Hennessy Hammocks - how much insulation is needed underneath

[andrewa]

I bought a HH earlier this year, with the plan to use it in NZ in January, likely O/N temp minimum above 10C.

I had one night out in it at home with no bottom insulation and O/N temp about 10, and found it quite chilly, so it obviously needs something underneath. I've looked carefully at the Hammockforums, and clearly the ultimate UQ is a down one, and there seem to be all sorts of problems with underpads, but I'm trying to get an Australian perspective about what I actually need for this particular trip.

I have limited ability to try out my hammock outside of home, and my wife might understandably question me if I start wanting to sleep outside at night!

For NZ, I was hoping to get away with a torso length bit of 2-3mm evazote foam beneath me in the quilt. Previously in NZ, when sleeping on the ground, I've been happy with an air filed short torso length insulmat, which provides almost no insulation, and in the snow in Oz, I have happily used my insulmat with some 2-3mm foam over it down to just below 0. Despite this minimal insulation requirement on the ground, I really did find the hammock irritatingly chilly.

Any input would be appreciated. I have no issues making an underquilt if needed, but that's another subject altogether.

Andrew A

[ofuros]

Hi Andrew,
Buy or make a underquilt & topquilt...less hassle once in the sack.

I'm a Hennessey Explorer Ultralite owner with the velco entry.
I use a sleeping bag that has side loops sewn in, all I did was zig zig some shock cord through them &
that holds my air 3/4 air pad in place.....so I'm not waking up because of cold spots or chasing the pad around all night.
When you hit the sack, the down side is you have pretend to be an inch worm in a cocoon for the first 5 minutes,
while you get the the zippers aligned & the mummy hood in the right place.
Also use bivvy sac too when the temp threatens to go below zero.... so more even more wriggling !!

Insulation is the key...whether its down, foam or an air pad.

Once finances are available I'm going the UQ & TQ route,
until then I persevere with the gear I have from my tent era.
They've kept me warm & snug up till now...temps down to -9c.

Hope that helps in some way.......

[nq111]

It is personal - below about 20 c at night i need insulation. 1/4 inch foam cut to be wide around the shoulders (the standard 50cm or 60cm width won't cut it) is enough for me to near freezing and is light, not too bulky and cheap.

Haven't tried the underquilt as i tent in colder climates. Fleece clothing is fairly incompressible and if worn will help.

The disadvantage of cold sleeping in a hammock is their killer advantage when it is hot - maximum cooling top and bottom. If a four season tent open's up winter in Tassie highlands a hammock opens up summer in the tropics.

[andrewa]

So, NQ111, how big a bit of foam do you use? I'm thinking (for temps to 10C) a bit about 80cm wide at top, 1.2m long, and 60 wide at bottom.

We just got new couches, and I have about 20m x 1.5 m of closed cell foam packaging from them, so have lots of foam to play with.

AA

[Cocksy_86]

I'm in Queensland and I use a 3/4 IX UQ from Molly Mac for my Clark Jungle Hammock. I have gotten down to 0C and still been warm. I need to get something for my feet though that stick out from the UQ. At the moment I wrap them in my spare thermal. Some people use a small square mat, but I don't think it would suit the design of the hammock.

Molly Mac UQs are cheap, light, water resistent (from my own experience), and tough. The guy made mine up for me and had it to me within the fortnight. Worth a look at. I'm not sure how it will go with a HH design though.

http://www.mollymacpack.com/new.html

[phan_TOM]

I'll second you on the IX Cocksy, I have one of the full length 'shamu' underquilts from molly mac thats basically the same as yours but it has a ripstop outer covering for a bit more protection from rain (and it stealths it up a bit and stops it looking like a giant nappy). Been down close to freezing with no problems and didn't get cold feet as there is full coverage.

I tried both foam mats and a thermarest inside the hammock but neither worked, I believe a UQ is the only way to go mainly because they conform to the hammock shape so you stay warm and retain the comfort.

[HitchHiking]

Yeah, the under quilt is the way to go for me as well. Pads and what not have just been annoying. I do use a small pad under my feet duing the winter but its easy enough to keep there when I move.

For the Aussie and NZ summer at around 10C I reckon that a light weight sewn through baffeled UQ would be perfect.

[nq111]

about 90cm wide up top - tapers to about 30cm, and about 2.2m long. Weighs about 200g.

i have a double bottom hammock and this works for me - but an underquilt or other options may be worth a look for you as well.

[andrewa]

Ok. So, now contemplating the UQ option, how much wrap up the sides do you need? My TQ wraps nicely around me to "ground" level, but for summer (>10c), do I only need an UQ under me - eg 140 long ( to use with foot pad), 80 wide at top tapering to 40 at bottom?

I'm thinking that it really only needs to be torso size. ? Correct.

Andrew A