winter hammocking

So i really want to use my hammock this winter, i've got the basic parachute nylon material but i was hoping some of you other hammockers could give me some tips for keeping warm with snow on the ground. I've tested out the sleeping pad idea and it worked pretty well but i don't know if it'll keep in enough heat. I'm thinking maybe i could wrap my hammock in a tarp or emergency blanket or something to trap more heat, so if anyone has any ideas or input i'm all ears!

Thanks

You will have to be in subzero temps to make a vapor barrier around your hammock even begin to sound like a good idea.

Look at hammockforums for winter camping solutions. Or look up Shug on youtube, dude camps out in subzero temps in hammocks all the time with your basic underquilt and pad setup. Or Turk - he pulks out with peapods, underquilts, hammock hut and a nice little stove, and there are videos about that too.

Jacks R Better and Speer have four season underquilt/peapod solutions.

The coldest I have slept in a hammock is -14C.

I *regularly* sleep in a hammock overtop of snow, and in lows that hit down around -5C.

I use a 27 inch wide blue foam pad inside the hammock.
I then rig a silnylon poncho (an integral designs silponch) with a shockcord underneath the hammock, as a windblock and insulation holder.

Normally, for me to get down around freezing.

If I expect lower temperatures, I add 2 folded mylar space blankets to add a bit more air gap between my poncho and my hammock bottom.

I have then done down to -10C by adding a hammock shaped piece of poly batting insulation from wal-mart.

Two weeks ago I was down to -14C in marten hills, alberta, using the hammock, with a silponcho, the pad in the hammock, and an exped wallcreeper pl primaloft sleeping bag (0c rated) unfolded in between the hammock and the poncho. (I was not actually expecting it to be that cold, but I did fine, and slept good. I wouldn't want to go a lot colder in that rig though!)

In those cases, I had a good down bag in the hammock, and was wearing fleece, baselayer, toque and a merino wool top or two. in the -14C case I also wore a 300wt fleece top.

I concur with the hammockforums site. great stuff.

My low is -11*F. Poncho rigged as a weathershield. 2 3/8in blue pads. a sunshade reflector. and -20 down sleeping bag. heavy wool socks, long underwear (top asnd bottom), poly crew, balaclava and knit hat.

sounds like I just have to wear some layers and use a good bag, thanks guys

That depends on how cold it is. Remember that the bottom of your bag will not be very effective compressed beneath you...

One thing I forgot to add... I did not just grab some stuff and try sub zero hammocking. i vetted my gear system in 5-10 degree increments. Many nights spent in the backyard with different systems. Looking at weather forecasts for good testing nights, etc...

also wanted to try and suspend my hammock by using dead man's anchors on either end, laying them in the snow. Any thoughts, is this going to fail? ha

Repeat after me:
"Tents 'R Better."

(I'm allergic to hammocks

Eric

Take a crash course in hammock physics over at hammock forums first. You aren't just trying to suspend your weight - there's more to it than that. Sounds like a good way to make a butt print in a snowbank.

awwww.... that's too bad.

I just got back from a night at 9500 feet, using my three season gear to its lower limits. Woke to ice on the lake - I was warm and snug in my quilts. My companion tossed and turned on the ground all night.... He kept waking me up.

Then again, he was in a poncho, not a tent, so I guess it wasn't a fair comparison. But he doesn't like tents. Says he sleeps drier because of site selection and all that...

Gee whiz, I guess it all comes down to what you're comfortable with, don't it?