Big Agnes sleeping system

[bluequill]

I'm not sure what you mean by the foil blanket in this capacity, so obviously I don't use one. In the warmest months I use an ultralight thermarest (1 inch thick) which is necessary for minimal protection against bottom chilly night air. When it is cooler I use a standard weight (1.5 in thick) thermarest. I put my day clothing and any extra along my side in the hammock. As it gets even cooler (mid 30's and below) the system gets a little more complicated.

Hennesy recommends using a "space blanket" (mylar foil) in conjunction with a foam pad in their insulation system. Thanks for the info!

[Wldrns]

Hennesy recommends using a "space blanket" (mylar foil) in conjunction with a foam pad in their insulation system. Thanks for the info!

Well I guess that is a new technique. When I bought my first hammock from Tom (~10 yrs ago? - he answered the phone and chatted with customers back then), there was no mention of foil. But cold weather hammocking was still something few people did, even those (like me) who were totally dedicated to 3-season hanging. I always figured when my hammock system began to weigh more than a solo tent, I'd just use a tent on top of the snow, or build a snow shelter instead. The technology has improved over time. Have you ever tried to sleep with a foil space blanket? They are horribly noisy with every move you make.

[geogymn]

Big Agnes Edna SL Sleeping Bag - -5 Degree Down - Women's: On sale for $ 200.00 at :

http://www.steepandcheap.com

[bluequill]

I picked up a BA Horsethief 35 degree bag on sale for $179. I finally got to use it on the trail coupled with a Thermarest pro lite plus in a Hennesy hammock. The temp got to below 40 but not quite 35. I was warm as toast and slept like a baby. I could probably use this setup down to 30 degrees without any problems. There were some cold spots at my arms/ shoulders that was due to the hammock sides compressing the down but nothing objectionable. I never thought I'd like the BA system but it is very nice. I could probably carry a piece of CCF to cover the area around my shoulders but at 35 degrees I don't think the extra bulk is would be warranted.

[KEG]

.... Have you ever tried to sleep with a foil space blanket? They are horribly noisy with every move you make.

Somewhere (hammock forum?) I heard about a guy who used the kind of reflector you put in a car windshield. I would guess it's a fair bit heavier than just foil though.

[bluequill]

Somewhere (hammock forum?) I heard about a guy who used the kind of reflector you put in a car windshield. I would guess it's a fair bit heavier than just foil though.

THe big box stores sell rolls of that as insulation. It has a reflective foil and a thin layer of bubble type insulation. I think it is called "reflectix". It seems it might be a little bulky to carry in a pack.

[Wldrns]

THe big box stores sell rolls of that as insulation. It has a reflective foil and a thin layer of bubble type insulation. I think it is called "reflectix". It seems it might be a little bulky to carry in a pack.

I love my Hennessy hammock. With few exceptions I have used it exclusively for 3 season camping for... about 9 years now. But when I have to start adding excessive bulk and weight, then it loses a major (though not all) of its advantage over a tent. When the bulk and weight exceeds what I would carry with a tent system, then I rethink my hammock/tent options for that particular trip.

[WiseFool]

I've been using the BA system for a few years now, and love it, for the most part.

Negatives:
My toes get a little crunched in the toe box.
When using the BA air mattresses, some sleeping space is taken up by the top part of the pad.

Positives:
No sliding off of pad.
Lighter weight because no insulation on the bottom of bag.
Air mattress doubles as recreational flotation device.
Snug as a bug in a rug.

My BA air core pad (which is incredibly comfortable) developed a couple leaks last season, and it made me a little wary of relying fully on such an inflatable mattress out in the field. Now I've got a pretty good system: I use a Ridge Rest foam pad in the BA sleeve, and then lay the bag/pad on top of a 3/4 length BA air mattress for extra softness. I've tried, but I absolutely cannot sleep soundly on a foam pad alone. This is the best of both worlds, and the weight is not too much to bear. Nice insurance to know that if the mattress springs a leak, I'll still be insulated from the ground. I've slept like a baby with this system, and have tried many others before without such luck.