DIY Poncho Liner Under Quilt (PLUQ) (Sew and No-Sew)

Here’s another one of my early illustrations, updated and improved, showing how to convert a US Army poncho liner into an under quilt.

In my early hammock camping days, I couldn’t afford a down-filled under quilt and I most often used a closed-cell foam pad when temperatures dropped. I still wanted to try an under quilt with my Hennessy Hammock, so I started playing with a poncho liner.

The no-sew version works okay, but it’s difficult to seal the edges 100 percent. The sewn version is nice if you want to add some additional insulation, like a layer of Climashield® or other synthetic insulation.

Categories: Illustration, Instruction, Staying Warm, Workshop

army poncho liner, diy, PLUQ

96 responses to “DIY Poncho Liner Under Quilt (PLUQ) (Sew and No-Sew)”

joseph curwen

February 26, 2013

Thanks a lot Derek!
With your drawing, i made a sewn PLUQ last summer, and i am very happy with it, even now during winter!
http://uppix.net/e/8/3/167fad07bb1f16f42c2a35408a6cf.jpg

Reply
1. Derek
  
  February 26, 2013
  
  Thank you Joseph! I’m glad it’s working for you.
  
  Reply
2. Tra
  
  August 20, 2014
  
  I just made one! I used a combo of sew and no-sew methods and it works fantastic. I cant wait for the weather to cool off a little to use it! Thanks for the great book and site Derek!
  
  Reply
Steve Serfass

April 4, 2013

It’s a good idea I’m sure, but I can’t sew, and I don’t really understand it all, winter camping for me I’ll just stick to a tent, love my spring/summer/fall hammock trips though

Reply
1. Derek
  
  April 4, 2013
  
  We’ll just have to come out your way and do a demo one of these days 🙂 You can try a no-sew PLUQ by just tying up the strings and then putting it under the hammock. Do you use any insulation besides a sleeping bag for 3-season hammock camping? A pad perhaps? I used a pad for years before I could afford an under quilt and it worked well for temps down to 40°F.
  
  Reply
  1. Jacob
    
    March 19, 2015
    
    Did you just use a basic foam sleeping pad? Just ordered a poncho liner too & plan to follow these instructions but a friend told me about some people cutting the corners off of a sleeping pad & using that
    
    Reply
    1. Derek
      
      March 19, 2015
      
      I don’t often use sleeping pads any more; I much prefer the warmth and ease of an under quilt. However, this week I went hammock camping with my family and I used my trusty pad combination. I take a standard blue closed-cell foam pad and cut it in half. One half covers my hips down to my legs; the other half is turned sideways and covers my shoulders and upper torso. The two pads overlap a few inches. You can further shape these pads to your liking, trimming and rounding the corners, shaving weight or just making it fit better.
      
      A poncho liner is a great DIY project and a good entry into under quilts. It’s pretty good by itself down to the mid 40s°F but I think most people feel it holds its own around 50°F.
      
      Reply
jbrescue

May 7, 2013

What temperature rating would you guess for the PLUQ?

Reply
1. Derek
  
  May 8, 2013
  
  Like any insulation, much depends on the user (hot/cold sleeper, sleep style, clothing worn, etc.). I would rate the PLUQ at 45°F (7°C).
  
  Reply
  1. Niko
    
    April 14, 2014
    
    Your rating sounds about right. I had a double PLUQ on a trip in september. During the nights temperatures dropped to roughly 2-3°C (35-40°F). I was just about right, but it was right on the edge.
    
    Reply
Bill

May 12, 2013

I am beginning my first summer in a hammock. Last night I had a 70 degree night, and it got cool on the back. I used a sleeping bag, but its hard to manage it in a hammock. Any best suggestion?? Poncho liner outside, pad inside, or suggestions to get into sleeping bag easily and not slip down your hammock….

Reply
1. Derek
  
  May 12, 2013
  
  Hammocks excel at heat loss (convection) so even on hot summer nights it’s nice to have something under you to keep comfortable, even if its just a little. A pad works but can twist out if you’re not careful. Most sleeping bags will compress as you lay on them so you may not get enough insulation even if you do wriggle in.
  
  One trick is to get into the sleeping bag while you’re standing up and then lay into the hammock.
  
  Under quilts like the PLUQ are great. They hang under the hammock and are not compressed when you lay down.
  
  Insulation that doesn’t compress works great in a hammock if you’re laying in it (such as a closed-cell foam pad or synthetic insulation). On my backpacking trip in Hawaii all I brought was a fleece blanket. During the night, I had the fleece wrapped around me and it was just about perfect. Your own preference and metabolism will dictate what you can and cannot get away with. Hot sleepers may not need anything more than a silk sheet.
  
  Reply
2. Derek
  
  May 12, 2013
  
  For me, I recommend unzipping the sleeping bag except the for the foot box. When you get in the hammock, slip your feet into the foot box and tuck the bag around you like you would a quilt. Use a pad or under quilt for warmth under you. It’s much easier to use quilt-style sleeping bags in a hammock.
  
  Reply
Andrew

June 4, 2013

hey derek,

im looking into making a no sew pluq, and i was wondering if what you have shown here is the best way to do it or if you have come up with a better way of doing it since posting

Thanks,
Andrew

Reply
1. Derek
  
  June 4, 2013
  
  This illustration and instruction was updated from the original. This is the most recent version available. The only other “mod” I would recommend would be to just tie off the shock cord on the ends instead of running it through the channels. This simplifies the design even further.
  
  Reply
  1. robanna
    
    July 30, 2013
    
    “The only other “mod” I would recommend would be to just tie off the shock cord on the ends instead of running it through the channels.”
    
    Are referring to the side, end, or all shock cords? Just run them through the ribbon ties?
    
    You also say that the no-sew is difficult to seal the edges. Do you think it would be easier to seal if that one long edge was straight vs a triangle? I was thinking of finding a way to fold that triangle in to make that edge straight. Maybe add a ribbon loop in a straight line with the corners to run the cord through.
    
    Reply
    1. Derek
      
      July 30, 2013
      
      The poncho liner under quilt began as a quick and inexpensive way to insulate the bottom of a hammock, by folding over a poncho liner and attaching it to the underside of a hammock. The no-sew version is a quick-and-dirty method that does the job, but it isn’t very efficient, depending on how well you gather up the short ends and get the long sides to hug the hammock.
      
      The original design of the no-sew mimicked some of the high-end quilts with shock cord running through the long edges to help snug up the quilt. The problem is that the shock cord isn’t contained and gets turned around while packing. Additionally, the long edge that is tied isn’t sealed well and loses a lot of heat. The last time I hung my no-sew PLUQ it took a few minutes to unravel it and I swore I would just sew it up and save me the hassle.
      
      One advantage of the no-sew was to keep the poncho liner versatile so you could keep it as a blanket or top quilt if you wanted. If this is your goal, I now recommend you sew the PLUQ using the instructions I have listed for the weather shield, giving you a full-length top and bottom quilt in one.
      
      The “mod” to put the shock cord only on the ends as opposed to running it along the long edges was to eliminate the hassle and potential rat nest of cordage.
      
      Another way to make the no-sew version is to fold the liner in half like a gate fold. Tie the edges together but now the shock cord can run under two folded edges on the long sides. You still need to run the shock cord on the short ends to gather up the ends.
      
      Reply
Jason vanRijn Kasper (@jdotk)

July 5, 2013

Hey Derek! Thanks so much for the great artwork and book and ideas! I’m new to hammocking and underquilting and the whole thing, so I’m learning a lot as I go along. I’m using my ENO DoubleNest hammock indoors for the time being, trying to learn how to sleep well in it. I’ve had neck and back problems in my bed for a long time and I’m trying sleeping in a hammock to alleviate these problems. I’ve been doing it for about a week and I’m pretty satisfied with the results. I bought a Rothco Poncho Liner (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FK8XQ8) because I read this post of yours, and I tried following your no-sew instructions last night and failed miserably.

I folded the poncho liner width-wise (original size: 62″x82″; folded size: 62″x41″) because I thought that would give me the best coverage underneath, laying diagonally, in my ENO DoubleNest. But when I tried to lay in the hammock, I found that both my head and feet were sticking out from the underquilt. I think that if I would have folded the poncho liner length-wise (original size: 62″x82″; folded size: 31″x82″), I would have had enough length, but the width wouldn’t have covered either my head or feet with me laying diagonally.

What I ended up doing was just running a bit of paracord through the top and bottom channels, gathering those ends a bit, and then tying the poncho liner, single layer, underneath my hammock to the carabiner at the top and bottom ends. I think it worked out perfectly, even though the poncho liner was only its original, single-layer thickness.

I’m a very hot sleeper, and we’re in the miserably hot and humid summer of New England, so that probably has some bearing on my results.

But I wanted to see if you had any suggestions for me. From your pictures, it looks like you’re folding the poncho liner width-wise (along the shorter middle), but I don’t see how that fits underneath all of your body when you’re laying in the hammock diagonally. Do you have any pictures of how this looks with your hammock setup? Am I doing something wrong? Are regular, non-DIY underquilts longer and wider? Or maybe I’m just not understanding how underquilts are supposed to fit. The way I have it now, the poncho liner fits around my hammock when I’m not laying in it, and when I’m laying in it, the underquilt fits just about entirely underneath my hammock, the whole way up and down.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks and see if you had any advice for a newbie. =:)

Reply
Dane

November 8, 2013

Hey Derek! Excellent info here … thanks! You indicated that this PLUQ worked well for temps into the 40s. Is that with or without the Climashield insulation? If you mean without, then how cold can you go with the Climashield? Also, will one square yard of insulation be enough? How heavy does that make the entire UQ, and will it compress well with insulation? Thank you so much!!

Reply
1. Derek
  
  November 8, 2013
  
  Not all poncho liners are created equal, so I should have a big caveat on the instructions 🙂 All the PLUQ’s I’ve made were from surplus military supply, and some of those were in better shape than others. New, non-military liners are even better (thicker, better fill) at keeping you warm. The Climashield or Primaloft fill can help a lot, so long as you keep it from compressing under the hammock (you have to make a sort of differential baffle between the inner layer, insulation, and outer layer). Without any insulation, I feel very comfortable at 50-60°F. Adding insulation helps it go into the mid 40s. Poncho liners are heavy. I think mine was 28 oz. I think where the PLUQ has a benefit is for those looking for an inexpensive, easy to make, entry-level under quilt, especially if you can get the poncho liners for a good price.
  
  Reply
  1. dane
    
    November 8, 2013
    
    Thanks for the quick reply Derek! (BTW, your site is incredibly helpful!)
    
    I picked up a “like new” liner on Amazon for $20. I’m going to try the “no-sew” method and give it a try first to see how cold it will go for me, and then take it from there.
    
    Also … any idea how much Climashield would be needed to fill it?
    
    Thanks!!
    
    Reply
Kio

January 20, 2014

Hi Derek,

I am in the UK and was wondering if you have any suggestions of where to buy/obtain material for using as insulation?

Reply
1. Derek
  
  January 20, 2014
  
  I wish I had a good source for you. I did a quick search and didn’t see anything promising. The ones I use include Thru-Hiker, Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics, and Quest Outfitters. DIY Gear Supply also sells Insultex.
  
  Reply
  1. Kio
    
    January 30, 2014
    
    Hey Derek,
    
    I found an EU supplier for Primaloft insulation! (http://www.extremtextil.de/catalog/Insulation) How many grams would you recommend I purchase to insulate the PLUQ?
    
    Reply
    1. Derek
      
      January 30, 2014
      
      Thanks for the link! That’s a great resource.
      
      I might be committing some sort of PLUQ blasphemy, but I think I should come out and say that if you are going to add extra insulation, you might as well ditch the poncho liner and make a de-facto synthetic under quilt. What I mean by that is to take two sheets of ripstop nylon shell material and sandwich the insulation. The end result will be warmer and lighter.
      
      I’ve made several Poncho Liner Under Quilts. They make a great “beginner” under quilt, especially because they take a quilted blanket and turn it into a hammock under quilt with very little investment in time, money, or skill. However, PLUQs use material that is heavy for the amount of insulation they provide. This is even worse if you get a low-quality liner where the insulation is fairly flat. In my experience, the PLUQ is best used for summer and maybe some “shoulder” season use. I’m most comfortable with the PLUQ in temperatures around 50-70°F (10-20°C). Colder than the mid-50s (10°C), and I’m not comfortable.
      
      Sandwiching insulation between a folded PLUQ can help make it a little warmer, but you really have to be careful about folding it so there is a “pocket” so the insulation can loft. I’ve made some PLUQs with insulation and once you tighten it up, the insulation between the layers is still smashed flat, so it doesn’t do much. You can’t just fold it in half. You need to make sure the “outer” layer is longer than the “inner” layer, if that make sense.
      
      One of the best PLUQs I made was a much more involved process than I’ve illustrated here. Not only did I cut off all the edging and draw strings, I also cut the liner into two pieces to get an inner and outer shell. I also used other fabric to create baffles to help make a gap between the inner and outer layers. It sort of defeats the purpose of a PLUQ.
      
      How much insulation is dependent on how warm you want the quilt. I wouldn’t go by the weight so much as the loft. Typically a 2 in (5 cm) thickness of synthetic insulation will keep you warm to around 35°F (2°C), but the weight will depend on what quality/brand of insulation you choose.
      
      Reply
      1. Garry Bartle
        
        July 15, 2014
        
        I found a couple of other suppliers for Primaloft:
        
        Thru-hiker: http://thru-hiker.com/materials/insulation.php
        QuestOutfitters: http://www.questoutfitters.com/insulations.htm#PRIMALOFT
        
        QuestOutfitters also has loft guidelines for various temperature ratings specific to Primaloft Sport – http://www.questoutfitters.com/tips_and_hints.htm#LOFT GUIDELINES (FOR PRIMALOFT).
Beth

February 6, 2014

Hi, I sewed the long edges of a poncho together, and used grosgrain ribbon along both long edges. I ran some thin cord through the ribbon sleeve, thinking I could use it to pull the shock cord through, but then I wondered if I could just tie the shock cord to the other cord, leaving non-shock cord inside the gros grain ribbon sleeve. The cord sticks out of the ribbon sleeve about 3 inches on each end. Will running the shock cord through the long ends help in some way, or should the cord/shock cord combo work?

I ran shock cord through the poncho’s edging, rather than sewing together the short ends with ribbon. I can use the shock cord to snug up the short ends, but since I didn’t sew the short ends together, I can still stuff something–extra insulation, a jacket, possibly a sleeping pad (though I don’t know if that would help in any way) between the two layers of the poncho. Should it work ok the way I have it configured, or do you recommend I sew the short ends and run shock cord through the long edges? It’s too cold to test outside right now, but the weather’s perfect for sewing. Thanks for the great web site!

Reply
1. Derek
  
  February 7, 2014
  
  Beth, the way you describe making your PLUQ is exactly how I made one of mine; indeed, how I illustrated making it originally (using some string or line instead of shock cord through the channels). It works and is completely viable. For me at the time, I think it was necessity as I don’t think I had enough shock cord to go around the entire circumference of the quilt. You can also just tie shock cord on the ends and not run it through the edges. The advantage of having something running the entire length is that you can adjust and move the under quilt while you are in the hammock.
  
  Keeping the short ends open is a good idea, especially if you do want to add or remove insulation.
  
  The trick to making any under quilt is to make sure there is a difference in length between the inner and outer fabric layers. This difference ensures that the the quilt will provide loft when the quilt is curved around the hammock and occupant and doesn’t just get smashed and collapsed. This is a little tricky with the poncho liner because it is just one piece of fabric that is folded over. To achieve a “sort of” differential design is NOT to fold it in half, but rather before the halfway mark so the inner fabric layer is shorter than the outer.
  
  Reply
Beth

February 20, 2014

Something made me remember that I have a Klymit X frame sleeping pad, that I don’t really use. But I got to thinking about sticking it between the two layers of the poncho liner and then inflating it some. If it’s sandwiched inside the underquilt, I wondered if might work as variable thickness insulation. Do you think that might work?

Reply
1. Derek
  
  February 20, 2014
  
  Sure! Give it a try. It sounds like it could work.
  
  Reply
Cory

April 19, 2014

I started making this and then read the comments about this not being very warm past 50 degrees. So I thought I’d just canabilize my wife’s cheap Target 40 degree bag, (with permission) cut it to the deminsions of the PLUQ add some channels and shock chord and see what happens. It’s about 2 pounds. A pound heavier than I’d like, but should be more comfortable than my pad. Have you tried anything like this to much success?
My first venture with a sewing machine. I turned that hour project into three hours fast! Its Martha Stewart meets Frankenstein!
I’m headed out for my first hammock trip this week.

Reply
1. Derek
  
  April 19, 2014
  
  Nice! Yes, I’ve cannibalized sleeping bags just like you’ve described. The advantage of the PLUQ is inexpensive materials. Weight is one of the trade offs.
  
  Reply
dane

April 22, 2014

Derek … my wife is working on the UQ right now .. thanks! Here is her question: why not stitch the ends closed with thread, rather than install a “sinch” cord to gather the ends?

Reply
1. Derek
  
  April 22, 2014
  
  All the edges should be sewn closed. You add channels on all the edges so you can add in shock cord on the edges. On the short edges, the shock cord (or just regular cord) helps to cinch up the edge to better conform to the shape of the hammock—it helps to gather the short ends. I hope that makes sense!
  
  Reply
  1. dane
    
    April 23, 2014
    
    Got it … !hanks! One more question: Shock cord makes the UQ hang a little. Paracord keeps the UQ tight beneath me. Is there a preferred way to hang the UQ? Should it fit tightly, or loosely?
    
    Reply
    1. Derek
      
      April 23, 2014
      
      Shock cord should also fit tight. You might need thicker/stronger cord. The advantage is that it is elastic and will stretch and move with the hammock.
      
      Reply
cagezero

April 23, 2014

Would it be OK to substitute 1/16 shock cord for the 1/18 shock cord?

Reply
1. Derek
  
  April 24, 2014
  
  Of course. Use what works best.
  
  Reply
Dan

April 23, 2014

what do you think about using velcro to attach the underquilt , cheep sleeping bag, to the bottom of the hammock ?

Reply
1. Derek
  
  April 24, 2014
  
  There are tradeoffs, certainly, with Velcro®. First off, it snags on pretty much everything. I would use the Omni Tape variety, which has hooks and loops on both sides. It snags less, but its not 100%. The real challenge with that sort of attachment is the requirement to have your underquilt be as wide as your hammock. A lot of under quilts stay within (often less than) 45 in (114 cm). Hammocks, particularly gathered-end variety, are 60 in (152 cm). You could add on some fabric “wings” to span the gap, but you will lose coverage, particularly around your shoulder. When you lay diagonally in a Mayan-style hammock, the underquilt also lays diagonally to match you. This is how an under quilt can be narrower than the hammock to save both weight and bulk. If you lay diagonally but your under quilt’s insulation isn’t as wide as the hammock, you’ll find your shoulders and lower legs off the insulation. This is why, if you did attach side-to-side, you’d need a really wide under quilt for maximum coverage. I hope that makes sense.
  
  Reply
  1. Dan
    
    April 24, 2014
    
    Thant does make sense. that was my initial concern with underquilts, I have a ENO doublenest deluxe a very wide hammock 80in if i remember right. That why i was thinking if the underquilt, a fully opened sleeping bag, was attached directly to the hammock that might work better that a bungie suspended underquilt.
    Thank you for the quick response.
    
    Reply
Andrew

April 24, 2014

I have an older coleman mummy bag, i am not sure its supposed rating in warmth. But i had an idea of using chock cord to basically tie it the bottom of my hammock as a quick and easy underquilt. what advice would you share? is this a good idea?

Reply
1. Derek
  
  April 24, 2014
  
  I’ve made a few under quilts out of up-cycled sleeping bags like you describe. I usually cut off the hood, if present, and then cut and sew the ends to make it fit. Rectangular sleeping bags are the easiest to convert. In fact, some child-size sleeping bags are perfect for converting. They can be a little wide, unless you want to trim and sew more.
  
  What I usually do with those DIY projects is just sew grosgrain loops on the four corners and attach shock cord directly to the loops instead of trying to add a channel along the long edges to hold up the under quilt.
  
  Reply

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