What's The More Important Quilt: Top or Bottom?

[TrailSlug]

If the forecast would be 20°F, and a 50° top quilt / 20° underquilt or a 20° top quilt / 50° underquilt were my only options, I would choose neither and stay at home. I wouldn't go anywhere without a 10° or possibly a 0° underquilt and a top quilt that is at least rated for 20°.

Amen brother. It's simply no fun to be cold and even less fun to get hypothermia. Get quilts that are rated (and tested by you the user) for the temps you are going to be hanging it and be done with it.

[snwcmpr]

Let's say you were heading out on a hammock adventure and it is forecast to be 20F. Which combo would you choose, a 50F top quilt with a 20F underquilt; or a 20F top quilt with a 50 F underquilt? That is, which is more important in keeping you warm when things get chilly?

Can you please reply with more information?

Why do you 'seem' to have only one of the two scenarios? 20/50 or 50/20.
Do you have 4 quilts? (2) 20° quilts and (2) 50° quilts?

Why do you not pair up the quilts of the same rating?

Or is this simply a hypothetical question you are throwing out to just get members to discuss a situation you will never face?

Ken in NC

[HandyRandy]

It seems like this is a question of how best to spend your money. I think the UQ is hardest to replicate when it comes to effectiveness, comfort, weight etc. The TQ can be supplemented more easily because you can wear a hat, booties, mitts, stack quilts more easily than UQ, use a hot water bladder/bottle, hand warmers, fleece blankets, eat a big dinner, wear a base layer and jacket and buff. You can use a pad, a winter sock, a nice tarp, all sorts of tricks to stay warm, but the UQ is still hard to replicate and should be one of your priority purchases.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Billy Goat]

]

If your NOT prepared for cold weather hanging please stay home or practice in the backyard.
There is NO choice in your scenario...end of story

This. The whole premise is preposterous and you'll be absolutely miserable at best, hypothermic most likely and possibly dead at worst. If you are asking for buying advise, I would buy the underquilt first, because i assume you already have a sleeping bag. I bought a top quilt first and wish I would've gotten the UQ first. If you can bring either combo, that assumes you have both. In which case, for the proposed scenario I would bring the both 20s and maybe even the 50 UQ and stack them. I would for sure, if car camping. If I had to pick one of your combos I would stay home.

Are you just trying to up your post count so you can get in the for sale section?

[goober]

My question was not about a "real" situation. My "mind exercise" presumed a little imagination on the part of readers. My bad.

Billy Goat wrote: Are you just trying to up your post count so you can get in the for sale section?

My plot has been foiled. Good detective work. Dang!

[goobie]

Let's say you were heading out on a hammock adventure and it is forecast to be 20F. Which combo would you choose, a 50F top quilt with a 20F underquilt; or a 20F top quilt with a 50 F underquilt? That is, which is more important in keeping you warm when things get chilly?

Go out and lay in your hammock with NO quilts, then tells us which one you think is more important. Instead of coming up with a bunch of "what if" scenarios, why not just get out there and hang??

[TallPaul]

My question was not about a "real" situation. My "mind exercise" presumed a little imagination on the part of readers. My bad.

Billy Goat wrote: Are you just trying to up your post count so you can get in the for sale section?

My plot has been foiled. Good detective work. Dang!

Goodness you are getting a lot of grief on how you posed this. Your question was more about which item to prioritize. Wasn’t hard to figure out. Folks need to chill.

I personally just took a 40* TQ and a 20* UQ our in near freezing temps. I’m going to keep pushing that to find the low temp of that setup. It isn’t that different than the scenario you posed. I wouldn’t recommend it to everybody but somehow you need to figure out your gear and if you sleep warm or cold in it.

[wcannon32]

I’ve just been creeping this thread for ideas of what degree TQ to purchase. After few sideline posts, TallPaul you supplied best info, Ive probably and possibly hike same areas. Good to know a 40 TQ paired with a 20UQ can hit those temps, just as a bit over estimate I think I’ll go with a 30 TQ.
Thanks again TallPaul


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Vanhalo]

I agree with TallPaul as well. (for 35° Latitude & below in the South)

I would recommend adding a JRB fleece quilt liner to his suggestion.

[OCDave]

... would you choose, a 50F top quilt ...a 50 F underquilt?

NO! Start with a 20* set of quilts. Later, add a 40* Underquilt which you can use alone late spring through early fall or stack with the 20* during the coldest months. Any old fleece or down blanket will replace or augment your 20* TQ. The utility of a set of 50* quilts is questionable even in Mesa, AZ.

Happy Hangin"!