I'm trying to collect some hammock equipment for an upcoming BW trip. I've already purchased an underquilt (hammockgear.com) and am wondering if those of you who hang regularly will use a sleeping pad in addition to an underquilt. I understand they are probably a little redundant for warmth, but as a side sleeper, the idea of structurally having that pad while hanging is starting to sound more appealing. I'll be going early June. I'm not terribly concerned about the extra weight. I've see Shug's videos and know about the SPE as well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Underquilt without the pad will provide your most comfortable sleep.

Comfort with respect to "side" vs "back" sleeping will be more dependent upon the hammock you have selected and hanging it properly.

I tried a pad once and found it awkward

started with a pad, now own a uq. much better comfort and warmth. loco libre quilts. george will make it to your specs.

OCDave: "Underquilt without the pad will provide your most comfortable sleep.

Comfort with respect to "side" vs "back" sleeping will be more dependent upon the hammock you have selected and hanging it properly.
"

Exactly what OCDave said. Don't combine the pad and quilt.

i have done both. I have a DIY underquilt that in cold weather I will add a pad. But the only pad I would consider doing it with is a gossamer gear 1/4" pad . I have tried a thermarest prolite, a blue walmart pad, a 1/8" gossamer gear pad, a thermarest base camp and would not recommend any of those pads unless you are petite or a kid. The 1/4 thinlight pad is very nice, feels warm and is wide enough for hammock users.

I too have a hammockgear.com 0 degree underquilt and do not use a pad with that.

So, if your underquilt is questionable in lower temps, go with the thinlight hammock pad as an addition otherwise stay with only the underquilt.

pad means cold shoulders and sliding off during the night. Down underquilt is being wrapped in a warm cocoon with no cold spots.

I picked up the 20 degree incubator so thinking warmth won’t me a major issue in June. The hammock is a Kammok Roo. I’ve never hammock camped before which has me a little nervous. I’m not a petite guy...6’3. I seriously need to set up everything in my back yard and sleep on it a night. REI has an Exped Syn-mat 3D XL/wide on sale which is what got me thinking in this direction.

I also have a 20 degree Incubator. Used it on a Hennssy ultralight BAckpaker and the Explorer Deluxe which is the one for taller guys. Worked great. Just cinch it up as directed and you will be good down to below freezing.

Your incubator is all that you need.

I don't use a pad anymore in my bridge, my underquilt packs smaller and dosnt move around. If i didn't have a bridge hammock and wanted a pad, i would get the Klymit Hammock V, it wouldn't move around like most.

I am a side or stomach sleeper at home, but I sleep really well on my back in my Warbonnet Blackbird. Have done UQ and pad. Mid-May (cold) trip last year, and I let my brother use my UQ. I used a 2.5" cushy REI sleeping pad between the layers of my WBBB. With a 20d bag, I slept warm down to ice in the water bottles temps. Worked better and was more comfortable than I expected. One side of that pad is less slippery, and it is wide.

I had also used a z-rest closed foam pad with a Byers hammock years ago that slid around. So it depends on the hammock/pad combo. UQ still packs better, but not all pads are bad in hammocks.

To the OP - try it in the backyard, but I think you can skip the pad. The BWCA nights in my hammock are usually my best sleep of the year, even on my back.

Pads always slip off to the side for me. I had an underquilt made with extra insultex added for more warmth. I have always stayed warn in the BWCA.

Pads will slip, unless you have a hammock set up with a slot for a pad.. Like said above an UQ will work the best..

This character can answer any hammock question you could ever have.. A legend in is own and a great wealth of knowledge..

PatrickE: "... The hammock is a Kammok Roo. I’ve never hammock camped before which has me a little nervous. I’m not a petite guy...6’3. ... "

This hammock is too short for you. It will be impossible for you to get a flat lay with this hammock.

I am much shorter than you. I used an ENO Doublenest for a year and a half before finally upsizing to a Wilderness Logics Lite Owl (11"). There are no words to express how much the extra foot in length changed my hammocking experience for the better. "Glorious", "Magnificent", "Sublime" - no, these words are not close to sufficent.
Other quality gathered-end hammock vendors worth looking into are Dutchwear, Butt-In-A-Sling and Arrowhead Equipment.

An alternate strategy is employed by Warbonnet Outdoors on the Blackbird series. He incorporated a dropped footbox to allow one to lay flat even in the shorter hammock. Still at your height your should consider the XLC version (extra-long, convertible). While I prefer the lay of my Lite Owl, The incorporated bug-net of the Blackbird is favored when mosquitoes are active.

I have been hammock camping going on 7 years. I have tried around a dozen hammocks. From experience; I know you can pretend to make the Kammock Roo work but, don't. You will be happy when your replace it.

Good Luck

OCDave: "

PatrickE: "... The hammock is a Kammok Roo. I’ve never hammock camped before which has me a little nervous. I’m not a petite guy...6’3. ... "

This hammock is too short for you. It will be impossible for you to get a flat lay with this hammock.


I am much shorter than you. I used an ENO Doublenest for a year and a half before finally upsizing to a Wilderness Logics Lite Owl (11"). There are no words to express how much the extra foot in length changed my hammocking experience for the better. "Glorious", "Magnificent", "Sublime" - no, these words are not close to sufficent.
Other quality gathered-end hammock vendors worth looking into are Dutchwear, Butt-In-A-Sling and Arrowhead Equipment.


An alternate strategy is employed by Warbonnet Outdoors on the Blackbird series. He incorporated a dropped footbox to allow one to lay flat even in the shorter hammock. Still at your height your should consider the XLC version (extra-long, convertible). While I prefer the lay of my Lite Owl, The incorporated bug-net of the Blackbird is favored when mosquitoes are active.


I have been hammock camping going on 7 years. I have tried around a dozen hammocks. From experience; I know you can pretend to make the Kammock Roo work but, don't. You will be happy when your replace it.


Good Luck"

Thanks for the advice. There has been a lurking feeling that what I bought wouldn't be best for my needs. I picked up the hammock at REI, and can easily return it. My biggest hangup is abusing their return policy for something other than what it was intended (though they do say for any reason you don't like it, bring it back). I've been researching the Warbonnet XLC which seems like a good fit. I'll let you know how it turns out.