You guys actually sleep in these things??

[paper]

Hi all!!
I'm a motorcycle camper who has always hated sliding off an air mattress because the ground wasn't perfectly flat. So, after some discussion with others on a MC forum, I purchased the following..

Kammok Roo
Kammok Python Straps
Eno Bug thingie
Hennessy fly..

Well, the first time I did this was a few weeks ago. I have a 20 degree Cabela's down bag, and I took along an extra cheap, old down bag to put under me.. It got down to 33 degrees that night.. I slept, but I was cold.. (and you guys are already ready to pounce on the keyboard and tell me what I did wrong)

Well, I didn't like the Eno bug thing, and I've since purchased a Grand Trunk Skeeter Beater Pro..

Last weekend I used it and it was 55 degrees and I used a fleece bag under me, and my down bag over me.. Better, but I now understand why everyone uses a pad..

Anyway, I'm here to learn, share, and have fun..

Oh, and I live on the IL/WI state line and often camp in WI, IA, MN and the UP of MN..

Here's my first attempt.. Yeah, I see many things that I did wrong.. I've been camping on motorcycles since 1985ish and camping since I was a kid in the 70's.. I love this hammock camping partially because it's something completely new to me!!

[STinGa]

Welcome. It is a trial and error session until you get everything dialed in. Be patient. Watch the calendar for a group hang in your area. You will see several different ways to hang.

STinGa

[JToon]

Did you put the bag under you or hang it under your hammock. To stay warm a underquilt is the best insulation to stay warm in a hammock, IMHO, there is some fiddle factor with a underquilt to make sure you don't get a draft. Here is a shug video on it.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL90...&v=D9N3KkV5Zf4

Good Luck

[Bubba]

Hello and welcome. If you hated sliding off air matresses I'd recommend you look into getting some kind of underquilt. It's what the majority of people here use. Pads work but can be hard to keep in place and can give you cold shoulders.

[paper]

Thanks for all the replies!!!

I had the down bag under me, in the hammock.. It insulated me, but I know the compression took away the loft, and my shoulders got cold..
I'm not set on using a pad, either.. I'm here to learn (just spent time reading about underquilts.)

And here's my issue.. Space..

I'm trying to save space over tent camping, and still be comfy. I'd slide off air mattresses in the tent because it's not perfectly level.. With tent camping I'm usually carrying a compact 2-3 man tent, a 6" thick blow up air mattress, a down bag and a fleece bag. The air mattress rolls up to about 14"x 6", and I put both my fleece and down bag in a dry bag and force all the air out, resulting in something that takes up about 2/3 of a saddlebag.

I'll keep studying.. I think an underquilt will be the answer. And I have a retired mother who's already made the mistake of saying she'd sew something up for myself and also my 19 year old nephew who got into hanging 3 months before me..

And again, part of the attraction is figuring out what works and what doesn't.. I've been tent camping for decades and I don't even think about what I need to bring.. My gear has me covered from 30 degrees to get a hotel room with A/C.. What I DO like is the fact that as a warm sleeper, the hammock will allow me to camp in much warmer weather than I would normally tolerate.

[CoreyR]

...and LEARN you shall here my friend! Tons of good info to be found and, if you do not find what you seek, just ask. BTW, Welcome.

[sargevining]

Underquilts are your friend.

[billyjack]

I did a week motorcycle camping on my KLR last year. Had a blast.

[paper]

I did a week motorcycle camping on my KLR last year. Had a blast.

I have a bad habit of riding mine to a couple BMW rallies.. That, or my Honda Helix.. And Iv'e got two BMW's sitting at home in the garage.. It's just that anyone can ride a BMW to a BMW rally..

Anyway, as I read, and re-read, I've come to the realization that "Underquilts are your friend." is the absolute truth..

Now, as a KLR owner, I'm known as cheap.. But as a BMW owner, I'm also know for what those three letters really stand for, Bring My Wallet..

I'd love to make one, but in reality, I don't have time.. So, I'm going to purchase one.. And with that understanding, I'm going to make a huge mistake and ask for recommendations.. It's a mistake because we're all different but all of us think we're right, or close to it.

So I'll make a post in the under insulatory forum location for suggestions.

Thanks everybody!!

[Bubba]

Hammock Gear, Underground Quilts and Warbonnet all make great quilts. There are others that make quality quilts as well but I only have personal experience with these.