I may be done with my Chameleon Top Cover and any other shell type system unless someone can help me solve the frosty snow fall when getting in and out.
This last weekend we enjoyed a quick overnight trip. The temperature got down to 9°F and never was above 15°F during the night (while in the hammock). When getting up for the nightly stroll I found getting in and out a challenge in avoiding scraping the thick frost off the top cover. The result is a pile of snow in the hammock.
I normally use a frost bid and it works very well at protecting my top quilt from moisture.
But the area around my head is also all covered in frost.
Including the mesh vent.
I have had the Chameleon with the top cover out on my last few outings. The first was right around freezing and I only noticed a little condensation. The last couple were below freezing and this last one was the worst for temp and moisture. With my old setup I would use the frost bib and just throw it outside the hammock on one side and get out on the other. No problem and the frost on the bib either stuck well to the fleece or was outside the hammock anyway. With the top cover I have to unzip one side and try to throw both the bib and the unzipped half of the cover over the ridgeline without getting snowed on. The frost falls from the top cover very easily when disturbed.
When I got up for my nightly stroll I noticed the issue and even opened up more ventilation (unzipped) opposite the mesh window.
This did not help as the frost continued to build and was thicker in the morning. I am not convinced the extra 2-5°F extra provided by the top cover is worth the hassle. I am going back to using just the frost bib and no top cover until temps are above freezing and the dew point is not an issue.
Has anyone else found a way around this issue or am I the only one who sees this as a problem?
I know that Dutch just came out with the breathalyzer but it is material similar to the top cover and will still have a similar issue. My bib is doing the same thing as the breathalyzer and keeps the frost away from the foot end of the hammock very well. It also does not allow for frost to easily fall when touched or disturbed.
I still think the best method is the bib with just a tarp. Even with little ventilation under tarp I can get in and out without touching the tarp or getting frost/snow in the hammock.
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