Using the Jacks 'R' Better Underquilts
| Connecting the JRB Underquilt | |
When using the Nest and WS together, I noticed that the added weight of the WS caused the shockcord to stretch more, so both the Nest and WS hung down lower. I tightened the shockcord by sliding it out further on the Spectra. This helped some, but it also decreased the angle of the shockcord, which results in more horizontal force and less vertical force. I think that results in more compression under my butt while adding only a little bit of more vertical support, and I still had gaps under my knees and back. I tried to fix this by doubling up the shockcord. On each end, I folded the suspension cord in half and attached it to the Spectra with a mini-carabiner right where the hammock meets the Spectra. Then I attached the cord to the quilt, resulting in two strands of shockcord on each corner of the quilt. The angle now results in more vertical support, and the stronger shockcord keeps the WS/Nest nice and snug almost all the way around. A problem with this interim solution is that I can't adjust the tension...the carabiner just stays where it is. I found a way to resolve it...put an extra half-hitch in the shockcord between the shockcord ends. These pics use the Weather Shield instead of the Nest, but the connection procedure is the same.
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Connect the suspension system to the HH support with a simple hitch |
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Hold both ends of the shockcord together and put a half-hitch onto the hammock support |
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Slide the half-hitch onto the HH fabric and tighten it up |
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Connect the mini-biner to the grosgrain loop |
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Here is the connected suspension system. Now just attach the ladder loops to the side tie-outs and it's done. To tighten the quilt, just feed some shockcord through the half-hitch, then pull the hitch out further. To loosen, just slide the hitch in, then feed the slacked shockcord through the other side of the half-hitch. Even with more weight on the shockcord, this method will maintain the same angle of support, resulting in a better fit with fewer gaps between the hammock bottom and underquilt. |
| Using the JRB Underquilt | |
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Cinch up the end drawstrings only enough to snug the Nest to the bottom of the hammock. Leave a small gap because the hammock will sag when occupied. |
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Nest with the "windows open" as described on the JRB website (see Nesting Tricks from an Old Coot, Warm Weather Tricks). |
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Attach the Nest's omni-tape to the HH's velcro on the entrance slit to make entry/exit easier. If it's cold, connecting the Nest to itself helps seal the gap from drafts. |
| The Nest as a Top Quilt | |
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The Nest as a top quilt, laying on the Weather Shield. Cinch up the drawstring on the foot end and attach the omni-tape to form the footbox. It also helps to cinch up the drawstring on the head end to about 28" wide...that makes a nice pocket for the shoulders and helps keep the top quilt snugged around the neck. |
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Close-up of the foot end drawstring. If it's really cold, I can sometimes feel a breeze blowing through. I usually just put my feet on top of the hole and that works fine...I guess stuffing some socks in there would plug the gap, too. |
| I don't have any pics, but I had a "stupid me" moment when I realized that I could just wrap the drawstring around the cinched up area to close off the gap. Once I started doing that, I never had any more problem with drafts. Don't know why it took me so long to figure that out. | |
| Wearing the No Sniveler as a Camp Garment | |
Both the Nest and No Sniveler can be worn as additional insulation at camp. This is great for reducing bulk and weight in the pack because I don't have to carry a jacket or vest. I like to leave the Nest attached to the hammock and wear the NS when I need more insulation. |
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JRB No Sniveller worn as a poncho...just hanging down and not secured front or back. |
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When used as a quilt, the JRB has omni-tape (like Velcro) along the bottom that forms a footbox. When worn as a poncho, the front panel can be wrapped around me and the omni-tape secured to itself. If I let it hang, it goes to my knees. Keeps my legs warm, but it also looks like a dress. Fortunately, my belly is...um...robust enough to hold it up around my waist. |
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I don't like wearing it around camp during dinner and chores because I'm scared of snagging it or spilling something on it. It fits perfectly under my GoLite Clarity rain jacket, though. That provides protection for the quilt and still lets me stay warm without packing in an additional insulation layer.
The quilt only insulates down to my elbows like this. |
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Crazy amounts of loft here...and for basically no added weight since I'm already carrying the quilt. |
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Showing the JRB under the jacket. It's very warm, but it's hard to ventilate when wearing the jacket because I can't just unzip it. As a poncho, it ventilates out the sides. |
| Can the Nest be Worn as Pants? | |
Can they be worn? Sort of. It's slightly less stylish than the No Sniveler. I also prototyped a pair of insulated pants that convert to a half-bag or elephant's foot for sleeping so I could get a better fit. |
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I attached the footbag velcro to the entry slit velcro on the same side, then repeated for the other side. The footbag velcro only comes up to about my knees, but that could be extended pretty easily. The bigger issue is that the quilt isn't wide enough...when it wraps around my thighs, the down compresses. But that could be solved by making the quilt a bit wider. Especially around my waist...you can't see it, but my butt's hanging out the back. (This quilt is 48" wide....no, I don't have anything close to a 48" waist!)
My hips look so huge because it's a full-length quilt, so I had to fold the top down...there are three layers of quilt around my waist and hips. |
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Had to regain some of my manhood by closing the slit in the back so my butt wasn't hanging out...this compressed the down around my hips, but shows what a better fitting product would look like. The drawstrings around my ankles snugged it up pretty nicely, but I had to tuck the extra cord inside. Maybe shockcord would work better here. |
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I turned them around to show how big the gap is...the Nest forms legs up to my knees and the rest is pretty much open. |
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Here's the full-length of the quilt. It's kinda saggy since it's 78" long. I was thinking a No Sniveler head hole near the top would enable the Nest to be worn as a full body cover, at least for the front. Obviously, I'm still in the possibilities stage... |
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This shows how much extra length the Nest has when it's pulled up to the level where it could be comfortably worn. |