Lightweight insulation options for cold nights

[thementalmechanic]

I'm looking for some super lightweight gear that still gives me a good enough insulation and warmth at night. I usually try to keep my pack as light as possible, but I don't want to be freezing once the sun goes down.
I'm open to ideas
TIA

 

[cougarmeat]

thementalmechanic - Dude, you've got to give us more info than that! What seasons and temperature ranges are you expecting? The gear someone might suggest for Arizona will probably be lacking during a Minnesota winter. What gear do you already have? In what temperature ranges have you already camped?

I'm a big tarp and "I don't mind a few extra ounces for comfort" guy. What I suggest will be different from that of an Ultra-liter. It's all good, just different preferences, experiences, and locations. I'm a sea kayaker. If something breaks during an adventure, I can't just run down to the nearest REI. So I have more of an eye on gear robustness and redundancy, which is not the same as multi-use.

Sometimes people forget that when they started hiking/camping, they learned many little lessons. And I'm guessing changed gear - boots, packs, tents, sleeping bags - as they gain more experience. Problem is, when they switch over to hammock camping, they expect it to be as easy/simple as suspending a hammock between two trees. As with tent camping, there's a learning aspect to hammock camping. So the most important part is to start.

What is your experience so far?
Have you read Derek Hansen's book, "The Ultimate Hang"?

 

[cougarmeat]

I re-read your post and see in the title that you are interested in Cold Nights gear. But again, is that winter cold nights, or 43° in the summer shoulder seasons? There are many lightweight down options for top and under quilts. But if you are in a rainy country and/or plan to be out for several days at a time, a synthetic fill might be best for you. Tell us a little more about your expected camping environment.

 

[spcy_n00d]

I'm looking for some super lightweight gear that still gives me a good enough insulation and warmth at night. I usually try to keep my pack as light as possible, but I don't want to be freezing once the sun goes down.
I'm open to ideas
TIA

I just think that nothing beats a down sleeping bag. A high quality down bag from a brand like Feathered Friends or Western Mountaineering will be incredibly light and pack down to almost nothing.
Just be aware that down loses its insulation when it gets wet, so you'll want to keep it dry. Look for bags that have a waterproof or hydrophobic treatment on the shell and the down itself

 

[cougarmeat]

spcy_n00d, I agree with you about the comfort of down and also the amazing temperature range in which it's effective. However, about those "waterproof" treatments ... remember, down insulation works by trapping air in its loft (the fluffy structure). Your body produces moisture throughout the night through perspiration and respiration, and this moisture needs somewhere to go. You might want DWR (Durable Water Repellent) because DWR coatings shed light moisture like condensation or brief contact with wet surfaces, while still allowing water vapor to pass through the fabric.

I'm sure that's what you were suggesting (or the hydrophobic treatment of the down feathers) and not absolutely waterproof.

I live in a High Desert area. Rain is something I read about, or experience when I visit Seattle. If I lived in the Wet areas of the Pacific Northwest, then, as much as I love my down, if I were going to be out "in it" for a week or more, I'd seriously consider a synthetic fill.

As an example of weather and choosing the right gear, here is a photo of my Jeep and Kayak as I stopped at a friend's house in Seattle. Just a typical April Spring day:

 

[_Bhe Jean]

Backpacking quilts, like the Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20, are great if you want to lose the sleeping bag. They're very light (about 18 oz) and keep you warm even when it's freezing.