Sleeping and water question

[riverfever]

I have spent quite a bit of cash on gear for an upcoming endurance mountain bike race from Denver to Durango along the Colorado Trail. I decided to use a Hennesy Hammock b/c it was light, quick set up, hopefully comfy, and I wouldn't wake up in a puddle. I have been using a 45* down bag inside it. I have never had an issue with getting cold while sleeping. I freeze in this setup. I know it's b/c of all the air under me. The nights I've used this haven't even remotely been what I would consider chilly. I'm going to try and use a 20* bag in it tonight and see if that helps. Obviously weight and packability are important but I gotta get good sleep or I'm not gonna finish this thing.

Water has also been a huge problem. I'm using iodine and it's ok except for when it comes to washing out 2 water bottles that I use for Hammer Perpetuem drinks. The bottles get NASTY and I need to wash them routinely. I drop iodine tablets in my Camelback bladder but I don't like the way they look. It looks almost as if the inside of the bladder absorbs most of the iodine. It's really stained. I find myself not drinking as I should b/c I'm a bit nervous. I looked at the MSR miox purifier and it would probably be great but it's spendy. Since I'm raising money for cancer research for this ride I'm going to speak with the store owner and see if I can't get a discount on it.

I may be just talking outloud here. I guess I'm just looking for some input.

 

[1leglance]

I am a huge hammock fan and have used 1 for years...
but you gottta have closed cell foam under you if it is cold...the cheap foam pad is fine but you must have it!

I like the Aqua Mir tablets much better than iodine, kills it all and no bad taste

 

[paulj]

A number of years ago I bought some iodine crystals from a pharmacy. The idea was to keep them in small bottle with water, and use a capful of that iodine solution to purify drinking water. Based on that experience I will confirm that iodine does stain.

There are number of water purifying options on the market now - pumps and filters, uv pens, straws, solutions similar to those used for municipal water systems, etc. I suspect the REI web site has a 'how to' on water treatment.

Regarding the cold hammock, the issue is the compression of sleeping bag insulation under you. Down, being highly compressible, is particularly susceptible to this problem. The Henesssy web site may have some discussion of this issue. I know it was a common topic on a Backpacking Light forum that I used to follow. I am aware of a couple of solutions:
- put a thin, non-compressible pad between you and hammock. 1/8" closed cell foam should work. Some windshield sunshades work. Keeping the pad under you as you toss and turn can be a problem.
- hang a reflective tarp (space blanket) under the hammock.

 

[riverfever]

Sounds like some have had good luck with the 1/8" windsield shades. I'm going to try that tonight with the 45 bag. I agree...I don't thikn the issue is necessarily the bag but the fact that it's being compressed underneath.

I considered a space blanket under the hammock as well. Any ideas on how to attach it under there?

 

[riverfever]

I'll try cutting the space blanket to fit the contour of the hammock and then see if I can find some clips (small chip bag clips might work) to keep the blanket loosely connected to the underside.

 

[Lynn]

I'll try cutting the space blanket to fit the contour of the hammock and then see if I can find some clips (small chip bag clips might work) to keep the blanket loosely connected to the underside.

I'm not sure if that will work. IIRC for a space blanket to work there can't be anything between your skin and the blanket, however the blanket can't come into contact with your skin, either. Kind of a paradox with space blankets...

But it may be something to try. However, I dislike chip clips so much that I don't even use them for chips any more. Steel binder clips (like you use to hold a large stack of papers together) work much better for chips, and, especially, for bags of stuff in the freezer since they don't get brittle. I think they would be a better solution for the hammock, as well.

 

[paulj]

A space blanket works in several ways:
- as vapor barrier it does need to be close to the skin
- as wind/convection blocker it does not need to be close
- as reflector - most useful when it is above you, blocking heat loss to the night sky

Hung under a hammock it probably acts mainly by reducing air flow around the bottom of the hammock. If that is the case, then any tightly woven fabric could hung that way. I don't know if the reflective effect is significant or not.

 

[OverlandZJ]

Would a pair of thermal pants/shirt be enough to offset the chill? Several ratings to choose from and you could remove them in am and roll inside the down bag.

 

[riverfever]

Lynn...those binder clips are what I was thinking of but it came out wrong.

John...Both times I have been freezing I have been wearing my rain pants, a fleece hat, wool socks, and a Craft base layer.

I just bought a space blanket and a sunshade so I guess I'll do some experimenting the next few nights and report back.

 

[paulj]

SGT Rock's Hammock page
http://hikinghq.net/hammock/hammock.html

Backpacking forum
http://www.backpacking.net/bbs.html

Hennessy cold weather page
http://www.hennessyhammock.com/wintercamping.html

Also consider using your sleeping bag in a quilt fashion - that is unzip it most of the way, stick your feet in the toe box, and arrange the bag over you. It may be eaiser to this way to keep the bag on top, and pad below. Some light-weight backpackers take bags designed to be used this way.
http://www.jacksrbetter.com/index_files/SUB.htm

 

[riverfever]

Thanks Paul. I spent some time reading that cold weather page and I'm hopeful that I can figure it out. There are some folks using the same hammock I have in some seriously cold weather.

I am going to try the reflective sunshade by itself tonight. If I need to then I might try attaching some thin fleece to the sunshade for tomorrow night. Lastly, I can try the space blanket on the outside.

 

[riverfever]

OK...I tried out the sunshade and it made a huge difference. I ordered a 3/16"
CCF pad from Oware today. The other huge difference was not using the sleeping bag like it should be used. I actually unzipped it and used it like a quilt to avoid compressing it under me.

Paul...thanks a ton for the links. Through those I stumbled upon www.hammockforums.net and that place rocks.

Can I pretty much count on using running water and avoiding stagnant sources? If I use Aquamira tablets, can I just put those directly in the Camelback bladder?

 

[KDog]

Try this for water purification. MSR's Miox will kill Cryptosporidium and others that Iodine won't. Pocket size and light with no funny taste to the treated water.

http://www.msrgear.com/watertreatment/miox.asp

I have their filters, but I want one of these for my emergency kit.


Cheers

 

[riverfever]

That's the one that the local outdoor shop is trrying to sell me but it sure is spendy. I was going to use Aquamira tablets but then I realized there is a 4 hour wait and I can't do that. Now I'm back to having to buck up for a Steri pen of some sort of the Miox. Thanks.

 

[craig]

Lynn...those binder clips are what I was thinking of but it came out wrong.

John...Both times I have been freezing I have been wearing my rain pants, a fleece hat, wool socks, and a Craft base layer.

I just bought a space blanket and a sunshade so I guess I'll do some experimenting the next few nights and report back.

That sounds like the right amount of clothing to wear, but I'll ask my question just to be sure. Are you sweating at all with this amount of clothing? A little sweat causes a big chill.