Thoughts on my camping combo (sleeping)

S

-sro-

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Well I wanted something light and comfortable, and also good in cold weather.

This is the best thing I could come up with in theory....I am thinking of picking up a Byers hammock with a snugpack sleeping bag.

Total weight would be 72 oz. and rated to 11 degrees.


Any one else use this type of setup?

General thoughts?

Thanks!!!
 
If its going to be anything approaching cold (55)you need to add a sleeping pad under the sleeping bag in the hammock
 
I agree about the cold weather requiring a pad. The insulation of the bag will be crushed under you, makes it nearly worthless. Also manufacturers temp ratings for sleeping bags expect you to have insulation from a pad under you, and a tent around you. Some temp ratings can be very optimistic, at best.
 
mrgreen said:
I agree about the cold weather requiring a pad. The insulation of the bag will be crushed under you, makes it nearly worthless. Also manufacturers temp ratings for sleeping bags expect you to have insulation from a pad under you, and a tent around you. Some temp ratings can be very optimistic, at best.
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First thing that occured to me! Same goes for a cot as for the hammock.

A pad is actually part of my basic survival gear. Yes, they are a bit bulky, but at least they are ultralight. I carry a short one even for a day hike, and on the ATV's a full length one. Stop for lunch....lay down and take a nap on a comfy pad.
 
One time I was out camping and only had a 55 degree bag, half length pad and 3 season ten. It got pretty cold that night and I could feel the heat being pulled out of me. I put my army poncho under me and folded it over the top of me and was able to get to sleep. It acted as a good heat barrier.

Chad
 
-sro- what model snug pak bag is it? Because I'm looking for the same type of setup right now, and I'm having a hard time deciding. But what you have sounds perfect. Thanks.
 
My hammock saved my ability to camp past 40!
Mine's a Jungle Hammock from Tom at Mosquito Hammocks.
I got the Diamond fly with it...it's JUST ABOUT 4 seasons for me as I don't get cold that easily.

Last year I saw a Pea Pod in use....it's basically a sleeping bag that goes AROUND your hammock. Seems like I could sleep thru quite a blow in that thing...but I don't own one yet. If we do move to the BWCA in a few years (hoping) and I do more winter camping in the Northern USA...I may go that route.

Don't forget the Car-sun-shield trick...wieghs nothing, good insulator, and when you sleep on it in the hammock, it doesn't compress and lose any of it's usefulness. A little "crinkly and loud"...but it's also good for a few other uses on a trip. ( waterproof ground cover to sit on, put boots on, etc...)
 
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Personally, I think you are fighting the elements when it comes to very cold while in a hammock. Not that it can't be done, but you are fighting the elements. Hammocks aren't all that windproof so you lose heat not only from the bottom but also along the sides. I think you might be better going to ground here with a very tight to ground tarp or tent. You can also stack lots of natural insulation (reeds, spruce bows, etc) under your pad to boast its R-rating.
 
I use a peapod sleepingbag around my hammock in winter. When it was really cold in Canada, I used this coupled with an additional quilt above and below me in the peapod.
I was super warm, but even with down gear, this makes for a bulky setup. You'll definitely need something under you in the hammock. People have gone that low, but it does require some experimenting. Good luck.

Also, I always carry a pad, as if it gets too cold, I can set up on the ground.
 
I have been playing with a jungle hammock for the past few years as my sleep system paired with a wool blanket. I used to take a sleeping pad and sleep with it under me then i tried downsizing my gear last month and go with just the blanket. What a huge difference in comfort. I woke shaking so bad from the cold (Mid 30's) i had to get up and move around and get the fire going again. I'm stubborn though so i'm going to try a foil emergency blanket under me next time to see what it does.

I don't mind heavy gear but i'm trying to get rid of bulky gear that has to be carried on my pack externally. If i get a larger pack i think i could easily get two wool blankets inside of it. Anyone ever tried sleeping with a wool blanket under you in a hammock? Would it insulate you like a foam pad will?
 
crossada said:
I have been playing with a jungle hammock for the past few years as my sleep system paired with a wool blanket. I used to take a sleeping pad and sleep with it under me then i tried downsizing my gear last month and go with just the blanket. What a huge difference in comfort. I woke shaking so bad from the cold (Mid 30's) i had to get up and move around and get the fire going again. I'm stubborn though so i'm going to try a foil emergency blanket under me next time to see what it does.

I don't mind heavy gear but i'm trying to get rid of bulky gear that has to be carried on my pack externally. If i get a larger pack i think i could easily get two wool blankets inside of it. Anyone ever tried sleeping with a wool blanket under you in a hammock? Would it insulate you like a foam pad will?
Click to expand...

Emergency blankets work great when paired with a pad. They work by reflecting back IR radiation emanating from your body. However, the chief loss of body heat is not from radiation but rather from convection (hammock) and conduction (on the ground without a pad). Frankly, I don't think that emergency blanket on its own will improve your nights sleep all that much. Put it onto of a pad though and you will boost the efficiency of your pad!

I've used wool blankets with my hammock. They are a bit more convenient to sleep on, but still not as protective as a pad. A wool blanket is actually less portable than a pad so I don't see much of a gain on that one either. The sleeping quilts and underquilts are nifty systems, but boy they sure seem to charge a lot of dough for half a sleeping bag!
 
I have four different hammocks I've used...the double layered bottoms are best for keeping a sleeping pad in position, but there's more to that when using a hammock in cold weather (sub 40 degrees). I'm a hot sleeper, but you're going lose the light-weight advantage of the hammock if you want to sleep comfortably in cold weather. I usually pack my Swanndri wool shirt during cold weather trips, and this last spring, I actually slept on top of it for added insulation.

You're going to need some loft on the underside of the hammock...the pod is a method; I want to try a poncho liner as they pack down pretty small and I'm hoping will create enough loft to keep the underside insulated enough.

Here's what I'm going to try over the Christmas holidays (probably around 30 degree lows here in GA):

WarBonnet Blackbird
Snugpak Softi (can't remember the exact model, but it's a 40 degree bag)
Kifaru Woobie
Thermarest sleeping pad
Poncho Liner (the under quilt insulation)

Of course, I'm going to keep the fly tied down close and sealed as best as possible. I'll add my Swanndri shirt as extra padding/insulation and wear my cold weather sleep clothing (wool hoodie, silk-weight long johns, wools socks, glove liners and fleece watchcap).

To be honest, I think the separate hammock fly would make a good ground shelter cover. Use natural insulation for the ground along with your sleeping pad, bag and woobie or poncho liner. Even if you fire is far enough away to keep your synthetics from melting, a good reflector would greatly add to your comfort.

I'm torn, but I do want to try a cold weather hammock set up and see if the comfort rating will work for me. Just don't discount how cold that under draft can be in a hammock...even with insulation!

ROCK6
 
If you will sling your hammock really low to the ground and pile up loose leaf clutter and other insulating materials, you will really boost your ability to stay warm. You will want to be literally centimeters above the ground though.
 
Check out Jacks R Better as well.
 
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