View Full Version : Sleeping pad in hammock
HiKen2011
12-24-2010, 14:44
Is a pad enough for cold, feb march weather, to stay warm in a hammock at say 15-20 degrees with a 15 degree down bag?
You'd live, but you wouldn't be comfortable. You should get an underquilt.
hikingshoes
12-24-2010, 14:53
I use a pad,and 3/4UQ,with my MH 20* goose down bag,but im a cold sleeper.
Toolshed
12-24-2010, 17:18
Used my blue foam wally world ensolite pad in my hammock down to 40 with 15d bag. I lived, but wasn't comfortable (as the man said)
jeremesh
12-24-2010, 18:02
It depends on the pad. I use an exped Synmat 9 dlx and that thing is warm. Not as warm as the down but still warm. I have slept hanging on the deck with the pad, a 20 degree syn bag, and mid weight long johns and been just fine. That being said, my pad is much heavier than anything a light weight hiker would care to carry but it fits in my pack fine and I dont mind carrying the weight for the amount of comfort it provides.
What's the saying?? Heavier pack, better camping, lighter pack, better hiking?
jeremesh
12-24-2010, 18:05
It depends on the pad. I use an exped Synmat 9 dlx and that thing is warm. Not as warm as the down but still warm. I have slept hanging on the deck with the pad, a 20 degree syn bag, and mid weight long johns and been just fine. That being said, my pad is much heavier than anything a light weight hiker would care to carry but it fits in my pack fine and I dont mind carrying the weight for the amount of comfort it provides.
What's the saying?? Heavier pack, better camping, lighter pack, better hiking?
Sorry, forgot to mention that I slept down to 20 on the deck. The pad is also nice because it spreads the hammock out a bit so I dont have to worry about touching the sides and getting cold shoulders.
Mismatch
12-24-2010, 21:34
Wherever your body is touching the pad you'll be fine, but if one of your legs slips off the edge, you are going to be real chilly.
gunner76
12-26-2010, 10:24
I have used a Wallyworld blue pad down to the low 30's with a down bag as a top quilt and stayed very warm.
bigcranky
12-26-2010, 10:33
I have used a 25-inch wide Ridgerest pad inside my hammock many times, since I don't (yet) have an underquilt. Works really well down below freezing with the right bag. The extra width makes a HUGE difference -- a 20-inch (standard width) pad leaves my shoulders and arms cold.
I stayed clear of the UQ because I'm cheap, don't like their weight & bulk. A pad and a 15 would be uncomfortable for sure, after hiking all day, sometime in the rain and snow, the last thing you want to do is dread going to to sleep (or trying to). A cheap thermorest ridgeline from REI/ LL Bean is what I use, an ALPS Razor over bag from REI (29 oz) and you should be very comfortable. I slept outside in shorts and T shirt on my ENO Pronest (12 oz) a few nights ago and it was 26 F and I slpet fine.
"I stayed clear of the UQ because I'm cheap, don't like their weight & bulk. A pad and a 15 would be uncomfortable for sure, after hiking all day, sometime in the rain and snow, the last thing you want to do is dread going to to sleep (or trying to). A cheap thermorest ridgeline from REI/ LL Bean is what I use, an ALPS Razor over bag from REI (29 oz) and your 15 bag and you should be very comfortable. I slept outside in shorts and T shirt on my ENO Pronest (12 oz) a few nights ago and it was 26 F and I slpet fine."
C Seeker
01-06-2011, 11:15
I normally sleep in my synthetic sleeping bag, with a thermarest (closed cell, and air filled) sleeping pad. I have rarely got cold with that combination. I also own a JRB underquilt which I use once in a blue moon.
You do what something under you in the fall/ winter months as the hammock material is very breathable, thus meaning your back or side getting very cold. In the summer and maybe the spring you don't want anything as it will keep you cool.
You do want a nice rating sleeping pad if you are going to go camping in the winter, along with a very nice sleeping bag.
kayak karl
01-06-2011, 11:58
this is the perfect time of year to test your gear. hammocking isn't for everyone. everybody is different.
"I stayed clear of the UQ because I'm cheap, don't like their weight & bulk. A pad and a 15 would be uncomfortable for sure, after hiking all day, sometime in the rain and snow, the last thing you want to do is dread going to to sleep (or trying to). A cheap thermorest ridgeline from REI/ LL Bean is what I use, an ALPS Razor over bag from REI (29 oz) and your 15 bag and you should be very comfortable. I slept outside in shorts and T shirt on my ENO Pronest (12 oz) a few nights ago and it was 26 F and I slpet fine."
I'm with you on the cheap part, but not so on why the UQ is heavy/bulky as opposed to the pad. In fact bulk (weight seems about equivalent) was the main reason I finally caved in and got an UQ, other than overall comfort in the hammock. He's certainly not going to want a thin pad for those temps, and that certainly means bulk in a foam pad. Might try going with something like an insulated inflatable pad and SPE.
The 15 bag is debatable since it depends on the mfr's rating and how conservative it is. Cheapness usually means bags rated a bit too aggressively by the mfr, IMO. Just be sure to go to bed with a hot water bottle between your legs.
Rain Man
01-06-2011, 15:48
I slept out in 5 degree weather last month in my yard, without an UQ, and was toasty. I did have a standard HH foam underpad (which is thin and doesn't do much). Under (outside) of that I had a "space blanket" used as an undershield. There was no wind.
Inside the hammock I had an Exped 7.5 down-filled (?) inflatable sleeping pad. I don't even know the rating on the sleeping bag I used, but assume it's below 0, as it's meant for Colorado mountains. Got it almost 35 years ago from Holubar. It's down.
I also used my over-sized sil-nylon pack cover as an overshield. I wore a balaclava and had a down hood off a down jacket for my head, but really didn't need it. I slept in long johns (tops and bottoms) only and socks.
I used a Nalgene full of hot water. It was still warm to the touch in the morning. Also, I used spare clothing and a small piece of CCF to place against my knee, butt, shoulder, or whatever was off the sleeping pad at the time.
Staying warm depends on a lot more than gear. Each individual is different, of course. Plus, it depends on how much "fuel" (dinner) is in your belly.
Rain:sunMan
.
kayak karl
01-06-2011, 15:59
I slept out in 5 degree weather last month in my yard, without an UQ, and was toasty. I did have a standard HH foam underpad (which is thin and doesn't do much). Under (outside) of that I had a "space blanket" used as an undershield. There was no wind.
Inside the hammock I had an Exped 7.5 down-filled (?) inflatable sleeping pad. I don't even know the rating on the sleeping bag I used, but assume it's below 0, as it's meant for Colorado mountains. Got it almost 35 years ago from Holubar. It's down.
I also used my over-sized sil-nylon pack cover as an overshield. I wore a balaclava and had a down hood off a down jacket for my head, but really didn't need it. I slept in long johns (tops and bottoms) only and socks.
I used a Nalgene full of hot water. It was still warm to the touch in the morning. Also, I used spare clothing and a small piece of CCF to place against my knee, butt, shoulder, or whatever was off the sleeping pad at the time.
Staying warm depends on a lot more than gear. Each individual is different, of course. Plus, it depends on how much "fuel" (dinner) is in your belly.
Rain:sunMan
.
how much did all this weigh? it was your backyard! i can stay warm in a hammock down to -5 degress with less then 5 lb. with tarp. if you want to hammock, invest in it. tenting is like a bum crawling into a cardboard box, hammocking is an art.
Yeah, it will work. The comfort comments are dependent on the type of hammock and the "sag" more than anything. heck for years I used a pad and was very comfortable. In fact I still use a pad when the weather gets really cold. I only use my UQ in the warm summer months. I have a claytor hammock, the double bottom accepts and holds a pad extremely well. The UQ revolution is relatively new in the hammock world. Don't let anyone tell you they (UQ's) are necessary, they aren't. Hammocking doesn't have to be expensive nor heavy to be comfortable. There are gearheads in the hammock world just like in the rest of the backpacking world. Anyone with a decent set of backpacking gear already can easily add a hammock to their list and use the other stuff they already have.
Ironbelly
01-06-2011, 17:45
I am just really entering the hammocking world, but using my military surplus ccf pad that weighs 8oz or so I am comfortable down to about 40F. I can get down to about 20-30F by adding a foam/reflective car sunshade. I also have a ccf pad cut in half that i put in sideways to cover my shoulder areas.
Using my thermarest prolite 4 and the half of the ccf for the shoulders I am good down to 25-30F or so. And so far using a full ccf, the half ccf, and the prolite 4 I have been comfortable down to a low of 5F.
I do plan on getting an underquilt at some polint, but for now I am using my prolite 4 for shoulder seasons and just the ccf pad for late spring-early fall.
Here's my way of staying warm in a hammock:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=38616&catid=member&imageuser=2502
Just make sure the bag is snug or you'll get cold where it sags underneath you.
Fiddleback
01-07-2011, 10:40
The question cannot be answered...too many variables, too few pieces of information.
But for me and my system which relies upon a 3/8" pad, the answer is...I dunno...I never use a bag...;) But I do mid-20's comfortably with a 3/8" pad.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=67743 , #5 in thread.
You don't need an UQ, you don't need a bag, you don't need any one thing you can think of as long as the system you develop works in the situations you will face. You don't need to carry heavy...you don't need to spend heavy. But you do need to fixate on what works for you. Don't rely on standard fixes, don't rely on pat answers in online threads...read for ideas and put them to work in backyard experiments.
Good luck, have fun,
FB
I use a Thermarest Pro 4 and with my down bag I'm plenty warm all winter. Been down to 10 deg. so far.
gunner76
01-07-2011, 22:02
What ever system you get, try and test it before heading to woods.
Whiterook 1
01-12-2011, 09:08
tenting is like a bum crawling into a cardboard box, hammocking is an art.
__________________
Great quote, Kayak!
I get chilly at 50 with a pad. Not because the pad doesn't insulate well, but because I'm wide at the shoulders and my shoulders and arms are off the pad.
Speer Hammocks used to make a segmented pad extender (SPE). This one belongs to Neo from the boards here.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/3/4/6/2/2005_0714pad0009.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=7649&c=)
It's a nylon sleeve with wings at the shoulders and hips for narrower pad inserts. That would have solved the problem, but I began using underquilts and I liked them much better.
The SPE isn't listed on Ed's site any more, but you might be able to some for sale from their owners if you google it. The originals ran about $35-40.
bear bag hanger
01-19-2011, 06:17
A down filled Exped pad and your 15 degree bag should be all you need. A 3/8 in closed cell pad might not be enough underneath you.
I hung last year, 14dF, crossed CCF pads, IE one heavy long pad and 2 halfs sideways, and also had a garlington taco underneath. The garlington did help a small amount, but if I got off the pad I hit a cold spot.
That was with a golite ultra 20 and heavy johns with a tarp in tent mode.
Pads do work but the problems are they are uncomfortable in that if you move around they do not cooperate and you have to make a lot of adjustments.
They also do not breath. On the ground its not a big deal, but they sort of wrap around you in a hammock and all the moisture gets cocooned in.
If you are going to use pads I would highly recommend either buy or build a double layer so you can slip pads between the layers.
I have tried other pads, like prolite 3, neoair etc, and I did not like any of them in a hammock.
IMO you are better off building or buying an underquilt, and then if you need to supplement it add some pads under your torso.
A Climashield XP 5 oz and 2.5 oz quilt is on my next to do list if anybody ever starts stocking it again.
Climashield is easy to work with, since all you have to do is sew the edges, IE no baffles, just basically sew up a big square.