Down Vs Synthetic

[Paulm]

I think I'm now convinced on the down arguments

Looks like a down top quilt and underquilt from UKhammocks would only weight around 75% of my synthetic sleeping bag, never mind the synthetic underblanket that I carry too, and packed size of the two quilts combined probably about the same or even less than just the bag.

Think that's going to be the main way to get a decent improvement in pack size and weight that I'm after.

May hold off a bit till closer to the autumn season before ordering, unless anyone notices they have sale reductions on before then !

Cheers, Paul

[Steve B.]

Cheers folks interesting reading, particularly regarding the fit of Down/Synthetic and how it conforms to body shape.

I should explain a little further on my reason for starting the thread in the first place........................I have a set of down quilts also a EE Prodigy synthetic TQ which I've been impressed with both weight and packsize compared with other synth's and feel it could go a little lower temp wise. Which in turn got me looking at The Prospect UQ, now my summer (with overfill) 3/4 down underquilt comes out a shade under 540g and looking at the specs of a 65" long, 6oz Climashield Apex Prospect (30f) the specs state a weight of 19.5 oz or 552g in English money (7.5" x12" stuffed size) and it got me thinking minimal weight gain more quilt coverage almost full length for me when lying diagonal in the hammock............which led to me asking the question is there really much in it.


I knew Down would come out top for many ,but it struck me that the line between the two is a little more blurry than it used to be.

[GadgetUK437]

looking at the specs of a 65" long, 6oz Climashield Apex Prospect (30f) the specs state a weight of 19.5 oz or 552g in English money

I suppose it would be fair to compare it with the 65" 30F EE Revolt in 950 fill down, that comes in at 14.72oz (417g). That's 33% lighter.
(and makes your wallet much lighter too!)

[Paulm]

I think I'm now convinced on the down arguments

Looks like a down top quilt and underquilt from UKhammocks would only weight around 75% of my synthetic sleeping bag, never mind the synthetic underblanket that I carry too, and packed size of the two quilts combined probably about the same or even less than just the bag.

Think that's going to be the main way to get a decent improvement in pack size and weight that I'm after.

May hold off a bit till closer to the autumn season before ordering, unless anyone notices they have sale reductions on before then !

Cheers, Paul

Just ordered the down under and top quilts from UKhammocks, seeing as how they emailed their ST Georges weekend discount code of DRAGON for 20% today and this weekend, too good to miss !

Added 50g of overstuffing to both summer quilts, so hopefully will be at least as warm as the snugpak quilt and bag currently used, but a lot smaller and lighter to pack, fingers crossed !

Cheers, Paul

[Freeforester]

Way to go, Paul, you won't be disappointed with the final articles.

[Steve B.]

Well I had an ulterior motive for starting this thread, ordered mid march and it arrived with me a couple of days ago................

Enlightened Equipment Prospect 30f UQ.

Weighs in around 19.1oz or 541g ish which is only a few grams heavier than my down UQ, as expected pack size is a litlle bigger, but thats offset by not having to carry a sit pad (Thermarest Zlite) to go under my lower legs or the occasional poncho liner. Like my EE TQ the quality of work is top notch, 20d digicam outer with 10d Charcoal inner fabric...................and why camo...? well why not, I get a bit fed up with solid colours browns and greens and the like and it changes it up a bit while still keeping to the low profile static type hanging I do.

[Meadows]

That looks tasty....I like the look of the UQ also☺

[Paulm]

Looks good Steve, will be interesting to hear how you get on with it when you're next out.

I got my UKHammocks stuff a few weeks ago, after about six weeks I think, but had to send the top quilt back for alteration. The web site says it's 2m long but turns out they use 2m panels but have a gathered end which makes it in reality around 1.83m. Then, because of the gathered end, rather than a sewn in flat end panel, your feet take up a fair bit of that length in use. So too short for me at 1.87m with size 11 feet, couldn't get it fastened round behind my neck as it was too short and barely at shoulder level. Went back to have a couple of inches extra length about three weeks ago, hopefully be here soon.

Don't know why they don't describe it properly on the website to start with, would have saved a load of hassle and time and cost.

Impressed with the lightness and how well the UQ fluffs up, sewing quality and finish I wasn't overwhelmed by, would describe that as adequate rather than particularly good, looking forwards to a trip out to test it all when it comes back, although probably way too warm for it at the moment of course.

I'll probably move my snugpak UQ on, doesn't seem much point having the two, but think I'll wait until I've actually used the new one in anger first.

[Scotty Von Porkchop]

Paulm I don't have personal experience with ukhammocks but even I admit that getting a particular length and width is a nightmare as straight out of the stuff sack will be different from once it's lofted. Though the kind of difference you encountered was huge though, it's also one of the reasons I always use longitudinally placed baffles as at 6' + it really starts to add up

[Paulm]

Paulm I don't have personal experience with ukhammocks but even I admit that getting a particular length and width is a nightmare as straight out of the stuff sack will be different from once it's lofted. Though the kind of difference you encountered was huge though, it's also one of the reasons I always use longitudinally placed baffles as at 6' + it really starts to add up

So, after a further four weeks waiting for longer top quilt it finally arrived today and what do you know it's actually a little bit shorter than the one sent back, not longer !

Also has a flaw in the material that I would send it back for anyway, as well as some not very impressive bits of stitching.







So it's going back and when I get refunded I'll have to figure out an alternative having spent ten weeks or so on this saga.

Scotty, if you might be able to help with a replacement, could you please pm me with some ideas/info' mate ?

Cheers, Paul

[Scotty Von Porkchop]

Yeah that shift on the ripstop is probably from using thicker or not sharp enough needles and thread, variable settings sewing machine, it could also be a cheaper fabric as I've used MOD seconds that look very similar to the UKH pictures you sent (I'm not saying it is though) and it was prone to shifting like that.

That said if I build you a quilt it will always be slightly out from spec as I treat quilts as a one off artwork so there's always a slight variation, I like to make unique British bags that are complete one offs.

[craige]

That's bad, I'm really surprised it's been sent out tbh, even with the mixed reviews of UKhammocks I've seen, those are obvious flaws and shoddy workmanship that must have been noticed before posting it.

I hope he watches the forums and sees your post Paul, that is poor form and there really is no excuse. He should be ashamed, especially as that is already a replacement.

Scott will sort you out!

[Paulm]

Yeah, I'm disappointed Craige, there were quite a few other bits of sewing that were not the best also, as well as those in the pics, but I didn't want to be too harsh on UKh as to be fair Mat agreed straightaway to a refund, once he gets the quilt back, so can't ask more than that. It has been a very frustrating process though !

[Diamond Dave]

Something is wrong at UKH and i don't know what, but Mat had a good market but I think it is lipping away now. That should never have been sent out.

[Sunndog]

Mat had a good market but I think it is lipping away now.

Does seem like that doesn't it, victim of his own success perhaps?.
I'v got four UKH products between 1 and 2 years old and the workmanship is spot on. Recently a chap from finland started pm'ing me on the u.s forum asking about my woodsmanx. he ordered one in the end and it had quite a number of issues, not least of which were a wildly different SRL length to mine and another fella's, poor stiching, and snags in the hammock body where they had packed the tree strap toggles unprotected left sharp from the pipe cutter......i think he sent two hammocks back iirc

It would be a damn shame if he slips too far and goes under....anyone know how long they have been going?

[Paulm]

I think he uses one or more seamstresses for the work these days and I had the impression they work remotely and send the work out themselves, so in fairness to Mat he may not even have seen the issues, as well as the length issue.

So he may be in the hands of those workers as to quality, but yeah, wanted to have it work out okay so didn't blow a fuse with the repeated misinformations on completion dates, despatch dates etc and bit my tongue thinking that as long as I got the gear eventually I would put up with some delays and hassle, but sadly I wouldn't have confidence in ordering anything else again any time soon.

Some more bits of sewing that caught my eye below,

[Paulm]

After a bit more research on options, and testing Scotty's patience with loads of questions, he's going to be knocking me up a nice custom job top quilt in the next few weeks

Still waiting for a courier from UKH to collect their dodgy one and then refund me, promised collection tomorrow.......