pea pod is in the sheer amount of down that is in it--surely because the design complexity is nothing like the Snugfit.

I also think it is primarily the sheer amount of down used. But that much down is, of course, because when you buy a pod you are buying shells and down for both the TQ and UQ at the same time. And extra long to boot. I have always thought the pods are actually a bargain considering all that you are actually buying: two extra long quilts, rather than buying a separate full length long TQ and UQ.

I was wondering of the cost thinking why not a Son of Pod because a lot of us Pea Pod users agree that it is collectively warmer than the sum of its individual parts....and coupling this with the belief that many of us sleeping in our camp clothes which is to say our camp clothing weight is part of our sleep system.
So why not a more affordable pod that is geared toward 3 seasons? The implication of the Pea Pod is deep winter use-at least for me.
There was a time when the Pea Pod was a much lighter sewn through model...I wouldn't want that back on the market necessarily but a Pod with the benefits of the larger siblings (PeaPod and Polar Pod), read extreme draft protection; but geared toward three season use. Thoughts?
I also wondered if Professor Hammock or Shug-two of our sports most knowledgeable participants, have or use pods in any variant.

For sure a lighter model could be used while maintaining most of the benefits of a pod. I have oft told of my friend from NC who goes on all of my western trips with me. He uses the old 55F rated sewn through PeaPod. He drove down to Ed's place and traded in his SPE for it, plus justa small amount of $ ! He has used it with a pad under the hammock inside the pod, and a 3 season TQ. He is always one of the warmest folks in camp. He loves this system over all others he has used. The temps have been mid 20s to low high 40s. Who knows how low he could actually go with this set up? On the recent Sawtooth trip, he did not even take a pad! Just some sort of reflective thing. ( he did not bother with that the 1st night in low 30s, and his back was a little cool, and he was up to pee multiple times that night. Put the reflector down in the pod after that and was toasty, but it was not as cold as 1st night).

He thinks it is the most comfortable set up he has used. He is pretty claustrophobic, but at these temps he has not even had to close the pod much around his face. But it is closed enough that he still gets the no draft benefits. Remember, this thin is barely rated for summer in the south eastern mountains, only 55F!


Ed used to offer a 30F baffled model. No reason why it couldn't be a 40 or 50 rated. Lighter and less expensive but still with all the draft proof benefits. At those temps probably some clothing being used on top to fill the top gap and/or block any warm air from getting out of any vent hole would be needed, unless it was closed all the way and not too close to the pod's temp rating.


On those same trips where my friend was using the sew thru summer pod, I have used my 20F rated pod(into the 20s) with clothing and space blanket only and been anywhere from just barely warm enough to toasty. On this last trip ( 1st night low 30s ) I was PLENTY warm. I think I even had to remove the space blanket because I was too warm. So, what if the same pod was only rated only to 40 or 45, and the temps were well above that? Seems like I would likely be able to get by with just my warm clothing. ( colder, just start adding pads/clothing etc) Of course, I suppose at some point in warmer weather, you won't have much warm clothing with you.

It seems to me the Hennessy super shelter is a half way move in this direction. The same thing could be said for the thread about hanging a poncho liner over the SRL. Just stopping air movement across the sleeper makes a significant difference. We discovered this years ago when the tent industry switched to a lot of mesh instead of cloth. The drawback is the more space the more heat the sleeper needs to generate. That leaves me thinking a lighter top quilt inside a top cover is a good cool weather compromise.

Agree! And any kind of sock, like the MMG type, should be a big help. Especially blocking wind, and also keeping a warmer area surrounding your entire hammock. But approaches (like the pod) that not only prevent the warm air from leaving, but also cold air from coming into and/or under the hammock, are way efficient. The pod approach is the only one that drapes over the edges of the hammock, and then to a varying degree down upon the user and also "sealed" on both ends. Much closer, IMO, to the hammock equiv of being in a mummy bag on a pad, though without most of the lack of comfort associated with that approach in a hammock. And I think the HHSS somewhat approaches this, especially with the top cover used. It is "closed" on the ends (more or less, enough to help) and the edges don't overlap with insulation, but are pretty snug. All enough to be helpful I think.

Per the OP, a VERY light TQ ( particularly a wearable one like JRB, leaving the down jacket at home) with a summer weight pod would be a real interesting approach to temps in the 40s and 50s. Just like how for colder temps, my 9 oz down vest and 12 oz "puffy" Climashield jacket, both taken anyway for trail and camp use, did a pretty good job of doubling as a summer weight T inside the pod.

[MacEntyre]

...how can I tell the difference with sewn through ...

Sewn through baffles are where the stitches between the rows of down are sewn through one side, into the other side. There is no internal baffle, or panel of fabric, allowing the inside and the outside to remain separated.