How to keep warm in a hammock?

[Jinsin456]

Interesting. I slept in a hammock in -7 degrees, without the protection of a tarp, using just a closed cell foam mat inside a summer synthetic sleeping bag as an undermat, and then lying in a winter weeight down bag. No underquilt. I was toasty warm.

I think that what works for one person may not work for another. My companion that trip used a down underquilt and was cold.

It really does depend on the person, my mate I hammock with usually only uses a mat and says he is fine whereas I was using an old synthetic sleeping bag as an underblanket and I was feeling the cold. It could also be psycological as I think of that cold night every time I get into my hammock and I suppose it cold be something deep down telling me I'm going to be cold that's actually making me cold.

[Katesdad0]

If it's real cold, Softie top and trousers over themals, dry wool socks and a wool hat.

Might shove a folded pocho liner under me for good measure.

Why spend a fortune, and carry extra kit that only has one purpose ?

[bushytoo]

If it's real cold, Softie top and trousers over themals, dry wool socks and a wool hat.

Might shove a folded pocho liner under me for good measure.

Why spend a fortune, and carry extra kit that only has one purpose ?

Very true and a very good idea, I am going to buy the Keela advance belay jacket, I've heard nothing but good things about it.

[santaman2000]

The problem is that the bottom of the sleeping bag is squashed against the bottom of the hammock so losing its loft and insulative qualities...

When I first read this concept (and this post isn't the first time) it seemed to make sense, but when O thought it through I don't understand why the hammock would make it compress any more than the groung would? And before you ask, yes I have usually slept on the ground without a pad; not always (sometimes I have used an air mattrese) but usually. Even in deer camp above 6000 ft. on Mt. Wheeler in November.

[Shewie]

When I first read this concept (and this post isn't the first time) it seemed to make sense, but when O thought it through I don't understand why the hammock would make it compress any more than the groung would? And before you ask, yes I have usually slept on the ground without a pad; not always (sometimes I have used an air mattrese) but usually. Even in deer camp above 6000 ft. on Mt. Wheeler in November.

Once you've lost that insulation from compression there's nothing to stop draughts and cold chills getting to you, on the deck your limited by how cold the ground is.

[spandit]

The hammock compresses it all around your body, leaving more area exposed than you would have on the ground

[salad]

has any one tried covering themselves in deep heat and then sleeping naked in there hammock to see if that gets rid of the need for insulation ?

[spandit]

Try it, report back (but no photos please)*


* assuming you don't die from hypothermia

[pauljm116]

has any one tried covering themselves in deep heat and then sleeping naked in there hammock to see if that gets rid of the need for insulation ?

Should keep the mossies at bay too, not to mention other wildlife and people.

[zarkwon]

I find my thermarest does me just fine for 3 season use. It is more versatile as it forms the spine of my pack and I can use it on the ground if needs be. Make sure you let out enough air for it to conform to your body shape. It'll require more deflation than you expect.

[zarkwon]

Anything that inflats is no use to me, once the mat gets punctured it's game over.

Not if you carry a patch.

[salad]

Try it, report back (but no photos please)*


* assuming you don't die from hypothermia

I think I will go to the local shops here to see if you can buy deep heat in Germany and just maybe I may talk myself into trying this

[spandit]

I'd assumed you were joking...

[Hammock_man]

Regarding trials of deep heat .....

No go I am sorry to report. Found friend in hammock following morning feeling like, and very sorry to say, looking like frozen prawn!!!

[Junglist]

I've been in -10 early this year, I use the british army arctic bag in the winter and I've not had to use an underblanket or mat with it, I find I end up too hot in that though, mainly the feet and end up taking my socks off, they're great in the middle of winter but far too hot for the summer.

[bushytoo]

Not if you carry a patch.

If I get a puncture at night time I'll have to do a lot of faffing around to find out where the puncture came from. More it's worth.

[bushytoo]

I'm going to get an underquilt from these people http://www.enlightenedequipment.com/....html#infomenu with delivery it will cost me 221 pounds but I think it's worth the hit. I also plan to use a king size Jevern bag inside the hammock.
I think that would be an extremely solid set up.

[Johnnyboy1971]

Wwoooaahhhh thats a lot of money for an UQ. Try looking at some of the manufacturers over here, UKhammocks can set you up with one custom made for less than that or snugpak UQ for around 80quid. Your Jervans will set you back another 200 squid.

Personally i would suggest the Snugpak UQ and a decent bag, if that dont work you will get most of your dosh back for the UQ

[Lupin Rider]

Anybody got some low budget ideas of how to keep the hammock warm?

Put it inside a tent. Simples.

[dean4442]

I'm going to get an underquilt from these people http://www.enlightenedequipment.com/....html#infomenu with delivery it will cost me 221 pounds but I think it's worth the hit. I also plan to use a king size Jevern bag inside the hammock.
I think that would be an extremely solid set up.

Ouch that's nice but certainly not cheap! One of the guys on here "Unsponsored" was making underquilts and they looked pretty good and not as much as that.
Colin

[Shewie]

I've not seen any of the Enlightened stuff in the flesh yet but they do look good from what I've seen on HF so far

Let us know how you get on

Forget the Jervan inside the hammock, it'll be more hassle than it's worth, I've never quite worked out why folk use bivvy bags etc in a hammy.

[andybysea]

I think a Jerven would be easy in a hammock, simply lie it with the zip facing up the way and it open hanging over hammock sides ,get in hammock/jerven and zip up.

[Shewie]

But why would you want to do that?

[salad]

I just got a kifaru doobie (posh poncho liner ) and it work great as a top quilt. I love it I do

[andybysea]

Shewie -Well i would'nt personnely, but as it was mentioned i thought id say i think it would be easy to do.

[lostplanet]

Rather than start a new thread about the same subject, And because I am newbie with hammock stuff, Can some one explain the principles behind the function of the underquilt? I can't afford a manufactured one so I will probably have a go at making something myself if I find I am getting cold. I have yet to sleep in a hammock.

Could you explain why a closed cell foam, thermarest or inflatable matt doesn't work as well as an underquilt and why does the underquilt work?

Has anyone got experience using the very thick inflatable matts that exist like the neo air or Dozer?

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product424.asp

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?...ategory_id=289

Do you think we are on the brink of a dedicated hammock sleeping bag arrangement that may have built in inflatable parts?

Just interested in this because it's all new to me and I like to learn.

Also has anyone tried using a sleep mat inside a sleeping bag with maybe a liner covering the matt?

[Shewie]

Could you explain why a closed cell foam, thermarest or inflatable matt doesn't work as well as an underquilt and why does the underquilt work?

Short answer as I'm just about to go out ..

With a mat you're protected underneath but there's nothing around you unless you use a couple of extra pieces around your sides and shoulders, SPE I think they're called.

With an underquilt you get insulation all around you.

There's nothing wrong with using a mat in the warmer months but for winter you can't beat a proper UQ.

It doesn't have to be anything fancy, you can hack up an old sleeping bag to give you roughly a rectangle as long as you need, sew a channel in the edges and feed some shockcord through and you're away.

[Teepee]

With an UQ, the insulation hangs underneath which helps the insulation trap more air than if the same insulation was used in a sleeping bag.

Its very hard to explain why an UQ is soooo much better than a mat, it just is. There are many benefits and only a night in one will confirm this. Nothing comes close to them IMO, and I've used and own all the different types.

I don't like thick mats in the hammock because it raises the centre of gravity and makes them tippy. Its been the cause of 4 of my 8 odd falls from the hammock.

I'll continue using mats on occasions when there is the chance of spending a night on the ground, especially when having to bail from the hammock and sleep on the ground in the cold places I get to in the winter.

To answer the thick pad question, I have an Exped Downmat 9 which is pretty thick and an Pacific outdoor 3" Aircore. Both need just over half inflation to get them comfy in the hammock

[bushytoo]

Ouch that's nice but certainly not cheap! One of the guys on here "Unsponsored" was making underquilts and they looked pretty good and not as much as that.
Colin

Wwoooaahhhh thats a lot of money for an UQ. Try looking at some of the manufacturers over here, UKhammocks can set you up with one custom made for less than that or snugpak UQ for around 80quid. Your Jervans will set you back another 200 squid.

Personally i would suggest the Snugpak UQ and a decent bag, if that dont work you will get most of your dosh back for the UQ

Yep it's expensive and when I first started this thread no way would I have spent so much but now my mindset as changed. UKhammocks UQ is 157 pounds+ 8.50 delivery charge. With enlightened equipment I get to choose the colour, size and the material of the underquilt and I also get to choose the fill. I want to get a 6'6 with 30% overfill underquilt, it will also be wind and water resistant, the UK hammocks UQ is not water resistant.

The underquilt alone will cost 190 pounds so only 33 pounds more than UK hammocks, the delivery charge is 29 pounds not cheap also but I think this UQ looks to be a quailty product. I'd rather payout once then have to payout several times.

As for the Jervens, it will cost me 265 but I think it will be worth every penny, it looks to be a great piece of kit.

[bushytoo]

I've not seen any of the Enlightened stuff in the flesh yet but they do look good from what I've seen on HF so far

Let us know how you get on

Forget the Jervan inside the hammock, it'll be more hassle than it's worth, I've never quite worked out why folk use bivvy bags etc in a hammy.

Will do. I'm only really intending to use the Jevans as a top quilt inside the hammock but as the other poster said it's not that hard just to get inside it and use it as a sleeping bag. The Jevan's is more than just a bivvy bag, I could even put sleeves on it and wear it as a coat inside the hammock. I've even seen one fella use it as an underquilt.