wph22840
01-01-2006, 00:57
Field Test: “Potomac” Underquiltby Kickass Quits
Initial Report: 31 December 2005
Tester Biographical Information
Name: Win
Gender: Male
Height: 5’-10”
Weight: 208 lb
Age: 53
Test
Location: George Washington National Forest
Virginia, USA
Tester’s Background:
I am a novice backpacker, but an experienced camper, who wanted to provide a review to allow other novices to compare gear. I have camped in a variety of areas across the country ranging from the Cascades, the Sierra Madres, the Coulees of the northwest, the New Hampshire slope of Mt. Washington, to the Blue Ridge in Virginia.
Product Information:
Model: Potomac Underquilt
Manufacturer: Kickass Quilts
Contact Info: info@kickassquilts.com
240.483.3747
3220 Hewitt Ave.
Suite 112 Silver
Spring, MD 20906
Website:http://www.kickassquilts.com/Home.html
Date of
Manufacture: November 2005
Size tested: Regular (reported to fit about 5'9" to 6'4")
Length: 80"
Width at widest point - 48"
Width at head - 30"
Width at foot - 24"
Materials
As Tested: Shell: 1.1 oz DWR ripstop nylon, top and bottom
Base Insulation: 1.5 - 2.0" of Polarguard 3D
Additional Insulation: one additional layer added
Attachment/Adjustment: 3/32" adjustable shock cord
Quilt loops: 100% polyester yarn
Weight
As Tested: Regular Base Weight – 28 oz
Camouflage – 2 oz additional
Added Insulation – 10 oz additional
Total weight – 40 oz
Tested on: Hennessy Explorer Deluxe Asym
Product Arrival: My on-line order received a response within
24 hours. The finished product was received in approximately
two weeks, with several email updates in the interim. Patrick did a great job of making sure a novice buyer and the seller were on the same page.
First Impressions: The underquilt arrived in good shape and with all the advertised extras (an oversized net storage bag, a stuff sack, etc.) along with a nice note. The workmanship was professional and the instructions adequate. I should note that Patrick has updated his attachment/installation instructions on the web now and they are very good.
Initial Outing: The trip was a short excursion to test out both the underquilt and my 16-year-old tent camping son’s stamina. We arrived at the campsite in late morning to find a 3 inch thick coating of frozen snow-slush everywhere. The daytime high that day was 42 degrees F. It took me about half an hour to pitch my hammock as I am still a neophyte. With printed instructions in hand, it took me all of ten or fifteen minutes to attach and adjust the underquilt. Patrick’s novel loop and toggle method is a breeze! I spread out my North Face Cat’s Meow sleeping bag (20 degree rating) as my over quilt and left well enough alone.
By evening the temperature had started to drop and the radiant cooling to the slushy snow was noticeable as you stood or sat in camp. It was a relatively clear night with just broken cloud cover.
My first direct experience with the underquilt was the act of getting past it to get into my hammock. I have a new hip, which makes some gyrations more entertaining than others. When I went to move the underquilt to the side in order to access the spit bottom of the Hennessy hammock, I found that I had tied my hammock a bit low for comfortable access. Being a lazy sort sometimes decided I make do none-the-less, pushed the underquilt aside and climbed in. It took a bit of scrambling to get myself stretched out, and then I had to reverse course to reach back through the slit to swing the edge of the underquilt back up alongside the hammock. As I lay back down I realized that I had indeed hung the hammock too low. My shoulder was feeling the ground/snow brushing as the hammock swung in the 2 to 4 mph breeze. So I got my practice opening up the slit with my foot, trying to hook the edge of the underquilt to bring it down, and then climbing out. Ten minutes of hammock adjustment, a slight tightening of the edge shock cord for the underquilt, and I was back in my bed.
The low temperature that night was 27.2 degrees F. As noted above, there was also the factor of the refreezing slush beneath the hammock. I was not overly optimistic about the likelihood of being warm and comfy.
I am delighted to say that I was warm all night other than the occasional experience of rolling the overquilt too far to one side and exposing various appendages. The underquilt on the other hand kept me warm, had no cold spots, and was wrapped snuggly around me without imposing restrictions to movement or claustrophobic episodes.
I will not only keep this bag for four season use, I am sure I will get many chances to amaze both my hammocking and non-hammocking friends as we spend time outdoors. By the way, my ground-sleeping son, with two 1.5 inch thermarest pads is now interested in trying my hammock…
Initial Report: 31 December 2005
Tester Biographical Information
Name: Win
Gender: Male
Height: 5’-10”
Weight: 208 lb
Age: 53
Test
Location: George Washington National Forest
Virginia, USA
Tester’s Background:
I am a novice backpacker, but an experienced camper, who wanted to provide a review to allow other novices to compare gear. I have camped in a variety of areas across the country ranging from the Cascades, the Sierra Madres, the Coulees of the northwest, the New Hampshire slope of Mt. Washington, to the Blue Ridge in Virginia.
Product Information:
Model: Potomac Underquilt
Manufacturer: Kickass Quilts
Contact Info: info@kickassquilts.com
240.483.3747
3220 Hewitt Ave.
Suite 112 Silver
Spring, MD 20906
Website:http://www.kickassquilts.com/Home.html
Date of
Manufacture: November 2005
Size tested: Regular (reported to fit about 5'9" to 6'4")
Length: 80"
Width at widest point - 48"
Width at head - 30"
Width at foot - 24"
Materials
As Tested: Shell: 1.1 oz DWR ripstop nylon, top and bottom
Base Insulation: 1.5 - 2.0" of Polarguard 3D
Additional Insulation: one additional layer added
Attachment/Adjustment: 3/32" adjustable shock cord
Quilt loops: 100% polyester yarn
Weight
As Tested: Regular Base Weight – 28 oz
Camouflage – 2 oz additional
Added Insulation – 10 oz additional
Total weight – 40 oz
Tested on: Hennessy Explorer Deluxe Asym
Product Arrival: My on-line order received a response within
24 hours. The finished product was received in approximately
two weeks, with several email updates in the interim. Patrick did a great job of making sure a novice buyer and the seller were on the same page.
First Impressions: The underquilt arrived in good shape and with all the advertised extras (an oversized net storage bag, a stuff sack, etc.) along with a nice note. The workmanship was professional and the instructions adequate. I should note that Patrick has updated his attachment/installation instructions on the web now and they are very good.
Initial Outing: The trip was a short excursion to test out both the underquilt and my 16-year-old tent camping son’s stamina. We arrived at the campsite in late morning to find a 3 inch thick coating of frozen snow-slush everywhere. The daytime high that day was 42 degrees F. It took me about half an hour to pitch my hammock as I am still a neophyte. With printed instructions in hand, it took me all of ten or fifteen minutes to attach and adjust the underquilt. Patrick’s novel loop and toggle method is a breeze! I spread out my North Face Cat’s Meow sleeping bag (20 degree rating) as my over quilt and left well enough alone.
By evening the temperature had started to drop and the radiant cooling to the slushy snow was noticeable as you stood or sat in camp. It was a relatively clear night with just broken cloud cover.
My first direct experience with the underquilt was the act of getting past it to get into my hammock. I have a new hip, which makes some gyrations more entertaining than others. When I went to move the underquilt to the side in order to access the spit bottom of the Hennessy hammock, I found that I had tied my hammock a bit low for comfortable access. Being a lazy sort sometimes decided I make do none-the-less, pushed the underquilt aside and climbed in. It took a bit of scrambling to get myself stretched out, and then I had to reverse course to reach back through the slit to swing the edge of the underquilt back up alongside the hammock. As I lay back down I realized that I had indeed hung the hammock too low. My shoulder was feeling the ground/snow brushing as the hammock swung in the 2 to 4 mph breeze. So I got my practice opening up the slit with my foot, trying to hook the edge of the underquilt to bring it down, and then climbing out. Ten minutes of hammock adjustment, a slight tightening of the edge shock cord for the underquilt, and I was back in my bed.
The low temperature that night was 27.2 degrees F. As noted above, there was also the factor of the refreezing slush beneath the hammock. I was not overly optimistic about the likelihood of being warm and comfy.
I am delighted to say that I was warm all night other than the occasional experience of rolling the overquilt too far to one side and exposing various appendages. The underquilt on the other hand kept me warm, had no cold spots, and was wrapped snuggly around me without imposing restrictions to movement or claustrophobic episodes.
I will not only keep this bag for four season use, I am sure I will get many chances to amaze both my hammocking and non-hammocking friends as we spend time outdoors. By the way, my ground-sleeping son, with two 1.5 inch thermarest pads is now interested in trying my hammock…