Why partial or 3/4 under quilts?

[BlueOwl]

I'm new to the hammock game and I don't understand why people use under quilts that aren't long enough to go from head to toe? I hate when my feet are cold at night. Is it a weight thing? If so, I would think that having to carrying that bit of extra weight for a longer quilt would be completely offset by being toasty warm from head to foot! I'm in the process of making a DIY UQ and TQ using the Costco down throws. Many instructions call for hacking off bits of the throws to make them smaller. I don't want to do that and then regret it! Please help me understand.

[Shug]

The partial UQ costs less. Less down and fabric to pay for.
Easier to set in my opinion and get right on the hammock in my opinion.
Takes up less room in the pack.
I use a Thermarest sit pad under my feet lightly inflated to insulate my feet. Also use it around camp to sit on and fan fire. Also put my down jacket over the end of my hammock for feet warmth since the down jacket would just be in my pack.
To me the partial UQ makes sense to about 20ºF. Then many like a full.
My UQ Video playlist....https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...mBYSPGHjdyGqsL

Opinions will differ on this but this is my take on it.
Shug

[BlueOwl]

The partial UQ costs less. Less down and fabric to pay for.
Easier to set in my opinion and get right on the hammock in my opinion.
Takes up less room in the pack.
I use a Thermarest sit pad under my feet lightly inflated to insulate my feet. Also use it around camp to sit on and fan fire. Also put my down jacket over the end of my hammock for feet warmth since the down jacket would just be in my pack.
To me the partial UQ makes sense to about 20ºF. Then many like a full.
My UQ Video playlist....https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...mBYSPGHjdyGqsL

Opinions will differ on this but this is my take on it.
Shug

I get the costing less thing which is why I'm going to attempt a DIY project. And having multi-use items, i.e. the down coat and the sit pad, does make sense for backpacking.

Oh, BTW, I've been watching your videos and they're super helpful!

[Rouskof]

The partial UQ costs less. Less down and fabric to pay for.
Easier to set in my opinion and get right on the hammock in my opinion.
Takes up less room in the pack.
I use a Thermarest sit pad under my feet lightly inflated to insulate my feet. Also use it around camp to sit on and fan fire. Also put my down jacket over the end of my hammock for feet warmth since the down jacket would just be in my pack.
To me the partial UQ makes sense to about 20ºF. Then many like a full.
My UQ Video playlist....https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...mBYSPGHjdyGqsL

Opinions will differ on this but this is my take on it.
Shug

I totally agree with the ease of use and versatility of the partial underquilt (I've got the Yeti, this little prodigy), but one thing I can't understand is how you can sit on "dirty" trunks on your sit pad and then put this sit pad dirty in your top quilt. Do you have a way of cleaning it or something or you just... don't care ?

[damuffin]

I totally agree with the ease of use and versatility of the partial underquilt (I've got the Yeti, this little prodigy), but one thing I can't understand is how you can sit on "dirty" trunks on your sit pad and then put this sit pad dirty in your top quilt. Do you have a way of cleaning it or something or you just... don't care ?

I’m out there for the dirt, I’d eat it if it tasted better. Besides everyone needs a souvenir or it didn’t happen.

[Five Tango]

I’m out there for the dirt, I’d eat it if it tasted better. Besides everyone needs a souvenir or it didn’t happen.

I carry a piece of reflectix to go under my feet and use my sitpad on the ground under the hammock to have a relatively leaf free spot to stand on while putting on shoes/clothes.If it's pretty wet on the ground I will spread out my rain kilt such that the outside of kilt is always face down so the clean side goes against my clothes.The reflectix never touches the ground and stays clean.

[Shug]

I totally agree with the ease of use and versatility of the partial underquilt (I've got the Yeti, this little prodigy), but one thing I can't understand is how you can sit on "dirty" trunks on your sit pad and then put this sit pad dirty in your top quilt. Do you have a way of cleaning it or something or you just... don't care ?

It is not like I am covered in mud and stuff. Never seems to dirty. Camping is not a clean sport so I'm good with it. I could always wipe it off if dirty but it's never been much of a problem.
So yeah...I just don't care. It's camping.
Shug

[Rouskof]

I’m out there for the dirt, I’d eat it if it tasted better. Besides everyone needs a souvenir or it didn’t happen.

I have enough of these 'souvenirs', thanks.

It is not like I am covered in mud and stuff. Never seems to dirty. Camping is not a clean sport so I'm good with it. I could always wipe it off if dirty but it's never been much of a problem.
So yeah...I just don't care. It's camping.
Shug

Fair enough, thanks, will try it if I get a chance of testing a long enough partial uq to cover what's left exposed (I know you 'don't care' either for that, by 20°F, and to be honest, that just terrifies me, as I would have everything covered in down and wool but the very tip of my nose by those temperatures)

[pgibson]

If your preference is full-length coverage then you should go that route. Partials are for a weight savings (a bit of bulk too) and you don't have to end up with cold feet. The use of a foot pad is common practice. The idea here is that you can dual use the foot pad around camp to sit on...make that log a little less lumpy. And depending on your gear choices triple use it at the back padding in your frameless pack...not all packs use a piece of foam as a pack pad so that where the gear choices come into play.

So for those that are wanting to cut ounces and can make more than one use out of the foot pad the partial length quilts make sense. Your feet are not cold as the pad provides the insulation needed there and the one piece of gear gets used for multiple jobs.

[cougarmeat]

For some of us who are height challenged, ¾ length is pretty durn close to full length. In addition to weight/bulk savings, it can be easier to get a diagonal lie without distorting the "hug" factor around my body. I've only been uncomfortable at the foot end a few times in single digit temperatures and it has easily been remedied by adding a small pad or other insulation (jacket, etc.) down there.

There is no question that a full length would be warmer. But the deal is, ¾ length, for me, is most of the time (except occasionally in winter), warm enough. So why carry more. Note that I also always use a UQP which adds to the warmth.

But if I needed a full length to be comfortable, I'd carry a full length UQ.