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  1. #1
    Senior Member BillyBob58's Avatar
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    The forgotten Speer Pea Pod

    Here is something that may not even be available anymore, though it might be if you can contact folks at Tree to tree trail gear. At least with the right hammock, it has almost unmatched efficiency. Believe it or not, my old PeaPod did not weigh anymore than 2 full length quilts, 1 TQ + 1 UQ. Though it also had it's minor draw backs, it had 1 plus that almost trumped all else, which us why you never saw a thread like "Help, I am not warm in my pod at temps close to it's rated limit": DRAFT FREE. LIKE A MUMMY BAG, BUT AS COMFY AS A TQ/UQ.

    Notice how both ends cinch closed? Notice how the TQ part covers the hammock edges and drapes down into the hammock, a little or a lot depending on hammock width? No concerns about having just the right amount of tension to avoid gaps and drafts, without crushing loft. Just adjust it so that it barely touches your back, and you are good to go if you are even close. A small gap didn't seem to cause much problem, probably because cold air could not rush in form the ends or sides.

    On the head end there are 2 options. You can use separate head insulation and close the pod around your neck, leaving your head entirely out, or keep your head inside and close the pod down to a small vent hole. I mostly did the later.

    I have always been amazed that these never caught on around here, considering how many threads there have been over the years where folks are struggling with their TQs/UQs to be warm enough. Is there even one person here using a Speer Pea Pod or Polar Pod? I never see anything from thm. Maybe because they don't have any questions about how to stay warm!



    I stupidly sold mine a couple of year ago, but if they were readily available I think I would buy another one.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Tyroler Holzhacker's Avatar
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    The prob I have with such a configuration is lack of fresh air, and claustrophobia. Just my $.02

  3. #3
    Senior Member
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    I've never tried one but it looks like these pods seem to make it more difficult to get into a diagonal. My legs would be screaming in 10 minutes.
    "God never sends us anything we can't handle. Sometimes I wish He didn't trust me so much." - Mother Teresa.

  4. #4
    gunner76's Avatar
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    I have only seem then in use twice at different hangs.
    I am still 18 but with 52 years of experience !

  5. #5
    Senior Member
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    Didn't Shug use a pod at -40?

  6. #6
    Senior Member Tyroler Holzhacker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GreatBigDave View Post
    Didn't Shug use a pod at -40?
    I suppose the PeaPod would shine in extremely cold scenarios....just that i prefer not to hang when it is that cold...prefer 20F to 72F

  7. #7
    Senior Member Crazytown3's Avatar
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    A similar, more recent commercial version of this is the SnugPak Hammock Cocoon (among others). It works really well in my winter camps, especially when stacked with a synthetic underquilt inside the cocoon (down can't loft very well stacked inside).

    The main drawbacks are what folks mentioned above: air flow, claustrophobia, getting a diagonal lay. I try and mitigate the diagonal lay issue by shortening my hammock ridgeline up a little, and getting a little more 'sag'.

  8. #8

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    Someone posted a cool video going over one of these at a group hang...? Sorry, can't find it now, but maybe someone else on here remembers.

  9. #9
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GreatBigDave View Post
    Didn't Shug use a pod at -40?
    Quote Originally Posted by Tyroler Holzhacker View Post
    I suppose the PeaPod would shine in extremely cold scenarios....just that i prefer not to hang when it is that cold...prefer 20F to 72F
    Mine is not a Speer Pea Pod.
    My pod system for deep MN Winter....

    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  10. #10
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    You can see Stairguy's Polar Pod at 6:11 in this video.
    He added a bunch more down to his as I recall.
    Shug

    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

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