Cheapie UQ Idea...

[Detman101]

Hello all,

I've been thinking about winter hanging and realized that I can't afford many of the things that I see people with on here.
I've been thinking about making a cheaper alternative to the underquilts.
I think I'm going to take a regular rectangular sleeping bag like the Snugpak Jungle Pack and unfold it to it's open position, then use adhesive to bond the reflective layer of two Auto-windshield-Sunscreen onto it and stitch them down to the jungle-bag around the edges of the reflective part. I'm thinking that this will create a reflective, insulative underquilt/tacoshell around my hammock by using shock-cord and cord-locks to bind it around the hammock outside. That way I'll only have to use an inflatable mat and my sleeping bag inside the hammock.

Of course I'll have to take it to the local tailor to have the stitching done, but I can get it half the way there with the adhesive. I'm wondering if by cutting the reflective layer away from the rest of the sunscreen, it will be flexible enough to get rolled up with the sleeping bag when storing it/rolling it up.
I don't know if the reflective material is going to rip, tear or break at the creases yet.

Cost considerations
Snugpak Jungle Bag = $70.00
OR
Regular walmart sleeping bag = $20-$40
PLUS
Car Sunscreen = $10
Spray Adhesive = $5

TOTAL = $35 - $85


Critique?
Advice?

Thanks!

[Zilla]

I'm not sure but i think that attaching the reflective shield betwwen you and the insulation might prevent the insulation from doing it's job..,The insulation's job is to hold the heat but if your reflecting the heat away from it then it will just be holding onto the cold from outside?,, Might be the same effect with a blow up pad between you and the insulation?.
Why not just open up the bag and hang it like an underquilt?
I'm no expert by any meens but i think you might be working against yourself.
Then again i could be wrong but this is my opinion on it.

[Rolloff]

I think the contact adhesive might have the potential to damage, as in melt silnylon products. Possibly the windscreen materials as well. I would test first. Did I mention I lilke destructive testing?

I think condensation could most certainly become a problem as well.

At 35 dollars it's fun to play with, at 85 you're better off saving a few more bucks, and grabbing an AHE Jarbridge UQ and using a current sleeping bag or proper TQ in conjunction with it.

[miyanc]

I need to do a video but there are a few ways to make a bag into an uq or something. First is the easiest and depending on the bag might not even require anything. Shug takes a mummy bag and runs the hammock suspension thru the part where the zipper zips. Then zip the bag up and pull the bag up around you. This is a pea pod. I have done this with a rectangular bag, but I pulled the stitches out that hold the zipper. Maybe 8 inches. This gives you more room to pull the bag up. I used an extra cheap walmart sleeping bag. The next one may take some extra work. Take the same rectangular bag and open it up. Lay it down on the groundand fold the long sides over about 12 inches. Use anything to secure the fold, snaps, clothes pins, stitches, duct tape... whatever. Take 2 long lines ( preferably shock cord) and run it thru and attch it to the suspension. This will be sloppy but before you secure the folds make sure you have the right lenth to sit up against you. Maybe 12 inches was to much maybe its not enough. The next thing is run line from your rl down around the ends of the bag ( one at the head and one at the feet) . You can also put wholes thru the bag ( long run or short) periodically to help clean it up.

[Floridahanger]

Unless your planning on going into some deep cold, this may be overkill for under insulation.

The pad inside your sleeping bag may be enough, if you still plan on using the pad. Using your modified SB with the reflector will definitely help for below 0*F if your going that route. Just remember that with the pad under you and the reflector under your hammock, your creating a double VB (vapor barrier). It's doable, but, just be cautious.

You can also remove your pad and just use your SB as a TQ and use your Mod SB as UQ. You don't even need to sew the reflector completely. Sew some velcro dots to the reflector and corresponding spot on SB and it won't move since it's under the hammock and not with you on top of it.

[MDSH]

I'd stay away from the adhesive. Let gravity work for you. Suspend the sleeping bag underneath as an under quilt and use reflective pads between that and the hammock as needed.

That would make it versatile.

[ntxkayakr]

Perhaps I misunderstood your description or intentions but if you want to experiment with a "radiant barrier" between the bottom of the hammock and the top of a rectangular sleeping bag suspended by shock cord then just try a $2 mylar emergency blanket not the car window screen. There are several more effective methods of laminating this shinning mylar to the quilt or sleep bag but as others mentioned I also would highly recommend NOT doing that. Several great ways to add shock cord to a re-purposed bed quilt, poncho liner, or sleep bag, whatever you got, can find cheap from a friend, relative or at the local thrift store. You never know how often people you know throw out great stuff like old goose down quilts. A few years ago my mom gave away a Singer sewing machine her sister bought in the 1930's she never told me. Dang nab it. A ton of goose down probably goes into landfills every year, people need closet space.

[Rolloff]

Sleeping bag UQ mods are usually still a bit too heavy for normal shock cord suspensions. Unless properly refitted, and sized, sans hood, zipper, whatnot, you'll need additional cords, tri angle thingys, over the RL or quilt hooks, for it to fit properly.

IMO the Sleeping bag mods work better as TQ's and would require less "reconstruction" work.

At present my 20 degree 3/4 UQ fits perfectly with the stock HG suspension. No additional hooks, hangers, or cords. And that's how it should be. Most of that is probably length and just the fact that it's extremely light weight. Tough to get that with a "simple" SB conversion.

[Timberrr]

Sometimes it seems every hanger with <100 posts trys to find an alternative to the underquilt. ( I know I did ) Yours is a bit more ambitious than most. I like your thinking.
But I've gotta agree with Ntxkayakr - keep it simple. Not only will the KISS approach save you money, you'll be able to see what works and what doesn't and you can make improvements and adjustments on the fly. With what you're gonna pay for materials and tailoring, you're more than half way to paying for a top quality UQ.
OTOH... trying all these short cuts leads one to a genuine appreciation of the downy goodness of said UQ.
In my efforts to avoid buying an UQ, this is what I found to work best.... I got two WW mummy bags and put one inside the hammock ( a pita to get in ) and one around the outside of the hammock like a pea pod with shock cords on the hood and toe. Once zipped up inside all of that, I couldn't move but I was plenty warm down into the mid20s which is as cold as I'm gonna go.
Good luck and hey... welcome to the hammock forums.

[Detman101]

Sometimes it seems every hanger with <100 posts trys to find an alternative to the underquilt. ( I know I did ) Yours is a bit more ambitious than most. I like your thinking.
But I've gotta agree with Ntxkayakr - keep it simple. Not only will the KISS approach save you money, you'll be able to see what works and what doesn't and you can make improvements and adjustments on the fly. With what you're gonna pay for materials and tailoring, you're more than half way to paying for a top quality UQ.
OTOH... trying all these short cuts leads one to a genuine appreciation of the downy goodness of said UQ.
In my efforts to avoid buying an UQ, this is what I found to work best.... I got two WW mummy bags and put one inside the hammock ( a pita to get in ) and one around the outside of the hammock like a pea pod with shock cords on the hood and toe. Once zipped up inside all of that, I couldn't move but I was plenty warm down into the mid20s which is as cold as I'm gonna go.
Good luck and hey... welcome to the hammock forums.

Unless your planning on going into some deep cold, this may be overkill for under insulation.

The pad inside your sleeping bag may be enough, if you still plan on using the pad. Using your modified SB with the reflector will definitely help for below 0*F if your going that route. Just remember that with the pad under you and the reflector under your hammock, your creating a double VB (vapor barrier). It's doable, but, just be cautious.

You can also remove your pad and just use your SB as a TQ and use your Mod SB as UQ. You don't even need to sew the reflector completely. Sew some velcro dots to the reflector and corresponding spot on SB and it won't move since it's under the hammock and not with you on top of it.

Thank you, this sounds like a much easier idea.
I truly have no idea how the setup will perform in the cold, I've never done it before and this will be my first winter using the hammock.
i definitely don't want to sweat or cause condensation issues, but I want to ensure that I'm warm enough without having to pack too many more things. I will start out by picking up a cheapie rectangle sleeping bag that I can turn into an underquilt easily. I will pick up one of the reflective windshield pads also but keep it as a separate layer.

Thank you all for your critique and advice, this is exactly the sounding board that I need.