When you are out camping and need to stay warm at night, a hammock underquilt is the perfect addition to keep your temperature up. A hammock underquilt attaches to your hammock and helps both insulate and regulate temperature to ensure that you stay in your comfort zone and get a great night’s rest for the next day’s adventures.
When looking at hammock underquilts, there are four main things to focus on: temperature rating, size, material, and price. We will examine these criteria for our top hammock underquilts on this list.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
ENO Vulcan Hammock Underquilt
Budget Option
OneTigris Hideout Hammock Underquilt
Best for Winter
Blaze Underquilt
Best Overall
Eno Vulcan Hammock Underquilt
The Eno Vulcan is our best overall hammock underquilt. It is built by a reputable brand backed by REI, so you know it is a high-quality piece of equipment that will stand the test of time. When you are camping and hiking, durability matters most, and this hammock underquilt is built from high-quality material and is strong enough to tackle almost anything you throw at it.
The Eno Vulcan hammock underquilt is lightweight, which means it is easy to attach to your pack and bring with you. It can serve as a great alternative to a tent in conjunction with your hammock. The large mesh storage bag that it comes with can even clip to the side of your pack to not take up any room.
This hammock underquilt is rated from 30 – 50 degrees, meaning it is good for most conditions hikers will face, but not the bitter cold of harsh winter camping. The dual-layer PrimaLoft insulation and offset-quilted construction eliminates cold spots to ensure a full body warmth layer. In addition, it is water-repellent, so it can withstand unpredictable weather conditions.
Pros
- Large size – fits campers up to 6’2”
- Durable and water repellent
- High quality but very lightweight
- 30-50 degree temp recommendation
Budget Option
OneTigiris Hideout Hammock Underquilt
If you are shopping for a hammock underquilt on a budget, the OneTigiris Hideout underquilt is a good option for you. This underquilt will work for most conditions and is a great low-cost or introductory option for those looking not to break the bank.
The OneTigiris Hideout hammock underquilt is rated between 41-60 degrees, so it does not have as low of a temperature rating as some other options on our list. It does, however, insulate well, and thanks to its construction, you won’t have cold spots.
The OneTigiris also can accommodate people up to 6’ 2”, so it will work for most campers and hikers. The easy setup means that it can accommodate any skill level, and you won’t be spending long setting up your sleeping arrangements. Overall this is a great hammock underquilt for the price, even if it lacks the durability and temperature rating of some of the other options on our list.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Easy setup and large
- Lightweight
- Temp rating suitable to most applications
Cons
- Not as durable as other options
- Not suitable for winter or late fall camping
Best for Winter
Blaze Underquilt
While all hammock underquilts will help keep you warm, some are made for true winter camping versus cold nights. The Blaze Underquilt is a purpose-built piece of gear that will get you through the coldest conditions and ensure a warm sleep.
The Blaze Underquilt is rated between 10 – 50 degrees, so it is the perfect hammock underquilt for the harshest of conditions. It has a water-repellent outer coating to ensure that you stay dry, and its wind-resistant material will block strong gusts from giving you chills.
This hammock underquilt fits campers up to 6’ 2” and is made of strong, durable materials that will stand up to the toughest conditions. Because of the patented design, this hammock underquilt compresses down to insulate you and also to be convenient when you need to pack it up and travel. It weighs just 28oz making it easy to bring along with you.
For the harshest conditions, this is the hammock underquilt you want.
Pros
- Very durable
- Made for harsh winter cold
- Temp rating for winter and fall
Cons
- Very expensive
- Not useable in summer
Hammock Underquilt Buyer’s Guide
Weight
When you are shopping for your hammock underquilt, the weight will be very important for carrying on a trail. If you are hiking up a mountain or a long distance to your campground, you will want a lightweight hammock underquilt that you won’t really notice when attached to your pack.
A general good rule of thumb is that your hammock underquilt should weigh under 2 pounds for general use. If you are hiking up a steep mountain or going on some really difficult trails, you probably fall into the ultralight backpacking category. For ultralight, you would want to aim for under 30 ounces.
Size and length
Of course, when shopping for a hammock underquilt, you need to make sure it is the right size and length. Most underquilts accommodate customers up to 6’ 2”, so if you are taller, you will want to search for one that is extra long.
Full quilts, like the ones on our list, are the most common design. Full quilts should cover the entire underside of your hammock so you are warm from head to toe. Half quilts are designed to cover camper’s mid-sections if that is more appealing to you.
Material
Most underquilts are made out of either nylon or polyester outer coatings. Nylon is more durable and tear-resistant than polyester, which makes it great for those that are hard on their equipment.
Nylon’s downside is that it can absorb more water than polyester and has longer drying times, so you want to make sure a nylon underquilt is treated with a water-repellent (most are). Polyester doesn’t absorb water but is not as strong and stretchy as its nylon counterpart.
Both have their benefits however, generally, all underquilts are treated with silicon or other water-repellent material, which makes nylon a better solution most of the time.
Insulation
When it comes to insulation, two materials are used in the majority of underquilts – down and synthetic down. Down is lighter and easy to compress but is not waterproof, so if your underquilt is not treated or has a tear, it can become waterlogged.
A synthetic down is heavier but more waterproof. It does not compress as much so it won’t be as warm as down, however, that is generally counteracted by using more material, hence the higher weight. Synthetic is also cheaper, making it used much more frequently by manufacturers.
Temperature Rating
The most important statistic to check when shopping for underquilts is the temperature rating. You want to make sure that the temperature rating will cover the lowest possible temp where you are camping. You also don’t want to purchase an underquilt built for colder conditions than you will experience because it will be overkill, heavy, and likely keep you too hot.
Every underquilt gives a comfort or temperature rating, which shows the range of temperatures it is built for. Look for these ratings first when shopping for one before deciding on other aspects like material and size because if it’s not rated for the right conditions, it won’t work for you.
How to Care for Your Underquilt
Caring for your underquilt will depend on if it is synthetic or genuine down material. For synthetic, you will want to follow the instructions included, which are generally low-temperature washing and drying in a front-load machine without harsh chemical cleaners.
For down, you need to be more careful. With down, the ideal way to clean it is to hand wash. If you cannot hand wash, you will want to use a front-load washer only and no soap. Use low-temperature cleaning and a very light drying cycle, or hang to dry.
Hammock Underquilts Frequently Asked Questions
Why Use an Underquilt?
A hammock underquilt wraps around the underside of your hammock. It provides the hammock with insulation and thermal comfort by trapping heat that normally escapes while you sleep. Used in conjunction with a sleeping bag or top quilt, it is a great alternative to a tent that allows you to sleep out in nature without being too cold.
What does the temperature recommendation mean?
The temperature rating indicates the suitable temperature to use your underquilt.
Hammock Underquilts
If you are sleeping in a hammock while camping or hiking, an underquilt is a must. When looking at underquilts make sure you get the right temperature rating first and foremost and then choose the best material and size for you. With the right underquilt in hand you’ll be able to enjoy the cool crisp air and starry nights while warm and cozy in your hammock!
For more information on great gear, check out Beyond the Tent!