Why do pads get a bad rap?

[PDA]

Re down vs Synthetic: I have searched assiduously, and I haven't been able to find a down pad anywhere - so I will stick with synthetic

[lattie11581]

Re down vs Synthetic: I have searched assiduously, and I haven't been able to find a down pad anywhere - so I will stick with synthetic

I believe it has 700 fill down as its insulation!!!

[steveflinn]

Pads work fine but typically if you try an UQ, you won't go back to a pad. The comfort is much greater

Amen! 12345

[packeagle]

Re down vs Synthetic: I have searched assiduously, and I haven't been able to find a down pad anywhere - so I will stick with synthetic

I think Exped makes a down mat called the "DAM"

I know that Big Agnes Insulated Air Core uses Primaloft.

[DuctTape]

By now, most know I use pads in the winter (sub-zero) with no loss of comfort for me. I still maintain, it is hammock specific (not just DL).

Anyway, I also am a canoeist and my solo canoe is a sit on bottom and has a large thick ccf pad to ease butt rot. For years I have considered trying that pad in the hammock. I think this year might be the year to try it out. I wish I had measured it to provide dimensions... I do know it is 3/4 inch thick.

[The Wanna Bs]

This has been a most informative thread to a Wanna B. Our DYI underquilts kept us plenty warm in 18* weather with plenty of clothes on BUT when we hike the AT we may have to go down once or twice and having a pad would be handy. If it does just as well at keeping you warm, we might should just plan on using the pads. The DYI UQs we made will not at all be acceptable for hiking over a long distance. We must figure out ways to lose weight. We will need another bout or two of below freezing weather here in TX to figure it out.

[bwg]

I use Volara 1/4" and two of those together gets me to the 30s. They bend easily and when placed between layrers of a double layer hammock, I find then similar in comfort to an underquilt. So, I could be happy with either, underquilt or pads.

[SwedeMix]

Purely a comfort issue for me, I'm pro-(selfinflating)pad and I feel I've hit my sweetspot.
It does, as pointed out before, keep the hammock a bit more open, but that's not the only comfort-advantage I get. I just cannot get comfy without the pad, no matter what hammock, and what (hang)angle I use. I've tried and tried again. And then I tried some more. Leg ridges, and all kinds of weird pushing from the fabric from every little rearranging of my bodyposition. I'm a 90% sidesleeper, and cramp up easily so need to be able to stretch legs etc.

This is the best for me, I've sewn an antislipthingy that is usually used under a rug to keep it still on the floor. Added webbing and shockcords to it that I kind of wrap around the pad, and I can't get it to move even if I wanted to. BUT, I do have an UQ also, a modded sleepingbag that has to be added when the temps drop. Tried -10c with great success so far, -25c right now and I'm going out tomorrow again for some proper wintercamping

YMMV, that's one of the greatest truths!

Happy hanging everybody!

[PDA]

@ lattie and pack Eagle - touche.

[grannypat]

Google has failed me. Is there a website for mcentyre?

For MacEntyre, look at Molly Mac gear in the vendor section.