Hammock Underquilt Buying Guide

Getting ready for the next hiking or trekking trip? Well, you must be thinking about various options to add more fun elements to your expedition. Why not try a hammock underquilt to enrich your cozy outdoor experience.

We bet the best option to feel the relaxing aura is by laying down on your hammock. Not only will you enjoy the late afternoon-evening under the sunset but also gaze at the pleasant view of the stars at night.

In this article, you will learn about all the intricate details of hammock underquilts to help you make an informed decision.

What is Hammock Underquilt? Benefits of these underquilts

Spending all night in a hammock can be a challenge to comfort and body temperature. By themselves, Hammocks offers you a great place to hang and even fall asleep under the stars.

You can attach netting to protect yourself against bugs, but what of the cold winds of the night? The solution is simple – hammock under quilts.

Hammock underquilts attach themselves underneath the hammock to provide insulation. It is not on the hammock, so it does not compress under your direct body weight. A hammock under quilt has several benefits which go as follows:

1. Less Bulky to Carry

When you decide to take a camping trip, carrying a hammock and its underquilt is much more feasible than carrying heavy sleeping bags or pads. In such a case, it is preferred that you shed some weight off your back and choose the former.

2. No Compression

A hammock underquilt is not directly underneath you. Rather it is attached under the hammock so that your body weight does not compress it. It prevents it from losing its insulation over time and gives it a much longer life than other options.

3. Warmth is Taken Care

Hammock underquilts are made of a material that provides for the best insulation. Even in very low temperatures, they have your back (quite literally). They keep you warm and cozy, which is quite essential for sleeping outdoors where winds can become wild.

4. Does Not Keep You Bound

Unlike sleeping bags that contain you in a small area, sleeping in hammocks is much more freeing. The hammock underquilts go around the hammock and not you. So you can get in and out, turn in your sleep without any hassle.

Hammock Underquilts Vs. Sleeping Bags Vs. Sleeping Pads

You may choose either sleeping bags or sleeping pads or an underquilt when you wish to sleep on your hammock. But how to choose which one is the best option for you?

Hammock underquilts will keep you warm enough while giving you the freedom to choose your comfortable sleeping position. It would not be around you but around the hammock. It comes with insulation which will not decompress under our weight. These are also lighter to carry around in your backpack, unlike sleeping bags and pads, which are quite bulky.

When it comes to sleeping pads and sleeping bags, the major upside is comfort. They can be used in a hammock as well as in the tents, giving them dual functionality. However, as the night passes by, it can grow uncomfortable, gather in places, and even compromise warmth. They are compressed as you sleep directly on the insulating layer.

When it comes to warmth, comparison can be tricky. While sleeping bags and pads have insulation that can be measured in absolute terms of R-value, hammock underquilts' R-value cannot be calculated. A premium and well-fit under quilt provides more warmth and cozy than most sleeping bags and pads.

Things to Consider When Purchasing the Perfect Hammock Underquilt

1. Size

Hammock underquilts come in varied shapes and sizes, so you must consider your needs and preferences along with your hammock's dimensions to choose the appropriate size. Mainly, they have four size-types which are:

• Regular Full Length

It is a full-sized quilt, just like the name suggests. It covers you entirely and is compatible with most hammocks that are used for camping.

• Extra Long

This type of under quilt is made for taller individuals or those looking for extra coverage. It is copiously larger, but this also contributes to additional weight. So, to enjoy the bonus length, the trade-off will be the ease of carrying lightweight quilts.

• Torso

This type is short and only covers a part of the body, i.e., only the back. It is very small in size and lightweight, making it quite handy. It is preferred by campers who are not worried about extreme cold.

• Double Hammock Quilt

This type is specifically designed to cover two hammocks. It is quite expensive and is not common in the market. A better and more affordable alternative to looking for such an under quilt is linking two single hammock underquilts.

2. Fill Materials

The material used to fill the hammock underquilts play an essential role in how much warmth they provide, how easy to carry them, their weight, etc. It is necessary to choose the preferred type of fill material for your hammock underquilt to cater to your needs.

In case you plan on camping in specifically colder places, make sure to choose the fill with maximum insulation. If weight is a priority, then you need to choose the material that is light in weight but adequately suits the temperature. In case that you camp in all the seasons, buying multiple quilts each suited to different temperatures is ideal.

There are mainly three types of fill materials:

Natural Down

It is the traditional material used to fill pillows, quilts, and comforters. It is quite soft and breathable. It has natural insulation properties and is aptly lofty.

However, it is quite pricey because of the natural procurement of the feathers. Further, if they are not coated with a waterproof or water-resistant coating, they are very difficult to manage. In the case of rains, they will soak up and lose much of their natural properties.

Synthetic

For those not willing to spend a fortune on natural materials, synthetic fill materials are a great alternative. However, they are relatively less durable. Another compromise is that of heavyweight.

Natural and Synthetic Combination

Finding a middle ground between the natural insulation and loft of natural down and the affordability of the synthetic, the combination of the two serves as a great quilt filler material. It provides adequate warmth. It has durability and yet is more affordable.

External Material

Hammock underquilts are made of several types of materials, and each has its pros and cons. No one material is specifically superior to others and serves different purposes. You can choose the material that suits your needs the best.

The most common materials of such quilts are nylon and polyester. It is wise to choose a material like nylon because of its resistance to damage and durability.

Another important aspect to look for in the external material of the underquilt is water resistance. In the case of rains, water-resistant or waterproof material will keep the fill safe. While no material used in making quilts is waterproof, an attribute that is highly preferred is quick-drying.

Temperature Rating

The temperature rating of a material is the lowest temperature in which it can be used for comfortable warmth. It is an especially important factor that determines which of the several hammock underquilts is best suited for you, depending on where you are planning to camp.

One needs to ensure that the underquilt has enough insulation to keep you warm and cozy in extreme temperatures if the camp is to be set in a low-temperature region. It can be used to eliminate those quilts which do not meet the criteria.

While most hammock underquilts provide sufficient insulation for fair weather, those made especially for winter camping have extra insulating layers. So you need to keep in mind the temperature and overall weather of the camping spot to buy the apt hammock underquilt.

Top and Bottom Insulation

Insulation refers to the capability of the quilt to keep you warm. Insulation is mainly of two types: top insulation and bottom insulation.

Top insulation refers to covering the top of the body to keep it warm. Bottom insulation then, as the name suggests, provides warmth to the bottom of the body.

Hammock underquilts mainly provide bottom insulation since they go under the hammock. For top insulation, you require a separate quilt. However, this remains preferable to the top insulation provided by sleeping bags.

Length

The length of the hammock underquilts often determines how much insulation and warmth will be provided. The length is also a considerable contributor to the weight of the quilt. The right length of the underquilt will be determined by your budget, your warmth requirement, and your target pack weight.

There are mainly three lengths: full length, three-quarters length, and half-length.

• A full-length underquilt provides full coverage and is ideal for those who require keeping fully warm and cozy for a comfortable sleep.

• A half-length underquilt and a three quarters length underquilt do not provide full coverage. But they are extremely lightweight when compared to full-length hammock underquilts.

• The most preferred are the three-quarters length because they keep you considerably covered, and thick socks or other add ons can be worn for more warmth. It helps you shed weight off your back while keeping adequately warm.

Weight

Depending on whether you are planning to trek or use your car to reach the camping spot, the weight of your backpack will be of considerable importance. Those who wish to travel light, there are options of light hammock quilts that are easy to fold and carry.

When camping in relatively fair weather spots, finding and using lightweight hammock underquilts will not prove to be a botheration. However, if you wish to pack light and still be considerably warm, it may be tricky. It is because lighter quilts have fewer layers for insulation.

An overall mediocre weight underquilt with appropriate fillings can be your perfect match.

Durability

The life of the hammock underquilt needs to be considered. A good underquilt should be robust and resistant to wear and tear because of the conditions in which it is used. Sturdy and rugged material like nylon and polyester often comes with such anti-rip qualities.

The durability of the hammock underquilts will also be dependent on the quality of the water-resistant coating. If it wears off quickly, the quilt will not be of much use in changing weather conditions.

Maintaining the underquilt in specific manners can also help increase its life. You must store it so that it is uncompressed. It will ensure that the insulation capacity is not harmed.

Waterproof Vs. Water-Resistant Vs. Water-Repellant

Waterproof

The waterproof fabric has the highest protection factor as it can completely stop the penetration of water. However, this remains true only in fair conditions. Heavy rains and other extreme conditions cannot be protected against with such fabrics. Still, it remains your best bet when sleeping in rain or snow.

Water-Resistant

This type of fabric provides the lowest level of protection against water. It only has a single coating which can facilitate the survival of the fabric in case of contact with water. It can only account for light conditions like a drizzle of simple hand-washing.

Water-Repellant

Water-repellent fabrics quite literally repel water. The fabrics have hydrophobic qualities through nanotechnology on the inside or outside of the fabrics. They are a step up from the water-resistant fabrics but still do not provide complete protection from penetration of water.

Portability

The portability of hammock underquilts is another important factor that needs to be considered. It refers to the ease of carrying the underquilt from one place to another. This is especially necessary if you like to move around while camping.

The hammock underquilt that you choose must be portable and easily handy. It should be lightweight to carry it easily without a huge burden on the back.

The ability of underquilt to fold easily and take up less space is also important. For this, you can find easily compressible options.

Budget

Being an important factor while making any purchase, you need to set a range for buying good hammock underquilts and then find the most cost-effective option.

The price of the underquilts is determined by the type of fabric used, the type of fillings, its length, etc.

If you are willing to spend more, natural down fillings provide the best insulation along with a luxurious loft. In case you are looking for affordable options, synthetic fillings will be the best choice for you. Though less durable, they are adequately warm and comfortable for outdoor conditions.

Ease of Setting Up

Most hammock underquilts are quite easy to set up. There are always exceptions. You need to ensure that the underquilt you choose does not fall into the category of those exceptions.

It is necessary to choose the underquilts that are not much of a hassle to ensure that they can be set up and re-packed with short notice. It is important for convenience as well as for ease during emergencies like heavy rains.

The quilt should come with easily adjustable latches that hang them around the hammock. If the underquilt is difficult to set up and take down, it will become more of a burden as you continue.

Loft

The thickness and fluffiness of the hammock underquilts refer to their loft. It is pretty important when choosing the ideal underquilt because it plays a major role in insulations, soft feel, and cozy texture.

Loft and temperature ratings go hand in hand. You may want to check up on both to ensure that extra loft does give you the warmth you require. It is because the thickness may not always be directly linked to warmth in all cases.

Further, you need to take into account the weight of the quilt because often, more loft means more weight. The loftiest of the materials that are used for hammock underquilts are natural down. But it is extremely pricey.

Fill Power

Fill power refers to the space required for insulation. It means that high fill power hammock underquilts will require less filling materials to provide adequate insulation and vice versa. This factor needs to be reeled in for the buyers who are concerned about the weight of the product.

If the temperature rating of a product is a specific degree, the fill power will determine how large or bulky the underquilt will have to be to provide that warmth. Higher fill power will make the quilt much smaller and lighter. So if you are looking for shedding the weight while maintaining comfortable warmth, you should go for higher fill power.

Baffles

Baffles are the lines of stitching, or in other words, seams of the quilt. A good hammock underquilt has good baffles because they ensure that heat is contained and insulation is effective and evenly distributed.

There are two types of baffles:

Boxed:

This type of stitching provides for maximum warmth. If you are looking for winter hammock underquilts, this is the type of baffling you should go for. However, it is quite expensive.

Stitch Through:

It is the affordable option of baffling in which the shell and the lining are sewn together. They are easy to do, and so, the price is low. But heat retention and insulation may be less than required.

Setting Up a Hammock Underquilt in a Few Short Minutes

All hammock underquilts come with instructions and tips you need to follow to set them with convenience. Some universal instructions to help you set yours up easily and ensure that it is perfect for insulation are:

• To begin, put the quilt above the hammock. It will prove to be easier and ensure that the quilt is not dragged through dirt and mud.
• When you pull the quilt underneath the hammock, make sure that it is pulling the hammock up. It will help with the fact that there is no gap between the two so that insulation is at its best.
• The quilt ends should be snugged so that there are no air gaps that let the heat escape or the cold air to penetrate.
• The quilt being close up with the hammock may look gathered, but that is the correct way as it ensures a snug fit and easy insulation.

No matter how convenient or tricky setting up a hammock underquilt may prove for you, practice is key. It is essential to remember that you may not get it exactly right in the first try or even the second. But you will figure it out soon as you continue, and master it perfectly.

FAQs

1. What are the steps to fit a hammock underquilt?

Usually, a hammock underquilt is very easy to fit. For this, it comes with a plethora of hooks or shock cords that are helpful in keeping the hammock attached to the ropes. In this way, it imparts high insulation from cold, and you can rest with full warmth and comfort.

2. Which is the best material to choose for a long-lasting hammock underquilt?

Ripster Nylon is so far the ultimate fabric that is extremely tough. It can last for many years without getting torn apart. The best part is that it performs perfectly under tough circumstances as well and thus, proffer good value for money.

3. What is the budget-friendly option to buy this underquilt?

To buy an affordable option, go for a synthetic type of fill. However, if you need a reliable purchase, you must buy a combination of both natural and synthetic filling to get a more durable product.

4. Isn't Hammock Tents a better option?

No, these tents cover only the top of the hammock and that too, not fully. Thus, it is essential to go for an underquilt to get the extra warmth that is missing with the tents.

The Bottom Line

We believe this handy guide will be your one-stop solution with all the full-fledged details to aid in getting the perfect hammock underquilt!

Use this to dig in and get all the information about the top brands that sell the best hammock underquilt. You will surely be able to find your ideal companion. And then, enjoy every second of your reconciliation with nature!