The Sweetie Pie, a modern PeaPod alternative?

**Salt** · 02-08-2022, 10:57

With less than a week before my first multi-night hang above the snow line, I decided that upping my UQ game was in order. The stars aligned and rather than walking away from a local thrift store with DIY materials, I may have found an already set solution and potential clone of the highly sought PeaPod!

The Sweetie Pie was designed to act as a sleeping bag expander, attaching to pre-existing zippers and making for a snuggly multi-person mummy bag. However, "slices" can be zipped together to achieve a perfect collar for hammock usage. When I spotted them, after hours of perusing this forum for winter hanging tips and seeing PeaPod continue to pop up, how could I refuse picking up all 10 (!) of them?

Conducting some tests at home last night, it seems that two make a snug and very warm collar, but the length isn't quite there to act as a full TQ/UQ. I'll be experimenting with (and asking for help in the DIY sub regarding) ways to combine four into a full pod setup for this upcoming trip.

They are insulated with Polarguard 3D which seems a bit bulky, but I'm hoping a compression sack will help with that. The ad-copy doesn't really explain what temperature rating they provide as they generally aren't used alone.

Has anyone else had encountered these? Is there something obvious I'm missing about why these wouldn't keep me toasty in 20-30F? Are these actually nothing like the mythical PeaPod?

Figured there may be enough interest in these that they warranted their own thread...

**Shug** · 02-08-2022, 12:05

I use my Western Mountaineering 20º Alpinelite as a pod. Have had it down to -40º with augmentation and was toasty warm.
You can see it at 16:20 into the video below.
Shug

Added a zipper insert....

**sideshowraheem** · 02-08-2022, 12:26

Does anyone make a pod system that you can buy now? I always am a bit envious of these systems, I could see them being awesome for winter. You could pod yourself and bring a top quilt to fill up some extra space in the hammock and stay super toasty.

Though I do wonder how condensation would build up with that mummy style head opening.

**Shug** · 02-08-2022, 12:46

Originally Posted by sideshowraheem

Does anyone make a pod system that you can buy now? I always am a bit envious of these systems, I could see them being awesome for winter. You could pod yourself and bring a top quilt to fill up some extra space in the hammock and stay super toasty.

Though I do wonder how condensation would build up with that mummy style head opening.

The mummy head on mine hangs under me.
There are some pod type things......https://www.grandtrunk.com/collectio...d-sleeping-bag
Never heard anything about it though.

**Salt** · 02-08-2022, 13:16

Glad it never gets that cold here... *shivers*

I notice you have quite a few layers inside the pod, is that fairly recommended? I figure I should bring at least one 20 degree bag in case the pod isn't enough, but it sure does SEEM warm...

**Shug** · 02-08-2022, 15:56

Originally Posted by altSalt

Glad it never gets that cold here... *shivers*

I notice you have quite a few layers inside the pod, is that fairly recommended? I figure I should bring at least one 20 degree bag in case the pod isn't enough, but it sure does SEEM warm...

Depends on your low temps for trip. Plus the 20º bag/pod alone would not have gotten me down that low. Also with a bag/pod...there is a gap over my chest area from the bag being zipped up and hammock sides holding bag up. That gap needs to be filled or you will be cold there. Thus the 30º TQ inside bag/pod. And a UQ.

**Salt** · 02-08-2022, 17:58

Thanks Shug, I'll definitely see about making one of those fleece frost collectors. What sort of difference would you say closing the tarp doors makes?

**Shug** · 02-08-2022, 18:40

Originally Posted by altSalt

Thanks Shug, I'll definitely see about making one of those fleece frost collectors. What sort of difference would you say closing the tarp doors makes?

I only close them up tightly if the wind is blowing hard through the ends of my tarp. Otherwise like on my trip last week I leave a couple doors rolled back. I like to wake up to a frosty woods view. I have very little condensation on the tarp and it got down to -24ºF.
Frost is very subjective though.

**bsteele** · 02-09-2022, 11:47

I've been playing around with draping a quilt (using this one at the moment: https://www.backcountry.com/stoic-ba...y-quilt-double) over my hammock's ridgeline to see how it helps out in freezing temps. It's not the most compact or warmest blanket, but for at home or car camping, it seems to give me a nice temperature buffer ~+10° and keeps the chill off my face (or I can poke my head out when I'm in the mood for a nice refreshing chill on my face).

Plus it's large enough that I can almost get it completely wrapped under me.

20220205_232625.jpg 20220207_074140.jpg

**sideshowraheem** · 02-09-2022, 12:08

Originally Posted by bsteele

I've been playing around with draping a quilt (using this one at the moment: https://www.backcountry.com/stoic-ba...y-quilt-double) over my hammock's ridgeline to see how it helps out in freezing temps. It's not the most compact or warmest blanket, but for at home or car camping, it seems to give me a nice temperature buffer ~+10° and keeps the chill off my face (or I can poke my head out when I'm in the mood for a nice refreshing chill on my face).

That is a really clever idea! I have a similar synthetic blanket/quilt I use for summer camping. Only weighs about a pound. I wonder if draping that over my ridgeline and under a tarp would result in extra warmth, or if I'd be better off just having that much extra insulation in either one of my quilts?