How do folks backpack with under/over quilts (size and weight issues)

**Zilla** · 09-13-2013, 11:11

Originally Posted by Shug

This is my average comfortable load.....quilts and all.
Carry forth and have a fun trip.
Shug

If you cant learn something from Shug - you aint breathing!!

**FLRider** · 09-13-2013, 11:13

Originally Posted by Northern Mike

Thanks for all the info.
The OP was to see how you guys did it with the quilts as all the pics and vids I have seen make them look way to bulky for a long tough trip.

Because of time and budget, this trip will be without hammock quilts and will be with my hiking sleeping bag with liner. I will definitely be looking to improve the arrangement with the information I gain on this trip. Messing around with the hammock setup, I can say this will be the only trip with a poly tarp and probably the ENO hammock.

Fair enough.

Just one question: have you tested your sleeping bag/liner combo in the 30s with your hammock? If not, you may find out that you need additional under insulation. Which would be...suboptimal...~20 miles of bushwhacking from the nearest help.

If you've already tested it, please disregard this. Just trying to help ensure that you have a safe trip.

**VictoriaGuy** · 09-13-2013, 11:57

Originally Posted by Northern Mike

As for the trip... I'm lucky to be travelling with another avid outdoors person and a good friend. The area we will be in is hard to access, no cell coverage and without proper planning, a few days rescue if things go bad. In short, we're on our own, even with the beacon. Provided the batteries get here in time, this will be my first video documented trip as well as first hammock camping trip.

Tough trip, lots of untested gear, no 'extras' (insulation, food,clothes,?), perhaps not in very good shape (since the carried weight seems to be a big factor) - it could be a great adventure!
Good thing you are taking the video camera and batteries to record the fun!
Very 21st century!

**Northern Mike** · 09-13-2013, 12:39

Originally Posted by FLRider

Fair enough.

Just one question: have you tested your sleeping bag/liner combo in the 30s with your hammock? If not, you may find out that you need additional under insulation. Which would be...suboptimal...~20 miles of bushwhacking from the nearest help.

If you've already tested it, please disregard this. Just trying to help ensure that you have a safe trip.

Originally Posted by VictoriaGuy

Tough trip, lots of untested gear, no 'extras' (insulation, food,clothes,?), perhaps not in very good shape (since the carried weight seems to be a big factor) - it could be a great adventure!
Good thing you are taking the video camera and batteries to record the fun!
Very 21st century!

Figured I would reply to both quotes in one reply.
I'm testing a lot of new gear this trip as I lost most of my tested and loved gear in the flooding we had this spring. If it hadn't been for the flooding, the hammock would be the only new piece.
That being said, I've camped with a lot less and do have the poly tarp and tree branches should something go wrong with the hammock.
September is normally when I get out to do my once a year adventure trip. The last few years has been with the same sleeping bag (saved from the flood as it was upstairs) in a tent with no mat.

A slightly off topic question being as this has shifted from my OP.... How would sleeping in a hammock with a sleeping bag instead of an underquilt compare to sleeping on the ground, no mat (just tent floor)?

**Jayson** · 09-13-2013, 13:52

You will be suprised at how much warmth you lose out the bottom of the hammock. Remember the ground provides some amount of insulation. In a hammock there will be zero insulation...well maybe 10% remaining from your sleeping bag if it is synthetic 0% if it is down. I wouold at the very least take a torso length ccf pad. But that is just me.

My hammock, winter sock, 20*f top quilt(down) ,20*f 3/4 length underquilt(down), and small ccf pad for under my feet take up the bottom third of my pack. total weight is:
TQ 23.6oz
UQ 17oz
Hammock with sock 11oz
Foot pad and ground sheet 7.5oz
Total is 59.1oz or 3.69 LBs
Tarp (WB Superfly) is roughly the size of a 1L Smartwater bottle and weighs 29oz with all stakes. Bringing me up to 88.1oz or 5.5LBs.

**Boston** · 09-13-2013, 13:56

To the ground you only have to worry about conductive heat loss. In a hammock you contend with convection, making your under insulation much more important.

It's been too long since my heat transfer classes, but basically convection is some LARGE factor more efficient at removing heat than conduction. In a hammock you're 20*F bag - compressed under you - wouldn't even keep you warm at 40*F. You'd feel warm on top, and cold underneath.

**Shug** · 09-13-2013, 14:03

Originally Posted by Northern Mike

Figured I would reply to both quotes in one reply.
I'm testing a lot of new gear this trip as I lost most of my tested and loved gear in the flooding we had this spring. If it hadn't been for the flooding, the hammock would be the only new piece.
That being said, I've camped with a lot less and do have the poly tarp and tree branches should something go wrong with the hammock.
September is normally when I get out to do my once a year adventure trip. The last few years has been with the same sleeping bag (saved from the flood as it was upstairs) in a tent with no mat.

A slightly off topic question being as this has shifted from my OP.... How would sleeping in a hammock with a sleeping bag instead of an underquilt compare to sleeping on the ground, no mat (just tent floor)?

I offer this to keep you warm in the hammock.....
Carry forth.
Shug

**Jcavenagh** · 09-13-2013, 16:10

NoMike- You will be very cold if you do not bring at least a closed cell foam pad to put under you. Convective heat loss is greatly exaggerated in a hammock compared to sleeping on the ground. On the ground you mostly have conductive heat loss which is much less.
Seriously, if you are not bringing a UQ, a ccf pad is the minimum requirement to stay even remotely warm while sleeping.

**Northern Mike** · 09-13-2013, 17:00

I'm old enough to know better then to argue with experience, so I'll be looking at picking up a mat before heading out (budget and time not going to permit underquilt thoughts).
Found a pair of trees in the yard to test hang in the yard. Not great trees (pine and a maple). View also sucks as its behind the garage, but it will work. Going to be 0'C or -1'C tonight, so we'll see how the setup works (without a mat until I can get to town).