Underquilts - what's the big obsession with them?

[Stevie]

I have been hammock camping for a few years now in all weather and have always used a self inflating mat for insulation.
I can't quite understand the great obsession with underblankets since I've never felt the need for one and since ground dwellers use mats...

Question, if for whatever reason you had to go to ground do you carry a mat too or would you use your underquilt to lie on?

Not looking to start a debate but rather to educate myself on the merits of underquilts. Thanks

[bopdude]

It's a good question, like yourself I've been using hammocks for a few years now, only recently bought an underquilt and have only used it once so far, before that it was a mat, I always got cold spots as I move a lot in my sleep so often moved off the mat. I'm now converted, totally, an underquilt is the way to go for me, slept very warm when the temps were down to zero or there abouts. If I were to go to ground, if something failed on the hammock then I would probably lay on the bag and use the UQ over that, that said, not sure ?

[Paulm]

It's a good question, like yourself I've been using hammocks for a few years now, only recently bought an underquilt and have only used it once so far, before that it was a mat, I always got cold spots as I move a lot in my sleep so often moved off the mat. I'm now converted, totally, an underquilt is the way to go for me, slept very warm when the temps were down to zero or there abouts. If I were to go to ground, if something failed on the hammock then I would probably lay on the bag and use the UQ over that, that said, not sure ?

Pretty much the same here, the mat was fine most of late spring to late summer, but if a bit chilly out then would get cold spots, mainly around the sides of the hammock where the mat didn't cover.

Often solved by making sure the sleeping bag, in quilt mode, was tucked in around me on the sides, but the underquilt is a lot easier and pretty fool proof, coming right up around the hammock sides.

Cheers, Paul

[bopdude]

Yeah I did make a mistake with mine, I set it up too far to the head end, got cold feet, adjusted and then was toastie, I just need to get the pack size down, they're big lol, soooooooo big

[Bragger]

Iv got several good quality roll mats and air mats and to be honest I don't even take them with my tent. The most uses thay get is on the floors of mates houses. Normally I just use vegetation. It always feels a bit unprepared and stupid to me but in the Lakes whatever time of year Iv got away with it. Iv tested all of my mats in my hammocks and Iv never been happy more the fit comfort than the insulation. But in saying that Iv never thought (ow this is hot) unlike my under quilt which is a DD quilt which Im very happy with. but am expecting there is far better UQ out there which in my ignorance I shud be exchanging my body parts for.

[bopdude]

I can't comment on the DD one, I went for the UKHammocks winter underquilt standard with no over stuff.

[craige]

Lying in a hammock with an underquilt is the the same in terms of comfort as lying in it with no insulation. A pad takes some of that away imo. Easier to pack and less fiddle as well.

[bopdude]

Lying in a hammock with an underquilt is the the same in terms of comfort as lying in it with no insulation. A pad takes some of that away imo. Easier to pack and less fiddle as well.

Now you see I prefer no pad for comfort, if things got really cold and my UQ struggled ( I don't think we'll get that in the UK ) I would look at adding something, softshell probably before a pad ?

[Sunndog]

Yeah I did make a mistake with mine, I set it up too far to the head end, got cold feet, adjusted and then was toastie, I just need to get the pack size down, they're big lol, soooooooo big

Do you really find the UKH UQ that big?

[bopdude]

Do you really find the UKH UQ that big?

I don't know what I was expecting but it is big imho, the thing I need to find is how far can I compress it without damage and what bag to use, at the moment I use an old sleeping bag sack which gets it brick like and about the size of a football ?

[Paulm]

How big is the UKH underquilt when packed ?

[bopdude]

How big is the UKH underquilt when packed ?

Well mine is the 2.2m winter variety with standard stuff, like I say, at the moment it packs down to about footbal size, I think it would go smaller but not by much ? I'm seriously thinking of changings rucksacks to accommodate for it lol

[Sunndog]

That is way bigger than mine, thought mine was his winter weight (the actual weight of mine matches what the site says for his winter quilt) it aint 2.2mtr though, cant remember now but i bet its more like 1.8mtrs.....whats the weight of yours?
Mine packs down to like three liters if i really stuff it tight....usually have my UQ and TQ loose in the bottom of my bag and just compress them as much as needed with other stuff on top

[Sunndog]

Stevie, i got by for over a decade with various sleeping mats but always hankered after the comfort of the tropics where no under insulation was needed. Mats were fine and everything, a little cold sometimes in winter but nothing i really bothered about........until i tried an underquilt. All the comfort of a "bare" hammock with no cold spots and i could actually move around at night without keeping one or more hands on the kip mat

Laying them on the floor for ground sleeping is useless though

[Paulm]

Thanks for the size guides guys, I'm trying to compare to my current snugpak but a bit tricky as I don't know what volume in litres that is when compressed, expect I could work it out though if I tried hard enough and did some googling ! The weight of the UKH one seems to be a little over half, and trying to picture 3 litres I would hazard a guess the volume might be around 3/5ths or there abouts, which would be meaningful improvements on both counts, although shame the cost and the wait wouldn't be !