I got into hammocking this past Fall and started off with what I felt was the lowest cost but reasonable quality gear. Since then I've spent about 50 nights in the hammock (all in my back yard except one car camping trip) and have been able to cover a range of temperatures from 66⁰F to -1.7⁰F quite comfortably. So, what's my problem? I've decided I really want to get back into backpacking and would like to cover half a year (mid-April to mid-October) here in NH. The problem is that the very flexible and affordable gear that I bought weighs a ton and doesn't pack well at all. It's about 2-3x the weight and more than 2x the volume of what I'd be willing to backpack with.

I'd like to buy a minimum set of top and underquilts to cover from near freezing to summer temps which would include ~65⁰F on the warmer part of the nights in the White Mountains. I'm a fairly flexible sleeper temperature-wise so I'm considering a strategy of this:
  • 20⁰F 3/4 length underquilt
  • 40⁰F topquilt


A 40⁰F topquilt seems like too little in the colder temps, even with a 20⁰F underquilt, though maybe I could bring a vest/puffy jacket and fuzzy socks to help cut the difference. I'm assuming with a 20⁰F underquilt, I can open the ends, sag it a bit or even hang it next to me just in case to deal with warmer temps.

Is the 20⁰F overkill if I don't plan on being out below freezing? Has anyone done a 40⁰F/20⁰F TQ/UQ? Would I be better going with a 30⁰F/20⁰F TQ/UQ and kicking my feet out in the warmer temps? Should I consider a 30⁰F/30⁰F TQ/UQ combo? 40⁰F/30⁰F TQ/UQ? (That really seems to be not enough on the colder end.)

Am I just trying to do too much with too few quilts? At ~$300 each (for the weight I want) I'd love to keep the TQ+UQ count to two rather than three or four but I also don't want to buy two at the wrong middle temps when I really want four that are higher and lower ranges. I just don't have enough experience here (or the current available sleep conditions to test).

I'd love to hear what strategies and temperature ranges folks have covered with their gear.

Thanks in advance!

-A.

P.S. I plan to have a sit pad in my footbox for colder temps, considering the 3/4 underquilt.
P.P.S. All temperature ratings above are comfort ratings.