Damp Clothes Dry Faster: Ridgeline or Below Air Mattress?

**WalksInDark** · 08-25-2013, 21:42

Given all of the hard core scientific types here on the forum, I am sure someone has either the knowledge and/or experience to answer: Damp Clothes Dry Faster: Hammock Ridge line or Below Air Mattress?

I am about to go on another AT section hike and decided this time to try to let my socks and/or underwear dry out overnight...now I just have to find out where they will dry faster. I suspect that the Hammock ridge line gets more air circulation...but below my air mattress gets more heat and pressure (kind of like my clothes being put through a wringer as I toss and turn on my air mattress.

P.S. I know that my extra clothes can be pinned on to my backpack while I am hiking.....but I think seeing someone walking down the trail with their underpants hanging off their backpack,for all the world to see, is just plain wrong!

**Jayson** · 08-25-2013, 22:06

I personally would not want wet or damp gear in my hammock if it could be avoided.

So on the ridgeline for me.

**Martindoms** · 08-25-2013, 23:21

I have done a couple kayaking trips that involved damp clothes at the end of the day. The way we remedied this was by using a ridge line around the fire if we knew it wouldn't be raining. If rain were to be a possibility we just used the hammock ridge line

**Higbean** · 08-25-2013, 23:43

I'd go ridgeline myself.

**nothermark** · 08-25-2013, 23:56

If you hang your clothes early enough and put them away before the dew forms the ridge line is better. If you run late and get up early hang your clothes on the ridge line to get most of the moisture out then hang them on your pack or take a mid day break and hang them to dry.

Anything inside your sleep system is either trapping moisture between the hammock and pad or loading it into your quilts. Neither is desirable.

If you are trying to avoid the funk use two sets of light synthetic underwear. Change and wash after dinner every day. Dry the other one as described. That gets relatively clean dry clothes to sleep in.

**Richard Tipton** · 08-26-2013, 05:47

Heat and pressure does no good unless you have ventilation!! Just look at a pressure cooker. Ridgeline for me!

**Bubba** · 08-26-2013, 08:11

Ridgeline for me. Out in the air would be best I would think.

**E.A.Y.** · 08-26-2013, 12:45

Sweat = wet clothes
Wet sweaty clothes = nose-clamping, eyewatering funk
Funky things are kept as far away from my nose as possible. Usually hang my clothes on the foot end of the hammock suspension.