First underquilt.... 3 season or Winter?

[Jt100]

Go easy on me as this is my first post. Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me make a decision. I am new to hammock camping and with a birthday coming up would like to explore underquilts. I plan to camp all year (mostly 3 season with an occasional winter trip) round but 2 underquilts are out of the question right now. Should i go with a 3 season and add a pad if needed or go all out with the winter and loosen as needed to create an air gap. I will mostly be doing car camping and occasional cub scout campout etc. until i get more experienced. I have a skeeter beeter pro and Warbonnet superfly now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
John

[OutandBack]

Hi John Welcome to the forum.
In Colorado I use a 20F full UQ down to about 5F with the addition of an UQ protector for wind protection and I sleep in insulated clothing.
A 20F UQ is pretty darn versatile if you have other good winter gear.



hth

[Mountnman]

Hi John Welcome to the forum.
In Colorado I use a 20F full UQ down to about 5F with the addition of an UQ protector for wind protection and I sleep in insulated clothing.
A 20F UQ is pretty darn versatile if you have other good winter gear.



hth

+1 on the 20 being versatile, I have had mine down in the single digits and use it up into the 60's and works great if you know your set up. If you plan to go below the rating I would recommend doing so a few times close to home to bail if need be and figure out a good system that way

[Floridahanger]

Welcome, from balmy Florida.

Ha, a 3 season UQ is a Winter UQ, here.

To answer you, it depends on how cold you want to go. A lot of hangers in Winter are only comfortable to above 0*F. You need to know how cold your willing to go. A pad can help you get more out of an UQ, but, then your back to removing the comfort of an UQ.

For really cold, you can use a hammock Sock instead of a Pad, but, again, that's depending on your comfort level.

[Jt100]

thanks guys. You ROCK! This forum has been the single best place for info. Looks like a 3 season will do me nicely. I don't plan on going to 0 but you never know with the weather around here. Outandback, my brother lives in Longmont and is always trying to get me out there to backcountry camp. Looks like I may have to oblige him. I LOVE Colorado!

[OutandBack]

thanks guys. You ROCK! This forum has been the single best place for info. Looks like a 3 season will do me nicely. I don't plan on going to 0 but you never know with the weather around here. Outandback, my brother lives in Longmont and is always trying to get me out there to backcountry camp. Looks like I may have to oblige him. I LOVE Colorado!

Longmont is just a little North of me. Drop me a PM if you guys get together and want some company.
I am always looking for a reason to go hanging.

[Bubba]

I would go with a three season quilt and supplement as needed for winter. When you're new it's good to try your hand at it in warmer weather. Making adjustments to hammock, tarp and quilts are harder with cold hands. You'll probably be out more in the three seasons plus you'll have a bail out and are able to bring more insulation with you since you'll be near your car.

[MDSH]

You can supplement a 3 season UQ with an insulated sunshield or piece of Reflectix in between, both of which also work nice as sit pads in the cold and don't weigh much.

A crumpled space blanket preserves heat, too.

I used a cotton tent/sock last winter and my ambient temperature went from 9 to 22 degrees in there.

I still have trouble believing it but others say it's possible since it was a rare windless night. I look forward to more experience. Still relatively new here myself.

[Floridahanger]

Not just near the car, but in Winter up North, you can take more gear with a pulk.

[Jt100]

LOL. Not quite at Pulk level yet. Unless you count my 9 year old son's plastic sled. Someday maybe. After last winter, may be sooner than later.