Buying a top quilt - max rating or not?

[XRV John]

I'm ready to move out of sleeping bags now I'm a happy hammocker. Bought the long winter under quilt from UK Hammocks second hand on here (it's rated at -15C) so that's the UQ sorted

But would folks advise buying the warmest rating and then just adjust how it is used in warmer weather? Best of these I can find is UK Hammocks at -15C (£165+PP)

Or a lower rated one (DD at 2C) and then add something? (£45+PP)

Also the UKH UQ is in its original bag which is quite bulky. How small should I expect this to pack down so I can buy a properly sized stuff bag?

Thanks folks

John

 

[sunndog]

If weight isnt a concern you may as well go for the warmest one. Plus if the DD TQ is anything like the DD UQ then it will be twice as bulky as a down quilt
I just bought a uk hammocks UQ off here which i think is the winter one and it will compress down to about 5ltrs in a drybag

I tell you what though, for a cheap summer option have a look here

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133054

used as just a TQ one of those bags will do me for when its warm and two together i reckon will be fine for a good bit of autumn

 

[MartinK9]

I have the Hammock Gear Burrow 0 with 40z overstuff for my topquilt:

Colour coded for ease of use.

Black/Orange- Hammock Gear Burrow 0
Black/Black - Hammock Gear Burrow 40
Brown/Argon - Hammock Gear Incubator 20
Olive/Olive - UK Hammocks winter UQ


That should cover all the bases I need.

 

[XRV John]

I Mix and match:

But if you could only have one - what would you do? I can afford the UK Hammocks winter one and figure if that copes with the lowest temperatures then that's the one to go for but I'm just checking that out

 

[lathe dog]

This is what I'm currently using UKhammocks summer TQ with 50g overfill, and summer UQ with 100g overfill

UQ in blue, TQ in an old Snugpak compression bag ( could have been compressed a little more) .

Also have an Enlightened Equipment Prodigy 30 degree synthetic.

 

[XRV John]

Decision made

Going for the UK Hammocks winter TQ maybe with some extra fill. Thinking rationale being I can use nothing or lighter sleeping bags when it's warm then switch to the TQ when it's not!

Managed to find a small stuff bag which really got the UQ down to a size which will fit in my pack

Maybe in the future when funds allow I can get a TQ for summer use

Thanks everyone

John

 

[sunndog]

Better to have the winter job and save up/manage till you can get something for summer than the other way round imo

Besides, by the time they've made it for you it will probably have cooled off anyways