View Full Version : Synthetic underquilt -- description and pictures
I've been working for a while on a synthetic underquilt and I think I've come up with a design that I like.
It uses 1.1 oz DWR nylon on the shell and two layers of Polarguard 3D insulation for a finished insulation thickness of 1.5 - 2.0". The insulation is held in place with synthetic yarn loops like a Ray-Way quilt.
There are adjustable shock cords around the whole perimeter, one on each end and one down each side. They adjust with cord locks. There are also grosgrain loops at each corner (including one on each side).
The quilt attaches with adjustable elastic on each end. Each one has a cord lock that toggles into a prussik-knot loop on the hammock support cords. You can slide the prussik up and back to adjust where on the hammock rope the cord attaches and you can adjust the elastic for tension. Set up is a minute if that.
There are two "modes" to hang in. The regular is to just tie off as described. The quilt has two small biners. When set up regularly, the biners can clip the side loops to the side tie-outs on the hammock. This mode leaves the quilt fairly open and you can adjust how it hangs so as to not overheat.
When set up in the colder mode, you tighten the side elastics a little more and use the two biners to clip the ends of the quilt together over each end of the hammock. So, for the head end you just pull each corner loop up and clip them together. On the foot end, there are loops in the attachment elastic about six inches up. You pull those up over the end of the hammock and clip them together. That leaves you enough room to still get in and out. This mode leaves the quilt snugly up against the bottom of the hammock (without compressing the insulation) and the sides are curled up around you. This works much better than keeping the sides clipped to the hammock. It leaves plenty of underquilt around you so that it will overlap your top quilt by a good margin.
The quilt pictured uses camo fabric, which I only had in 1.9, so it's 2 oz heavier than it would be in 1.1 (I weighed each piece to figure it out). As is, it's 32 oz. It's sized to fit me (6' 1"), so I think it's reasonable that one a couple of inches shorter in 1.1 would weigh 28 oz. The size is generous and should allow you to stay warm without being reduced to a certain spot or position.
Length is 82", width at the widest point is 48", head end width is 30", and foot end width is 24".
The shape is cut to fit a HH ULB, but it should work fine on anything. The clips won't be in the right place for side tie-outs on others, but most others don't seem to have them anyway.
I'm going to be testing this over the next couple of weeks and will post my results. I expect it to do very well.
Here are some pictures. The first is the quilt laid out, the second in regular mode, the third in colder mode, the fourth is the head clip in cold mode, and the last is the foot clip.
Thanks for reading.
Big Dawg
10-25-2005, 16:07
Great work, Patrick!! I look forward to hearing about your results.
Thanks a lot, Dawg. I went into this with the idea of offering these for sale, backed off, but might still do so if there's interest.
I'll be doing an overnight on the river sometime this week and taking a slightly longer trip the weekend after this coming one. Unfortunately, temps are only going down to about 40 around here for the forseeable future and I know it'll work down to there without much trouble. I'm hoping for some 20 - 30 degree weather to really check it out.
Thanks again.
I've been working for a while on a synthetic underquilt and I think I've come up with a design that I like.
It uses 1.1 oz DWR nylon on the shell and two layers of Polarguard 3D insulation for a finished insulation thickness of 1.5 - 2.0". The insulation is held in place with synthetic yarn loops like a Ray-Way quilt.
There are adjustable shock cords around the whole perimeter, one on each end and one down each side. They adjust with cord locks. There are also grosgrain loops at each corner (including one on each side).
The quilt attaches with adjustable elastic on each end. Each one has a cord lock that toggles into a prussik-knot loop on the hammock support cords. You can slide the prussik up and back to adjust where on the hammock rope the cord attaches and you can adjust the elastic for tension. Set up is a minute if that.
There are two "modes" to hang in. The regular is to just tie off as described. The quilt has two small biners. When set up regularly, the biners can clip the side loops to the side tie-outs on the hammock. This mode leaves the quilt fairly open and you can adjust how it hangs so as to not overheat.
When set up in the colder mode, you tighten the side elastics a little more and use the two biners to clip the ends of the quilt together over each end of the hammock. So, for the head end you just pull each corner loop up and clip them together. On the foot end, there are loops in the attachment elastic about six inches up. You pull those up over the end of the hammock and clip them together. That leaves you enough room to still get in and out. This mode leaves the quilt snugly up against the bottom of the hammock (without compressing the insulation) and the sides are curled up around you. This works much better than keeping the sides clipped to the hammock. It leaves plenty of underquilt around you so that it will overlap your top quilt by a good margin.
The quilt pictured uses camo fabric, which I only had in 1.9, so it's 2 oz heavier than it would be in 1.1 (I weighed each piece to figure it out). As is, it's 32 oz. It's sized to fit me (6' 1"), so I think it's reasonable that one a couple of inches shorter in 1.1 would weigh 28 oz. The size is generous and should allow you to stay warm without being reduced to a certain spot or position.
Length is 82", width at the widest point is 48", head end width is 30", and foot end width is 24".
The shape is cut to fit a HH ULB, but it should work fine on anything. The clips won't be in the right place for side tie-outs on others, but most others don't seem to have them anyway.
I'm going to be testing this over the next couple of weeks and will post my results. I expect it to do very well.
Here are some pictures. The first is the quilt laid out, the second in regular mode, the third in colder mode, the fourth is the head clip in cold mode, and the last is the foot clip.
Thanks for reading.
awesome dude,excellent:cool: neo
i love that camo color :cool: neohttp://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=6061&c=577
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=5981&c=577
What are the packed dimensions?
Neo,
Is that a JRB in camo? Looks sharp. My friend and one person I approached to test this are both ex-military guys and balked at camo, but I really like it, too. It probably isn't any stealthier than plain brown, but I like how it looks. The other advantage is that it's very easy to hide the quilt loops in the black patches. It makes them almost invisible.
rpettit,
Here are two more pictures of it packed up. The stuff sack here is about 9" high by 9" wide. You could get it down a bit more with compression, but not by too much. I actually prefer to keep my quilts in a stuff sack about twice this size. That way they can loft up to whatever dead space is in my pack, but I can still jam them down when I need the room.
Just Jeff
10-26-2005, 12:07
Looks great, Patrick! I'm interested in hearing how cold you can get in it.
Do you think the biner resting on the ridgeline will wear a whole into the bugnet?
Jeff, thanks, I'm very happy with how it came out. This is actually my fourth, and I was going broke trying to get the design just right.
I thought of the rubbing, too. It doesn't look like it will be a problem, but it's something to keep an eye on. I can set it up with the elastic on top, which should help. When I test, I'll check to see if it will hold that position all night or if the biner creeps back up. I also considered a toggle arrangement or maybe a strap or patch underneath to spread the load out.
I'm going to take it out in the woods for proper pictures today and I'll mess with it some more then.
Thanks again for checking it out.
Neo,
Is that a JRB in camo? Looks sharp. My friend and one person I approached to test this are both ex-military guys and balked at camo, but I really like it, too. It probably isn't any stealthier than plain brown, but I like how it looks. The other advantage is that it's very easy to hide the quilt loops in the black patches. It makes them almost invisible.
rpettit,
Here are two more pictures of it packed up. The stuff sack here is about 9" high by 9" wide. You could get it down a bit more with compression, but not by too much. I actually prefer to keep my quilts in a stuff sack about twice this size. That way they can loft up to whatever dead space is in my pack, but I can still jam them down when I need the room.
it was made by jrb out of a military poncho liner,i am planning on using it more this winter,in combination with adding dry leaves between hammock and poncho liner under quilt:cool: neo
patrick,how much money did it cost for materials,and how long did it take to make:cool: neo
Neo,
Cost for materials was about $90. It's difficult to say precisely how long it took to sew, because I did it across a few days. I'd say it was three evenings of work for this one.
The steps to build are:
- Cut the shell halves, the insulation layers, and the strips for the shock cord sleeves
- Sew the darts in the shell halves and the insulation
- Prepare the inner lining: sew reinforcement patches on the corners, attach the shock cord sleeves, attach the grosgrain pull-outs and cord locks (this is by far the longest step)
- Assemble the shell halves and insulation and sew them all together
- Do the finishing work: turn everything right side out, sew the opening together, install elastic, and sew the quilt loops
If I offer this for sale, the price will be $150, shipping included. I'm working now on a web site with bigger and better pictures.
Website is up now. I'll be doing testing as much as possible and posting results as I go.
Big Dawg
11-09-2005, 14:24
Hey Patrick,, where did you buy the Polarguard 3D,, & how do you feel it compares to Primaloft?
Big Dawg,
I bought 3D from OWFINC and thru-hiker. OWFINC has it listed as something else on their site, but they have it. It's called continuous filament insulation, I think.
I haven't worked with Primaloft myself, but it's heavier than 3D and needs more quilting loops from what I've read and been told. Paul at thru-hiker pointed me to his forums when I had questions. Just do a search and you'll find plenty of good information.
Polarguard is very good for quilt applications because it comes in big, continuous sheets, so it doesn't bunch up and doesn't need a whole lot of stabilization (loops).
I haven't seen much clothing in Polarguard, but I've been thinking of making a vest with the scraps that I've got.
Big Dawg
11-09-2005, 15:04
Thanks Patrick!! How's the startup going? I remember us talking in the past about making synthetic underquilts,, & man, you jumped on the ball,,, proud of ya! I'm just way too busy to add something else to the plate. I wish you the best!! Your website, is, well, Kickass!!!! :banana
By the way,, thru-hiker.com is where I was originally looking for Polarguard, but it seems they don't have it now?? I'll check OWFINC. :D
Big Dawg,
I saw that thru-hiker is out right now. Paul e-mailed me the other day and said he'll be getting more in soon.
Thanks a lot about the website. It's been a lot of work and a lot of fun.
I've been getting plenty of traffic, which is good. I'm working on my first orders now, some for testers, some for regular customers. I think when they (and I) post some more results, more people will feel better about ordering and things will pick up even more. Either way, I'm not exactly trying to retire off of it; it's more just to get something out there that I think people can use.
I'm cursed by this warm November. The next few nights are supposed to be down in the 30s, so I'm going to try and sneak away for some more testing. The lowest it's been around here lately is 40. The quilt does fantastic there (I was toasty in just shorts and a top quilt), but I know the real test will be as it approaches freezing. I have high hopes and will report back as soon as I try it out (if it's not inappropriate to be reviewing my own stuff).
More official testing is on the way via BGT, but that will take a bit of time. I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again.
Wow! That is so cool! :banana I recently purchased a quilt kit from Ray-Way. Have not yet put it together - in fact I just brought the insulation down to my in-laws today to loft because we have 2 dogs and 4 cats that would be impossible to keep off! Anyway, back to the subject at hand: I was figuring on buying another kit to try and rig an underquilt of my own. Would I be able to make one with the size of the material that comes with the kit? I might just end up buying one from you, though. Good luck with your new venture. And thanks for posting!
SGT Rock
11-10-2005, 23:45
I love the name of you company. I also think the color is good. You should try and get some of the new pixilated cammo pattern, it blends better than the old woodland stuff.
Big Dawg
11-11-2005, 00:19
pixilated cammo pattern
Hey SGT Rock,, what's pixilated cammo,,, no luck w/ google.
hammock engineer
11-11-2005, 00:26
Here is a pic of the new cammo. It is supposed to break up the image more. Think blown up digital pic.
http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/tame.exe/military/level4.tam?xax=2144&pagenumber%2Eptx=1&M5COPY%2Ectx=28392&M5%2Ectx=3666&M2%5FDESC%2Ectx=Adventure%20Ready%99%20%2D%20BDU%2 04%20Pocket%20Coats%20%26%202%20Pocket%20Shirts&level3%2Ectx=level3%2Etam
Hey SGT Rock,, what's pixilated cammo,,, no luck w/ google.
http://journal.aiga.org/resources/file/2/2/3/4/SupraTex-5C-60-Woodland2-Jacket_small.jpg
More stuff.
http://journal.aiga.org/content.cfm?ContentAlias=_getfullarticle&aid=1119503
justusryans
11-11-2005, 03:26
It's the new digital cammo the military is using, verrrrry effective! I'll stick to my mossy oak.
SGT Rock
11-11-2005, 09:09
They have tested the new pattern in a vatiety of conditions and found the one scheme blends in better for a variety of reasons. Here is a pic:
http://www.futrtech.com/apps/usp/pics/ACU2_high103.jpg
Ignore the flack vest which is old style woodland.
Dreadie - Thanks a lot. I can't remember the exact dimensions of the Ray-Way materials, but I think they might be a bit short. Mine requires raw materials about 90" long and 60" wide. There is a good bit of latitude there, though. I'm 6'1" and that give me a generous quilt.
Rock - Thanks a lot. I really like stuff that blends in. That's actually one thing I didn't love about the Ray-Way quilts. I got green from him -- the most natural color he had -- and it's like Wizard of Oz green. It's a nice color, just jumps out a lot out in the woods. Camo is a little frustrating to find. The woodland that I'm using now I've only been able to find in 1.9 for breathable (2 oz heavier per quilt). I just did a quick search for pixilated and didn't find anything. Right now I'm stocking enough material to make a couple of quilts at a time in green, but ordering materials for other colors on a per person basis, so if anyone wants something and I can find it, it's no problem to make it.
I got out to test last night. Just a quick overnight to Shenandoah, but it got down to freezing and was very windy. I'm in the process of doing the write-up on my site, but everything went great. I can't wait to try it out even lower.
Thanks everyone for the very useful feedback and comments. They're always welcome.
Just Jeff
11-11-2005, 13:41
I've actually found pixelated camo fabric at Walmart...just not DWR. Still might be worth a look if you're already there, though.
Lanthar Mandragoran
11-11-2005, 16:57
ditto the comment on the nice looking sight. I may be ordering one when I get around to buying / making a hammock.
Lanthar, thanks a lot. There'll be one waiting for you.
Jeff, I'll be sure to check Wal-Mart, thanks.
Last night's test results are up on the site now. 32 degrees, windy, and I slept in just shorts and a hat.