At what temperature does the UQ come into play?

[sdveirs]

I was just wondering at what temperature you would start needing to use an UQ.

GREAT question, I was just wondering the same thing!

[PapaSmurf]

I agree with Peter_pan, much of it has to do with the individual person's age, health, etc.
I use my 40F UGQ UQ indoors and if it's vented properly, I almost never get too warm.
There are others who would roast sleeping with this setup in a 70F room.

IndoorSleeper.jpg

[sdveirs]

I used to use a pad every trip and I ran into the following issues:
1. no matter what time of year I'd wake up wet from sweat using a 3/8" GI issue pad.
2. pad would shift out of place, buckle creating ridges, etc so not very comfy
3. pad is too warm in summer, and it's either there or not...with a UQ you can at least adjust it to vent more or less, and you can even pull it off you for the first part of the night and pull it on early AM when it gets colder

Pads are more fool-proof in that CBS isn't as big an issue, more just lay it in and forget, and you can stack pads in the winter to extend to temp range you can handle.

I was in 50ish degree at night weather a few weeks ago and definitely needed something under me but would have been way too hot with a pad. I agree that 70* is about when you need to start using something under you. above 70 for the low and I'll transition to more of a suspended fleece blanket. so your question can be broke down into what kind of UQ are we talking about? what temps will you be in? Windy or calm? I was nice and warm til the wind kicked up and it found every gap in my diy underquilt.

Nice to see comments on the negative side of pads. Thx Both pros and cons help us educate ourselves and others.