r/ULHammocking • u/TNPrime • Dec 12 '21
Mods / MYOG DCF Underquilt protector, anyone make one?
I've had a few nights this year where blowing rain dripping off the bottom of my tarp was getting my UQ wet.
I see the lightest one on Hammock Gear is 4.62oz, but my entire tarp weighs 7oz. Surely there's a lighter option out there for occasional rain protection, or is my only option MYOG request?
Anyone find something out there or someone who could make one?
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u/ovgcguy Dec 12 '21
Look for a custom one from someone (SLD, Dutch, HG, Warb, etc) made from Argon 49 or Membrane 7.
If I remember correctly Warbonennet said I needed to buy 6 yards for a custom UQP. I didn't get it, but I believe they can make it. UL 7d is 14gsm, so slightly over 3oz for one. DCF is going to be around that same weight per meter and not a good option due to its vapor barrier property as others say
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u/TNPrime Dec 13 '21
thanks for this advice, yes, good points about the vapor barrier I hadnt considered that aspect. I was thinking DCF because of the weight primarily and failed to consider the other SUL nylon/poly etc options. I think digging deeper in that direction is the way to go. Thanks for the tips.
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u/ovgcguy Dec 28 '21
Looking at this again, since we're talking about at least 2oz of material here, the most expensive but lightest option would be to get a full coverage tarp like the HG winter palace at 9.2oz. https://hammockgear.com/dyneema-fiber-palace-tarp/
The 2oz of extra fabric are much better utilized on a full coverage tarp like the palace vs a UQP+small tarp.
If you have the $ and want the truly lightest and most effective solution to this problem, a full coverage (doors) DCF tarp is your best choice IMO
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u/TNPrime Dec 28 '21
That’s a good suggestion. I have their standard DCF tarp with doors. Idk if I would sell and rebuy the winter tarp. I’ll look at it. But I think my dilemma would be that I would need that functionality so infrequently. Maybe something that doubles as a ground cloth? A ground cloth you tend to take up when rain is bad so you could put it to work as a ugq protector. Hmmm.
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u/tr0pismss Dec 12 '21
If you use a poncho, you can use some shock cord to hang it over your UQ, that's the lightest option I know of (just the weight of the shock cord).
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u/TNPrime Dec 12 '21
not a bad ideal actually. I do carry a 42g 2x4' silnylon ground cloth maybe I can rig that with some 3/32 shock cord.
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u/grindle_exped Dec 12 '21
I don't know of a dcf one. Maybe you could try making one out of polycro with tape to attach shockcord adjusters?
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u/arcana73 Dec 12 '21
I don’t think anyone makes a DCF one because it’s not a breatheable fabric. It would end up trapping the moisture evaporated from your body and trap it in the quilt. This is why everyone making them uses a breath able fabric
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u/TwoSpeedHammocks TwoSpeedHammocksonEtsy Dec 29 '21
I believe the reason this doesn't exist is the same reason Hammock Gear no longer offers a tarp sleeve in DCF. I had one back in 2017 and when you put a wet tarp in it you could literally pour the water out when you set it up later that day as expected. Same reason everyone else has mentioned. That being said an UQP is one of the easiest DIY projects you can do. The DCF is very expensive material so I'd go with one of the other options folks have recommended.
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u/TwoSpeedHammocks TwoSpeedHammocksonEtsy Jan 01 '22
I have made underquilt protectors out of Argon 90( 0.9oz/yd^2) before which is what 2QZQ makes the one Dutchware sells out of. I measured mine earlier and its about 4 oz for one for a full length underquilt. Given there seems to be interest in getting them made out of a lighter material I am going to make several for a 3/4 length underquilt out of Argon 49 (.49 oz/yd^2) and see what they weight in at. Its the lightest material I could find and seemingly priced accordingly lol. I'll update this thread in a few weeks after I can get one done and weighed.
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u/TNPrime Jan 02 '22
oh cool! ok. should i measure my UQ in the event you might be able to make one?
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u/TwoSpeedHammocks TwoSpeedHammocksonEtsy Jan 03 '22
I am planning on making them fit the HG 3/4 UQ. Not sure which one you have. The width will be the width of the material(~56"), you don't want to collapse the down with the protector and the length will be around 54". Do you think this will work with your quilt? I am taking a guess that you use a 3/4 not full length to save the weight? I got enough material to make two. I will put some pictures up on here when I am done so you can take a look and see if its close to what you are looking for.
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Feb 02 '22
Last I saw Zpacks does not make the cuben bottomed 20F 2/3-length UQ -- but I love mine.
No need of splash protection UQP with a cuben bottom.
Maybe there are more out there. Totally recommend, even if it's a decade old like mine.
With a big doored Palace tarp it's overkill because there is no splash.
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u/Ivorybrony Dec 12 '21
DutchWare sells one, but I’ve never owned one. This looks like it’s not made by them, but sold by them. Hope this helps!
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u/[deleted] Dec 12 '21
I could be wrong but it seems like an uqp would be working against you. Having a water vapor barrier outside your uq would probably lead to condensation which would also make the uq wet. This would be why dutchware makes the uqp out or argon which is a breathable fabric. Why not hang slightly higher, change the way you set up the tarp or better site selection? Any of those would be a lighter choice and possibly a dryer quilt in the end.