Best Underquilt

[Kieren]

What is the best underquilt you feel is available in the UK? Have you tried more than one and have you tried anything from abroad?
It's absolutely vital that we get this one sorted as quickly as possible as we're rapidly heading towards the end of winter!!!

[Stevie]

Most opinions I hear seem to point towards the UK Hammocks down quilts.
It seems quilt choice is something we are severley lacking in over here in the UK.

[Si Glasgow]

I keep looking at the ukhammocks website and wonder can I justify the upgrade from my Snugpak setup?

[Kris D]

Hey buddy how's it going ? Spent my first night in hammock and for a variety of reasons I froze. I'm very interested in the snugpak underblanket but can you give some advice how good it is mate ? Also do you have it fitted to a hennessey ? Cheers

[Stevie]

Think about the heat you'll gain and the room and weight you'll save

[kermit67]

the best one I believe is the one you make yourself try making 1 from a old sleeping bag

[Chubbs]

I'm another one for homemade underquilts. Seeing as though secondhand sleeping bags can be picked up for virtually nothing, you could make a few of them to suit your needs. If you are hiking you will obviously need a lighter one compared to a thicker one for car camping and there are also other things to take into consideration such as weather conditions, how hot an individual sleeps and what clothing they are wearing in a hammock.

I made mine after copying a post on another forum by Jus Young. Its made from a 300g psm sleeping bag and I have used it down to about 2 degrees without a problem. I will post a link in a seperate thread to show everybody how it was made.

[craige]

I have had a snugpak quilt which I sold, it worked fine and was warm enough down to -5°C (although I wouldn't like to go lower). It was a pita to setup and get dialed in though and quite bulky.
I now have a 0°F (-18°C) Zeppelin from underground quilts and a 20°F (-6°C) Phoenix from Hammock Gear. Both are fantastic, I like the design of the phoenix better but the craftsmanship on the zeppelin is superb. Wouldn't trade either until I get up enough nerve to tackle making my own.

[jezoliver]

I have a snugpak UB and have managed to get a consistent easily set up and effective hang method. my problem is 2 fold. bulk and price. I have 3 hammocks and plans to take my boys out but can't afford £100 to £220 to keep them warm!

[Chubbs]

Seriously Jez, have a go at making you're own mate. Really easy to do, especially if you have access to a sewing maching and costs nothing if you already have the sleeping bag. Secondhand, they can be picked up from charity shops for a couple of quid and a quick wash will sort out them 'charity shop smells'!!.

I don't know anything about the imported underblankets but the DD one has only been tested in the warmer weather by them, which isn't much use when the main time to use them is in the colder parts of the year. I did prove to myself how valuable one is to me a few weeks back. I had mislaid it somewhere and took a thick blanket with me instead. Folded it in half and placed it in my hammock thinking that it would keep me warm. Not a chance, I spent the whole night waking every hour and it must have been my worst night ever in a hammock.

If funds are low, convert another sleeping bag into a topquilt. Sew around the opened up bag an then take off the zips. Make a footbox at the bottom and with a few more tweaks you will end up with a quilt that will stay around you all night and not end up round your ankles in the morning. Making your own gear is much more satisfying and a hell of a lot cheaper.

[Steve B.]

The best for me (purely because its the only one I own) would be this one from Ukhammocks, summer UQ + 100g overfill.

Admittedly its not seen use in real cold conditions, but it's does me from early spring to late autumn without worry.

[Freeforester]

+1 on this Stevie, bit like the axe v the chainsaw v the firewood processor, a positive progression, and (personally) I ain't going back the way, weight and bulk savings alone justify it, and even overstuffing doesn't add much weight!

[Chubbs]

I would love to own something like that but its not an option at the moment due to the camping coffers been empty. I thought about making one pretty similar but need to be a bit more confident on the sewing machine before I attempt it. What is the weight of it Steve.

[Steve B.]

I've not weighed it to be honest mate and I've no scales at home, if I remember I'll run it into work next week and use the scales there.

[ian c]

I made a UQ out of a desert sleeping bag, I cut off the hood and the zip then using a sewing machine I sewed on some rip stop nylon which is longer than the sleeping bag and as wide as the sleeping bag the ends I sewed so that they formed a tube so it could be hung like the hammock but underneath, I used it about 2 wks ago and it was better than I expected my back did not feel cold at all and my sleeping bag was used as a quilt.

[kermit67]

I have seen ian c set up really nice the way he's made the under quilt & ian have finally got the prices for the rings will pm you the prices

[Steve B.]

What is the weight of it Steve.

Got round to weighing it today, 559.3g with stuff sack, stuff sack 20.7g..........................so it's 538.6g for the quilt.

[Meadows]

That's a good weight, what does it pack down to when compressed?

[Chubbs]

Bleedin eck mate, that is light.

Will have to seriously consider making one at that weight. Do you find it strange keeping warm with something so light covering you, as the norm is to add more layers which increases weight when we are cold.