what can i use in a UQ

[RustyNails]

thanks entrophy how much should i use to keep me warm in 20 degree

[jred]

If you use both sides of a 40* bag, doesn't that give you more insulation? Would that be effectively a 20* UQ?

[Big Jim Mac]

I just bought a quilt kit from Arrowhead, probably cheaper than piecing it all together by myself especially when you consider shipping from multiple sources. It's $80.
http://arrowheadequipment.webs.com/a...s/show/1488095

I got the 6 ounce insulation version, wanting something to take me through winter. Haven't done a thing on it yet, but hoping to follow the Potomac quilt instructions, there's a link here: http://www.hammockforums.net/index.php?page=kaq

[creativeKayt]

I bought a $10 40* bag at Walmart and converted it to an UQ. It got down in the mid-40s this weekend, with rain and strong winds. The UQ performed beyond my wildest expectations. I stayed toasty warm and dry. I actually had more problems with the mummy bag I used on top of me getting gappy and letting cold air in. So... yeah... I'll be making a top quilt for myself, soon, following the same process as I did for the UQ.

My best to you, whatever you end up doing. Post some pics so we can see your progress.

[weedeater64]

I bought a $10 40* bag at Walmart and converted it to an UQ. It got down in the mid-40s this weekend, with rain and strong winds. The UQ performed beyond my wildest expectations. I stayed toasty warm and dry. I actually had more problems with the mummy bag I used on top of me getting gappy and letting cold air in. So... yeah... I'll be making a top quilt for myself, soon, following the same process as I did for the UQ.

My best to you, whatever you end up doing. Post some pics so we can see your progress.

Is it the 3 lb. Ozark Trails bag?

How low do you think you could go with it?

And how did you convert it?
Can you just add some tie points to the corners and go with that?
Did you remove the zipper?
Put it in a shell of your making?

[creativeKayt]

Is it the 3 lb. Ozark Trails bag?

How low do you think you could go with it?

And how did you convert it?
Can you just add some tie points to the corners and go with that?
Did you remove the zipper?
Put it in a shell of your making?

Yep. A monster Ozark, but the final is not as heavy or bulky. I can certainly live with it.

Conversion: I took out the zipper, laid out the bag as if I was going to sleep in it and cut it in half (so, it now weighs a lot less and compresses down to a much smaller sack), serged the open edges, added 1.5 inch grosgrain to all four edges, threaded shock cord through the grosgrain, added cord locks to the head and foot end shock cord, and WAAAH-LAA. I did record video of the UQ DIY project, as I went -- which I'm vigorously trying to edit along with my hammock DIY videos and trying to get posted this week. Right now, YouTube is performing maintenance, or I'd post something presently.

I'll send out a hail when I post more videos.

[JohnSawyer]

AHE has a quilt kit for $80. You could make 2 - 2/3rds length UQs from it.

He uses climashield. I have a Lost River model, it's plenty warm down to 40, and I'm a cold sleeper... YMMV

[dejoha]

Conversion: I took out the zipper...

+1

I did the same thing for my parents. They bought kids bags from Walmart and I cut out the zipper and trimmed it down. The smaller size made it easier to put together and the end result was great.

[weedeater64]

laid out the bag as if I was going to sleep in it and cut it in half

I'll send out a hail when I post more videos.

To clarify, you laid it down folded like you'd sleep in it?

Then I assume cut the length in half?

Then serged the doubled half length bag?

This grosgrain stuff, is it like tubular webbing? Is it common at fabric stores?

The shock cord, is it four separate pieces, with four cord locks , two on each short piece on the ends?

I think I'll need to see the vid to understand that bit.

I know that a square or rectangle will leave a big gap on the ends, so the need for cinching it, I'm just not sure precisely how you do the shock cord, and locks.

Yes, please do shout out when it's up.

And thanks.

[creativeKayt]

Yep. I wanted a full length UQ. So....
Rough Directions:
1. Take the bag and lay it out flat and open.
2. Remove the zipper.
3. Cut the width in half (not the length... you cut the width in half, if it was open and flat -- so if you had it folded like you were going to sleep in it, you'd be cutting through the fold created at the opposite side away from where the zipper was). You can stitch there first, to keep the batting or down from coming out, but I didn't have a problem not stitching first.
4. Serge the open edges.
5. Stitch 1 1/2 inch grosgrain to the head and foot of the bag, leaving a channel that is big enough (with some wiggle room) for your shock cord.
6. Stitch 1 1/2 inch grosgrain to the sides of the bag, leaving a channel that is big enough (with some wiggle room) for your shock cord.
7. Feed shock cord through grosgrain channel at head and foot of bag.
8. Put on cord locks and knot ends of shock cord at head and foot of bag.
9. Feed shock cord through grosgrain channel along one side of bag and then the other side leaving quite a big of slack at both the head and foot ends of the bag.
10. Have someone climb into your hammock to serve as a stand in for you.
11. Fit the new UQ to your hammock, adjusting the shock cord to fit.

I hope this makes more sense. I won't get a chance to post the video until this weekend, given my workload this week, but I will try to get it up before, if I can. Meanwhile, I'll take some pics and post them tonight, to help explain better.