Sleeping in a hammock below freezing sounds incredible, right? No? Yet you’re here and interested in how that is possible without freezing to death. Winter hammocking is a challenge, but I think that’s why I love it. I like to test the limits of my gear and my abilities. Maybe you don’t think it sounds challenging at all— perhaps you have a costly 0°F rated sleeping bag and think it can’t be too hard to stay warm, right? Wrong! A sleeping bag alone will not sufficiently work in colder temperatures.
We all know the basics of staying warm in the winter season— you put on layers, you stay dry, and you block out the wind. All of those things still apply with winter hammocking, but the key to winter hammocking like a pro is to keep your back warm. Have you ever been camping in a tent and have fallen asleep cozy and warm, but have woken up because you’re freezing? The cold ground has sapped the body heat from your back (or stomach depending on how you sleep). With hammocking, it’s much worse. 0°F mummy bags are helpful, but it only keeps you warm due to its down insulation trapping in heat. So what happens when you lay on that down insulation? It compresses, losing a lot of its volume, and therefore loses the ability to keep you warm. The ground may be cold, but at least your body heat is going somewhere— when you’re inside a hammock, your body heat is disappearing into thin air. The parachute nylon of the hammock or compressing sleeping bag is not going to be enough to combat this. However, there is hope!
Bonus tip: don’t store your sleeping bags in compression sacks throughout the year. Keep it free, and they will stay fluffier for lack of a better term.
sleeping pads
Sleeping pads are the most common answer for cold backs for tent campers. I have good news; you can use one with a hammock! Not only does it help trap in your body heat, but it also keeps the hammock from squeezing in too much on the sides. Sleeping pads come in all shapes and sizes, and they are not usually designed with hammocks in mind. I’ve never found that to be a real issue, but I do believe inflatable sleeping pads often fit better for hammocks.
A sleeping pad is a bare minimum you can do going beyond a sleeping bag. The pad helps overcome those chilly nights. But for bonus warmth, you can combo it with your extra clothing to add an extra layer of insulation.
underquilts
Underquilts have been around for some time, but they’re only just now becoming more mainstream. Luckily, the quilts are becoming more popular, and you can find a variety on Amazon for reasonable prices. You just need to make sure you get one rated for the winter season.
Underquilts can directly fix a sleeping bag’s insulation compression issue. They are the same material as a down sleeping bag, and they attach to the bottom of your hammock. Therefore the insulation is not trapped and compressed by your weight.
The underquilt is the hammockers’ answer to the sleeping pad— but you’re still going to have to combo it with a sleeping bag or with a topquilt.
topquilts
Topquilts are the other optional to have in your quilt system. A topquilt is designed to complement your underquilt, covering your top side. Sleeping bags work just fine, but topquilts make your hammocking experience that much more comfortable. Getting fully zipped inside a sleeping bag while lying in a hammock can be irritating, with a topquilt that’s no longer an issue!
Bonus Tip: Your topquilt can replace your sleeping bag, even when sleeping on the ground.
HAMMOCK PODS
If you want a single complete package, then I would suggest a hammock pod—also known as cocoons or socks. These socks are sleeping bags that fit over your hammock. You also may find them labeled as hammock sleeping bags. It doesn’t appear that a single name has caught on in the hammock community yet, but that’s probably due to quilts being the preferred choice. Still, a hammock pod may be best suited for you.
In theory, with have one sealed system should preserve heat more efficiently. That is not to say, underquilts and topquilts can’t handle extreme temperatures either. You may also find that hammock pods pack down to a smaller footprint than their quilt counterparts. The downside to these socks will be versatility and comfort to some.
Bonus Tip: Some sleeping bags can be used as pods!
Take a test drive
Once you’ve got all your gear, your next step is to take a test run! Go camping in your backyard or at least near a vehicle. You will want to familiarize yourself with all your winter setup and could vary some gear combos. Hopefully, you’ll find your new outdoor accessories can withstand some once challenging temperatures.
Stay toasty my friends.
