Kerosene
04-17-2003, 12:49
The April issue of Hammock Camping News, published by Ed Speer of Speer Hammocks (www.speerhammocks.com), included the following interesting info that I had never seen before:
The most exciting discovery is insulator bags made with slightly inflated heavy-duty trash bags. They offer remarkable warmth for only a few ounces! When placed between a hammock and an outside shell, such as a silnylon bottom sheet or the Speer PeaPod sleeping bag, the trash bags can provide 1-5" of insulating thickness! 1.2-1.5 mil yard bags are suitable, however 2.5 mil trash compactor bags provide greater puncture security. A small amount of air is trapped inside each bag before twisting the ends and securing with strong rubber bands or small shock cord bands to seal them. Trapping too much air causes a bag to "balloon" out, making it difficult to keep beneath you.
The thermal effectiveness of the bags can be greatly and simply increased by placing extra pack items inside--such as one's down jacket, sweater, fleece pullover, any extra clothing, or even your rain gear, wind suit or ground sheet. Since these items are already carried in one's pack, they take on multiple uses and no additional weight is needed for the bottom insulation! When folded and inserted into a bag before closing, a 2-oz reflective emergency blanket can add great warmth! Even leaves can be used as inside insulation! The bag does not need to be completely filled w/ insulating items--generally only 1-2" thickness of insulation works fine as a bottom layer inside a 3-5" thick air-filled bag. One to three bags will provide all the coverage needed and at 1.5-2.5 ozs/bag, the total extra pack weight may be only 3-8 ozs! Note that a silnylon shell may add an additional 6-10 ozs. However, those already using the Speer PeaPod will not need the silnylon shell.
B. OTHER TIPS FROM HAMMOCK CAMPING-L
Useful recent hammock camping tips from the list include: Shelf liner to prevent slipping nylon air mats. Rubberized non-slip shelf liner works great to stop Therm-A-Rest type nylon air pads from slipping out from under a hammock user. The generic brand from Wal-Mart (12" X 15', 2.6 oz) cost only $0.94.
27" wide foam pad from Target. Excellent wide, non-slip sleeping pad (27" X 72" X 3/8", $10).
The most exciting discovery is insulator bags made with slightly inflated heavy-duty trash bags. They offer remarkable warmth for only a few ounces! When placed between a hammock and an outside shell, such as a silnylon bottom sheet or the Speer PeaPod sleeping bag, the trash bags can provide 1-5" of insulating thickness! 1.2-1.5 mil yard bags are suitable, however 2.5 mil trash compactor bags provide greater puncture security. A small amount of air is trapped inside each bag before twisting the ends and securing with strong rubber bands or small shock cord bands to seal them. Trapping too much air causes a bag to "balloon" out, making it difficult to keep beneath you.
The thermal effectiveness of the bags can be greatly and simply increased by placing extra pack items inside--such as one's down jacket, sweater, fleece pullover, any extra clothing, or even your rain gear, wind suit or ground sheet. Since these items are already carried in one's pack, they take on multiple uses and no additional weight is needed for the bottom insulation! When folded and inserted into a bag before closing, a 2-oz reflective emergency blanket can add great warmth! Even leaves can be used as inside insulation! The bag does not need to be completely filled w/ insulating items--generally only 1-2" thickness of insulation works fine as a bottom layer inside a 3-5" thick air-filled bag. One to three bags will provide all the coverage needed and at 1.5-2.5 ozs/bag, the total extra pack weight may be only 3-8 ozs! Note that a silnylon shell may add an additional 6-10 ozs. However, those already using the Speer PeaPod will not need the silnylon shell.
B. OTHER TIPS FROM HAMMOCK CAMPING-L
Useful recent hammock camping tips from the list include: Shelf liner to prevent slipping nylon air mats. Rubberized non-slip shelf liner works great to stop Therm-A-Rest type nylon air pads from slipping out from under a hammock user. The generic brand from Wal-Mart (12" X 15', 2.6 oz) cost only $0.94.
27" wide foam pad from Target. Excellent wide, non-slip sleeping pad (27" X 72" X 3/8", $10).