10 Best Hammock Underquilts for Backpacking

Key Factors To Consider When Choosing

Weight

Underquilt weight should be comparable to a similar temperature-rated sleeping bag. Fill material influences weight, with the down fill being lighter than synthetics. Thicker fabric will add weight too. We recommend a quilt that is 2 pounds or less if you are looking to pack light.

The lightest hammock underquilts are:

• Outdoor Vitals StormLoft
• Warbonnet Wooki
• Enlightened Equipment Revolt
• Western Mountaineering Slinglite

Price

Fill material is the biggest factor in a hammock's underquilts price. High-fill power down comes at the most expensive price and is reserved for premium underquilts. Synthetic fills offer the lowest costs.

Hammock underquilts that provide the greatest value:

• Warbonnet Wooki
• Arrowhead Jarbidge River Underquilt
• Hammock Gear Economy Phoenix

Affordable hammock underquilts:

• Arrowhead Jarbidge River Underquilt
• Hammock Gear Economy Phoenix
• Simply Light Designs Trail Winder

Premium hammock underquilts (most expensive):

• Western Mountaineering Slinglite
• ENO Blaze
• Kammok Firebelly

MATERIAL (DURABILITY)

The outer shell of an underquilt is made with either synthetic nylon or polyester fabric. Ripstop nylon is stretchy, and the durable fabric doesn’t tear easily. Nylons used for underquilts are often treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) to help repel water in damp conditions. Polyester is less stretchy and doesn’t absorb water but it’s not as strong as nylon. Because underquilts are suspended below your hammock they shouldn’t come into contact with the ground allowing them to be made of thin layers of nylon or polyester.

Most durable Hammock Underquilts:

• Arrowhead Jarbidge River Underquilt
• ENO Blaze

INSULATION

The big choice for insulation is down vs synthetic. Down offers unbeatable warmth for its weight. It’s also highly compressible and packs away small. "Fill power" is a measurement of the loft quality of the down. The higher the fill power, the higher the loft of the down and the more warmth the down will deliver. The biggest downside? When it gets wet, down loses its loft and its ability to keep you warm. Synthetic insulation is heavier and less compressible. But synthetic insulation will retain warmth even when it is wet, making it ideal for hammocking in inclement weather or moisture-prone areas.

Best insulated Hammock Underquilts:

• Warbonnet Wooki
• Enlightened Equipment Revolt
• Western Mountaineering Slinglite

Other Things to Consider

SIZE AND LENGTH

DO YOU NEED THE EXTRA INSULATION COVERAGE FOR COLDER CONDITIONS?

How long should a hammock Underquilt be? How long a hammock underquilt should be is largely dependent on your needs and camping conditions. Underquilts are typically sold in full, half, and three-quarter length sizes.

• Full-Length: Full-Length: The full-length size is bulkier and heavier than the shorter quilts, but they provide head-to-toe protection. It is excellent for cold sleepers or hammocking in the winter.

• Half-Quilt: At the opposite end of the spectrum is the half quilt which covers only your midsection. It is reserved for ultralight backpackers who want the most minimalist gear possible.
• 3/4 Length:  The three-quarter length quilts hit the sweet spot between comfort and weight. These quilts are not as heavy as a full-length, but not as lightweight and sparse as a half-quilt. The three-quarter quilts cover you from your head to your knees, providing just enough warmth so you can sleep. You may have to stick a small pad under your feet or wear extra warm socks to keep your toes warm on a chilly night.

TEMPERATURE RATING

CONSIDER YOUR TRIP TEMPERATURES AND ADD A 'BUFFER'.

Like sleeping bags, most underquilts have a temperature rating that is often listed as a comfort rating or a limit rating. The comfort rating is the lowest temperature that you could stay warm while sleeping or resting in a relaxed state. The limit rating is the lowest temperature you could not get cold when curled up in a ball to sleep. The comfort temp is the target temperature while the limit is the absolute bottom temperature you should use in the bag.

These ratings are guidelines, everyone sleeps differently. What temperature do you need for a hammock underquilt? The temperature you need for a hammock underquilt should have a comfort rating that matches the most frigid conditions you'll encounter. If you are a cold sleeper, we recommend adding a 'buffer' - or going 10 degrees lower than your coldest outdoor temperature. For most people, a 20°F quilt is more than enough for three-season use, while cold sleepers should consider a 10°F quilt. If you are only doing summer camping, then you could go a bit warmer and choose a 30°F or warmer quilt.

WATER RESISTANCE 

WATERPROOF COATINGS ARE NICE, BUT CARE IS MORE IMPORTANT.

Down can't handle moisture, but there are ways you can minimize exposure. You can purchase a quilt treated on the outside with a DWR coating or internally with a water-resistant down. Both methods help to repel water and keep it away from the fragile down fibers that clump when they are wet. More important than coatings is how you care for your quilt during the day as you hike and at night while you're set up. In the daytime, ensure your quilt is stored in your pack with a dry pack liner or in a dry stuff sack. At night, ensure you know you have dry weather conditions or that your rain fly has adequate coverage.

SUSPENSION SYSTEM

SIMPLE SETUP IS IDEAL.

Underquilts are positioned underneath your hammock and must be adequately attached if you want them to keep you warm. The hammock must first connect to your hammock's suspension systems using a shock cord and micro-carabiners or cord lock.

This attachment allows you to position the quilt underneath the hammock and up around the sides as needed. You'll want the quilt to be snug underneath you but not so tight that you compress down the quilt and prevent it from lofting. This loft traps heat and will keep you warm.

Once the quilt is hanging correctly, you then need to use the cord locks or a similar system to cinch down the head and foot portions of the quilt to prevent sleep-stealing drafts.

FAQs

Why use a Hammock Underquilt?

Because hammock underquilts add serious insulation to your hammock setup for a warmer night's sleep.

It only takes one cold night to realize that using a sleeping bag in a hammock might not be ideal. The issue is compression. When you are laying on your back in the hammock, you are compressing the insulation of the sleeping bag.

Without air pockets to trap heat, this compressed part of the bag stays cold and you have a terrible night's sleep. You can throw a sleeping pad under your back for added warmth (double-layered hammocks help with this), but that often doesn't work. Most sleeping pads don't fit inside a hammock and easily slip out when you are sleeping.

A better alternative is the underquilt which hangs snugly underneath your hammock. Because it hangs on the outside of the hammock, the underquilt is not compressed. It can loft and provide warmth along your back. Underquilts can be used four all year round, but are most useful in the fall and winter when temperatures drop.

Do I also need a top quilt?

You also need a top quilt when sleeping in a hammock. Bottom quilts wrap your back in the warmth, but that is only half of your body. You still need to supply a layer of warmth on top of you. Most hammock users choose a top quilt to supplement their bottom quilt.

The top quilt is used as a standard blanket and is cut to fit conveniently inside a hammock. Just like a bottom quilt, top quilts are available in a range of temperatures and you should choose the best one for your conditions. During the summer, you may be able to get away without a top quilt, but they are a necessity in the winter.

How to Set Up an Underquilt

Hanging an underquilt takes less than ten minutes, but you need to get it correct, so you are not cold while you are sleeping.

✓ Step 1: Unpack the underquilt, allow it to loft, and locate the two ends of the quilt.

✓ Step 2: Attach the two ends of the underquilt to your hammock suspension system using the included shock cord, carabiners, or cord locks.

✓ Step 3: Adjust the underquilt backward and forward, so the loftiest section is positioned directly underneath where you sleep.

✓ Step 4: Climb into the hammock and tweak the placement of the quilt to ensure your head, torso, and feet are covered by the quilt (if you have a full-length hammock).

✓ Step 5: Adjust the elastic at the head and feet to cinch the quilt around each end of the hammock to prevent drafts.

Hammock underquilt vs sleeping pad - which is better for hammocks?

A hammock underquilt is better than a sleeping pad for hammocks.

Both options serve a similar purpose - to add insulation and warmth underneath you as you sleep. An underquilt fits snugly underneath your hammock, which means you won't roll off of it when you move at night and it won't slide off your hammock.

 This makes it much better than a sleeping pad which is narrow and difficult to sleep on in a hammock. Underquilts also can be lighter and add more insulation than a sleeping pad.

If you’re new to hammock tenting or on a tight budget a sleeping pad can be used in a hammock in a pinch, just be prepared for a potentially awkward night of sleep.

How to make an underquilt for a hammock?

You can make an underquilt for a hammock using an extra sleeping bag or pick up a cheap 700-fill down throw blanket. Designs for a DIY underquilt range from the relatively simple no-sew quilt to the more complex quilt with shock cord loops and sophisticated suspension attachment. You do have to be able to use a sewing machine and must know how to work with standard sewing supplies like seam rippers and grosgrain ribbons.

Basic steps to turn a Costco blanket into an underquilt:

• Step 1: Place the blanket's shiny side up.
• Step 2: Create baffles along the short ends. Use a sewing machine to stitch down.
• Step 3: Create baffles along the long sides. Stitch along the crease.
• Step 4: Attach webbing to the long sides.
• Step 5: Add the bungee cords and toggles. Adjust tightness if needed.
• Step 6: Position under your hammock like you would a store-bought underquilt.

📷 Some of the photos in this post were taken by Dana Felthauser
(@danafelthauser)