Do I really need an underquilt?

[danarnold]

Montana elk hunting Sep. 8-?, we plan on spiking out and sleep wherever,
I have a EE 0* quilt which I thought was overkill along with a grand trunk hammock
Am I gonna freeze my ass off w/o the underquilt? I know they already had snowfall
in our area and have never tried the quilt yet

any suggestions/thoughts? thanks

 

[RockChucker30]

YES. Anything below 70 degrees in a hammock requires some sort of bottom insulation. If you have a double bottom hammock then a foam pad (blue Wally World) works fine down to 40 or even 30. To go lower than 30 in a hammock generally takes some dialed gear and a lot of experience.

 

[KHNC]

I used my ENO hammock last year for 8 days in CO high country. No under quilt and it got down n 30s a couple nights. I wore my merino tops, bottoms, beanie , socks and had a 20 degree mummy bag. Still got cold as shit! Hammocks can go to hell for elk hunting far as im concerned. lol

 

[5MilesBack]

I tried sleeping on a cot without a foam pad one year in a -30 sleeping bag during Sept and froze my rear off. Will never do that again.

 

[RockChucker30]

I used my ENO hammock last year for 8 days in CO high country. No under quilt and it got down n 30s a couple nights. I wore my merino tops, bottoms, beanie , socks and had a 20 degree mummy bag. Still got cold as shit! Hammocks can go to hell for elk hunting far as im concerned. lol

This is why hammocks get a bad rep. I've slept down to low 30's and high 20's and had to get up to remove clothes because I was HOT! But I had an underquilt and a light zotefoam pad underneath me.

Bottom insulation is more important than top in a hammock IME.

 

[KHNC]

I don't own a foam pad as of yet. the underquilt I have since acquired. Still not sure I will take it to the back country again. Unless I can try it out in cold weather before hand. that's where I messed up, not testing it properly first.

 

[goodgrouper]

I have a hennessey hammock that does not have a double bottom. I've slept very comfortably down to 30 with just a cheap blue foam pad like mentioned above, I just put it inside, I've used this setup through september in Montana many times.

 

[danarnold]

I've heard about condensation with a pad but I guess its better than freezin your ass.

I really don't think I have time to get the underquilt I'd want so I guess I'll get a pad and give it a try.

thanks for the help!

 

[nirvanafan]

Like has been said, with a hammock, you need an underquilt or pad. I've slept comfortably down to 28° with a "3/4 length" (I'm 5'6", so it's almost full length for me) 40° underquilt and a 32° sleeping bag with nothing else on. I'm a warm sleeper though.

I've never tried an inflatable pad, but I have tried using a sheet of Reflectix between the layers of my Blackbird. It formed a vapor barrier and the sweat/condensation was pretty unbearable. I woke up 4 or 5 times throughout the night and had to lay on my side for a bit to let it evaporate off my back. I'll never use that again.

 

[danarnold]

any thoughts on using a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm? Leaving in 5 working days and looks like I can get this quicker than an EE underquilt,
It's got good reviews for the ground but not sure it'll work in my hammock, fit or R factor

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Yes!

 

[danarnold]

Bruce, nice!! do you have an underquilt also? or just thermarest

 

[RockChucker30]

any thoughts on using a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm? Leaving in 5 working days and looks like I can get this quicker than an EE underquilt,
It's got good reviews for the ground but not sure it'll work in my hammock, fit or R factor

Air pads will work in a hammock but they don't generally work as well as foam. They're big and bulky and slide in a Hammock.

The reason I said foam works better in a double bottom is because foam used in a single layer bottom tends to slide around during the night. That's not an issue with a double layer.

 

[JDeanP]

I've been using the blue ridge rest pad in a grand trunk single. Its been mid 40s and I haven't had any issues with my back being cold. Fleece sleeping bag liner and a woobie on top of my regular sleeping bag. A bit slippery at times, but toasty.

 

[unm1136]

Don't try to break in your hammock on the trip. Sleep a couple of nights in the backyard first. Another option that may be light weight if you can deal with the condensation issue is to use a Reflectrix or a air pocket filled mylar windshield shade as a pad.I use a 3/4 underquilt and a 2 oz zlite sit pad.

Last year while turkey hunting in May the wind swirled at sundown and my carefully selected site was now funneling wind into my underquilt. Froze.

pat

 

[danarnold]

UQ on the way, gonna try and sleep in the back yard, it's been so dam hot here it's hard to convince myself to do it

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Bruce, nice!! do you have an underquilt also? or just thermarest

I used a Z-liner and Wiggies bag, added the HD UQ afterwards. I wasn't cold but I could have been warmer. A UQ provides the best insulation. I definitely agree with the poster advising you to spend time in the backyard. You got Whoopie Slings right? They eliminate so much grief. Learning to acheive the perfect pitch takes some trial and error. Make sure you are dialed in before you go packin'.

 

[danarnold]

You got Whoopie Slings right? Yes

They eliminate so much grief. Learning to acheive the perfect pitch takes some trial and error. Make sure you are dialed in before you go packin'.

"still workin on the pitch"

 

[Where's Bruce?]

You got Whoopie Slings right? Yes

They eliminate so much grief. Learning to acheive the perfect pitch takes some trial and error. Make sure you are dialed in before you go packin'.

"still workin on the pitch"

Try 30 degrees with the head and toe ends even. Adjust to personal preference from there.