pmmpete wrote:
Scapulataf, I think that you're making your winter camping project a lot more difficult and less likely to be successful by basing it around a hammock. I think you'd be better off sleeping on the ground in any tent. But if you insist on sleeping in a hammock, I suggest that you experiment with putting an insulating layer into the hammock under your sleeping bag. You could fold a couple of blankets into a narrow rectangle, but I suspect that they would get bunched up and twist out of place as you turn over at night (assuming that turning over is even possible in your hammock). You could put a thermarest-style pad into the hammock. Such a sleeping pad would stay in place when you move, but those pads tend to be pretty slippery, which might be a problem in a hammock.
Believe me, I've dealt with enough engineers and project managers over the years that make things more difficult than they need to be, I absolutely try to avoid making things more difficult whenever possible. The thing is, I'd been planning on getting a hammock anyway. It works out like this: I can afford to spend 200$ on a hammock, but I can't afford to spend 3-400$ on a four season tent. So I was trying to figure out what would be best if I'm using a hammock. This is only an over nighter, to test out some gear, I've got a new camp stove I wanted to try out in a real world situation. Being miserable for a night, well, I can always go home take a hot shower and sleep for the rest of the day if need be.
That being said, yesterday I found a place that rents four season tents, so problem solved. I can rent the tent (thanks for "opening my eyes") and spare myself the expense of the hammock until a later date.
Our intinerary is going to be something like this: Head out on a friday afternoon, set up camp, get the fire going, cook a meal, sit around the fire for a few hours, insult each other and lie about how many girls we get, go to bed. Wake up the next morning, break camp and go home.
Open_side_up: I was going to be wearing the liners only at night, when I sleep. During the day, I'd be wearing my hiking boots with warm socks. Come bed time I'd be taking off the boots, changing socks and slipping the liners on my feet. So theoretically they'd be dry, if a bit cold for the first little while.
To the others: I'd love a hot tent or a quinzee, but its just going to be an overnighter, and we're going to carry everything on our backs. No sled or anything.
Thanks all for the advice, I appreciate all of it. I'm looking forward to this.