Unfortunately I have committed not to reveal that information by a vendor who thought the idea was interesting enough to keep under wraps until they have had time to assess bringing it to market. Based on their posts they have been developing a number of projects over the year which means they are actively coming up with new ideas, but apparently have not had the time to press forward on this particular project.
However, do not give up hope. Perhaps it will even turn up in Popular Science as a news scope similar to the "Prototype Truck X Spotted At Testing Grounds", e.g. Radical new Hammock Design Spotted, unfortunately we have been unable to wake testers for comment due to loud snoring from deep REM sleep.
OK, thanks!
I realize this is an old thread but I wanted to follow this up as I do a lot of subzero camping in Canada, both hanging or tenting depending on the situation.
They are different animals that do the same thing, but differently. In extended cold conditions, I much prefer a modular system. As an example, I will stack quilts, down inner, synthetic outer. In any winter camping, over time you will have moisture build-up and you will get that in the outer quilt, so I much prefer it to be synthetic as it will still insulate very well when wet, whereas downs performance decreases drastically.
With modern down treatments, it's pretty hard to get down wet so if you're doing short trips, both are great options. That said, you'll pay a slight weight penalty for the synthetic but have zero worries about moisture. You have to consider what works for you. I live on the West Coast of Canada, which is a temperate rainforest and we get buckets of water and in 8 years of hammocking, I have never had a wet underquilt for a short 3-5 day trip in the most horrific rain the coast can throw at us (and I didn't use a UQP either).
The only time I have ever had an issue was actually at the tree line when a cold downflow brought moisture from the top of the mountain and my outer layer of the down quilt was soaked despite hanging my tarp super low on the upward side of the mountain but I buried that side in the snow the next morning and the quilt dried out during the day.
When stacking thinner quilts (which while heavier is more efficient for warmth), a down inner and synthetic has kept me warm (and dry) to -40C/-40F while long term tent camping without ever having to dry my inner down sleeping bag. In the hammock, I have stacked a 0F and a 20F, both down, at -30C/-22F and been warm but after 5 days the outer quilt started to lose loft due to moisture build up. I weighed my -30C MEC quilt years ago and it was about 3 pounds before the trip. After 12 days in -30 in a tent with no fire, it weighed 7 pounds when I got home and I was getting a bit chilled at night. At the time, I didn't know what had happened but when I was unpacking the bag I felt the weight was more so I weighed it in the garage before coming into the house. Two days later it was back to normal weight while hanging in the laundry room, so that was pure moisture.
Climashield isn't warmer for its weight unless it's an extended trip where frost/moisture build up degrades the down insulation. But that still doesn't matter as technically, down is still lighter for the weight, especially some of the higher fills.
Final note. Even for less extreme temps, I'm still a fan of stacking lighter rated quilts. The increase in weight is justified if you are on a longer trip.
Hope that helps future readers.
Brady
Wow! Thanks for some practical info from some one who is out there in severe conditions for more than a night or two! I personally am an occasional user of vapor barrier(VB) clothing, which has kept my body moisture from wicking into or the vapor from condensing in my layers of insulation. It is incredible- but believable- that your quilt more than doubled in weight in 12 days! Now that is some serious and major condensation within a breathable product! Just shows that if the dew point is reached, condensation is happening, whether something is breathable or not! 4 lbs of moisture weight gain, amazing!
You say: "In the hammock, I have stacked a 0F and a 20F, both down, at -30C/-22F and been warm but after 5 days the outer quilt started to lose loft due to moisture build up". What about your synthetic quilts? Did you ever notice them ever loseing loft, especially when stacked as the outer quilt?
I never have, even when I was NOT using VBs, when my buddy lost some loft with down quilts after 5 days in the Olympic Rain Forest of WA state. But, I was also not at those way below zero F temps like you have been. I did, however, get some bad condensation in my foot box, due to user error(I did something wrong on the very first night of the trip). But I stayed warm and had no loss of loft. Plus, it dried quickly.
Last edited by BillyBob58; 02-08-2020 at 11:08.
I have never found my synthetic quilts to lose loft or insulating properties. Similar to wool, most synthetics will insulate even when wet. Think fleece, even if you jump into a cold river, once you are back on dry land, your fleece will drain the moisture and you will warm up again very quickly. That's why rafting guides recommend wool or synthetic fleece for raft trips.
Nunatak (https://nunatakusa.com/) coincidentally makes a quilt based on the principles I shared called the Nebula as a single unit instead of modular like I prefer. I didn't have anything to do with that FYI, just similar thoughts I think. Also, their Nova insulated bivy is synthetic, but for colder temps they recommend a down inner quilt. Same principle in action.
The downside to synthetic is lifespan. They last at least half as long as a down quilt depending on how either is cared for. I prefer products that last longer normally, but I believe a quilt outer will last longer than advertised as it's not getting oils from your skin on it because of the layering and thus requires less laundering. So breakdown occurs from stuffing the bag into a sack, which I don't, I just put it with my down in the bottom of my pack in a trash bag and I pick a trip appropriate size bag so it doesn't get so compressed. I like going light, but not at the sacrifice of gear life.
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Brady
I'm always fighting pack space when I'm back country hunting because of all the extra hunting gear I have to bring so I just haven't learned to stick with down so I can squish it down so much tighter
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I have both. Once, on a kayak trip to Vargas Island, we woke up to a “mist” that covered everything - everything. You didn’t need to drink water; you could just breath heavy. I was in a tent but the phenomenon made and impact on me. So my first hammock quilts were synthetic. Since then, I’ve moved to down - usually with an UQP - and never had a problem. However, usually trips are planned for mild weather. I know normal moisture build up in down can be a problem. on a multi-day adventure, I’d be sure to air out the quilt in the sun when available.
I checked my Ridge kCreek and it does seem to have a differential cut like the Lynx so there is a top and bottom the the quilt. Make sure you put it on with the right side up.
My Ridge Creek has adjustable bungee cord at one end so it’s probably ¾ length - if that’s a characteristic of that model. At my height, ¾ is almost full length. It’s a feature, not a bug.
In order to see what few have seen, you must go where few have gone. And DO what few have done.
I like synthetic canoe and kayak camping, or in the winter when condensation will happen.
The size/weight penalty is more than offset if my insulation gets wet and still insulates.
"It turns out that what you have is less important than what you do with it"
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