Need quick solution to use sleeping bag as UQ

[tlbj6142]

Last minute trip, planned this coming weekend with my son (his first solo trip with me and our first BP trip in years). Current forecast has lows near freezing. I am letting him use my HH ULA with a 3/4 UQ and a down sleeping bag as a top quilt so he is all set. I have scrapped together a gathered end hammock (think UNO doublenest clone) with whoopie slings, tarp, etc. I will be using a DIY down top quilt I made years ago, but I don't have bottom insulation (besides pads -- last resort). However, I do own a WM MityLite (semi-rec down bag). It has a separate footbox zipper so I think can pull it over the foot end of the hammock but I'm not sure how I can attach/hang/clip the rest of the bag to the sides the hammock.
I was thinking a handful of large binder clips?
Thoughts?

[jeff-oh]

I made a UQ out of a rectangular bag I had last year. I purchased 1.75" grosgrain ribbon from the fabric store. I folded this in half sewing 1/8" to 1/4" from the edge. I made two channels the length of the bag. Then I sewed the channels to the bag along the side of the zipper. The fabric section below the zipper teeth. I then ran 5mm shock cording through the channels adding a "S"-biner at each end to hook to the hammock suspension. The channels were sewn on the inside so all I have to do is flip the cordage into the bag and zip it up and put it in the stuff sack.

I use the neck drawstring to cinch the bag up around the hammock, and the zipper to hold it up tight at the other.

Hope that might help you.

[goobie]

Try this??

https://youtu.be/7l2vyOPqiuo

[tlbj6142]

Thanks both for the ideas.

[PlusOne]

Home Depot has tarp clips that clip to anything. You could rig them to the corners of a sleeping bag with some bungee too.
https://www.homedepot.com/s/tarp%20c...-5&gsitesearch

[tlbj6142]

Home Depot has tarp clips that clip to anything.

Thanks, I thought about doing something similar, but the DIY version in which you use a small stone and some cord. I plan to try a few ideas tonight so I can see what works and what doesn't while I still have a couple days to get supplies if needed.

[Shug]

Thanks, I thought about doing something similar, but the DIY version in which you use a small stone and some cord. I plan to try a few ideas tonight so I can see what works and what doesn't while I still have a couple days to get supplies if needed.

I use a small roll of athletic tape used like a rock to keep the head end of my sleeping bag up on my pod system. Then use a piece of elastic to run it to my suspension.
And a piece of shockcord through a small loop on my footend.
Shug

[Appanoose]

For the stone and cord method ... I find that those plastic screw on bottle caps (like on a soda bottle) are a good, cheap and light alternative to adding rocks to your pack.

[SnugAsaBugInaRug]

I recently rigged up a king size down quilt that I found at a thrift store for $10 (Score!) using some of the methods described here. One thing that hasn't been mentioned that I think you may find helpful is to run two pieces of shockcord over a ridgeline to help keep your UQ in place. At two points between my shoulders and knees I attached shockcord, ran it over the ridgeline down to the opposite side, and attached it there too. Set the length so the shockcord doesn't pull the insulation too tight. I personally had no problems getting in and out using this method. I also used shockcord to snug up the head and toe ends of the quilt across the bottom of the hammock so they formed a tighter seal between the hammock and my quilt.

Just take some extra line and shockcord with you and I'm sure you'll make something work. I would also take a sleeping pad to put in the hammock if you have it. I think that would be well worth the weight just in case the bag doesn't work as good as you hope.

Have fun and stay dry!

[tlbj6142]

Thank for everyone's help. I think I have a solution. The WM MityLite is a semi-rectangular bag with no hood (drawstring around the neck hole) that has 2 separate dual zippers. A 2' zipper across the bottom and up the side of the footbox, and a separate longer zipper the rest of the side.

1. I unzipped part of the footbox and fed one of the suspension slings thru the hole
2. I ran a piece of shockcord through one of the footbox zippers and looped it thru a prusik loop on my suspension and tied it off with a taunt hitch
3. Using two small Rokenbok balls, another length of shockcord (with slip knots at each end) and another prusik loop i hung the head/neck end
4. Using 8" pieces of mason line and 4 more Rokenbok balls (2 per side) I loosely secured the sides of the quilt to the extra material on the sides the way too wide hammock body
5. I can adjust the sides from inside the hammock and with a bit of twisting I can adjust the neck hole drawstring.

This seems to work in the house. If I can find small shockcord I might use it in lieu of the 8" pieces of mason line for a bit more flexibility.