so i'm headed up in September this year and was planing on using my hammock. i don't have a under quilt. will i be pretty cold at night that time of year with just a sleeping bag?

Yeah you need some type of bottom insulation. A ground pad works but an under quilt is what you really want. Use your sleeping bag only on top of you as a makeshift top quilt.

Yes.

Get a underquilt or pad.

I've used an insulated air mattress in my hammock a few times. It can be tough to get it in the hammock at the right angle, but when you do, it's like a sleep number bed that sways in the breeze. More comfortable than my bed at home.

Here's a video by Shug on you tube about Using a pad under you in a hammock. If your not familiar with him you might want to subscribe to his channel. He's done all kinds of informational videos on hanging.

The pads work but if you touch the sides of your hammock with your shoulders you will feel the cold. I was going to try and make my own underquilt but ran out of time before my trip. Bought one of these and was very happy with it.

I was on knife mid September last year and it would have been rough without my underquilt.

campnfish: "I was on knife mid September last year and it would have been rough without my underquilt."

I am going in August 1st-12th. Would you recommend leaving the quilt at home? I have my 40 degree in the pack right now, but I am afraid it is going to be overkill.

I have read that you should have some sort of underside insulation if it dips below 70. I have limited experience but I would agree with that estimation. You can always pull your underquilt to the side when too warm. Remember you lose most insulating value when you are laying on your sleeping bag because of compression.

Spauldo: "I am going in August 1st-12th. Would you recommend leaving the quilt at home? I have my 40 degree in the pack right now, but I am afraid it is going to be overkill."

I'd sure as heck take it. A 40 degree quilt packs to nothing, and you could find yourself in a miserable spot if you really needed/wanted it, yet left it behind.

August lows for Ely are low 50's, 40 degree gives you that 10 degree buffer, id say its the perfect temp to bring. Have to have a pad or Quilt, but if i had the choice id take the quilt especially if its a gathered end hammock.

campnfish: "August lows for Ely are low 50's, 40 degree gives you that 10 degree buffer, id say its the perfect temp to bring. Have to have a pad or Quilt, but if i had the choice id take the quilt especially if its a gathered end hammock."

That is what I was thinking, however, I am going to be carrying a lot weight for a 10 day trip. I am just looking for areas to cut weight. Now I just need to find some sort of top quilt, and I will be set.

Thanks for the insight!

A roll of Reflectix Duct Wrap (Menards) and a garage sale 1" yoga mat ($25 total investment), along with a zero degree sleeping bag has kept me snug as a bug in low 30 degree September BW nights. The wrap and mat can be folded or rolled without losing it's integrity. Super lite, and easily replaceable. Hope this helps.

Unless you absolutely can't afford an under quilt at this time, I wouldn't go up there without one. I've tried the pad thing, but wow what a pain in the butt to keep in place and be comfortable. You won't regret buying an under quilt, I promise you. Hammock Gear makes their Econ series top and bottom quilts for a really decent price.

You can use the Hammock Gear Econ Incubator 20 underquilt spring, summer and fall. The price point and quality is awesome, and it packs down to the size of a large softball. It would be the perfect choice in my humble opinion.

Spauldo: "

campnfish: "I was on knife mid September last year and it would have been rough without my underquilt."

I am going in August 1st-12th. Would you recommend leaving the quilt at home? I have my 40 degree in the pack right now, but I am afraid it is going to be overkill."

Lord no. Bring the quilt.

I just returned from Woodland Caribou on a mid June trip. Even with record high temperatures (35 C / 95 F) , I would push my underquilt out from under me when I first got in the hammock. I would even push it to the side away from the breeze to help cool me down. In the middle of the night, I was grabbing that UQ, and pulling it back under me, and pulling the top quilt on. Mine are Hammock Gear Burrow and Incubator 20 degree quilts. I have considered 40 degree quilts for summer trips, but this technique worked fine.

gymcoachdon: "I just returned from Woodland Caribou on a mid June trip. Even with record high temperatures (35 C / 95 F) , I would push my underquilt out from under me when I first got in the hammock. I would even push it to the side away from the breeze to help cool me down. In the middle of the night, I was grabbing that UQ, and pulling it back under me, and pulling the top quilt on. Mine are Hammock Gear Burrow and Incubator 20 degree quilts. I have considered 40 degree quilts for summer trips, but this technique worked fine."

Personally I'd stick with the 20 degree no matter what time of year. I spent a night in windy 30 degree temps in the BW with a 1/8 inch closed cell foam pad under me. I slept (shivered) for a few hours at best. I now have an incubator 20 that will be on every 3 season trip. That one night scarred me. :)

unshavenman: "You can use the Hammock Gear Econ Incubator 20 underquilt spring, summer and fall. The price point and quality is awesome, and it packs down to the size of a large softball. It would be the perfect choice in my humble opinion."

I have one of these and used it last weekend with temps in the low 60s at night. Just hang it low under the hammock so you get a bit of air flow. I also have the Econ 20 top quilt. I started the night with no top quilt, but was using it by morning.

HayRiverDrifter: "

I have one of these and used it last weekend with temps in the low 60s at night. Just hang it low under the hammock so you get a bit of air flow. I also have the Econ 20 top quilt. I started the night with no top quilt, but was using it by morning."

That happens with regularity. Just get the TQ/UQ Econ grade and be done with it.

I have one of these and used it last weekend with temps in the low 60s at night. Just hang it low under the hammock so you get a bit of air flow. I also have the Econ 20 top quilt. I started the night with no top quilt, but was using it by morning.


That happens with regularity. Just get the TQ/UQ Econ grade and be done with it.

TomT: "

gymcoachdon: "I just returned from Woodland Caribou on a mid June trip. Even with record high temperatures (35 C / 95 F) , I would push my underquilt out from under me when I first got in the hammock. I would even push it to the side away from the breeze to help cool me down. In the middle of the night, I was grabbing that UQ, and pulling it back under me, and pulling the top quilt on. Mine are Hammock Gear Burrow and Incubator 20 degree quilts. I have considered 40 degree quilts for summer trips, but this technique worked fine."

Personally I'd stick with the 20 degree no matter what time of year. I spent a night in windy 30 degree temps in the BW with a 1/8 inch closed cell foam pad under me. I slept (shivered) for a few hours at best. I now have an incubator 20 that will be on every 3 season trip. That one night scarred me. :)


"

I stayed on the Current River down in the Ozarks over the first weekend in March this year. Overnight lows were around 20 degrees or so on the water, and I found my 40 degree quilt and 0 degree sleeping bag combination was NOT enough to get through the night comfortably. I am going to be buying one of these before next time. Never again.

thanks for all the input guys. unfortunately buying a UQ and TQ are out of the budget for this year. anyone have any DIY suggestions on something i could make myself?

ryebread26: "thanks for all the input guys. unfortunately buying a UQ and TQ are out of the budget for this year. anyone have any DIY suggestions on something i could make myself?"

If your budget will allow, get an underquilt and use a sleeping bag. If not, use a pad and sleeping bag.

I started with a thermarest and a 20 degree bag and did fine into the upper 20's. My current setup is to use an Econ 30 degree quilt (cheaper than a 20 as I too was on a budget) and a sleeping bag appropriate to the temps I expect. The underquilt I light years above a pad but a pad will definitely work.

Spauldo: "

I stayed on the Current River down in the Ozarks over the first weekend in March this year. Overnight lows were around 20 degrees or so on the water, and I found my 40 degree quilt and 0 degree sleeping bag combination was NOT enough to get through the night comfortably. I am going to be buying one of these before next time. Never again. "

How does this work with a bug net? Seems like you would need the one that hangs over the whole set up.

not gonna lie. I sleep w/ an underquilt in the summer...

MN_Lindsey: "not gonna lie. I sleep w/ an underquilt in the summer...
"

The skeets will getcha if you don't! When I used a pad the skeeters would get my arms through the fabric if they were off the pad. Yeah, they SUCK all right. Little bastards...

Before I had my HG ECON Quilts I used sleeping bag only and had some chilly nights ins Sept. but not too bad. In 2013 we did leave a day early because it was going to get below freezing and I wasn't prepared for that. I did not have a pad, just the sleeping bag.

If you can't get an adequate under quilt, you might try putting the pad inside your sleeping bag and then put your self inside a sleeping bag liner. Keeps pad in place but your not directly on it.

Wear Fleece top and bottoms and hat for additional warmth, of course. And if necessary you can use a nalgene wrapped in sock or t-shirt, as hot water bottle in your bag.

Blue Skies & Happy Hanging!

cc

Plenty of responses here, but yes, I think you'll be too cold w/o an underquilt. I bit the bullet and got a HG, but the super easy set up was well worth the money.

I also bought a UQ on Amazon, but that's more monkey business than I prefer.

I don't have a top quilt yet, so I just unzip my sleeping bag 3/4 down, and use it like a top quilt, and its been great so far.

Costco down throw (Double Black Diamond) will be a serviceable, no sew top quilt down to 50 degrees if you're under roughly 5'9". There are myriad instructions for how to sew them into underquilts.

Sounds like someone bought a Snugpak....