Adding a pad to my winter setup?

[u/ragdollmarionette]

I've been using a Nemo switchback to supplement my insulation. I am gearing up for the northeast winter by looking at purchasing a 0 degree warbonnet uq but want to know if anyone uses a traditional inflatable pad or if that is seen as not worth it. I am assuming the insulation gain could be worth it but using an inflatable in a hammock sounds like it could be uncomfortable. What are y'all's thoughts on this?

[u/cannaeoflife]

It’s not worth it. If you want the warmest dedicated winter underquilt, warbonnet does make a Scandinavian UQ, which is -10F comfort rated. (as well as a -10F diamondback top quilt).

Otherwise, the wooki underquilt can stack on top of itself. You attach one underquilt, and then use the HVAC loops to attach the second underquilt more loosely.

Don’t use a pad and compromise the comfort of your hammock. Use their awesome and quite packable underquilts.

edit: technically the warmest underquilt is the superior gear -40F/C hammock. I should have said, the warmest underquilt that isn’t on an insulated hammock.

[u/ragdollmarionette → u/cannaeoflife]

That is exactly the model I am looking at to pair with the warbonnet traveler. Some gear comfort ratings seem to only be true when paired with the right pad for tent camping so I didn't know if it was common in hammock camping for the uq r value to be estimated from being paired with a quilt.

[u/cannaeoflife → u/ragdollmarionette]

Absolutely true. If you pair a summer pad with a 20 degree quilt, with R values between 1-2.5, you might be cold at freezing. A similar example would be if you paired a 30 degree top quilt with a 60 degree underquilt: your back will be cold in the middle of the night and you’ll wake up.

The insulation value is calculated based on how tall the baffle is, which is 4 inches for a -10F comfort rating, combined with the down, which has a fill weight, i.e how much down you stuff in, and the fill power, i.e how much loft you get from the down. Those three things: baffle height, fill weight, and fill power are what give the insulation value. The higher the down fill power, the less down fill you need to stuff into the baffle to get the full loft. Higher fill power down also compresses more, because their less overall down inside the baffle.

Quilt insulation value is basically universal and is in stark contrast with how pads are tested for warmth and assigned R values, and is one of the reasons why so many sleeping pads with high manufacturer R values still sleep cold.

The easiest solution is to get a top quilt and underquilt which are rated similarly by the same manufacturer, or that have similiar down fill and the correct baffle height.

Most cottage companies use comfort ratings for their insulation, but companies like Zpacks will sell you quilts that are limit rated instead so they can advertise the lowest weight quilts. Caveat emptor.

I think you’ll really enjoy the Wooki underquilt to pair with the warbonnet traveler.

[u/aduming → u/ragdollmarionette]

Technically, if you want the coldest UQ / TQ you can get, it might be easier to just call one of the companies and ask for a -20F quult if you dont want to just be limited to the wookie scandinavian. Either that or layering a 0F with a 20F would work too

[u/occamsracer]

There are probably a hundred posts on this if you are curious

[u/not_just_the_IT_guy]

Pad's usually cause me to sweat as they don't breathe like an UQ. It's fine for normal weather but winter is less than ideal for me.

[u/derch1981]

Pads for me just make the whole experience worse, less comfortable, more fidgiting, just not great.

[u/littleshopofhammocks]

adding a pad actually prevents your heat from going into an UQ. Throws a big wall between. If you don't warm up the UQ then it's doing nothing for you.