Underquilt for my hammock

[wannahang]

I have two cold weather marine corps sleeping bags that I don't use. I would like to use the down inside them and try to make my own underquilt. I'm not sure the best way to start, best material, where to get it, how much etc. Any help would be appreciated.

[Cermichael]

Take a look at underquilts.com. They sell shells. You might buy a shell and use your down to stuff it.

[wannahang]

Looks likrle they have several options. Any suggestions?

[darkbyrd]

What temps are you looking for, and roughly how much down do you have?

[wannahang]

I'd like to be good down to 30 degrees. I have two of the cold weather mummy bags that are rated for 0 degrees. I can use as much down from inside them as possible.

[darkbyrd]

You can use the chart at the bottom of http://underquilts.com/how-to-finish-your-uq/ to help you decide whether you want to go with a full length or torso length quilt. Really comes down (sorry) to how much down you have in those bags. If they are 0° bags, you might get 2 quilts out of the down.

[wannahang]

Thanks! I contacted the website by email today and have already heard back.

[darkbyrd]

Hope it works out well for you!

[Rain Man]

I have two cold weather marine corps sleeping bags that I don't use. I would like to use the down inside them and try to make my own underquilt.

I "cannibalized" an old down sleeping bag last winter and used the down to make a DIY UQ. I began by trying to use a Shop-Vac to get the down out, but eventually just cut open each chamber with scissors and got the down out by hand. I stored it in a big plastic garbage tub. It wasn't nearly the mess I thought it would be, but I did do it in my attic. I could have soaked the bag first in some down wash, which would have helped keep the down together. I did this to put it into my UQs.

For fabric, I ordered it from one of the many outdoor suppliers online. BE SURE to get "down-proof" fabric. That's important. Also, DO NOT use sil-nylon, as you want it to "breath."

Although I used a formula to calculate how much down I would need, in actual practice I needed more than calculated for both of my DIY UQs.

Rain Man

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