View Full Version : DIY Hammock Down underquilt
unsponsored
16-11-2009, 18:53
After trying to decided whether or not I should buy a Nunatak BCB I finally went with no and bought a sewing machine instead.
After a couple weekends of work (due to waiting for down delivery) I now have an underquilt for my TTTM hammock based upon the size and dimensions of Te-wa's design.
I decided to go with a sewn through construction for my 1st sewing attempt just to keep things simple.
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4267/pbpic4267755.jpg
Inside shot
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4267/pbpic4267748.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4267/pbpic4267770.jpg
The outer is Ripstop pertex in a charcoal grey and the inner a teal pertex microlight. Both around £3 per metre. The fill is 180g of 800 (EU fill) polish down.
I have some red and black pertex quantum along with some no-seeum netting ready for the main event - the unsponsored back country blanket.
fredster
16-11-2009, 19:30
Lovely job, but doesn't down flatten underneath you and offer not much insulation? It does in a sleeping bag, which is why rollmat essential with down bag.
that looks good how much did it cost all in buddy,
Asa Samuel
16-11-2009, 19:58
Lovely job, but doesn't down flatten underneath you and offer not much insulation? It does in a sleeping bag, which is why rollmat essential with down bag.
An under blanket goes on the outside of the hammock to prevent the insulation compressing so you don't need to use a roll mat, it also packs up a lot smaller that a roll mat would. Take a look at this picture from google: http://www.lakelandbushcraft.co.uk/acatalog/underblanket.jpg
that looks comfy and warm mate...
scrogger
16-11-2009, 20:59
That looks very well made. You taking orders?:rolleyes:
That looks very well made. You taking orders?:rolleyes:
meeeeeeeeeeee
Nice one. That is giving me some ideas...
fredster
16-11-2009, 21:10
An under blanket goes on the outside of the hammock to prevent the insulation compressing so you don't need to use a roll mat, it also packs up a lot smaller that a roll mat would.
Ah, I see - cheers for that, hadn't heard the term before and thought it went between hammock and person, apols.
Good work. Looks warm and functional.
Was the down difficult to keep in place when you sewed the sections up. Was thinking of making one myself to use as a quilt on the deck under a wool blanket in the winter.
unsponsored
16-11-2009, 21:44
Down was filled once three sides where sewn up and the baffles in place.
I have some more of the charcoal pertex ready to make another. Just need the baffles sewn in and its done.
Asa Samuel
16-11-2009, 22:06
Ah, I see - cheers for that, hadn't heard the term before and thought it went between hammock and person, apols.
No worries :)
Carbuncle
17-11-2009, 01:24
I've had a go at this kind of thing and have complete respect for you. It looks fantastic, and I'm sure you saved a small fortune.
Dangerous Dan
17-11-2009, 21:16
I've made my own with a couple of layers of Thinsulate between two layers of pertex - toasty warm but quite bulky. May I ask where you purchased the down?
Dangerous Dan
17-11-2009, 21:40
No worries, I think I may have answered my own question
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/newforum/showthread.php?t=45728&highlight=goose
unsponsored
17-11-2009, 22:43
No worries, I think I may have answered my own question
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/newforum/showthread.php?t=45728&highlight=goose
That's the place. 1st delivery non tracked took over 3 weeks!! It's good stuff though. The 2nd lot I had tracked. 20 yo-yo's in postage costs but arrived in less than a week.
Just finished getting underquilt number 2 ready to fill. Same size as the one above but with 5 baffles rather than 6. Completely made out of the grey 1.1 pertex ripstop.
Looks good fella
How will you hang it under the hammock and keep it close to your body ?
unsponsored
18-11-2009, 18:46
The underquilt will have shockcord attached and that in turn will be clipped onto the ends of the hammock. The elastic will allow the quilt to move with the hammock, keeping it nice and snug without damaging it.
Last night I started another one using the charcoal pertex I have. Just need some down to finish it off.
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4291/pbpic4291251.jpg
I plan to buy a hemming foot for the sewing machine this weekend to help produce a nice tight hem both sides. I probably have enough material for a few more ;)
Survival Bill
19-11-2009, 01:59
guess you can use an old sleeping bag and hang that under....
That looks superb. My wife made me an underblanket a few years ago, not down though. I'd be very interested to read your review when you get to use it.
unsponsored
20-11-2009, 19:49
Just sorted out the suspension system on the underquilt. I have added short loops of red grossgrain to each corner and shockcord to attach it to the hammock.
Just been lying out in the back yard looking at the stars.
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4296/pbpic4296912.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4296/pbpic4296909.jpg
Even in the summer the draught under you robs heat, but what a difference with the quilt. It's around 4 deg C outside with windchill and my back was toasty warm. The quilt covers from my shoulders down to below the knee (I'm 6ft 1).
Looking good, what's the pack size like ?
My Snugpak UB is the dogs but pack size isn't too good.
unsponsored
20-11-2009, 22:18
Not too compressed around 12 DVD cases. Could go smaller still. Off to sleep out now.
unsponsored
21-11-2009, 09:35
Lasted until around 2am. Nice and warm. Slept for a solid 3.5 hrs or so. Noise from the nearby dual carriage way woke me up.
it would pack down a lot smaller if u put it in a compression sack mate .
Jaysurfer
21-11-2009, 10:40
If your going to sell any how much do you want??
j
scubapauly
21-11-2009, 10:49
I got given 2 old sleeping bags last week. Making the same out of those. Got the main flat blanket done. Just got to add the pull cords :)
unsponsored
21-11-2009, 11:25
If your going to sell any how much do you want??
j
Not thought about it. I don't know if they would make the grade. They certainly aren't up to the standard of professionally made ones.
unsponsored
21-11-2009, 11:43
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4298/pbpic4298541.jpg
It'll compress to half the height.
unsponsored
27-11-2009, 23:23
No 2 is now just about complete. Slightly narrower which should be a better fit on the hammock. It will also pack much smaller. 1.1 Ripstop pertex both sides. 170g of 800 fill down. Approx 54" by 37" . 5 baffles with a differentiated down distribution. More down on the central 3 compared to the two sides.
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4322/pbpic4322585.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4322/pbpic4322596.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4322/pbpic4322580.jpg
Just need to add the hanging system. I plan on using two different colours of grossgrain to help identify head/foot end.
Next project will a synthetic version :)
u should sell them m8.. good work
unsponsored
28-11-2009, 11:59
Much happier with the stitching this time. The quilt has now fully lofted overnight. The down had been bagged and has now fully lofted.
Really pleased with it. Would folk actually be interested? The down is around £40 worth plus 2m or so of pertex, so I reckon all that plus raw materials are £60 or more.
Would folk actually be interested?
I would, depending on the price. Mind you a Jacks 'r Better down underblanket/underquilt costs around $ 300, so anything well below that would be intereseting. The only other option now is the Snugpak underblanket for around GBP 70,-.
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4298/pbpic4298541.jpg
It'll compress to half the height.
So is this already compressed, or still to be compressed?
unsponsored
28-11-2009, 16:50
That is uncompressed in an alpkit A4 stuff sack. Lightly squeezing it for this shot, it could go further -
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4324/pbpic4324442.jpg
I tried making one of these a while back now.. and one thing I looked at was that at the top, the blanket was getting folded up.. so I cut it to a wedge.. meaning less weight, and less bulk.. it fitted the hammock like a glove too..
I had it made the full size of the hammock though. from an old synthetic sleeping bag..
unsponsored
29-11-2009, 16:09
Hanging pts added
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4327/pbpic4327660.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4327/pbpic4327659.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4327/pbpic4327653.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4327/pbpic4327647.jpg
Black tape on the other end to help differentiate between the two ends.
More pics -
http://unsponsored.pinkbike.com/album/kit/
unsponsored
29-11-2009, 17:29
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4328/pbpic4328169.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4328/pbpic4328162.jpg
unsponsored
14-12-2009, 19:42
Number 3 is now complete. This one has over 350g of siberian goose down, so is super warm. Black 1.1 ripstop outer and Pertex microlight inner. Just under 160cm long. So when sleeping on the diagonal in the hammock provides almost total coverage.
Can't see the pics this time fella
Looking forward to seeing how these are progressing, my wallet's been twitching for a few weeks now.
unsponsored
14-12-2009, 20:05
My hammock forum gallery is here -
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=7884
just uploading pics to my pinkbike gallery
unsponsored
14-12-2009, 20:15
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4377/pbpic4377928.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4377/pbpic4377930.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4377/pbpic4377932.jpg
scubapauly
14-12-2009, 20:17
What do you use to clip it to the hammock?
unsponsored
14-12-2009, 20:24
For the test hang I just use the bungee cord either end. It will either have set of loops added as per my 1st quilt or an additional length of cord/bungee added to the channels either end. The bungee clips into the carabiners I use either end of the hammock.
Very nice, a hammock underblanket is real luxoury. The one which was offered on here in the groupbuys was good quality. Just the size was a bit much because it's syntethic insulation. Your down underblanket seems to pack very small! Great job. Do you have any way of being able to lower or higher the underblanket while lying in the hammock? It's a handy feat. when it get's too hot... and after a while too cold.
unsponsored
14-12-2009, 21:38
Bungee and cord locks are the answer. I have it set up on mine to get the quilt sitting in the correct position. I can slacken the locks at the head end to help vent.
unsponsored
18-12-2009, 16:42
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4388/pbpic4388245.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4388/pbpic4388244.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4388/pbpic4388242.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4388/pbpic4388246.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4388/pbpic4388254.jpg
unsponsored
21-12-2009, 11:50
I had more material kicking around so decided to make another last night. This one is 153cm long and 117cm wide. Over 180g of siberian goose down. Pertex microlight inner and a 1.1 black ripstop. The Black has a silver PU coating on the inside.
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4397/pbpic4397289.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4397/pbpic4397287.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4397/pbpic4397285.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4397/pbpic4397284.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4397/pbpic4397291.jpg
unsponsored
24-12-2009, 02:40
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4404/pbpic4404837.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4404/pbpic4404830.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4404/pbpic4404822.jpg
This is Quilt IV hanging in the back yard. Quilt V also lives!!! Identical to quilt IV.
These are looking realy good. I like the way you just knock them up in an evening. How do you keep the down from getting all over the place?
Does the silver coated material add much weight? Would the design be easily adaptable to a Hennessy asymetrical? Really need something toasty on the underside as I've soaked my bedding in sweat while freezing the butt...would you consider selling one of these?
unsponsored
24-12-2009, 06:42
The down went all over the place this time. Fortunately the colour of the carpet hides the mess I make.
There is no reason why it shouldn't work on a hennessey. i know guys in the states do. I believe that additional tie outs are added to prevent the quilt popping off to the side. It would be an extremely quick mod. I'll PM you.
unsponsored
24-12-2009, 17:54
495g on the nose with stuff sack, Some pics for size comparison
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4406/pbpic4406429.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4406/pbpic4406428.jpg
http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4406/pbpic4406427.jpg
Silver coating doesn't had a huge amount of weight or bulk.
Very nice job! Slightly OT question, but:
I have some OG pertex 6 that I was thinking of making a down gilet with. How many 100g lots of down did you need for a whole quilt? (Since I reckon I could get away with a fraction of that for a gilet.)
Cheers.
unsponsored
24-12-2009, 18:50
2 x 100g. How much you need depends on the fill power of the down and temp rating you want.
Thanks - looks like only 1 x 100g needed which makes it pretty reasonable in price.