Comments on: DD Hammock Quilt Review

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 20 May 2016 17:12:50 +0000

In reply to Brendan. A small bear canister?

By: Brendan

Brendan — Fri, 20 May 2016 13:42:53 +0000

How compact do it fold down?

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 05:42:29 +0000

In reply to Jason. The photo used in this review is a staged photo, which is why no under quilt is shown with the DD top quilt I was testing. I do have some trip photos that show a little of the top quilt but nothing that was good enough as my main image. Sorry for the confusion.

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 05:38:27 +0000

In reply to Jason.

Jason, I did use an under quilt when I tested this bag. The simple truth is that this is a thinly insulated top quilt. Don’t get me wrong, it is well made and good quality, it is just thin–similar to other summer rated top quilts I own. I tested this quilt multiple times with some of my warmest under quilts, and I was warm under me, but the DD top quilt wasn’t enough above. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear about how my test was conducted. I’m going to review and append this post to clarify if needed.

Here are a few more specifics:

Laid flat, this quilt is barely pushing an inch thick for a single layer. That’s thin for a bag that is intended for freezing temps. Most manufacturers use loft as an indicator of temperature ratings with their respective inches of loft:
Comfort Rating (°F) = Loft (inches)
40° = 1.5
30° = 2.0
20° = 2.5
10° = 3.25
0° = 4.0

Staying warm is not as simple as having a thick sleeping bag, I recognize. A persons metabolism, fatigue level, hydration, mental state, and clothing all factor in. In fact, I also find that I sleep warmer in a down-filled bag than a synthetic bag of equal thickness. I think down is just a more efficient insulator.

I tried to be as transparent as possible in this review to detail these factors and conduct multiple tests to see if I could use this bag in freezing temps and I cannot, not with additional clothing layers and another sleeping bag.

I’ve tested a lot of sleeping bags and quilts and this bag just doesn’t compare in loft and warmth to other bags that keep me warm to freezing.

Maybe I got a defective bag? Maybe the insulation loft is supposed to be thicker? I’d love to read other reviews to compare. I will also take a cross section photo to show the loft if it helps.

The bottom line is that I don’t want to misrepresent my experience and lead folks astray.

I really like the DD gear. It is a great value and quality. I’m also being honest with my experience.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 03:27:42 +0000

You don’t seem to be using the under quilt in combination with the top quilt? Compressing the insulation of the top quilt under you between you and the hammock makes it worthless for holding warmth. The reported temp rating is for when it is used in combination with their under quilt. You should have just bought that, and used your regular sleeping bag unzipped on top of you. You would have been warm in to freezing temps for sure.

By: elderr2

elderr2 — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 01:46:16 +0000

In reply to Derek. Cheers I look forward to it! Thanks for sharing this info. I better get back to sewing up some new hammocks for the kids ;)

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 01:19:21 +0000

In reply to elderr2. I have a review coming out on it this week in fact.

By: elderr2

elderr2 — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 00:53:28 +0000

Thanks for the review I have been looking at some of the DD products and this is useful. Out of curiosity what brand of hammock is in the pictures in the review? I have been “homebrewing” all my hammocks so far, and I am curious what material etc was used. I am planning to make a couple of making a couple of this week to take my children camping.