One thing often missed about hammock camping in the winter is the advantages of the open air platform and dissipation of condensation that doesn’t happen in a tent. Staying dry and moving out the moist air generated by the body and breath is vital to staying warmer. I’ve been in a tent in very cold temps and watched my breath converting to ice particles and fall down on me in the tent. I’ve never seen that happen in a hammock; although the quilt and other insulation around your face can catch the moisture; keeping your tarp open allows for enhanced moister management.
Thank you so much for sharing this I so appreciate it! Can you tell me what you mean by keep the tarp open? looking at the picture/video here it looks like the tarp is open yes?
Awesome set up. I fully agree that a hammock is warmer than a tent - being up off the ground with full-loft insulation underneath rather than lying on/near the ground. I've found the air flow of hammock-and-tarp far superior to being in a tent. Something I heard of that I thought I'd try out, was hanging a poncho liner over my hammock's ridgeline to make a warm insulated cocoon and keep any cold wind off... that was a serious "tactical blunder"! The night didn't get as cold as I anticipated and I woke up in the middle of the night utterly sweltering.
The biggest weather concern when sleeping outside is definitely heavy rainfall. Snow and cold can become a shelter, but trying to sleep in an inch of water is something most animals won’t even do. For that, hammocks win.
I have a hard time proving this to my friends all the time. I stay so much warmer in my hammock. Well done John! Now I have video proof to show everyone. Merry Christmas to you my friend!
This is a fun idea for calm weather camping. Personally I prefer a a hot tent setup with an integrated folding tent stove and vestibule to handle all winter conditions including blizzards, -40 degree temps, whiteouts and heavy galeforce winds. Any other setup will quite frankly leave you struggling to survive when you're unable to food prep/cook. They also actively melt the snow so you don't get buried alive overnight. I'd still try this hammock setup, but it would require alot of planning based around the weather conditions.
Can confirm. A hammock with a quilt set is so much warmer. I use a 3/4 under quilt cause when I sleep diagonal and my top quilt has a sewn foot box there is no gap underneath.
I've got a Darien as well and I agree, I'm usually warmer in my hammock during cold weather than in my tent. Plus I sleep way better in my hammack than my tent. Just something about how it contours to my body. Thanks for the content! -dave
AT Thru hiker class of 2023. I can testify about hammocks being warmer than a tent. The first days on trail it got down to a wet windy 19 degrees. I had a thirty degree underquilt and quilt and with my clothes on I was toasty all night. As soon as I got out my hands and feet went numb. Everyone else complained about freezing their asses of in much more cold rated gear in their tents and the shelters
Nobody want to sleep cold. It's great you got your winter sleep system figured out. Sometimes it takes years to get the right configuration that works for you. Good information for hammock campers. Merry Christmas 🎅
I am one of those that just can't get comfortable in a hammock sleeping. I spent 2 years trying (with a sh!t ton of help from people in the hammock world) and hated every attempt. I'm a stomach sleeper so maybe it's just not in the cards. Gave away every bit of the gear (and there was a lot) to hammock people to see it go to good use. In the end I don't hate hammocks they just aren't my thing. Do whatever works for you just keep getting out there and camping.
I sleep on my stomach too!! Here's the trick: get a "ridge line" and make it adjustable. There's a specific play of geometry for the "diagonal lay" and the geometry of the hanging ropes and the hammock dimensions. The other part, is that you gotta roll into it... Literally and figuratively. You get the hammock situated, sit down butt first, find that diagonal groove, lay flat. Then you "roll" into the stomach position... Usually I sleep in the superman pose on my right side and left side.
@@drchilapastrosodrlasmacas438 Thanks for the explanation, I sleep on my side. Question, when you talk about your setup, do you have a regular hammock or a Hennessy Hammock asym?
I have a 20F UGQ bandit quilt with tension straps . Was my best item in Iceland august 2021 , highlands been cold and damp . As soon as I jumped in my quilt I got toasty warm
Great video, The quality and lighting really aren't bad at all! It doesn't surprise me at all that you can easily be warmer in a hammock, getting off the cold ground can make a huge difference.
Can't argue, never slept in a hammock. I have just started using my first UGQ top quilt and it is absolutely amazing gear!! I am definitely going to be a return customer. That being said, Merry Christmas my friend!!!
Nice! I also have a 0 degree under and over quilt from UGQ, both 950 fill and max overstuff, its so toasty in there! I also picked up the superior gear 30 degree hammock, I'm excited to try that entire system out together, the built in UQ should eliminate the drafts completely
The little things UGQ does like the snaps on the tarp and on the bottom of the quilt look real nice .... definitely separates them from some other products .... you know the steak is what really kept you warm though!!!
You have a good cold weather set up for camping , can't beat a Hammock for comfort. Down here in Florida the goal is the reverse of yours , sleeping cool is the objective. For over 60 years it's been a hammock. The 360 degree ventilation is really appreciated. I use a self inflating ( full length mummy style ) Therm-a-Rest about 1/2 to 3/4 inflated so it conforms to the Hammock and myself. Back in the dark ages before the Therm-a-Rest it was an old U.S. Army wool blanket most of the time. Yep , we can even get a case of the Cold Butt Syndrome here in the semi tropics.
A solid video for being off the cuff on your phone filmed. I think it was a good idea to film it as it is informative as well as you had the perfect background that helped kind of explain it to people that don't understand. Your videos are always awesome Great job solid setup
Only thing keeping me from getting the hammock set up is Murphy's Law. Just looks like there are a thousand little things that could go wrong and cause chaos. Looks mega super comfy though!! I think im just too reckless for them lmao
I have a Lawson hammock I've been wanting to winter camp too but still ain't sure if what I have will be affective they make a under quilt for it but it doesn't seem to go on as well as ones I've seen on other people's hammocks but I can't afford to start from scratch
@@john_kelley ah ok I'll try that, I also think I might use the rainfly that came with it I normally go without it and just use a standard tarp because I like to see around me but I bet it'll at least block some wind
Would you say yes or can it integrate all these under quilts and over quilts with a haven hammock set up for winter tent set up under a big tarp like that? Got lots of questions and going to subscribe thanks for any info dude
Hi, John. I am not sure how to ask a tarp question for either your channel or for your Backpacking Podcast. I cannot find where anyone has asked this question: What type and size of tarp would be recommended as a backcountry kitchen cover? Not for a hammock, and not for sleeping under. I can figure out the material question, but what type (and size) is recommended for a kitchen cover so we can sit and cook in rainy times? Flat Tarp? Catenary Cut? Doors? Other non-square or rectangular types? Thanks!
I am impressed. You literally hung your hammock form a blazed tree marking the trail. Bold move! I guess camping along Tebolt Run in the Quebec Run Wilderness Area makes you do things. Merry Christmas!
@@john_kelley I can see it's a great spot. I live about an hour from there. It's a great area with many different camping experiences. Did you hit Ohiopyle waterfall while you were there?
Hey John how's it going man. That was cool man you went out there and did a hiking trip up in Pennsylvania man. I'm somewhat surprised it was snowing. It is wintertime in Pennsylvania. How much did it snow? I don't know if you know or not but I had a special custom-made shoe company get ahold of me beginning of last month. They actually made a shoe for me that is wide enough for my feet & a extra wide toe box for my toes that are equally straight across. They also made the footbed Barefooted 👣 style for me to wear since there's no sock that's wide enough to fit my foot & so the shoes will not stink while wearing them barefooted 👣 styles. I picked them up last weekend. It looks weird and feels weird having a shoe on my foot. I haven't worn a shoe-in thirty-some years. I want to go wear the shoes on a hiking trip next month I'm a talk to my family and see what they say. Good video John's. Merry Christmas to you and your family and if you travel anywhere please be safe.
A tent is going to be 5 degrees warmer than outside. Just from keeping your body heat inside. The important part about tent camping in the winter is to have a good r rated sleeping pad. My winter sleeping system in my tent is about a pound less than your under quilt and quilt, and should be 5 degrees warmer. However, if you don't care about the weight, and like sleeping in hammocks, more power to you. But you will actually be warmer in a tent. Btw, if you're curious I use an thermarest xtherm 15 oz, and a 0 degree Feathered Friends quilt at 34 oz. Last time I was in -8 degree weather I had to sleep in my underwear because I was too warm. To be clear though, if you like hammocking a good under quilt is definitely a must, and glad you found something that works for you. Happy Hiking! or Camping.
@@jamesthornton3339 The trapped air will heat up via respiration and simple body heat. It's surprising to what degree, but the overall accepted degree is between 5-10 % warmer. Take a quick search for it, and there is plenty of data.
If you're trapping air, you're getting condensation. Water conducts heat many times more easily than does air. If you aren't trapping air, you're losing heat anyway. Frost on you will conduct heat away from you.
I disagree. Hard to beat a 4 season tent in cold weather. I’ve been out in -14 degree weather mountain climbing. But there is nothing wrong with using a hammock in cold weather.
IT'S NOT EVEN SOME WEIRD ACCENT! WTF UA-cam! I could understand if it was like a Welsh accent or really thick northern UK, but that's like generic Midwest!
Ahhhh..that cocoon of warmth! The only bad thing is getting out of it!
One thing often missed about hammock camping in the winter is the advantages of the open air platform and dissipation of condensation that doesn’t happen in a tent. Staying dry and moving out the moist air generated by the body and breath is vital to staying warmer. I’ve been in a tent in very cold temps and watched my breath converting to ice particles and fall down on me in the tent. I’ve never seen that happen in a hammock; although the quilt and other insulation around your face can catch the moisture; keeping your tarp open allows for enhanced moister management.
Great point. The easy escape of air definitely helps with moisture.
Thank you so much for sharing this I so appreciate it! Can you tell me what you mean by keep the tarp open? looking at the picture/video here it looks like the tarp is open yes?
@@dianeibsen5994 , if you have tarp doors. Keeping them tied back will help the vapors escape.
Great video ....studio quality !
Awesome set up. I fully agree that a hammock is warmer than a tent - being up off the ground with full-loft insulation underneath rather than lying on/near the ground. I've found the air flow of hammock-and-tarp far superior to being in a tent.
Something I heard of that I thought I'd try out, was hanging a poncho liner over my hammock's ridgeline to make a warm insulated cocoon and keep any cold wind off... that was a serious "tactical blunder"! The night didn't get as cold as I anticipated and I woke up in the middle of the night utterly sweltering.
The biggest weather concern when sleeping outside is definitely heavy rainfall. Snow and cold can become a shelter, but trying to sleep in an inch of water is something most animals won’t even do. For that, hammocks win.
Good vid. All true. Love my winter hammock. -35c underquilt. -40c sleeping bag/ top quilt. And a big tarp. Warm and cozy. Best sleeps.
I have a hard time proving this to my friends all the time. I stay so much warmer in my hammock. Well done John! Now I have video proof to show everyone. Merry Christmas to you my friend!
The only way to learn that is to do it. Maybe one day they’ll learn. Merry Christmas!
This is a fun idea for calm weather camping. Personally I prefer a a hot tent setup with an integrated folding tent stove and vestibule to handle all winter conditions including blizzards, -40 degree temps, whiteouts and heavy galeforce winds. Any other setup will quite frankly leave you struggling to survive when you're unable to food prep/cook. They also actively melt the snow so you don't get buried alive overnight. I'd still try this hammock setup, but it would require alot of planning based around the weather conditions.
Can confirm. A hammock with a quilt set is so much warmer. I use a 3/4 under quilt cause when I sleep diagonal and my top quilt has a sewn foot box there is no gap underneath.
I don’t mind tents at all, but, in winter, I’ll always choose a hammock.
Suggestion, when it’s snowing, and you’re in porch mode, put one pole a little higher so snow can slide off the tarp.
I've got a Darien as well and I agree, I'm usually warmer in my hammock during cold weather than in my tent. Plus I sleep way better in my hammack than my tent. Just something about how it contours to my body. Thanks for the content! -dave
It works for me. I really just sleep warmer in a hammock.
AT Thru hiker class of 2023. I can testify about hammocks being warmer than a tent. The first days on trail it got down to a wet windy 19 degrees. I had a thirty degree underquilt and quilt and with my clothes on I was toasty all night. As soon as I got out my hands and feet went numb. Everyone else complained about freezing their asses of in much more cold rated gear in their tents and the shelters
Nobody want to sleep cold. It's great you got your winter sleep system figured out. Sometimes it takes years to get the right configuration that works for you. Good information for hammock campers. Merry Christmas 🎅
Merry Christmas!🎁🎄 Once that system is dialed in, you never sleep cold.
I am one of those that just can't get comfortable in a hammock sleeping. I spent 2 years trying (with a sh!t ton of help from people in the hammock world) and hated every attempt. I'm a stomach sleeper so maybe it's just not in the cards. Gave away every bit of the gear (and there was a lot) to hammock people to see it go to good use. In the end I don't hate hammocks they just aren't my thing. Do whatever works for you just keep getting out there and camping.
If it doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t work. Better to get sleep than force things.
I agree. My whole neck is fused front and back.
I sleep on my stomach too!!
Here's the trick: get a "ridge line" and make it adjustable. There's a specific play of geometry for the "diagonal lay" and the geometry of the hanging ropes and the hammock dimensions.
The other part, is that you gotta roll into it... Literally and figuratively.
You get the hammock situated, sit down butt first, find that diagonal groove, lay flat. Then you "roll" into the stomach position... Usually I sleep in the superman pose on my right side and left side.
@@drchilapastrosodrlasmacas438 Thanks for the explanation, I sleep on my side. Question, when you talk about your setup, do you have a regular hammock or a Hennessy Hammock asym?
I have a 20F UGQ bandit quilt with tension straps . Was my best item in Iceland august 2021 , highlands been cold and damp . As soon as I jumped in my quilt I got toasty warm
Great video, The quality and lighting really aren't bad at all! It doesn't surprise me at all that you can easily be warmer in a hammock, getting off the cold ground can make a huge difference.
Happy and comfy warm in a good hammock
I like how you set up your hammock RIGHT ON the trail. You can see that red blaze on the tree you're strapped to.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Can't argue, never slept in a hammock. I have just started using my first UGQ top quilt and it is absolutely amazing gear!! I am definitely going to be a return customer.
That being said, Merry Christmas my friend!!!
Merry Christmas Mike!
Love UGQ! Awesome guys! Good to see a video from the woods. They’re my favorite. Merry Christmas, John!
Thanks, Mark! I love their gear! Merry Christmas!
Excellent video! I just got my 0* UGQ Zeppelin in preparation for this winter season! I had a blast hanging in the snow last year.
I love my UGQ quilt. Mine doesn't have the snap at the foot, though. I got the 10 degree and boy that thing is warm!
Yeah. They make great stuff.
That looks really comfy
It definitely is
Only thing I would add is an underquilt protector. Makes all the difference.
I actually have one. We weren’t expecting that much snow, or I would’ve brought it.
A hammock sock adds more. Nor drafts from any direction.
Nice! I also have a 0 degree under and over quilt from UGQ, both 950 fill and max overstuff, its so toasty in there! I also picked up the superior gear 30 degree hammock, I'm excited to try that entire system out together, the built in UQ should eliminate the drafts completely
Yeah. I really need to check out one of their setups.
That tarp and under quilt is AWESOME!!!
Merry Christmas my brother
Merry Christmas and happy birthday, bro!!!
thanks! im looking to try hammock camping this year and need some tips
Freezing cold in Pennsylvania is regular spring weather in Canada :) Great video
Looks like a cozy setup. Love Jays channel. Great content!
He’s a great guy!
@@john_kelley Great video! You are giving me no excuse to stay at home indoors, LOL! What is the link to Jay's channel again? Thanks!
I’ll put a link in the description
The little things UGQ does like the snaps on the tarp and on the bottom of the quilt look real nice .... definitely separates them from some other products .... you know the steak is what really kept you warm though!!!
I had to put that rotisserie in the video for a reason!
You have a good cold weather set up for camping , can't beat a Hammock for comfort. Down here in Florida the goal is the reverse of yours , sleeping cool is the objective. For over 60 years it's been a hammock. The 360 degree ventilation is really appreciated. I use a self inflating ( full length mummy style ) Therm-a-Rest about 1/2 to 3/4 inflated so it conforms to the Hammock and myself. Back in the dark ages before the Therm-a-Rest it was an old U.S. Army wool blanket most of the time. Yep , we can even get a case of the Cold Butt Syndrome here in the semi tropics.
A solid video for being off the cuff on your phone filmed. I think it was a good idea to film it as it is informative as well as you had the perfect background that helped kind of explain it to people that don't understand. Your videos are always awesome Great job solid setup
Thank you! It seemed like the right time and place, for sure. It was also nice to have Jay run the camera for me. He’s a good dude.
Cocooned in down feathers... that DOES sound toasty! I love UGQ!! Got a 10 degree Bandit top quilt!! Video and audio quality were great 👍
Thanks! There’s nothing like that cocoon of down!
Looks comfy!!!!! I just updated my setup! Went hammock gear UQ & Trailheadz winter tarp. Definitely going UGQ when it come to my TQ though!!
Hammock Gear and Trailheadz are great companies
Thanks John for a great video. God Bless
Do you have problems with the down under quilt getting wet and thus losing its insulating ability?
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas 🎁🎄
The backdrop for this video is killer!!! I'm still a grown dweller! :)
Only thing keeping me from getting the hammock set up is Murphy's Law. Just looks like there are a thousand little things that could go wrong and cause chaos. Looks mega super comfy though!! I think im just too reckless for them lmao
Great video ... short, sweet, to the point, and spot on. UGQ has great products. Thanks for sharing!
I have a Lawson hammock I've been wanting to winter camp too but still ain't sure if what I have will be affective they make a under quilt for it but it doesn't seem to go on as well as ones I've seen on other people's hammocks but I can't afford to start from scratch
Luckily, with the Lawson Hammocks, you should be able to use a sleeping pad with a top quilt, because of the flat lay. That should keep you warm.
@@john_kelley ah ok I'll try that, I also think I might use the rainfly that came with it I normally go without it and just use a standard tarp because I like to see around me but I bet it'll at least block some wind
nice pair of kwilts mate ..
Can you talk more about the spreader bars on top of the tarp? Are they DIY? Where did you them?
What kind of jacket you use?
Looks great as top layer in winter.
Thank you so much for the video! Couple questions, what is a Sewn inbox?
Dear john is that hammock a enclosed hammock ?
Well said , not waffling on like many
Would you say yes or can it integrate all these under quilts and over quilts with a haven hammock set up for winter tent set up under a big tarp like that?
Got lots of questions and going to subscribe thanks for any info dude
Hi, John. I am not sure how to ask a tarp question for either your channel or for your Backpacking Podcast. I cannot find where anyone has asked this question: What type and size of tarp would be recommended as a backcountry kitchen cover? Not for a hammock, and not for sleeping under. I can figure out the material question, but what type (and size) is recommended for a kitchen cover so we can sit and cook in rainy times? Flat Tarp? Catenary Cut? Doors? Other non-square or rectangular types? Thanks!
Nice vid! Have you tried using an extra sock in the foot cinch to block out some of the drafts? If so, how did it work?
I’ve stuff gloves in there, socks, anything fabric. It definitely makes a difference.
I am impressed. You literally hung your hammock form a blazed tree marking the trail. Bold move!
I guess camping along Tebolt Run in the Quebec Run Wilderness Area makes you do things.
Merry Christmas!
No one else was out there, and that was a great spot. 😂
@@john_kelley I can see it's a great spot.
I live about an hour from there. It's a great area with many different camping experiences.
Did you hit Ohiopyle waterfall while you were there?
@@TsugaCanadensis1979 No, but I would like to at some point.
@@john_kelley Ohiopyle is the southern terminal for the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.
From there you can hike 70 miles to Johnstown.
@@TsugaCanadensis1979 I actually had plans to hike the LHT in November, but wasn’t able to make the time.
Hey John another great video can you tell me what Frogg Toggs jacket you were wearing?
It’s the. Xtreme Lite jacket
@@john_kelley thanks
sew a wool blanket or fireblancket into the hammock
I'm thinking about attempting winter camping for my first time.
I did just fine in the BWCA on a fall trip as a kid, waking up to snow.
Hammocks rule in the winter.
Agreed
Hey John how's it going man. That was cool man you went out there and did a hiking trip up in Pennsylvania man. I'm somewhat surprised it was snowing. It is wintertime in Pennsylvania. How much did it snow? I don't know if you know or not but I had a special custom-made shoe company get ahold of me beginning of last month. They actually made a shoe for me that is wide enough for my feet & a extra wide toe box for my toes that are equally straight across. They also made the footbed Barefooted 👣 style for me to wear since there's no sock that's wide enough to fit my foot & so the shoes will not stink while wearing them barefooted 👣 styles. I picked them up last weekend. It looks weird and feels weird having a shoe on my foot. I haven't worn a shoe-in thirty-some years. I want to go wear the shoes on a hiking trip next month I'm a talk to my family and see what they say. Good video John's. Merry Christmas to you and your family and if you travel anywhere please be safe.
That’s awesome, Mack!!! I really hope they work out for you! Merry Christmas, buddy! I hope you have a great one!
A hammock or a cot is way warmer than sleeping on the ground, but you can't drag a cot around with you in your back pack very easily.
Want to buy more trees for the Netherlands.... So we can actually use a hammock
your video is very good. great youtube❤❤❤❤
I always feel trapped in a tent. In a hammock I have almost 360 degrees vision when no tarp.
Put a jacket around your sleeping bag foot area to minimize the draft
Where at in pa because it's 54 here lol
Near Devies Mountain in southwest PA.
Never been out there look pretty decent
What area in PA did you guys hike in?
Near Davies Mountain in Southwest PA.
A tent is going to be 5 degrees warmer than outside. Just from keeping your body heat inside. The important part about tent camping in the winter is to have a good r rated sleeping pad. My winter sleeping system in my tent is about a pound less than your under quilt and quilt, and should be 5 degrees warmer. However, if you don't care about the weight, and like sleeping in hammocks, more power to you. But you will actually be warmer in a tent.
Btw, if you're curious I use an thermarest xtherm 15 oz, and a 0 degree Feathered Friends quilt at 34 oz. Last time I was in -8 degree weather I had to sleep in my underwear because I was too warm.
To be clear though, if you like hammocking a good under quilt is definitely a must, and glad you found something that works for you.
Happy Hiking! or Camping.
I don't follow your logic. Seems to be completely anecdotal.
@@jamesthornton3339 The trapped air will heat up via respiration and simple body heat. It's surprising to what degree, but the overall accepted degree is between 5-10 % warmer. Take a quick search for it, and there is plenty of data.
If you're trapping air, you're getting condensation. Water conducts heat many times more easily than does air. If you aren't trapping air, you're losing heat anyway. Frost on you will conduct heat away from you.
Aw man, I'm in PA and have yet to see any snow this season.
This was the second weekend of November. It was kind of a surprise.
I turned on the subtitles; they were hysterically funny. Try it! I'm wondering if it's the same for you or if I clicked something...
Get your campsite off the trail.
I disagree. Hard to beat a 4 season tent in cold weather. I’ve been out in -14 degree weather mountain climbing. But there is nothing wrong with using a hammock in cold weather.
It’s all good. I used a four season tent on Kilimanjaro. Did a great job. For me, I just love the “cocoon” of down.
Man, I have no idea what you were saying, but UA-cam's automated caption generator can't make heads or tails of your accent.
IT'S NOT EVEN SOME WEIRD ACCENT! WTF UA-cam!
I could understand if it was like a Welsh accent or really thick northern UK, but that's like generic Midwest!