made this underquilt and took it for it's first night recently, lovely and warm!
made it out of ripstop pertex so it's waterproof and wanted to use a synthetic insulation for the reasons that it will last for years longer than down.
I bought some Primaloft One, supposedly one of the best synthetics on the market, used by berghaus, helly Hansen and north face. had to order from Germany though as I couldn't find a uk supplier.
synthetic is supposed to not pack down as small as down but this stuff is amazing! full length UQ with shock cord etc still attached compresses down to a ball about 8 inches in diameter!
also using synthetic means the construction is so much easier, I simply made an envelope out of the pertex by sewing three edges together, slid the insulation in (it comes in a roll with the insulation stuck to a sheet of scrim) I then sewed up the last end and ran a few lines of stitching along it's full length to stop the Primaloft moving around inside.
I then sewed grosgrain channels along both ends to allow shock cord to run through and gather the ends around your head and feet.
lastly I sewed loops along both sides to run the shock cord to keep the sides up and nicely around your shoulders, I clip the shock cord through the gathered end to the hammock lines and the side lines to the ridge line. works a treat, warm, light, packs small and should last years with no real maintenance.
made it out of ripstop pertex so it's waterproof and wanted to use a synthetic insulation for the reasons that it will last for years longer than down.
I bought some Primaloft One, supposedly one of the best synthetics on the market, used by berghaus, helly Hansen and north face. had to order from Germany though as I couldn't find a uk supplier.
synthetic is supposed to not pack down as small as down but this stuff is amazing! full length UQ with shock cord etc still attached compresses down to a ball about 8 inches in diameter!
also using synthetic means the construction is so much easier, I simply made an envelope out of the pertex by sewing three edges together, slid the insulation in (it comes in a roll with the insulation stuck to a sheet of scrim) I then sewed up the last end and ran a few lines of stitching along it's full length to stop the Primaloft moving around inside.
I then sewed grosgrain channels along both ends to allow shock cord to run through and gather the ends around your head and feet.
lastly I sewed loops along both sides to run the shock cord to keep the sides up and nicely around your shoulders, I clip the shock cord through the gathered end to the hammock lines and the side lines to the ridge line. works a treat, warm, light, packs small and should last years with no real maintenance.