I am looking into getting a hammock for next years trips into the bdub. i see most posts stating that you need either a pad or under quilt to keep you back from getting cold (we normally trip either spring or fall). My problem is i am looking at a Jacks R Better bridge hammock (already a little pricey ) but most quilts i see are double that of the original hammock.

LSS.. Could you take an older unused rectangular sleeping bag and DYI it into an under quilt. Has anyone ever tried it. If so how well did it work.

thanks,

I'm sure it would work but it might be a little heavy/bulky. If you could find a rectangle sized goose down sleeping bag you might get close. Mine is made from Insultex and light as a feather and so warm. If you make one sew in a shock cord on each end so it hugs the bottom of the hammock. Paul at Kick-ass quilts Arrowhead Equipment made mine for me. Might want to check him out. Hammock forums had a pattern for the DIY people. An underquilt needs to correctly fit to the hammock to work. Too tight and it compresses the insulation. Too loose and the wind comes in between cooling you off.

Not sure why you're interested in that hammock but I've seen threads posted on how to make underquilts from army poncho liners, and that style hammock would be easy to fit them to. I'd double them up though for spring/fall camping.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11777
Another option would be to get a different brand hammock that has a sleeve for a thermarest style pad... much cheaper if you already have a pad.
I've used Hennessy A-sym's for about ten years. I started using a 3/4 length thermarest, then was lucky enough to find a used JRB down underquilt for much cheaper than new. There's really not that much to them if you can sew, and have lots of patience. Just a flat quilt with baffles filled with down, and has elastic cording on the ends that draw it up in the shape of the hammock. They're making a killing on them because they aren't very labor intensive.

I have heard of people doing that and know one who did. It took a bit of fitting. You dont want air gaps between the old sleeping bag and the bottom of the hammock. A curve has to be fitted in.

Its worth a try. I wimped out (hating sewing machines ) and bought an underquilt.

You might also pose your question at www.hammockforums.net.

Here is one thread devoted to "bottom insulation"
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40302

I once hooked up an old sleeping bag as an underquilt using lots of shock cord. It worked OK, but was heavy and bulky. I'm very pleased with the UQ purchased from the Warbonnet guy.

Agree with the suggestion that you take a look at hammockforums.net -- lots of good stuff there. WinterTrekker.com also has good stuff on cold weather hammocking.

Griz on Hammockforums.net has a sticky dedicated to his DIY bridge. One of the things he added to it was an under net which he used to stick a rectangular bag under his bridge. You might want to check that out.

Quilts are pricey, but generally not without reason. All the small cottage shops (mine included) struggle with the cost of materials. At the end of the day, believe it or not, I think the vast majority of us aren't making as much as people think.

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a hammock expert but I did bookmark this page awhile back because I own this sleeping bag and thought I might give it a try with my hammock. Haven't tried it yet but the guy raved about it as an outside quilt.

We bought our Galactic bag at Thrifty Outfitters so it was very reasonable... under $75.

quote Lymphocytosis: "Griz on Hammockforums.net has a sticky dedicated to his DIY bridge. One of the things he added to it was an under net which he used to stick a rectangular bag under his bridge. You might want to check that out.

Quilts are pricey, but generally not without reason. All the small cottage shops (mine included) struggle with the cost of materials. At the end of the day, believe it or not, I think the vast majority of us aren't making as much as people think."

Sorry didn't mean to say that the Hammock Companies were trying to gouge us with their prices. I..like you aren't making as much as people think, and am always looking for an inexpensive ( but quality) way of getting/making new camping gear.

thank for the advice though. I've looked through HammockForums and they DO have some great articles. thanks for the heads up.