Hi all, I recently read a post in BPL forums about hammock camping and they lead me here. I have been continuing to try to lighten my pack and hanging seems like a great way to cut some bulk and weight out of my current set up. But I do have a few questions--please excuse my lack of knowledge I have done a bunch of searches and read through a number of posts to try and find some answers and just end up with more questions so any help would be very appreciated.
1. I live in Idaho so even summer night temps in the mountains and get fairly cool 30-40 degrees is not out of the question on a day that was in the upper 80's so some sort of insulation is going to be a must, I believe. I have several thermarest's in the Prolite variety. From my reading they may work if they are very under inflated (less slipping around) if I understand correctly? But it may also be inadequate coverage for my shoulders. I am not a big guy so I want to try the thermarest because I have it and not replacing all of my gear would be nice at least to start.
2. I was thinking about how to make a fairly light -warm pad and want to know what some of you more experienced folks think of this idea before I possibly wast my money. What I had in mind was buying 1/8" volora foam or Evazote foam and laminating on an AMK Heat Sheets emergency blanket to the under side of the foam. Would this work? Could this keep me warm into the high 30's? Also Could this be a better set up than just using a truck windshield reflector. They are defiantly cheeper and may be something I try but they are fairly bulky or so it seams from looking at them at Wally last night.
3. I have been looking at a new sleeping bag for a few months and am planning on pulling the trigger on that this week. But now with thinking about a hammock set up I am a little unsure of what to do for sure. The bag I have been wanting only has a 1/2 zip but dose add a foot box vent. I am thinking about the HH Hyperlight and was wandering what every body thinks of - stepping into the bag with feet out through the foot vent and pulling the bag up like a pair of pants then sitting back into the HH. I know this is more work than using a quilt or full zip bag but - I tend to sleep a bit cool and want the coverage of a full bag and this bag is significantly lighter than all the others I have been looking at with full zips. Also I want the bag to be still applicable to my ground setup because my five year old son is going to be coming with me more and more over the next few years so we will still be using the tent a fair amount.
4. Anybody from Idaho around here? I looked at the google map and did not see anybody any closer than the OR coast or the CO front-range area. I did see the talk about doing a Hang in ID but looks like that may have moved to Oregon.
Thanks for any help that anybody can give me, I apologize for such a long post but obviously I could use the help.
Paul
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