The same hammock that keeps you feeling cool and breezy in the summer will probably betray you to the cold in the winter, letting in chilly drafts, and letting out all your precious body heat.
Don’t get mad at your hammock, get an underquilt.
‘No time for reading? Here are our picks for the best underquilt.’
Underquilts are an easy, lightweight way to stay warm while you hammock- even in the winter.
This guide features 4 in-depth reviews of the best hammock underquilts on the market right now along with helpful underquilt buying tips.
The 4 Best Hammock Underquilts on the Market – Reviews
1.) ENO Ember Underquilt
ENO is one of the most recognizable names in the hammock industry, and for good reason. They produce top-notch hammocks and hammock accessories, and this Ember underquilt is no exception.
It features a nylon taffeta ripstop shell, synthetic polyester insulation, and a dual-layer quilted construction that eliminates cold spots.
Not only was it designed to be durable, but also lightweight, only weighing an astoundingly small 25 ounces which makes it great for backpackers.
It also includes a shock cord suspension system that enables hassle-free set-up. Because of its high quality and easy set-up, this is a great hammock underquilt option for beginner campers.
However, one downside of this underquilt is that it has a high-temperature rating at only 40 F. This means that it may not suffice to keep you warm on colder spring and fall evenings despite its three-season title.
Specifications
- Temperature rating of 40 F
- Weighs 27 ounces
- 40D ripstop nylon
- Synthetic insulation
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Hassle-free set-up
- Durable, quality material
Cons
- High-temperature rating
2.) Outdoor Vitals Underquilt
The best thing about the Outdoor Vitals underquilt is its versatility. Not only can it be used as an underquilt, it also works as a sleeping bag, a sleeping pod, a technical blanket, or used with another can make a double sleeping bag.
All of that packed into one design that weighs only 34 ounces makes this a must-have underquilt.
With a low-temperature rating of 30 F, you’ll be using this top-notch underquilt well into the winter and well into your life. This underquilt is backed by a limited lifetime warranty because Outdoor Vitals stands by the durability of their product which makes its expensive price tag much easier to swallow.
With a durable 20D ripstop nylon shell and down insulation, this hammock underquilt is guaranteed to keep you warm.
It even has hassle-free set-up with two easy to use shock cord pieces and a water-resistant design that mitigates some of the down insulation’s absorption of rain. Still, it does take a while for this underquilt to dry out, so that’s something to take into account.
Specifications
- Temperature rating of 30 F
- 34 ounces
- 20D ripstop nylon shell
- Down insulation
Pros
- 5-in-1 functions
- Low-temperature rating
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Slow to dry
- Expensive
3.) OneTigris Underquilt
Combining a lightweight design, durable materials, and a low-temperature rating, the OneTigris underquilt is one of the best underquilts on the market.
This hammock’s 20D ripstop nylon shell is coated in DWR to make it more weather-resistant, while its synthetic insulation enables it to quickly dry off.
This underquilt functions best in weather between 40 to 68 F which means late spring through early fall in most regions. While this definitely isn’t the lowest temperature range on this list, it’s low enough that it effectively extends your ability to hammock camp through some cold weather.
Weighing an impressively small 27 ounces, this is a great underquilt for backpackers who make every ounce count.
The main drawback of this underquilt is that it doesn’t contour to your body, which can make it feel a little stiff below you.
One of the best things about this hammock is that although its affordably priced, it still is of high quality and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Specifications
- Temperature rating of 40 F
- 28 ounces
- 20d ripstop nylon
- Synthetic polyester insulation
Pros
- Dries off quickly
- Lightweight design
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- High temperature rating
- Not contoured
4.) ENO Vulcan Underquilt
I know, another ENO, but what can I say? They make great underquilts.
This quilt was not only built to be durable and warm but also comfortable with a structure that molds to your body’s contours. It will keep you warm even in a rainstorm with its water-repellent finish, and as a bonus, you cannot only use this quilt as an underquilt but also just as a quilt.
It’s extremely easy to set-up and comes with two shock cords for doing so. This makes it great for beginners, however, the Vulcan was intended for more experienced hikers, which its price reflects.
While it will stretch out to encompass your entire standard-sized hammock, it stuffs down to the size of a football. Of course, that might be considered too big by some backpackers.
Something else to note is that at 30 ounces, this is a lightweight underquilt compared to the rest of the market, but not the other underquilts on this list.
A downside of this underquilt is that it was designed to work with an ENO overquilt. If you don’t get the overquilt, this underquilt still functions but you don’t get the full effect of its heat insulation.
Specifications
- Temperature rating of 30 F
- Weighs 30 ounces
- 20D ripstop nylon shell
- Primaloft insulation
Pros
- Low-temperature rating
- Hassle-free set-up
- Contoured design
Cons
- Bulky
- Built to work with an overquilt
Buyers Guide
Now you know about some of the best hammock underquilts you can buy online.
Great, but how will you choose just one?
Read this complimentary buyer’s guide to determine which hammock underquilt is perfect for you, so you can pick the ideal one from the above list.
What Temperature Rating Should My Hammock Underquilt Have?
Underquilts have temperature ratings to help buyers gauge when and where is best to use them.
Some manufacturers just include the temperatures their underquilt works best in, while others dub underquilts with titles like “four-season”, “three-season” and “one-season.”
Although it may seem like going with “the most seasons” is the move, that’s not actually the case. Stay with me, this is kind of confusing.
Four-season underquilts work only for the fourth season, winter. Three-season underquilts work through three seasons, from spring to fall. One season underquilts only work in one season, the summer.
Three-season underquilts will give you the most year-round usage, typically keeping you warm down to temperatures as low as 20 F, while four-season underquilts definitely shouldn’t be used during warmer seasons, but can keep you comfy in temperatures down to 0 F.
Keep in mind, it’s a good idea to choose an underquilt that can handle temperatures 10 degrees cooler than the average temperatures experienced at your camping destination.
Down Versus Synthetic Underquilts
One of the biggest debates in hammock underquilts, their Pepsi vs. Coke, is whether the underquilts should be made with down vs. synthetic insulation.
Down underquilts have the benefit of being lightweight, compressible, and warmer than synthetic ones. This makes them much better for backpackers.
However, synthetic underquilts tend to be much less expensive, dry more quickly, and are generally more weather-resistant. If you often find your camp caught out in the rain, a synthetic underquilt may be a better option for you.
Why Use a Hammock Underquilt?
The same hammock fabric you love because of how lightweight it is in the summer, can’t keep you warm in the winter. You need a hammock underquilt to help.
Why not just use a blanket or sleeping bag, you may wonder. Because the weight of your body inside a hammock will compress a blanket or sleeping bag’s insulation, leaving you uncomfy and out in the cold.
Because hammock underquilts are strung outside your hammock, you avoid this problem. Underquilts mean no twisting or bunching fabric, no uneven coverage, just restful sleep.
For some tips on how to hang a hammock underquilt, and why they are important to have, check out the video below!
Hammock Underquilt Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Good, because we have answers to all of the most common hammock underquilt questions.
How Do You Use a Hammock Underquilt?
Each hammock underquilt will come with its own set-up instructions, but here are some universal hammock underquilt tips:
- While setting your hammock underquilt up, lay it inside your hammock so that it doesn’t get dirty or wet from being dragged on the ground.
- Your hammock underquilt should be super close to your body to keep in heat, but not so close that your body compresses it.
- Make sure all side attachments are secure so there are no airflow gaps.
Why Not Use a Sleeping Bag Instead of an Underquilt?
Because sleeping bags compress within hammocks they lose their heat-retaining abilities, making them useless in a cold camping situation.
What is an Overquilt?
While underquilts are much more popular, overquilts are another great way to stay warm in a hammock. Intuitively, they are draped over a hammock instead of under it, but otherwise have a similar design to underquilts. Typically overquilts are used with underquilts to provide additional warmth in particularly cold situations, or with not so effective underquilts.
Conclusion
Stay cozy while you camp with these wonderfully warm hammock underquilts.
Let me know which hammock underquilt you decided on in the comments below, and as always, if you found this list inspiring be sure to share it!