View Full Version : Cold Wife in a HH Hyperlite with UndercoverUnderpad
It got down to the mid-40s last night in Vermont when my wife (5'3' 120 lbs) tried out her new Hennessey Hammock Hyperlite Backpacker and with Undercover and Underpad. She uses a Marmot Pounder Plus sleeping bag rated to 25 degrees. She was cold and unhappy for the following reasons: 1. The Underpad would not settle in the middle of the Undercover, but persisted in drifting to the right, leaving her feet and lower legs chilled all night. At times the slit in the bottom of the Undercover opened and exposed the Underpad while letting cold air drift in.
2. Although she lowered the rainfly all the way the cold wind blew through the head and foot end.
3. The Underpad is only 29" wide and does not curl up the sides of the Undercover allowing the wind to blow through, chilling those parts of her body nearest the sides when laying slightly diagonally to the ridge line.
4. Every time she moved she yelped from static electric shocks.
Has anyone else experienced these problems and, if so, how have you solved them? She's thinking of buying a Tyvek sheet larger than the Underpad and using it beneath it. What about a windshield reflector? Any ideas on how to keep the Underpad in the center and keep the slit from opening? And, what's up with the static electricity?
Pacific Tortuga
08-12-2006, 19:57
Henry Shires Tarp Tent :cool:
Hikerhead
08-12-2006, 19:59
Clark jungle Hammock and a small foam pad.
Just Jeff
08-12-2006, 20:00
I haven't used the HH Undercover, but I've often had static in cold dry conditions. This happens in some sleeping bags whether or not they're in a hammock, but a body has more contact with static-producing material in a hammock than it does when laying on a pad, I'd imagine, so that might account for the noticeable increase. Just guessing.
I've never actually been able to feel a shock from it, though - your wife cause static everywhere she goes? :p
DawnTreader
08-12-2006, 20:22
jacks r better nest
Fiddleback
08-12-2006, 20:42
The 7oz, 60X40X1/4" pad Oware use to sell might help a bit. It doesn't slide much in my Hennessy and with what little it does it still stays underneath me. The extra wide width cups around me and provides insulation at the shoulders, hips, etc. as well as blocking the wind (from the side...you've got to hang the hammock with the wind direction in mind:-? ).
I've used this pad and cold weather clothing to 26° (no bag or quilt) and stayed comfortable...45° ought to be easy even with wind. In fact, I'm not sure any of my nights in a hammock were that warm. Most of the time I clipped a light fleece throw (Campmor) to the pad believing that it mitigated condensation at the shoulders and such. I imagine the throw contributes a little extra insulation but I've never experimented to find out just how much. Experiements are good...if you can test your set-up in the backyard during weather expected on the trail do so.
Last I saw, the Oware pad's dimensions had changed a bit...in the thickness I think.
FB
peter_pan
08-13-2006, 01:08
Here are some thoughts on warmth and hammocks http://216.83.168.206/index_files/Warm.htm
Pan
1. The Underpad would not settle in the middle of the Undercover, but persisted in drifting to the right, leaving her feet and lower legs chilled all night. At times the slit in the bottom of the Undercover opened and exposed the Underpad while letting cold air drift in. 3. The Underpad is only 29" wide and does not curl up the sides of the Undercover allowing the wind to blow through, chilling those parts of her body nearest the sides when laying slightly diagonally to the ridge line.
Using a larger underpad would take care of all of these issues I think. The oware pad is also slightly sticky so it doesn't slip as much, plus it would offer more R-Value to the system.
2. Although she lowered the rainfly all the way the cold wind blew through the head and foot end.
Wind is particularly nasty in a hammock. Location, location, location...But, if you have no choice, shoring up the areas where the wind is causing cold spots is pretty efffective. You can use clothing, I have found that rain gear under my pad works well for filling in the chinks.
4. Every time she moved she yelped from static electric shocks.
For static electricity I use dryer sheets, sounds crazy, but it works. They are also great firestarters in a pinch. Another way to combat static elec. is to spray your stuff with a an ant-static spray. The spray works, but sometimes by the second morning I need to start using the dryer sheets. Just rub them along the material and over your quilt, clothing and hammock body.
She's thinking of buying a Tyvek sheet larger than the Underpad and using it beneath it.
No R-Value in Tyvek, may be a good wind block, VERY loud!
What about a windshield reflector?
Too narrow, Oware pad is better.
Hana_Hanger
08-13-2006, 03:11
Ditto with the rest on the pad...must be larger
I love 40 " just about right:)
Yes, the ladies tend on average to be colder sleepers. Here's an interesting article about gear and bags, etc.
Unisex does not fit (http://www.adventurenetwork.com/cgi-bin/adventurenetwork/Unisex_Does_Not_Fit.html)
Just Jeff
08-13-2006, 20:07
Good article, Smile...thanks.
Many thanks to those who posted useful tips and info. We are leaving tomorrow to section hike the AT from Killington to Hanover and my wife has added a "space blanket" on top of the underpad (inside the undercover). Lows are expected in the mid to low 50's so it shouldn't be as cold as last week. She'll continue to refine her setup over time.
One of the reasons she switched from a tent to a HH Hammock was to save weight (she uses a GoLite Breeze pack at 14 oz. and carries less than 20 lbs. overall) so this is a gaiting factor as she considers various insulation solutions.
StarLyte
08-13-2006, 21:43
Many thanks to those who posted useful tips and info. We are leaving tomorrow to section hike the AT from Killington to Hanover and my wife has added a "space blanket" on top of the underpad (inside the undercover). Lows are expected in the mid to low 50's so it shouldn't be as cold as last week. She'll continue to refine her setup over time.
One of the reasons she switched from a tent to a HH Hammock was to save weight (she uses a GoLite Breeze pack at 14 oz. and carries less than 20 lbs. overall) so this is a gaiting factor as she considers various insulation solutions.
Another ultralighter!!! I bet that space blanket weighs like .00000001 ounces eh? I love GoLite - I'm using a Salomon Raid Race 300 pack, weighs 1.4, I like the way it feels too.
Enjoy your hike!
Have a great hike Rough! ;-)
River Runner
08-16-2006, 04:18
If the underpad is pulling to the right side instead of the middle, that is the correct position, since it is asym, the feet are meant to go to the right side of the center slit.
I like the wind, even when it is cold, because it keeps condensation away, which makes me colder toward morning that the wind. I just use a warmer sleeping bag as a quilt and tuck it in well at the sides.
I used the underpad and undercover and found them mostly inadequate under 45 or so. I switched to a RidgeRest Large, custom cut to fit inside the hammock and have slept comfortably down into the mid 30's with it so far. It's wide enough the sides will wrap up around me. I cut off about a foot of length and angled the top and bottom to fit the asym design of the hammock without rolling up too much. It's bulky but light. One good thing about it is that it will provide insulation even if I have to go to ground. Another is that I can use it as a sit pad or even a lounge pad around camp or for a mid-afternoon break.