So, a couple of nights ago at 3300 ft elevation in NC, the forecast low was 18 to 24F, with 3 mph wind. I did not have all my gear with me. I did have my tarp, but did not want to bother pitching it on the Tensa stand. I was covered with a roof on the wide open porch of a mountain cabin, on a 2nd story porch.
There was a bit of wind getting thru- not much- so with a possible 18 plus maybe a little wind chill, I was a bit paranoid about getting by with 30F rated gear. So I layered up.
1: I took my UL down jacket and wrapped it around the foot end of my insulted hammock.
2: I was wearing cotton PJs and a cotton shirt.
3: Over that I placed my OR WPB rain gear(as a fake VB) with the TQ's built in hood over my head.
4:Over that, I put my 12 oz total weight hooded Climashield jacket and 8 oz Climashield pants. No long Johns.
5: in the foot box of my 30F rated TQ, I placed my thin AHE CCF foot pad. No wool socks, just my daily wear of thin nylon socks.
6: no tarp or UQP
I hopped in about 10 or 11PM, and put my feet, in the TQ foot box, under the down jacket that was wrapped around the hammock. I forgot my ear plugs. After a few hours, I woke up quite hot and needed to vent. My feet and head were particularly hot and starting to sweat. I reached down and pulled the foot pad out. I realized my head was uncomfortably hot, so I pulled down the hood on the TQ and tucked it round my neck, now only wearing the thin nylon hood of my WPB rain jacket. No cap or hat.
I was amazed at how long I stayed warm. My head felt much better except for my ears were a little cold. Some of the local farm animals were waking me up making a lot of noise, I had forgot my earplugs. I still needed to remove some layers, probably most of all needed to remove my fake VBs. I realized that, with all the animal racket, and especially if I got up to remove layers, I was going to be a long time getting back to sleep. But, as warm as I was- too darn hot and sweating actually- I knew I was going to make it with ease, even if it hit 18F, so I bailed about 0200 or 0300, at 25F. (maybe 27 or 28 when I climbed in a few hours earlier.)
So, by layering some of the clothing which I would almost surely have with me on any winter trip, including possible VBs, with my 30F gear, I was significantly over heating at 25F, which tells me that I would have been fine somewhere(how far?) below 20F. Or, if I had removed some layers, I still think I would have been fine down to about 20 to 25F. On my back or switching to fetal, I never a single cold spot any where. Without most of these layers, I feel sure that the Sierra Madre Reserach(SMR) 30F Inferno hooded TQ and Superior Gear 30F insulated hammock combo will be good by themselves, for me, somewhere below the 30F rating.
Also, considering that I was way too hot 5F below the ratings, I suspect that- just as I have been told- that even water proof/breathable (WPB) rain gear will serve fairly well- when close to skin and worn under insulation- as a VB.
Excellent gear.
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