2024 FBC: HANG #3

11.30.2024 : FRONT YARD, 33F COMFORT: 3/5

Nov 30, 2024

Last night was my third entry for the FBS challenge and I’m still trying to find the break-over point of needing to use my inflatable mattress in the Simply Light Designs.

After this hang, I’m calling that break-over point to be 35F.

I will be doing another hang tomorrow night using the mattress in the same weather and suspect I will be toasty warm at 32F with it.

How much below freezing I can push this system without warmer insulation will have to be seen in the next few months when things get a little colder but the feeling I get is that adding the mattress will get me down to 25F for an “interrupted sleep cycle” but one that still gives enough rest for the next day.

Maybe not, will see how low it gets this year and if < 25F is a thing in this area. If so, I will have to buy a full Winter hang setup. Meaning a 0F TQ and 0F UQ of down.

For the GHB, I’m not even entertaining another setup other than this hammock and nice big tarp as the expected environment is permissive and the rain protection and ability to setup under the tarp without getting wet is huge.

After setting up a smaller sleep system in the rain, I can tell you there is no comparison!

HANG ANGLE / POSITION

This time around, I put my ridge-line back on as a fixed design. I noticed that having the hammock ridge-line does three things for me.

It allows me to lay more diagonal in the hammock, making for a more comfortable hang.
It also helps tremendously to get out of the hammock at night quickly and with sure footing.
It also makes storing my glasses and phone in an easy to find spot directly above my head.

CONDITIONS / SLEEP QUALITY

Sleep was good from 2030 to 0130, when I got up to tinkle, but I was on the edge of cold after getting back in and gave up on the night at 0200 as I was not getting warmer but colder due to all the trapped warmth in the UQ was gone.

Not having a foot box with the quilts means I don’t know when my feet are exposed. My next hang will use the Swagman as a TQ instead of a bottom quilt and be configured as a foot box to try to address this issue.

HANG OBSERVATIONS

The SLD pillow STILL ROCKS!
I am again considering a down TQ as using the COSTCO down quilt is showing me how much warmer down is compared to synthetic. A waterproofing down might be the answer. For now I’m going to keep trying to get the light weight quilts to work in a layered approach as < 25F is very uncommon here and I might be able to get away with what I have to 30F.
The leather ACORN slippers are gone, they will be replaced with Surplus cold weather booties in the future to add a warming layer to my feet while giving the option to jump out and run from the hammock if needed.
Adding (4) 6” nails to stake down the ground cloth makes a huge difference.
My headlamp and Merino watchcap were not in the bag. - Don’t rob your GHB, Don’t rob your GHB, Don’t rob… 98 more times please!

BASELINE EQUIPMENT LIST:

SimplyLightDesigns.com Voyageur Double Layer Hammock
BushCraft Outfitters 10X10 70D tarp
SimplyLightDesigns.com pillow
COSTCO Down quilt
GoGear Down quilt
Swagman Roll (Under Quilt)
Woobie (Under Quilt)

BASELINE CLOTHING LIST:

Polar Fleece Capucha
Cotton shirt and cotton hoodie
Fleece Running Gloves
COSTCO cheap synthetic puffy jacket

FOLLOW UP HANG NEXT NIGHT

12.01.24

Added the air mattress and formed a foot-box out of the Swagman and tried to keep the quilts inside of it as best as possible. Temps got a little lower but the insulation below me kept me warm.

Once the temps got below 32F it was nearly impossible to not let heat out if I moved at all as the overlapping layers separated.

My feet were freezing when it hit 29F and I think I called it yesterday when I said 32F would be the minimum for comfort even with the added air mattress underneath me.

If the lows are below freezing, I need a better TQ, no way around it!

I got intermittent sleep with this setup of about 3 hours at a time but woke at 0600 and could not get warm again in the 29F (Feels Like 26F) temperature.