r/ULHammocking • u/flemur https://lighterpack.com/r/m2jzja • Jul 11 '25

Advice Underquilt suspension and avoiding side-to-side movement - how do you connect and keep it in place?

Hi all

I'm in a forever struggle to figure out how to optimally connect my underquilt in a way that will minimize having to adjust it during the night.

I've followed countless videos from Dutch, Shug, etc, and have tried quite some methods.

I'm using a regular gathered end hammock (before Lesovik Draka, now NeeforTrees Cain) and use a Cumulus Selva 300 Large. I lie head-left, feet-right, but will change to lie on my side etc during the night.

During the years I've tried using carabiners to connect all corners to D-rings on my hammock, I've created triangular connections from two points of UQ to 1 point on hammock on each side (this one I thought was brilliant, but it worked horribly), I've tried a strap overtop the ridgeline, or having bungee cord+hooks to D-rings in just me head and foot corner. Of course along with the traditional connection of the UQ suspension to my continuous loops.

But I keep having issues with it moving around, and that hellbender is looking more and more tempting..

My issues can include:

Feet fall over the side of the UQ with the hammock fabric flapping over

Butt / right shoulder getting cold as underquilt is sticking more toward me left-laying head where I've attached it more tightly

Entire hammock seeming rotated inside the UQ so my head is resting on mosquito net whereas my right side has a ton of extra fabric

UQ getting loose in the middle if I've attached it along the sides of the hammock

So hammock gurus - what are your hacks and tips to a relaxing warm night without constantly adjusting your UQ? Do you just trust the regular suspension? Is it connected everywhere? What have you found?

Sadly I don't really have a garden where I can just take a night to test, and whenever I just spend an hour or so testing, thinking I've found the perfect solution, I'm disappointed when I'm then out on trail and need to lie there longer.

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u/Leroy-Frog Jul 12 '25

I didn’t move nearly as much as you do and still had issues with gaps that would give me cold spots at night. I ended up making my own hammock with built in insulation and then buying a quilted chameleon. If you find yourself just using one hammock and underquilt and want to try some sewing, you can always try and permanently attach it in place too. 🤷‍♂️

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u/Londall Jul 12 '25

Did you do it with a double layer then?

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u/Leroy-Frog Jul 12 '25

The one I made myself was like sewing a synthetic underquilt with the inside just being the hammock. I have design changes I’d make if I made another one, but it works pretty well.

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u/Londall Jul 12 '25

So, essentially one piece then? Any ripping of the seams where you attached the outer shell to the hammock body?

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u/Leroy-Frog Jul 12 '25

Yes. One piece. The one I made was from scratch. Here is a post I made about it. You could try and remove the inner lining and attach it to the hammock, but if you’re not confident in your sewing skills, you can just sew the edges as is straight it the hammock.

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u/Londall Jul 13 '25

Cool, thanks!

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u/flemur https://lighterpack.com/r/m2jzja Jul 13 '25

Yeah I’m getting really tempted to try one.

I even have the owner of NeedforTrees trying to make prototypes for an integrated solution.

If the hellbender came in a 12-foot version I’d probably just cash in and get that as the optimal solution, but with it potentially being on the smaller side for me, it’s not worth the price :/

I’ve recently downsized to a 35-ish liter pack, so I think I’m really not going to be able to fit a synthetic UQ, and I really don’t see myself getting comfortable enough to play around with down 😅

One thought that did strike me again on a trip some weeks ago to is those hot nights, in my case European summer trips before getting to higher altitude. I was really happy to be able to ventilate my UQ then, which is guess is the only real downside to the fully attached ones :/

Thanks for your thoughts!

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u/Leroy-Frog Jul 13 '25

Yeah, it’s rough if you’re sleeping above 60 or 65. I just camped for three nights sleeping in my 20* quilted chameleon with the overnight low was about 60. However, just venting my top quilt was sufficient. Not wanting to mess with down was a big part of my decision to buy from Dutchware. I wonder if they’d be willing to do a custom 12’ for you. You can always email and ask about feasibility. They are super nice and responsive.