Solving cold spots with underquilts vs wool blankets and burrito wrap method.

[burtonator]

I've been experimenting with using wool blankets and the burrito wrap method:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRYXcOnrj6k

My thinking is that if I have a wool blanket, it's also dual use because if I ever get caught in rain with soaked gear the wool blanket could save my life. The underquilts wouldn't be able to keep me warm because they're made with down.

The problem is that it's a bit annoying to use the burrito wrap method inside a hammock. The material is constantly getting wrapped under you and you have to stretch it out.

It's not TOO bad the first time but if you have to get out of bed in the middle of the night you're going to be fighting with blanket and re-shifting it under you.

The problem I have with underquilts is that with my warbonnet setup I'm getting cold spots when I sleep on my side. Could I just not have it tight enough or my hang isn't positioned properly.

The other thing I'm experimenting with is to just wear thick long underwear (wool or synthetic) and really thick socks. I actually bought some expedition socks for mountaineering as I tend to get cold feet easily.

I'm sleeping outside about 95% of the time now and it's seriously cured my insomnia. Lost ten pounds and hitting the gym so put on like 5 lbs of muscle and getting ripped again.

Hammocks are seriously underrated.

The only thing I need to do is just nail these cold spots.

[Saltfly]

I snug the quilt up to the hammock using shock cord over the ridge line. There are few things like triangle thingies that will steepen the angle of your UQ suspension. But what works best for me, but only when it gets real nippy, is shock cord over the ridgeline. And it doesn’t have to be very tight at all it just keeps it touching good


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[Phantom Grappler]

Underquilt should lift empty hammock about a foot.
I set underquilt, then pull it to one side, the front side so I can see it. The underquilt should hang half a foot to one foot higher than hammock, along its entire length. Then I place it back under hammock.

The short ends of underquilt suspension should not be tightened too much, folding hammock into a U shape on both ends. This makes air gaps for cold air to get in. Do not fold ends into U shape by tightening short end cords too much!

The secondary underquilt suspensions on both long sides of underquilt should be tight enough to prevent accordion effect. Accordion effect also lets in cold air and allows underquilt to sag below lowest level of hammock. This is usually where your butt is. Instant CBS cold butt syndrome. Hahaha

If you still need your wool blanket, rather than using it like a burrito, and having to fight it when getting back in hammock in middle of night, just fold blanket.
Fold blanket and place it in hammock to roughly match your body’s “footprint” when you lay in hammock. It’s not going to be perfect, but maybe cold spots will disappear.

I would not choose to use blanket underneath me.
I would hang a zero* underquilt instead of a 20* underquilt, if I thought I’d be cold.

Sometimes when temperatures are in the low teens, I attach a 20* underquilt first, then “stack” a zero* underquilt last, on the outside, where I can see the zero* underquilt.

If the 20* underquilt gets smushed a bit, losing some loft and insulation—I does not care! The smushed 20* underquilt banishes almost all air gaps and cold spots. Even when smushed a bit, it does not lose all its insulation properties.

The most capable cold weather hammock campers DO Not Compress their inner quilt when “stacking”. They do it right and get the most out of both underquilts. They have full loft in both of their “stacked” underquilts.

Good luck on staying warm

[cougarmeat]

> because if I ever get caught in rain with soaked gear
burtonator - what scenario can you imagine that happening? I started out with synthetics because of the “useless when wet” concern. But after years and years of using down and not even getting close to having it wet - and this is kayak camping (lot’s of water around) - I trust my gear.

If you expect rain, or even if you didn’t, many backpackers carry a rain cover for their pack, or have their down (and other clothes) in a waterproof trash bag inside their park, or many packs these days come with a rolled top like a dry bag. I’d have to really work to result in my quilts getting wet because of rain.

That said, one time - only one time - during tent camping days, a thick mist invaded the camp and all exterior surfaces were wet. That bothered me and was probably why I started with synthetics. But had I a tarp with doors, and/or a UQP, I probably would have been fine. Also, if the mist arrived mid day, and I saw how exterior surfaces were getting damp, I could have stuffed the quilts away. In that situation, the blanket would be just as exposed as a TQ. Sure, we’ve all read that wool can keep you more warm than down when wet - but I’d think the focus should be on not getting wet.

Of course mishaps occur. But, for me, the odds of my gear getting wet are so small, I’d rather focus on something extra for an adequate shelter.

If car camping or at home, sure - a blanket, why not. But if I’d be hiking, I’d prefer the wider temperature range, compactness, and lighter weight, a down TQ provides.

[SilvrSurfr]

I've taken my backpack through a river about five different times and my down quilts have never gotten wet. I have them in cuben fiber stuff sacks inside a garbage bag.

[burtonator]

> burtonator - what scenario can you imagine that happening? I started out with synthetics because of the “useless when wet” concern. But after years and years of using down and not even getting close to having it wet - and this is kayak camping (lot’s of water around) - I trust my gear.

True story. I was in Yosemite once, in my tent, and got caught in an EPIC thunderstorm which triggered a flash flood due to all the granite (no dirt to absorb the water) and really got it by it. Was unexpected. My sleeping bag didn't get hit as much by the water but by the rain when I took it out of the tent.

Granted this was a tent not a hammock but weird things happen.

This is the 'two is one, one is none' school of thought /pragmatic philosophy.

[Shug]

It takes some time to properly set-up a UQ and get ot right sometimes. Even side sleeping.
The wool blanket may be a pain to manage in a hammock.
Shug

[cougarmeat]

>My sleeping bag didn't get hit as much by the water but by the rain when I took it out of the tent.
Not sure why you’d take it out of your tent in the rain instead of stuffing it your backpack.
Of course, now that you are hammocking, you can pack everything up under the dry tarp, then put the tarp away last.

[OutandBack]

A breathable UQP can really help an UQ's suspension keep the quilt up against you. As a side sleeper, I would stay away from UQ's with lay on your back leg shelf.
With proper packing and setting up your camp right meaning Tarp first your down should never get wet. I love wool but it is heavy and bulky.

[Bubba]

As Saltfly suggested, some shock cord from the UQ over the ridgeline helps a lot. It's what I do for my winter UQ set up. Where are your cold spots? A good wool base layer goes a long way to help keep me warm. I echo the opinions on the wool blanket. I don't know that it's worth the weight and bulk to carry on a back country trip and I think you could get by fine if you continue to tweak your set up. Good luck!