Please bare with me for what may be dumb question. I see that some people recommend just opening up your sleeping bag and using it for a top quilt. If that works, why couldn't you just sleep inside it like normal and eliminate the need for a bottom quilt/pad? I look forward to being enlightened!

Your weight in the hammock will compress the underside of the sleeping bag rendering it useless.

quote franchiz: "Your weight in the hammock will compress the underside of the sleeping bag rendering it useless."

+1

I went on a trip with a friend who only brought her nice sleeping bag, she tried using only that and it did NOT work. She was cold the whole trip, and she learned a lot about Underquilts!

On the other hand, I don't really need a top quilt for most of my trips as they are within June-sept and a small fleece blanket and my Underquilt are all I need. Do yourself a favor and seriously consider picking up a nice UQ, you'll never go back.

Underground Quilts is my recommendation

I use a sleeping bag for a top quilt and unless I literally have money to burn don't see myself getting a proper top quilt. I think if I was a backpacker I would consider it for less bulk.

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the info!

Some hammocks have sleeping pad sleeves built in so you could also use a sleeping pad without it slipping around as much. I'd also recommend the UQ route, but if you need a place holder for a little bit a sleeping pad will also work ok.

Besides not being warm enough without a pad or UQ, its just plain hard to get entirely inside your sleeping bag while in a hammock. So on top of being cold, you'll be cold after spending a long frustrating time getting into your sleeping bag!

quote bposteve: "Besides not being warm enough without a pad or UQ, its just plain hard to get entirely inside your sleeping bag while in a hammock. So on top of being cold, you'll be cold after spending a long frustrating time getting into your sleeping bag!"

Great point! When I first started hanging in 2009 I would try to do this. Not good! I didn't know any better until I started reading about top quilts.

I too wonder what some have done with a sleeping bag.

I have camped in a hammock a couple years now with a sleeping bag. I currently have a Hennessy with the accompanying super shelter under insulation. I unzip a rectangle bag all the way and use as a quilt. This was the inexpensive starter set for me. Every piece of it wil be upgraded, however.

What I like about the sleeping bag: It can be zipped up for extra warmth, and I know from experience. It is versatile, as I have young 'uns and a Mrs., I still find myself sleeping on the ground.

Cons: using it as a bag inside the hammock is difficult. In my case, a rectange means extra weight. If I switch to a mummy, will it still cover my dancing feet when I sleep?

I found an inexpensive down bag I am seriously looking at instead of an overquilt. If I can use it well in the hammock than its a great upgrade. I use my hammock on 75% of my camping, and so far 100% of wilderness trips. So it is only a good deal for me if I can use it in the hammock, as good or almost as good as an overquilt.

It would drop my pack weight by 2lb, and take half the space. I would also get a ten degree lower rating. Somewhat undecided.

ECpizza
My down mummy bag zipper does not go all the way to the bottom. This leaves a pocket for my feet. From about my knees down I am inside the bag with the rest over me as a blanket. It stays on much better than a rectangular bag. I have a summer bag which packs in a compression bag about the size of a soft ball.
Edit and a bottom quilt

For your first question. If you choose to just sleep in your hammock with just a sleeping bag you will freeze to death. Your hammock is made out of nylon and has zero insulation. It will act as a refrigerator wicking away your body warmth. You need some method of insulation, pad or underquilt.

The reasons that people use thier sleeping bag like a quilt are many.
1) it's darn hard for me to get into a sleeping bag correctly hanging in the air. It ends up like a twisted mess as I pull and adjust the right coverage. It's totally different than getting into it on the ground.
2) if you manage to get into your bag and zip it up, whatever insulation you have in your sleeping bag on the bottom will be compressed to a very small size giving you (CBS) or cold butt syndrome.
3) get an underquilt to keep your back warm. Assuming you have a mummy bag, open the zipper fully and put your feet in the foot box area. This way you can pull all you want on the bag and it will only go until it reaches the end and stop. Then just tuck the extra side wings and you will stay warm.

Magicpaddler, exactly what I was looking for. I think I found a real bang for my buck deal.

I use my sleeping bag zipped aprox 1/3 the way up for a top quilt, and a hammock gear 0 degree for my underquilt. You will compress the down/insulation if you're sleeping directly on it.