Round foot box dimensions for PLTQ

[Grapenut]

Hey folks. I recently sewed my own Poncho Liner Top Quilt and decided to go with a round foot box.

This project takes more than one poncho liner to make. You need extra material for the round piece at the bottom. I had some scrap poncho liner material hanging around and used that...I suppose you could use any material for this...

In order to make the circle for the base of the foot box you first have to figure out how big it needs to be. (Remember back in High School when you stated/asked your Mom, " This Math stuff is stupid...does it have any real use or purpose?!"...lol)

The steps:

1. Measure the length along the short end of the poncho to determine the circumference (how big around the circle needs to be). This is 62 inches.

2. Once you determine the circumference, you can determine the diameter (how far it is across the center of the circle).

formula: circumference = 3.14 x diameter

The diameter = 19 3/4 "

3. I wanted to stick a string in the center of a piece of cardboard so that I could trace the circle out, and I needed to know how long the string had to be. I needed the radius...simply 1/2 of the diameter.

The radius = 9.875"

You can see from the photos below that the rest is pretty straightforward.

The Top Quilt ends up retaining all of its length which is approx 82"...ergo ipse, this is a good way to go if you are a tall person.

I have size 11 feet and the foot box is extremely roomy.

Piece of cake!

Weighs in at 24 ounces.

G-Nut

[Lost_Biker]

Excellent work, and thanks for posting the math in easy to understand language.

[MAD777]

You have it down to a science!

[old4hats]

About what temps will this be effective down to, or a best guess.

[Grapenut]

old4hats, This is something that I believe is going to be Summer season only. Of course, if you add an under quilt and some warm sleeping clothes then you can push it.

I'm not taking it as my main cover if it gets much colder than 65 degrees. Sorry I can't give you a better answer than that but it has been "Hades Hot" down here in lower Alabama since I sewed this and I haven't had a chance to field test it properly yet.

Hope this helps.

G-Nut

[FLRider]

About what temps will this be effective down to, or a best guess.

Generally speaking, most folks can use a regular poncho liner down into the low 50s or high 40s as top insulation. A footbox might extend that by another three to five degrees.

Personally, I'm good down to the high-thirties (and can use it as low as freezing, as long as I don't mind being chilly all night) without supplemental insulation, but I'm a space heater.

[Aven]

It really depends on you. I can use a poncho liner down to about 60* in shorts and a t-shirt. Cooler than than and I want long pants, socks and a long sleeve t-shirt and/or my patrol bag. But my brother is comfortable using it down to the upper 40's.