Summer Insulation

**DivaB** · 05-09-2013, 07:11

Originally Posted by dakotaross

Warm trips, I take a JRB torso pad. Wide and about as long as a short UQ, thin and kinda tacky, which makes it stay good in the hammock. Its lighter than a UQ.

Have a 40 UQ, too, which I take for higher elevation in summer, or anytime expecting nights in the 50s.

My 20 degree UQ gets too hot in summer, and I have a hard time venting it. How low will this torso pad take you on summer nights, and do you find that it makes you sweat? Is the 1/4 thin enough that your hammock is still comfortable? Just curious. I may just make summer UQ.

**FLRider** · 05-09-2013, 08:44

I use my poncho, suspended under the hammock, with a space blanket crumpled up in it, for temperatures 50* to 70* for the low. Above 70*, I don't worry about under insulation at all.

Now, I'm a pretty warm sleeper...so this may not work for everyone. However, I have a report on it in the video in post #3 of this thread; the portion on the under insulation starts at about 8:30.

The only thing that I find annoying is that I sweat pretty badly when I sleep (as I do pretty much all of the rest of the time), so I will occasionally wake up damp using this system. If one was to use a WP/B poncho (like the DriDucks sold by JRB) instead, this would likely not be an issue.

Total additional weight for the space blanket (as I carry the poncho anyway)? ~1.7 oz/48 g.

Hope it helps!

**FaceStabber** · 05-09-2013, 19:40

Ok another super noob question... Do you REALLY need insulation in the summer? I haven't even gone out yet but I just figured if I could sleep on the ground in warm weather then a hammock would be fine.

Sorry if this is a dumb question

**Acer** · 05-09-2013, 19:59

I have a Te-Wa Breeze(10.8oz), with a extra oz of down, and also a 50 degree Jarbidge for me and the wife (2 Jarbidges) and also 50 degree top quilts, or switch out in hot weather to even a poncho liner for summer, and everything works great for us.

**FaceStabber** · 05-09-2013, 20:45

Originally Posted by Acer

I have a Te-Wa Breeze(10.8oz), with a extra oz of down, and also a 50 degree Jarbidge for me and the wife (2 Jarbidges) and also 50 degree top quilts, or switch out in hot weather to even a poncho liner for summer, and everything works great for us.

So I'm assuming you are running the poncho liner underneath? If so what is the best way to do that?

**desmobob** · 05-09-2013, 21:31

Originally Posted by Toes

Great! Thanks for the info!

Do you typically use anything else with your quilts? Like a pad or anything?
Do you find you rely a lot on your clothing system too when it comes to your hammock insulation?

You're welcome!

I don't use a pad with my quilt, but I do wear warm clothes to sleep if I'm going to push the limits of my UQ. The "expedition weight" polypro underwear is very light and very warm and I wear it if I think I might be in for a cold night. I've also tossed one of those disposable hand-warmer packets into the foot area of my TQ on a cold night when I was already cold and wet when I got into the hammock. They really help out a lot.

Take it easy,
desmobob

**captaincoupal** · 05-09-2013, 21:35

Originally Posted by FaceStabber

Ok another super noob question... Do you REALLY need insulation in the summer? I haven't even gone out yet but I just figured if I could sleep on the ground in warm weather then a hammock would be fine.

Sorry if this is a dumb question

Not a dumb question, but unless you are a really warm sleeper the convective currents underneath you will cool you down quite a bit. Most of us need something under 70F.

**weaver2469** · 05-09-2013, 21:37

Originally Posted by FaceStabber

Ok another super noob question... Do you REALLY need insulation in the summer? I haven't even gone out yet but I just figured if I could sleep on the ground in warm weather then a hammock would be fine.

Sorry if this is a dumb question

Most people need something under them when the temp drops below 70 at night. The breeze under you is colder than the ground.

**JollyGreen** · 05-10-2013, 12:06

For me, 50* jarbidge UQ and 50* UGQ Flight Jacket TQ in summer

**MAD777** · 05-10-2013, 12:12

I made a top quilt and underquilt specifically for summer. I used momemtum 50 fabric and 3 ounces of 850 FP down in the sewn through partial underquilt and 6 ounces of 850 FP down in the Karo Step top quilt. They are about 1-1/4" thick and I have used them into the lower 40's comfortably. They each weigh 10 ounces.