Hammocks and cold weather

[A.Quigley]

Since I bought a hammock the other day to try out I was curious as to what kinda padding folks use under their sleeping bags to block to cold air. Have read everything from a special hammock quilt to a reflective windshield blind.

[southmark]

Of course an under quilt will be the most comfortable and they can be quite expensive but can be made any number of ways, converting and old sleeping bag, GI poncho liner or diy down, etc. Most people start off using some form of a pad in the hammock, Wal-Mart blue pad or the like. I think that you will find some very good info on Just Jeff's Hammck Camping site: http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCamping.html along with just about everything there is to know about hammock camping at: http://www.hammockforums.net.

[weathermansam]

Between my 0 degree bag and my therma rest pad I'm hoping that'll be plenty this winter in ol' Sipsey.

[Ewker]

I would recommend http://www.hammockgear.com/  for under and top quilts.  They make excellent quilts and worth the money

[JC785]

I recommend Brandon with Warbonnet Outdoors http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/, I have his Blackbird 1.1 dl as well as the Black Mamba Top Quilt and Yeti under quilt.  This set up with UA cold gear thermals got me down in the low 20's this past Feb. in the Sipsey.

[southmark]

I suspect that Ewker has made it down to a lower temp than me but this past January I spent a night on Roan High Knob with a low of 2º and 40 mph winds. I slept warm and toasty.

[A.Quigley]

I ended up using a blue mat from Walmart and a cheap windshield screen from there as well. Backside did fine but my feet like to fell off from being so cold. My face got very cold too but that is an issue with the sleeping bag which I suspect is only a 40 degree bag, has no markings.
 The hammock was very comfortable as were the mats. About 2 am I remembered I had foot warmers in my pack and that helped get me thru the rest of the night. If I go back before I get a 0 degree sleeping bag I'll pack a top quilt of some kind.

[Ewker]

I suspect that Ewker has made it down to a lower temp than me but this past January I spent a night on Roan High Knob with a low of 2º and 40 mph winds. I slept warm and toasty.

Southmark, I'm not even close to that temp you made it to. I am slowly working Hamhocker into cold weather hammock camping. The lowest she has been is 22°. Not to bad for her first time out.

[squidbilly]

I ended up using a blue mat from Walmart and a cheap windshield screen from there as well. Backside did fine but my feet like to fell off from being so cold. My face got very cold too but that is an issue with the sleeping bag which I suspect is only a 40 degree bag, has no markings.
 The hammock was very comfortable as were the mats. About 2 am I remembered I had foot warmers in my pack and that helped get me thru the rest of the night. If I go back before I get a 0 degree sleeping bag I'll pack a top quilt of some kind.

Did you sleep inside the bag?  If so, try something different next time. Instead of squirming into the bag, unzip it almost all the way open. Use it like a topquilt and put your feet into the "footbox" at the bottom.  This works really well if your pad curls around you a bit. The opened sleeping  bag bunches up, creating more loft above you, trapping more heat.   

I have a Hammock Gear Phoenix  Its a 3/4 length down underquilt rated to 20 deg. I just carry a small piece of a foam mat (about 14"x20") for placing under my feet, and sitting on around camp. In really cold weather I use a Jacks R Better winter topquilt.  However ,with the Phoenix and small pad I can get by with a 40 deg bag as described above down to the 30's.

[A.Quigley]

Yep I unzipped it and climbed inside. Zipped it up but this bag leaves your head exposed except for a part that you lay your head on. My other bag is a mummy type which I like better.
 Think I'll try the pads inside of the bag next time as well.
 Found a bag liner online that lets you keep your  40 degree bag and helps cut it by 25 more, for the expensive one. Think it was an extreme thermolite bag or sumthin like that. Saw it online at Mountain High Outfitters.

[Cuffs]

Bag liners do not give you any more than 5-7 degrees added protection. Save your money and spend it on a quality top or under quilt.

[stevebo]

  I agree 100%-----------------I played around with pads, makeshift underquilts, etc etc----------until i bought a good down underquilt, and top quilt,  I was uncomfortable in cold weather in my hammock.  (I about froze to death at turnipseed camp a couple of years ago--my homemade gear totally failed me that night)   I know down underquilts and top quilts are expensive, but they last pretty much forever if you take care of them,(unlike synthetics which seem to have a shelf life before they lose their loft)   and they work great!  Ive been down to 20 degrees in mine many times---- FYI, lots of the cottage manufacturers on "Hammock forums"  have thanksgiving and Christmas sales, and there are always people selling used gear.  Good luck!

[southmark]

FYI, lots of the cottage manufacturers on "Hammock forums"  have thanksgiving and Christmas sales, and there are always people selling used gear.  Good luck!

I second the buying used gear. I bought a JRB No Sniveler 20-25 degree UQ for $125 and a Winter 0 degree Yeti for $100. My Go Lite TQ is also used but I do not remember exactly what I paid. $125 I think. I just bought for a friend a JRB Old Mtn Rag 0-5 degree under/top quilt for $125. All of these items are in like new condition.

[Cuffs]

I just bought for a friend a JRB Old Mtn Rag 0-5 degree under/top quilt

Aww, thanks Dale!! 

[southmark]

Aww, thanks Dale!! 

Uh oh.

[squidbilly]

JacksRbetter is having a sale right now.
Scroll down and check out the Mt.Washington convertible set on sale for 225$. Good deal. 

[Cuffs]

Uh oh.

At least I won't need it for the JMT. Speaking of which, we need to all get together and make some plans.

[wirerat123]

A spring Hammock event would be fantastic!

[Firedog]

OK everybody. here's the master, Shug Emery. Check out his video. If you have seen it watch it again for the entertainment value..

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/d7NZVqpBUV0&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/d7NZVqpBUV0&rel=0</a>

[Cuffs]

What makes Shug the master?  He is good, I admit. But There's thousands of hammockers. He just happens to be one of the few that made a video. (I can say that because I know him personally)