Budget winter hammocking

[a.pushkin88]

I love hammock camping and want to try it in colder weather but I’m on a tight budget. I’ve seen people use reflectix, wool blankets and even sleeping bags as makeshift underquilts. Do any of these actually work?

Also, is there a cheap way to make a top quilt that won’t leave me shivering? Would love to hear what hacks have worked for you! Thanks everyone!

 

[cougarmeat]

A cheap way to "make" a top quilt is it use your regular sleeping bag but unzip in to about 2 to 3 feet from the bottom to make a footbox (like a top quilt has).

 

[relaxN3njoy]

I love hammock camping and want to try it in colder weather but I’m on a tight budget. I’ve seen people use reflectix, wool blankets and even sleeping bags as makeshift underquilts. Do any of these actually work?

Also, is there a cheap way to make a top quilt that won’t leave me shivering? Would love to hear what hacks have worked for you! Thanks everyone!

@cougarmeat has a good tips. as for myself, I used a cheap military surplus wool blanket strapped under my hammock for ages! It's heavy, but it works great for a budget underquilt. For the top, try sewing two lightweight synthetic sleeping bags together to make a huge, warm top quilt

 

[newtravel3r]

@cougarmeat has a good tips. as for myself, I used a cheap military surplus wool blanket strapped under my hammock for ages! It's heavy, but it works great for a budget underquilt. For the top, try sewing two lightweight synthetic sleeping bags together to make a huge, warm top quilt

got two old sleeping bags sitting in the closet. did you sew them along the sides or just layer them? Wondering if it’s warm enough for below-freezing nights.

 

[cougarmeat]

Details matter. What temperature range are you targeting? What is the temperature rating of your sleeping bags? Understand that it is the loft that influences the insulation factor, and when you layer, you have to be careful not to compress the loft of one of the two layers. Also, with hammocks, often the insulation under the hammock is more influential to comfort than the layer on top. They both matter, but if the bottom insulation isn't up to the task, you will experience CBS (Cold Butt Syndrome).

 

[a.pushkin88]

Details matter. What temperature range are you targeting? What is the temperature rating of your sleeping bags? Understand that it is the loft that influences the insulation factor, and when you layer, you have to be careful not to compress the loft of one of the two layers. Also, with hammocks, often the insulation under the hammock is more influential to comfort than the layer on top. They both matter, but if the bottom insulation isn't up to the task, you will experience CBS (Cold Butt Syndrome).

Hi @cougarmeat!I’m planning for temps in the mid‑20s °F. My main bag is a 0°, but I sometimes layer a 20° bag in shoulder season. I try to avoid compressing loft when stacking. For hammocks, I run a 20° underquilt with a foam pad backup, CBS hit me once even with a top quilt. On the ground, I lean on the pad’s R‑value, but in the hammock it’s all about the underside. Do you find underquilts alone are enough, or do you always add a pad too?

 

[cougarmeat]

The short answer is, I don't use a pad. But I do use an under-quilt protector (UQP). It's an extra layer of breathable nylon that hangs under the UQ, creating a wind barrier. Because I often switch out hammocks and underquilts, and I set up alone, the underquilt protector (UQP) is "insurance" in case my adjustments aren't optimum.

The temperatures reported in the newspaper or TV news stations may not reflect the cold level at your location. A useful tool is a min/max thermometer. The one I have looks like a large teardrop and costs about $10. The Max temperature reading is a bit useless because holding the thermometer in my hand changes that amount. But the minimum temperature reading lets me know how well a particular setup kept me comfortable at the actual minimum nighttime temperature.

So while it won't predict what it will be, it will tell you what it actually was, and you can use that to evaluate your gear choice decision.

This isn't what I have, but it's something like: https://www.acurite.com/products/digital-thermometer-with-carabiner-clip