Moisture build up in winter sock?

[G Maurice]

I've only used my WB sock once at about 40° I think, basically to see how much warmer it was inside using minimal bottom insulation. 1/8 in ccf in my DL Traveler. Worked great with no condensation. I did have the zipper about half open.

Before hammocking I used a goretex bivy sack and tarp for many years. Only a couple of times did I have condensation and that was very minimal. I bring this up because I've suspected for years that many people are over insulated and sweating a lot inside socks and or bivys creating the environment for condensation. Perhaps experimenting with less insulation or vented insulation at home inside a sock where a person can bail or have options close at hand would be worthwhile. This is just me, but I have regularly slept to the low 20s with a forty degree sleeping bag and wearing a medium weight base layer top and light weight bottom in my goretex bivy with little to no condensation and comfortably warm. And yes, I do have a slight advantage here in Arizona in that the air is usually but not always drier. Still, I think it's worth the time to experiment with different (i.e. less) insulation setups when using a sock.

[TZBrown]

The only sock I have been able to make work at the FBH in MN was of cotton, with venting at the ends. But at 20 degrees they don't work as well as an UQP, just to much moisture to manage

Check out some of my photos and This video from 2013

TZ

[freakfx]

I personally never use a sock or overcover, I cannot say that they do not work if they did not no one would be buying them. My choice is probably due to the way I was taught to sleep when I was younger and that was to seal up everything except my face to prevent breathing into my bag. I can see how the overcover could add to the ambient warmth inside the hammock but as far as keeping myself warm I just use the appropriate UQ TQ/ Sleeping bag combination. I have been down to 8 below and was very comfy. Plus when You use a OC you are negating one of the best things about a hammock and that is the view

I am not bashing OC's Im sure they work, but I don't think there really is anyway to prevent condensation. I think you would have to have fabric so breathable it would defeat the purpose of having it.

[brooklynkayak]

I have only taken my sock down a little below freezing on three trips and they were all in relatively damp conditions. Once with fog in the morning. All near the Atlantic coast.

Condensation was not much of an issue with me.

I suspect that condensation would be a bigger problem in temps much colder than freezing because ice would form on the sock blocking air circulation.

Also consider spindrift/spray factor. It's nice to be able to pull the sock over when winds are kicking moisture around under your tarp.

[blaktee]

A sock adds some warmth no question about it. I made one out if M90. Light and blocked the wind. The problem is it becomes a frost cave in the deep cold.


In my opinion....buy more down from HG

[OutandBack]

A sock adds some warmth no question about it. I made one out if M90. Light and blocked the wind. The problem is it becomes a frost cave in the deep cold.
In my opinion....buy more down from HG

That still won't protect you from light fluffy snow blowing around landing on your face. I just hate that.
I have not been able to test my wintergnome is sub freezing weather yet. I hope with proper venting it won't become a frost cave as you discribed.

I did get to test this covered hammock once on a 14-57F January 3 day 2 night hang and had no condensation inside with visible frost on the outside of the hammock and underside of the tarp.

Photos from that trip:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/outandb...7632548939206/

Looking forward to this winter.

[blaktee]

That still won't protect you from light fluffy snow blowing around landing on your face. I just hate that.
I have not been able to test my wintergnome is sub freezing weather yet. I hope with proper venting it won't become a frost cave as you discribed.

I did get to test this covered hammock once on a 14-57F January 3 day 2 night hang and had no condensation inside with visible frost on the outside of the hammock and underside of the tarp.

Photos from that trip:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/outandb...7632548939206/

Looking forward to this winter.

I lay a small blanket over my face or use a neckie for the blowing snow. Think if a face blanket. Fleece seems to work the best cuz it sucks up the moisture and keeps it off the down

[Mouseskowitz]

I use a neoprene mask like this for snowboarding and used it in my hammock earlier this fall. My face was nice and warm all night in the upper 20's. I'm not sure how much of the moisture it traps inside the mask but I know it's some.

[brooklynkayak]

I sort of consider the tarp and sock combination to be like a double wall winter tent.

The tarp is like the outer wall and the sock the inner wall.

If the inner wall on a double wall tent isn't breathable and ventilated enough, condensation and ice will be an issue on the inside..

I have heard many stories about people trying to make their tents warmer by blocking and/or closing vents. Only to wake with heavy condensation or ice build up.

There is a tendency to want to close a sock up with only a small opening, because it is warmer and just like the inside of a tent, you need air flow.

Having a highly breathable sock and having a good sized opening near the top helps vent the warmer moist air out the top and draw drier air in the opening and through the fabric.

Like a double walled winter tent, this should avoid much of the condensation and ice buildup issue.
It won't be as warm, but will still be warmer than without a sock.

There are some that ventilate by leaving openings on the ends.
I close the ends to block wind blown rain and snow and believe the top vent more effective and easier to adjust.

If the ends are open, you can get too much air circulation or not enough depending on the wind direction.

[tylojuky]

Very informative post - thanks everyone for all the input and sharing your experiences.

Brooklynkayak, a while back you you said:

It is very breathable and although I have slept in cold fog, I have not had an issue with condensation, but I always leave the zipper partially open near my face.

I assume the WB sock has the same inverted "U" zipper like their bugnet? Do you mean you leave an opening at the lower end of that inverted "U" (the one closest to your head?

Later, you said:

I close the ends to block wind blown rain and snow and believe the top vent more effective and easier to adjust.

In this case, do you mean leaving an opening at the top of the inverted "U" (in the middle of the zipper)?

If I got that right then I guess this is different configurations for different conditions? Can you expound on that a little? If I got it wrong, can you help clear it up for me?

I'm just trying to figure this whole sock thing out because I want to make a DIY sock and I want to have a plan for how I'll use it before I sketch out a pattern (just a sock, sock with a zipper, where to put the zipper, etc., etc.)

Thanks