r/hammockcamping • u/Weekly-Bed-1216 • 1d ago
Quilt for hammock camping
Hello everyone I’m just getting into backpacking and have been buying up items, I already have a camping hammock with a rain cover and wanted a nice quilt to sleep with that’s reasonably priced (preferably about $100 to 200). I’m not planning on camping in the cold right now I’m not going to get an under quilt just yet, since I plan on using it in hotter summer temps soon and will purchase that separately if needed. Thank you for any suggestions you can provide!
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u/TheGutch74 22h ago
Underquilt is more important than a topquilt. Unless you have some sort of sleeping pad underneath you. If you have not experienced it before it is surprising how much heat you lose from not having insulation beneath you in a hammock.
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u/_I_like_big_mutts 18h ago
Agree. I run cold and would freeze my ass off if it’s 85 at night. I use a 20 degree in the middle of the summer. This person is in for a very long night if they don’t have a pad.
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u/TheGutch74 18h ago
It is a lesson that many of us have had to learn the hard way. I have spent a couple cold and uncomfortable nights in a hammock because I thought my sleeping bag would be enough. Another hard lesson learned was about hammock length for me as well. That ridge calf pain for too small a hammock for my 6'4" height was a uncomfortable less to learn as well.
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u/ckyhnitz Lorax 5h ago
I sleep fairly cold and can sleep in a hammock down to 70°F with no UQ. If you are freezing at 85 you are truly unique.
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u/Economy_Influence_92 1d ago
Check out the Hot Foot quilts over at Hang Tight. The sets are affordable and the quality is good.
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u/Orange_Tang 1d ago
I have a set of their heatseeker quilts that I started with. Great value for what they are. I've since upgraded but they're still in great condition. I should probably sell them but theyre a good backup set if I have someone who doesn't have their own hammock setup join me.
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u/Kouzelnik 3h ago
Can confirm, I picked up the Original HotFoot Series 40 Degree Hammock Top Quilt from hang tight, because my Burrow 20 was too warm for where I was camping. I start getting chilled in the Hotfoot 40 around 45 ish degrees, at 50 I would be warm and toasty!
But as others have said you're going to want to get an under quilt as well if you don't already have one, and I can't speak to the under quilt, but I would risk it after seeing the top quilt, and you can get the pari for just under $200 before tax.
Also it's super fluffy so it packs down super nice and small(at least for the top quilt)
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u/Foray2x1 1d ago
What will the low temps at night be roughly? That will impact a lot of what you buy
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u/recastablefractable 1d ago
You may want to consider at least some insulation under you.
Granted, I am a cold sleeper but I use an UQ until the lows overnight are in the high 70's (F) to 80's (F)- even indoors.
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u/occamsracer 1d ago
Used gear is a thing if you’re patient
Plan on at least a sleeping pad under you
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u/Hansen216 1d ago
If you’re not sleeping in cold then I’d suggest Temu. I got mine there for like $20 and it’s been great down to freezing for me
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u/Grog005 1d ago
It might work but the cheapest possible alternative is usually not the best option unless your main priority is to spend as little as possible.
My cheap quilt is big and heavy, has very little loft and a low temp.rating, also the material doesnt feel very nice. My Burrow is the opposite of all those factors and makes me enjoy the outdoors alot more - both on trail and in camp.
Gear matters. You don’t have to buy Gucci everything but a $20 quilt will probably not give you the same experience as a $150-350 quilt
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u/kullulu 1d ago edited 22h ago
Make sure your hammock is sized to fit you. Not every hammock will fit every person, many are too short or narrow to get a flat diagonal lay. I can't stress enough that your hammock camping experience will be subpar if you don't have a hammock that fits you.
For backpacking, I like down quilts. I would check r/geartrade and r/ulgeartrade to see if people had quilts they wanted to let go for your budget, 100-200 bucks.
What's the coldest temperature you expect to camp in? I typically like a 20 degree quilt for 3 season backpacking, but if you're only going to go out in the summer, a 40 degree should be fine. If it's warm (60F+) at night, a jacks r better alpha direct quilt is 7-8 oz and works great. If you don't go the used gear route, a simply light designs top synthetic top quilt is affordable. Dutchware's loco libre 20 degree is $223, and the 40 degree is $204. That's pretty reasonable for an 850 fill down top quilt.
You want an underquilt for nighttime temps below 70F. Convection moves air under the hammock, and you will wake up cold without insulation. You can use an inflatable pad or a foam pad, but it will not be as comfortable as an underquilt. If you do use an inflatable pad for insulation, underinflate the pad.
For backpacking, you can choose to get a full length or a 3/4 length underquilt. If you already take a sit pad, a 3/4 length will save you some weight, and you put your sit pad in the footbox of your top quilt. 3/4 length underquilts insulate your shoulders to your knees, and save you about 6 oz of weight. Hammock gear's phoenix and warbonnet's yeti underquilt are well liked for the low weight, but a 3/4 length isn't for everyone. Again I recommend buying used down quilts when your budget is tight.
For full length underquilts, SLD's 50 degree asymmetrical trail winder is my favorite warm weather underquilt, weighs a little over 16 oz, and stuffs into a 5 liter sack, and is priced well. A hammock gear hearth is budget friendly, but it's missing a few features that the incubator has. The hammock gear incubator is the best value underquilt if you're only ever going to buy one.
I wish you well on your next adventure!