Zippered-on underquilt?

[jwstrauc]

Has anyone ever tried attaching an underquilt (and for that matter a top quilt) by zipping it to the hammock? I own a chameleon and dutch’s design got me thinking about it.

[TrailSlug]

I've never heard of anyone doing this so go for it and let us know how it turns out. There are cocoon type systems where the top quilt and bottom quilt connect together but most of the reports I've read on these are they force you out of a diagonal lay. Maybe your approach will work better but the point at which they join would be the weakest link in cold protection as typical under quilts/top quilts overlap at the meeting points giving a good seal from the cold.

[hutzelbein]

I'm assuming that you would like to use zippers on the long sides? With a normal gathered end hammock like the Chameleon, that would only work if you can keep the fabric between the zippers stretched out completly at all times. If not, the underquilt would sag and you would have huge gaps. It could work if you would use the zippers running over the width. But you would need to factor in different fabric stretch for different users. And the hammock fabric needs to be sturdy, since the weight of the underquilt pulls on a very small area. I think there's a reason why nobody has done it, yet. Or at least why nobody posted about it

[psyculman]

I have not zippered, but have velcro'd. To get it right, I needed to have someone IN the hammock, situated just right so the contour was snug. Have used that for several years, it still works perfectly, though it is dismissed by members.

(Did I mention it works perfectly?)

[hutzelbein]

I have not zippered, but have velcro'd. To get it right, I needed to have someone IN the hammock, situated just right so the contour was snug. Have used that for several years, it still works perfectly, though it is dismissed by members.

(Did I mention it works perfectly?)

Have you posted about it? I can't remember ever reading about a project like this. It would certainly help the next DIYer.

[QFT]

Seems like the main challenge to me is that the hammock should probably be able to "stretch into it" as you lie down, so if you zip it to it, it wouldn't allow that to happen. I think that would either stretch the quilt way too tight or something else undesirable would happen. UNLESS you design it like the guy below... who has someone sit in the hammock, so you can see where to put your zipper/attachment points so it stays snug:

I have not zippered, but have velcro'd. To get it right, I needed to have someone IN the hammock, situated just right so the contour was snug. Have used that for several years, it still works perfectly, though it is dismissed by members.

(Did I mention it works perfectly?)

I don't care if people pooh-pooh it, I wanna see it and hear more about your experience. That sounds cool.

[JmBoh]

What about attaching the zipper to the hammock via stretchy material like spandex or some other stretch material. That way the material will be able to allow the UQ to comform to the hammock with a person in it and keep it snug against the hammock without stressing the fabric of the UQ. For a DIY project, you could add strip of the stretchy stuff to the zipper or side hems of the hammock. Sew the zippers to that stretchy stuff. You'd have to play a bit with how much stretch is just right though. It would be an interesting project for sure.