Alpaca underquilt??

[WV]

Bamboo fabric is highly absorbent. The DIY diaper crowd use it.

Rayon is a versatile fiber and has the same comfort properties as natural fibers. It can imitate the feel and texture of silk, wool, cotton and linen. The fibers are easily dyed in a wide range of colors. Rayon fabrics are soft, smooth, cool, comfortable, and highly absorbent, but they do not insulate body heat, making them ideal for use in hot and humid climates.

Why "rayon"? Because that's what bamboo fabrics are, chemically reprocessed cellulose. FWIW (1.5 cents, I guess).

[Dos]

No, I have some of the aluminized cuben, which may have been produced in a limited run (there is some question about whether it is suitable for tarps). I would make the hammock out of the reflective cuben and use the alpaca layer on top of it to prevent heat loss by conduction (if it works).

I might be confused here.

so are we talking about strictly the UQ with let's say a rip stop bottom layer (for breatheability),
alpalca fleece in between, quilted or baffled, and then a layer of relective cuben for convective purposes? => this being the entire UQ itself?

[WV]

I might be confused here.

so are we talking about strictly the UQ with let's say a rip stop bottom layer (for breatheability),
alpalca fleece in between, quilted or baffled, and then a layer of relective cuben for convective purposes? => this being the entire UQ itself?

Sorry. My question was a digression prompted by the properties of alpaca, not the original poster's question. As Wisenber noted,

Of course you can deploy the alpaca however you wish.

[Dos]

so WV-
based on the discussion here and the OP question,

how would you go about making an UQ with alpaca....
and would a top layer of reflecting (aluminum) cuben work?

[Dos]

maybe ill just go with a heavier silk?

what would be the advantages of silk over let's say rip stop
OR
if you live in the north with little humidity, cotton?

[WV]

so WV-
based on the discussion here and the OP question,

how would you go about making an UQ with alpaca....
and would a top layer of reflecting (aluminum) cuben work?

I may not be the best person to answer the OP question (or yours) but I'll give it a shot.

First off, I wouldn't use cuben (aluminized or not) for an alpaca UQ because it would keep moisture from passing through the UQ, which might be unnecessary because alpaca reportedly handles moisture pretty well, unlike down.

Secondly, as the OP already has alpaca fiber, and I'm not sure how complicated it would be to felt it or weave it or otherwise turn it into a manageable layer, I'd say, "Stuff it." For fabric in an experimental quilt use the cheapest lightweight ripstop nylon you can find. I don't know how small alpaca fibers are, so play it safe with something that is downproof.

This advice presumes that the OP is experienced with UQs and can make one that will work well if the alpaca functions as it should. If I made an alpaca UQ and it didn't work, I wouldn't know whether it was because the alpaca wasn't a good choice or because I still haven't mastered underquilts.

The question about whether a layer of shiny cuben would reflect radiant heat and not rob heat by conduction if the only barrier between it and the hammock occupant was a layer of some other fabric (i. e. the hammock itself or a liner of some sort if the hammock is the reflective layer) is unfair, because that is essentially the question I asked.

[Dos]

thank you WV for your insights.

The past 2 posts want to make me proficient at PaintShop, but,
how about this combination:

Bottom layer of the UQ: Cuben
Middle layer: Alpaca (stuff it in how one see's fit)
Top layer: ripstop

What do you think?
or maybe not cuben at all.... since it seems alpaca needs to breathe like down.

[beekeeper]

I have a 5'x6' alpaca blanket (woven) wt 56.4 gm. very warm and soft. I don't know if it would make an underquilt or best used as a blanket on top of the hammock.
I'm waiting for warmer temps to hang. I'm still very much the know nothing new guy. Made my 1st hammock this fall. I making a underquilt from 1.9 oz nylon and Insul-bright (polyfiber with reflector core and soft & bright needled poly batting) All need testing.

[Dos]

well, I did make a baffled small insulative pad with alpaca a couple of weeks ago
and have been testing it inside the hammock. I think I need to add one more row
so it covers a bit more. It goes from my shoulders down just past my behind.
I also need to get a proper weight on it.
But...I must say...it is very warm and comfy.
it has a cotton outer shell.

[TinFoilHatsFTW]

ok i just thought id let ppl know, that the loose alpaca filling was a complete disaster. lol. it turned into dreadlocks when i washed it, so im just covering an alpaca blanket with nylon in the style of an army poncho / woobie & taking it from there.
thanks everyone for your help
happy hanging!