Hammocks in winter

[Stan Pinn]

I am off for a weekend in wales in the middle of November, I have been having a debate with a mate that is coming with me about using a hammock. I think a hammock will be warmer if i build a wind break to stop the movement of air underneath me. He says im better off on the floor. I have found that the cold will travel through to you more on the floor.
Has anyone got advice on staying warm this time of year?
I have a bivi bag, mat, and -5C sleeping bag. Not sure how Im going to get into it all though. Help please

 

[outdoorgirl]

Stan,

if you do a search on 'hammock underblanket' you'll find this subject has been covered before. There is a second group buy active at present.

What you're basically looking at is proving some extra insulation between you and the air - your sleeping bag won't do this for you as it will be compressed between your body and the fabric of your hammock.

You have a few options:

reindeer hide
thermarest
under blanket

Each has their merits and you should make your own decision based on your requirements - there are many here who can offer opinions on each method.

I note you're in Swindon, so if you feel the need to see/feel a group buy underblanket before flashing your cash, PM me, as I'm close to there and may be able to meet up with you and let you see the one I have.

ODG

 

[Tengu]

Another local person eh?

(says she who has a hammock but has never used it)

 

[outdoorgirl]

I love my hammock..

Hoping to be able to get out a bit more soon - especially to test and review the new group buy underblanket...

ODG

 

[dommyracer]

I have a DD Hammock, and have been thinking of ways to improve it for use in the colder months. Not sure I really have the money for an underblanket just yet, so have been thinking up some alternatives.

The DD Hammock is double skinned, so their is the surface you lie on and another layer of parachute nylon underneath.

Last time I used the hammock I put a foam mat into the space and it worked pretty well.

To improve this further I have been considering attaching velcro to attach the bottom layer to the top layer to form a pocket, which I can then full with 'stuff' that I find in the woods to provide insulation.

What I'm wondering is what I could use? I'm thinking leaf litter, but how good would that be? It also may be damp, and may transfer damp through the hammock.

Any other ideas?

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Stick ya kipmat in ya hammock, sleeping bag on top

 

[Montivagus]

I am off for a weekend in wales in the middle of November, I have been having a debate with a mate that is coming with me about using a hammock. I think a hammock will be warmer if i build a wind break to stop the movement of air underneath me. He says im better off on the floor. I have found that the cold will travel through to you more on the floor.
Has anyone got advice on staying warm this time of year?
I have a bivi bag, mat, and -5C sleeping bag. Not sure how Im going to get into it all though. Help please

This being Britain, it's really not possible to say what to take with you weeks in advance. I'd say check the forecast out the day before you go and at least you're in with a chance of taking the right kit. Hammocks can be right cold in winter with even the slightest breeze blowing around you so I reckon on the ground, near the fire, behind a wind break/under tarp would be best personally.

 

[Ogri the trog]

www.imrisk.com
All the hammock camping tips you could ever want.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[scanker]

You're right when you state that it's the movement of air that makes you cold in a hammock, but I don't think you'll feel that much difference from a windbreak (if my idea of a windbreak is the same as yours).

I've a Hennesey and use an underquilt. IMO a large part of the benefit felt from the quilt is due to the fact that it stops the wind. The HH is fairly loosely woven and wind whips through it.

You could use a thermarest as Spikey says, but you're prone to slipping off it, or at least having one limb or two in the cold. The bivvy bag would help stop the wind, though I'd be tempted to use a poncho or old tarp like an underquilt, maybe stuffing a fleece blanket or some form of insulation between hammock and poncho.

Without any of that though, you'll be warmer on the ground IMO, although less comfy in my experience.

 

[Pablo]

I too have a DD hammock. I have experimented by using a thermarest between the layers. It works just fine with no slipping whatsoever. I've also put a reindeer skin on top and that works well too. The trouble with this is that if you haven't got them already, it tends to bit a pricey buying one or the other.

Sleeping on the ground is definately the better option as you're insulated and there's no air movement. The bivvi bag will increase the temperature in the sleeping bag as well as keeping the sleep system dry. Ground dwelling (for me) isn't as comfortable as tree dwelling though.

Pablo

 

[Biddlesby]

I'm still at odds as to wether it is better to get into the bivvy, mat and sleeping bag first then hop in the hammock or kind of slide into it to all in the hammock. If anybody else has any techniques I'd be glad to hear them .

 

[Pablo]

This is tricky. After putting the mat/thermarest in the hammock, I put the sleeping bag in the bivvi bag on the floor and whilst still standing up (close to the hammock and with my back to it) climb into the bag pulling it up and hooking it over my head. I then try and pull up the bivvi bag. A controlled fall into the hammock finishes the process. Much time is then spent wriggling around trying to get everything straight

The process is twice as hard with a couple of beers inside I suggest you practice. It took me a whole afternoon

Pablo

 

[Rod]

I have a hennessy and use a reindeer skin - toasty. Just vary my sleeping bag depending on the temperature/conditions.

 

[Montivagus]

This is tricky. After putting the mat/thermarest in the hammock, I put the sleeping bag in the bivvi bag on the floor and whilst still standing up (close to the hammock and with my back to it) climb into the bag pulling it up and hooking it over my head. I then try and pull up the bivvi bag. A controlled fall into the hammock finishes the process. Much time is then spent wriggling around trying to get everything straight

The process is twice as hard with a couple of beers inside I suggest you practice. It took me a whole afternoon

Pablo

I'd like to see that! even more I'd like to see you get out at 4am when the beers have passed through!

 

[drstrange]

I'd like to see that! even more I'd like to see you get out at 4am when the beers have passed through!

That is the point! Ok has anyone any secret solutions for this old chestnut (not you Monty, the pproblem!)?

 

[gregorach]

Well, the thing to remember is that you can move around a lot inside a hammock without falling out, provided you don't push your center of gravity too far over.

When I was using a mat in my DD hammock (I now have an underblanket), I'd put that in between the two layers first. It's complicated slightly because the bag I mainly use these days doesn't have a zip - so I'd get the bag down at the foot end of the hammock, get in the hammock, stick my feet in the bag, then pull the bag up. It's a lot easier than you'd think - I was expecting it to be a real problem at first, but it wasn't.

It might help that I've spent quite a lot of time in hammocks in the past...

 

[Eric_Methven]

That is the point! Ok has anyone any secret solutions for this old chestnut (not you Monty, the pproblem!)?

Get a small dry bag and clip it to the guyline above your head (the one your tarp goes over.) Into the dry bag put a wide mouth bottle with a screw on top.

At 4am, when you wake up bursting, just reach up, unclip the dry bag fastex buckle, remove the bottle, pull it inside your sleeping bag, roll over on your side and fill the bottle. Replace lid, put it back in dry bag and reclip it above you. Empty in the morning.

WARNING! If you also keep a drinks bottle hanging, make sure you can tell the difference by feel!

Eric

 

[Montivagus]

Get a small dry bag and clip it to the guyline above your head (the one your tarp goes over.) Into the dry bag put a wide mouth bottle with a screw on top.

At 4am, when you wake up bursting, just reach up, unclip the dry bag fastex buckle, remove the bottle, pull it inside your sleeping bag, roll over on your side and fill the bottle. Replace lid, put it back in dry bag and reclip it above you. Empty in the morning.

WARNING! If you also keep a drinks bottle hanging, make sure you can tell the difference by feel!

Eric

Overlooking the female population completely and the more civilised population in general!

 

[janiepopps]

Overlooking the female population completely and the more civilised population in general!

At 4am I'd love the option to be so uncivilised

j

 

[RodStrod]

At 4am I'd love the option to be so uncivilised

j

www.shewee.com

on the internet, there's always options!