Top Quilt vs. Sleeping Bag

[jennalyn216]

I personally have had no problems with my sleeping bag and mat in the hammock, though I have never tried a TQ/UQ to compare. But since I have no money left after buying all the hammock gear and accessories, I'll have to stick with what I already own for insulation!

[fishbait]

Went to ground this weekend. Went with my top quilt and a my air mat. It was a lot more comfortable than my sleeping bag. Did miss the hammock though.

[Cermichael]

Here is one thing I like about my sleeping bags. My synthetic top quilt covers up to my chin. Both of my SB can be pulled over my head. This total coverage keeps heat from escaping. I use the SB like a topquilt, so it is not difficult to get in and out. The only things I don’t like about the SBs is the pack size. I may get a longer TQ.

[oldpappy]

I'm just starting my 3rd winter hammock camping; a Mummy bag with a hood (and warm hat) is my primary winter insulation - I add a blanket and hot water bottle as needed.
One issue I had was that if I wrap/seal up upon going to bed I got too warm and then as I get into that deep sleep (REM) and temps dropped I would get cool/cold. So now I don't zip up until later in the night - I go to bed with the hood tight and bag half way zipped up, then zip up later in the night when the temps drop.
I am putting together a Tyvek sock to deal with the wind.

[SemperFiGuy]

Widjit,

As multiple forum mates have pointed out, you will definitely need something under you because there will be convective heat loss. As Shuggity Shug aptly ponts out in his video, pads will certainly do the trick. They can get a little cumbersome, but they will work. The first night you're out there with your butt off the pad, or your shoulder exposed, you'll experience first hand, what a cold spot is and how it can keep you awake. You learn quickly how to "fill the gaps" with a pice of clothing here, a rolled up stuff sack there, etc.....

Bottom line, long-term, if you're going to be a 3 season or 4 season hanger, you're probably gonna want to look into an under quilt. You're bag, again as Shug pointed out, will and can suffice as a top quilt, but the real issues occur beneath you.

Watch any number of our forum mates' YouTube videos, (my favorites are Shug's), and you'll see that the serious Hangers use, as a minimum, an appropriate underquilt.

See by way of example, the Incubator at hammockgear.com as an example of a first class product. Stormcrow (Adam) prides himself in delivering nothing but the best product at a fair price point.

You'll know when you're ready to move on.

Most importantly, get out there and enjoy.

All the best!
Gil

[Sky kid]

what would we do w/o the Shug videos.

[tri-pod bob]

Hey all, I'm new to the forums so sorry if this has been asked already. I see a ton of people here using top and bottom quilts but I'm not really sure why...

Is there a reason to use them over a sleeping bag? I have an REI Halo which I love for its light weight and compressability. I try to pack light most of the time. Why would I chose a top quilt over the regular sleeping bag or is this just personal prefrence?

Thanks all!

Just want to say "Welcome to HF, Widjit!"

[hankyknot]

One question I have re the compression which may sound silly but I'll ask it anyway;

Surely tenters lay on the ground in their sleeping bags and compress the insulation too?

If air passing over the bottom of the hammock is what causes the cold, what if the air was routed in such a way that it didn't pass directly over the underside of the hammock, would that be enough to prevent the chills setting in?

[fallkniven]

One question I have re the compression which may sound silly but I'll ask it anyway;

Surely tenters lay on the ground in their sleeping bags and compress the insulation too?

If air passing over the bottom of the hammock is what causes the cold, what if the air was routed in such a way that it didn't pass directly over the underside of the hammock, would that be enough to prevent the chills setting in?

Yes, but your still supplementing it with a pad, which you can also do in a hammock, you don't necessarily need an expensive underquilt.
And it doesn't matter how fast the air below you is moving, because that cold air is still there, moving or not, robbing your backside of heat.

[Kremmit]

If air passing over the bottom of the hammock is what causes the cold, what if the air was routed in such a way that it didn't pass directly over the underside of the hammock, would that be enough to prevent the chills setting in?

That's what the underquilt does.. puts a layer of insulation between the underside of the hammock and the cold air.