Dealing with hot nights

**fatman** · 02-12-2017, 15:36

So I know it is the middle of winter for most of you and you are focused on keeping warm, but down in Texas it is still 50+ at night. The trade off for this wonderful winter weather is from late May to mid September we are dealing with night temps in the 70's and even the 80's. Does anyone have ideas on how to stay cool at night? So far I have seen most websites saying do the opposite of what you do to stay warm and some recommendations to use a reflective layer on top of your tarp. Has anyone used a small fan, such as https://www.rei.com/product/106769/goal-zero-fan-tool ?

**Scarecrow** · 02-12-2017, 15:44

B/O fans that can be suspended from a ridgeline are pretty commonplace in warm temperatures. Also, I will switch over to just using a fleece sleeping bag liner in place of quilts. That's worked well for me for temperatures of 75+ degrees.

**blackbishop351** · 02-12-2017, 15:47

If you want to carry a UQ just in case, you can always just pull your hammock out of it and sleep "beside" the quilt.

That ability would depend on your hammock and quilt suspension style, of course. Works great on mine though.

**TrailSlug** · 02-12-2017, 16:53

I use no under quilt in warm summer and use this fan to try to keep cool but with our night time temps combined with our humidity get unbearable I simply quit hanging. This fan does work good though.

fan.png

**StevieBuns** · 02-12-2017, 17:55

I've just started hammock camping, my first trip was actually in 20* F, a pretty cold start to hammock camping but I loved it. My question was, at what temperature do you find it to be uncomfortable? I realize that via convection, your body loses heat from under the hammock without an UQ, but at what temperature does that sort of become a moot point and it is just too hot? I'm a warm sleeper and I really tend to dislike the heat in general.

Steve

**TrailSlug** · 02-12-2017, 18:09

Originally Posted by StevieBuns

I've just started hammock camping, my first trip was actually in 20* F, a pretty cold start to hammock camping but I loved it. My question was, at what temperature do you find it to be uncomfortable? I realize that via convection, your body loses heat from under the hammock without an UQ, but at what temperature does that sort of become a moot point and it is just too hot? I'm a warm sleeper and I really tend to dislike the heat in general.

Steve

For me it's when the humidity starts to hit the 80% and higher at night and the temps stay in the upper 70's to 80. That's about Mid June thru mid September for us in northern Alabama. There are a few gifts during the summer but not too many to enjoy.

**fatman** · 02-12-2017, 19:40

I haven't used an under quilt yet. The lowest i got was about in the mid 20's. I set my hammock really low and my tarp looked like a tent it was that low. I did have a thermarest pro, 2 layers of clothing and a 20* bag. I agree with Trailslug about the to hot temps.

**apsilon** · 02-12-2017, 19:54

I wish I'd been in a hammock the last few nights. We've just had a weekend where night temps were lucky to get lower than mid 80s. Days were 110+. Of course it's summer here so night temps of 70+ are normal. I find a hammock is always a cooler option. Any breeze helps massively. No TQ or UQ depending on the individual of course and no tarp or one set up high and relatively flat. Fan will help if you can handle the sound and carrying the extra weight (if away from home/car).

**OCDave** · 02-12-2017, 21:43

When it gets too hot locally, I head for the North Shore of Lake Superior. The natural AC and crisp air make for dreamful nights. From Bedford, drive North on Interstate 35. After a bit more than 1100 miles the lake will be on your left.

**Chemguy** · 02-12-2017, 22:13

I use the fan in the picture below. It's meant to be hung around the neck and blow upward, but with a rubber band (like those that hold broccoli together) around the base, a bit of cord and a mitten hook I can hang it on my ridgeline and move it wherever I want.

FN02001RSP.jpg