yeti uq or neoair

[10-K]

I'm fine tuning my hammock setup in anticipation of my upcoming hike and am trying to decide whether to get a yeti underquilt for my WBBB or take my regular length neoair.

The yeti weighs less and will work better with the hammock, but if I have to go to ground with my tarp or wind up in a shelter I wouldn't have a pad.

What would you do?

[Mountain Wildman]

I have the Large NeoAir, I will be using a tent, Wonder how the NeoAir would be without the square footage stabilizing the footprint of the mattress?
Interesting. Have you tried it in the hammock?

[10-K]

I have the Large NeoAir, I will be using a tent, Wonder how the NeoAir would be without the square footage stabilizing the footprint of the mattress?
Interesting. Have you tried it in the hammock?

Not yet, but I'm planning on it. If I do take the neoair I'll probably get one of those SPE's that Speer sells which will take care of the sliding around problem.

The downside is that all these things start adding up weight wise..

[Mountain Wildman]

Not yet, but I'm planning on it. If I do take the neoair I'll probably get one of those SPE's that Speer sells which will take care of the sliding around problem.

The downside is that all these things start adding up weight wise..

Exactly,
I started thinking about a cheap foam pad for under the NeoAir for insulation and protection, But add the extra weight and I could have just bought a Thermarest Luxury Map and had comfort and durability.
Decided to just get the repair kit for the NeoAir and I could always put spare clothing under the mattress for insulation.

[Just Jeff]

If you have a 1/2 or 2/3 underquilt, you'll need a torso-sized CCF pad (or similar) for your legs. You can also use that CCF as a sit pad for wet logs, windscreen for your stove, frame for your pack, etc. And if you ever have to sleep on the ground for some reason, you have at least a torso CCF pad and can put your pack under your legs.

But several folks have hammocked the entire AT. You can even hang hammocks in some shelters if you're careful about it. And polite to the other folks in there, but you're actually opening up space b/c you can store your stuff under you and free up the area beside you.

[Tinker]

Carry a piece of 3/8" blue foam cut to the height of your backpack and length of your torso (shoulders to hips). Let it line your pack (further protecting your belongings) and stuff your gear into it. It takes up very little space and can function as a sit pad or "doormat" of sorts when you get into and out of your hammock in bare or stocking feet. Make sure you keep something on it when using it as a mat or it might blow away. A ti skewer stake can also do the job. Spray it with Permethrin to keep ticks and spiders off.

[scope]

Get the UQ and take the pad, and don't get the SPE. First, the SPE does nothing for sliding around, except maybe to help it slide more (since its a sil sleeve). Plus, the Neo Air has kind of a tacky exterior, right? You could go with it by itself, except being an air pad I still think you need a little insulation. Plus the Neo Air is pretty minimal for taking extra gear. The price you pay for making sure you're warm and cozy in the hammock is worth it.

[Just Jeff]

The SPE is spandex on the back and DWR on top...it's not sil. And since it has wings, it does help with the sliding. Have you ever used one? It's a pretty good setup if you're a pad user.

[Just Jeff]

And the medium sized neo air (72"x20") is 14 oz...some people consider that minimal, others don't. Just gotta find what fits your style. FWIW, a 3 season yeti by Warbonnet is 11.5 oz and a full-length JRB Stealth is 15 oz.

[SGT Rock]

Make a pocket pad if you are interested in a pad. Mine weighs about 11.2 ounces and keeps me warm down into the 20s easy. You can slide another pad inside it if you want even more insulation and it doesn't slide around at all - which can be a little bit of an issue if you don't have it set in the right place before you get in LOL.
http://hikinghq.net/gear/pocket_pad.html

[10-K]

The trouble with strapping a ccf pad to the top of a catalyst is that you can't use a pack cover. Not that I've ever used one, but I picked one up thinking it would be a handy item to have in the sure-to-be rain I'll be hiking in. I can pack a neoair or uq inside the pack.

I'm going to haul the hammock down to the state park and try some different options and decide from there I guess.

In other news, I did pick up a used Speer Winter Tarp to replace my 10x12 Equinox. Saves a few oz's and I like the way you can close up the ends.

[SGT Rock]

I strap my pad to the outside of my Conduit pack. To the back, vertically. The pack cover fits.

[10-K]

I strap my pad to the outside of my Conduit pack. To the back, vertically. The pack cover fits.

Did you add the straps? The catalyst has a strap running from the front of the pack, over the top and a buckle on the back. I can't see how you'd strap something vertically on a catalyst.

[SGT Rock]

Under the bungee. I'll try and get a picture up.

[SGT Rock]

Here are the pictures...

The pack without a pad:


With a Conduit you would have to add some 1/16" bungie, but it would be easie to make a figure 8 using the two bottom straps for poles and the side compression straps.

Here is the pack with the pad in place:


Here is the pack with the cover over the whole works:

[SGT Rock]

I just looked at the NeoAir specs. The regular is going to be narrow for hammock camping.

[10-K]

I just looked at the NeoAir specs. The regular is going to be narrow for hammock camping.

Thanks for the pics!

I was toying with the idea of getting (or making) a SPE to use with the neoair. The extra width would probably make it all work.

Every idea adds more weight unfortunately.

[Kerosene]

I just looked at the NeoAir specs. The regular is going to be narrow for hammock camping.

I agree. If you're really serious about hammocking, then I'd strongly suggest going the UQ route. The only time you'll really have an issue is when you're above treeline (or in the desert), and in most cases you'll know ahead of time that there won't be trees around.

[skinny minnie]

The neoair is narrow - I'm a narrow person and I noticed it! Didn't bother me though. I am loving the comfort of it so far. Have not thrown it in the hammock yet (JRB bridge so it has a pad pocket) since I just bought the pad last night! I might start off with the neo and an underquilt... I sleep cold... then play around it with the quilt while hiking and if I feel comfortable I'll send it home for the summer until I hit the Whites. I definitely want a pad as an option for sleeping in shelters and in the huts in the Whites. It's too bad it's not more durable, but man, is it ever cushy. I modded my hammock and am keeping my pack weight relatively low so I am gonna suck it up and have both.

[SGT Rock]

Trust me. You may be narrow, but even then you are going to want about 24" in a hammock pad because of the way things curl up.