I have a Hennessy Explorer Deluxe. Looking for ideas on insulation for this years trip. going in September.

Options are:

buy the super shelter and over cover

use a Cabellas self inflating camping pad (used it in the last hammock I had)

use a CCF pad from Walmart.

Which approach would be warmest?

I have not used the super shelter myself, but I heard mixed things about it. Generally, the overcover gets used in sub-freezing conditions as anything warmer is a bit like sleeping in a damp incubator.

I think your warmest bet would be to get an underquilt. Obviously, that wasn't one of your choices, but for the price of the super shelter, you could get a synthetic quilt from AHE for about the same $. If your camping pad worked well for you before an easy way to push it lower would be to supplement with a thin CCF pad or a sheet of Reflectix (that windshield protector stuff). You can get it at any hardware store. It is the main component of Hennessy's "radiant pad".

Ultimately, you'll have to think about and decide what is most convenient/comfortable/packable and within your budget. The easiest way to do this is to test hang. Try it out while it's still cool and get a feel for what will work.

I had the supershelter, I liked it for the most part but the entrance was made even more difficult to get in an it wasnt as warm as I wanted in may. I have since upgraded to a full length 3 season incubator underquilt and have to say it is worth all the money it will cost you.

would you recommend that under quilt or a JRB Nest which is made for the Hennessy, and has a matching split in the bottom? Are there any other underquilts like the nest that match up with the bottom entrance of the Hennessy?

for me it's the bag. i have a mtn hdware 20 degree bag and sleep with good warm long johns and hat and socks. i use a blue pad cut to a t shape. i have a hh explorer with a bottom entrance.
i may try a 3/4 thermarest 25 inch wide pad, but the pads seem to slide around a bit. i will be in the sawbill area mid may.

i used a Eureka chrysalis last year in mid September with a Cabelas camp pad. Stayed really warm. . ..but it was also very warm weather. Two years ago we went mid May and temps got down to mid 30's. I was in a tent that year and froze.

We go to BWCA each year either third week of May or second week of Setpember. I want to make sure I am prepared down to the 30's either way.

If you plan to continue hammocking in cooler weather it's best to take the plunge and get an underquilt. It hurts the wallet in the beginning, but I've never regretted it since.

x 2 what portage keeper said. I think the underquilts would all work well with the hennessy split bottom, you may just have to pull out of the way a bit when entering. I had to do that with the supershelter as well so there wouldnt be much difference. I have since sold the hennessy that I had, sold it on this site actually, and upgraded to the warbonnet blackbird and full length underquilt.

quote PortageKeeper: "If you plan to continue hammocking in cooler weather it's best to take the plunge and get an underquilt. It hurts the wallet in the beginning, but I've never regretted it since.
"

+1 I love the space, weight savings and convenience of my underquilt.

since I don't have an UQ I was just wondering how it worked with hammocks like the WBBB where you lay with your feet in the foot box off to the side. Doesn't the UQ line up with your ridgeline? Does this affect the foot box?

my underquilt covers the footbox on the blackbird hammock very well

quote strom2127: "since I don't have an UQ I was just wondering how it worked with hammocks like the WBBB where you lay with your feet in the foot box off to the side. Doesn't the UQ line up with your ridgeline? Does this affect the foot box?"

My underquilt gets clipped to the hammock and follows the pattern of it. I lay at an angle and have had no problem. It is a Arrowhead equipment kick ass quilt new river with extra insultex sewn in. Warm to about 20 deg.

I use an under quilt as well. It's the only way to go.

I use an under quilt as well. It's the only way to go. Whatever you do I'd recommend a test hang the the temps you think youll encounter. Nothing wose the freezing you butt a few nights in a row.

quote strom2127: "since I don't have an UQ I was just wondering how it worked with hammocks like the WBBB where you lay with your feet in the foot box off to the side. Doesn't the UQ line up with your ridgeline? Does this affect the foot box?"

I was just in my WBBB and a 20 degree Hammock Gear Incubator UQ yesterday. If you adjust the suspension on the under quilt accordingly it hugs your body even when laying off the center line. It takes some fiddling but once you get it hanging right you are set.

I've now read a ton about insulation, and I'm still giving it thought. I have a new Byers Mosquito and this will be the first time hanging overnight. I napped in it the other day on my chilly porch (40 deg) with a sleeping bag and it was sweet. I'm going to the BWCA in August. My experience tenting there and then is that it can be very warm (no bag) or pretty cool (bag and longies). So, if I hang with a ccf pad and my sleeping bag, I should be warm enough. I may also experiment with my self-inflating thermarest instead of a ccf. But will i be cool enough on warm nights just throwing to my side the cover of the bag while still in the hammock? If not, I may need to launch the bag and the ccf, which will leave me exposed (below) to skeeters. Will permethrin be adequate? How about a bag liner (i like to use a sheet)? If it is too cold for bugs and I don't need the netting,I also sort of like the idea of using the bag as a pull up over the hammock.

The problem with any inflating pad (ok besides it wanting to get out from under you) is that air will be forced away from where the weight is. You are better of with ccf if you are going with a pad. Ccf is amazingly efficient bottom insulation in a hammock. Just not quite a comfy as an underquilt.

You are probably going to want something under you, even if it's pretty warm. You compress everything and It suprising how much insulation even your "jammies" provide. I've done some extreeme venting on mu uq but ive never been able to sleep without one.

As far as the bag goes... I'd unzip the it most of the way and use it like a quilt. I'd vent or toss it off if I got too warm.

I've also done a lot of looking at hammock insulation and have decided:

to keep the Hennessy Explorer
to buy a JRB Nest underquilt that matches the bottom entry
to buy the larger hex fly to protect the underquilt
and to buy a Hennessy over cover to use when temps really drop

Would this arrangment cover me in all temps into the low 30's?

Merganser, spot on. Thanks