We have discussed in depth the relative merits of quilts/sleeping bags in hammocks; the main issue being the compression of insulation under the body. This becomes dead weight as it now provides little insulation but takes up room and you still have to carry it!
Quilts are big with the ultralight backpackers (recent article in TGO magazine) but they are quite expensive in my opinion. I was looking for a cheaper alternative that would hopefully have multiple uses. I came across this while looking for something else:
http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/sleep-systems/trek-and-travel-sleep-systems/tech-blanket/product
It's a synthetic quilt (Thermarest also do a down 'comforter' but this is pretty expensive and, I would argue, not suitable for hammock use in the UK) which is designed to work in conjunction with the Thermarest mat and a fitted sheet. This seems to me to be a good setup for UK summer tent camping as it really keeps the weight down (quilt is just over 600 grammes). However, the design of the quilt has a drawstring bottom and can be used without the Thermarest as a light top layer. I reckon that this would actually also give an extra 'season' to a 1 or 2 season sleeping bag just as an additional 'throwover' top layer.
Review here:
http://appoutdoors.blogspot.com/2009/01/therm-rest-tech-blanket-and-fitted.html
I reckon this could be an ideal hammock quilt for the UK in the milder times of year. In colder weather, a thin meraklon-type liner or some extra clothes would have to be added. Probably not for winter use, though. Being synthetic, it is not damaged by damp and will be easily washable. From the reviews I've read, it doesn't really perform below about 10 deg C so I guess that it's for Late Spring/Summer/Early Autumn use only, unless combined with something else. If used in a hammock with a good underblanket, I suspect you could go a bit lower too.
Has anyone got any experience of these quilts as I'm seriously considering one as a birthday present?
Quilts are big with the ultralight backpackers (recent article in TGO magazine) but they are quite expensive in my opinion. I was looking for a cheaper alternative that would hopefully have multiple uses. I came across this while looking for something else:
http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/sleep-systems/trek-and-travel-sleep-systems/tech-blanket/product
It's a synthetic quilt (Thermarest also do a down 'comforter' but this is pretty expensive and, I would argue, not suitable for hammock use in the UK) which is designed to work in conjunction with the Thermarest mat and a fitted sheet. This seems to me to be a good setup for UK summer tent camping as it really keeps the weight down (quilt is just over 600 grammes). However, the design of the quilt has a drawstring bottom and can be used without the Thermarest as a light top layer. I reckon that this would actually also give an extra 'season' to a 1 or 2 season sleeping bag just as an additional 'throwover' top layer.
Review here:
http://appoutdoors.blogspot.com/2009/01/therm-rest-tech-blanket-and-fitted.html
I reckon this could be an ideal hammock quilt for the UK in the milder times of year. In colder weather, a thin meraklon-type liner or some extra clothes would have to be added. Probably not for winter use, though. Being synthetic, it is not damaged by damp and will be easily washable. From the reviews I've read, it doesn't really perform below about 10 deg C so I guess that it's for Late Spring/Summer/Early Autumn use only, unless combined with something else. If used in a hammock with a good underblanket, I suspect you could go a bit lower too.
Has anyone got any experience of these quilts as I'm seriously considering one as a birthday present?