Thermarest Tech Blanket

[Mikey P]

We have discussed in depth the relative merits of quilts/sleeping bags in hammocks; the main issue being the compression of insulation under the body. This becomes dead weight as it now provides little insulation but takes up room and you still have to carry it!

Quilts are big with the ultralight backpackers (recent article in TGO magazine) but they are quite expensive in my opinion. I was looking for a cheaper alternative that would hopefully have multiple uses. I came across this while looking for something else:

http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/sleep-systems/trek-and-travel-sleep-systems/tech-blanket/product

It's a synthetic quilt (Thermarest also do a down 'comforter' but this is pretty expensive and, I would argue, not suitable for hammock use in the UK) which is designed to work in conjunction with the Thermarest mat and a fitted sheet. This seems to me to be a good setup for UK summer tent camping as it really keeps the weight down (quilt is just over 600 grammes). However, the design of the quilt has a drawstring bottom and can be used without the Thermarest as a light top layer. I reckon that this would actually also give an extra 'season' to a 1 or 2 season sleeping bag just as an additional 'throwover' top layer.

Review here:

http://appoutdoors.blogspot.com/2009/01/therm-rest-tech-blanket-and-fitted.html

I reckon this could be an ideal hammock quilt for the UK in the milder times of year. In colder weather, a thin meraklon-type liner or some extra clothes would have to be added. Probably not for winter use, though. Being synthetic, it is not damaged by damp and will be easily washable. From the reviews I've read, it doesn't really perform below about 10 deg C so I guess that it's for Late Spring/Summer/Early Autumn use only, unless combined with something else. If used in a hammock with a good underblanket, I suspect you could go a bit lower too.

Has anyone got any experience of these quilts as I'm seriously considering one as a birthday present?

[gregorach]

I'd guess it depends how much you move around during the night. Personally, I tend to move around quite a lot - the advantage of a bag in that case is that it's still warm even if you roll right over and take it with you in the process.

Mid you, I normally use a down bag which is lighter than that quilt, and good to lower temperatures.

[welshwhit]

I do like the idea of that. . . .

. . . . but my wife has just pointed out the amount of time I wake up quiltless!

I wonder if you could somehow attach it to the hammock?

Drew

[Mikey P]

I do like the idea of that. . . .

. . . . but my wife has just pointed out the amount of time I wake up quiltless!

I wonder if you could somehow attach it to the hammock?

Drew

It seems you can get a kit of self-adhesive poppers so it'll work with any mat.

http://cascadedesigns.com/Therm-A-Rest/Accessories/Fast-And-Light-Mattress-Snap-Kit/product

Might be able to adapt them to the hammock? Not sure it'll work, to be honest.

[wentworth]

I used to use a quilt in my hammock all the time. No problem waking up quiltless. The sides of the hammock tend to pin the quilt in place. Just about all the hammockers on hammockforums.net use quilts.

I understand though that the insulation in the thermarest blanket isn't great. Seems like they're just jumping on the ultralight quilt bandwagon ten years too late.

If I were to get a synthetic quilt, I'd either go for a Ray Jardine quilt kit, a Fanatic fringe quilt or a Kifaru woobie. The latter uses Climashield, which is the best synthetic insulation available, in terms of light weight which maintains its loft after numerous packings.

[jimford]

The only 'issue' I have with down bags is that the filling gets heavily compressed an the bit you're lying on. This is OK because you're lying on an insulating mat. But if it's cold and you turn over with the bag, the compressed down is then exposed to the cold air air, and in the few seconds before it has time to expand the cold strikes through to your back.

Jim

[Satyr]

These guys to some good stuff - not related though I have met them (great guys with really good ethics) etc.

http://www.rbhdesigns.com/index.cfm

It is expensive but read some of the testimonials (personal experience - they posted some golves for a friend to the ski lodge we were travelling too so that they would be there on arival as last minute purchase)