I am determined to make sleeping in a hammock in the van work. I have my reasons:
- The hammock can be easily stowed out of sight when not in use, taking up virtually no space, so the van becomes my ‘living room’ complete with comfy sofa — every cubic inch counts.
- The hammock can be just as easily hooked up for a quick afternoon nap whenver and wherever I happen to be struck by serious yawning.
- My chronic back pain has completely disappeared since I moved into the van and started sleeping in the hammock (making this Reason #1).
And yet, so much about it is not working:
- The hammock is a struggle to get out of during overnight bathroom breaks. I can do it, but the effort wakes me up and makes it hard to get back to sleep.
- No matter what I’ve tried—wrapping up sleeping-bag-style in my perfectly warm wool comforter, ‘underquilt’ suspended below the hammock, mylar emergency blanket suspended in place of an underquilt—I always wake up freezing (or in the case of the emergency blanket, freezing and sweating) around 3 or 4am.
- The prospect of waking up cold and struggling to get out of the hammock has been so daunting that several times, I’ve just bundled up in my comforter and fell asleep sitting up—not so much on purpose as by accident while trying to work up the courage to try again.
I have my cot with me, folded up and stowed in the back. I could tear apart the little living room I’ve created and set it up, but then
- I wouldn’t have a place to sit because the cot is too high to leave head room (and my feet would dangle uncomfortably.)
- The back of the van would become just a bedroom/bathroom with no space for relaxing during the day.
- My chronic back pain would reappear like magic the first morning (Reason #1).
Thus, I continue to try to make the hammock work. One thing that did work last night: I went to sleep around 8pm, so when the cold woke me up around 4, I’d had my eight hours of sleep. Maybe a change of schedule is the solution.
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I love the way your new lifestyle has created a whole new set of problems! But so liberating to be away from the old ones, I would think.
Have you practiced your hammock ejection technique during the day so you can develop a repeatable method that works? There has to be a way. I’m thinking swinging the feet over first would be a start…
Sleeping in vehicles is f*&king freezing, no doubt about it, and I can imagine being surrounded by the cold air in a hammock would make it even worse. No answers for you…just sympathy. I do know from my camping experience that having a full belly helps keep you warm during the night…
You will work all this out! You’re creating a whole new culture for yourself — so fun. (Okay, maybe not so fun when it’s freezing cold at 2 a.m. and you have to pee.)
Dunno if this article will help but just in case: http://www.treklightgear.com/treklife/hammock-camping-cold-weather/
Oh, Sue, thank you for that link – very helpful!
Yes, it is liberating to be solving new problems. I hope I don’t sound like I’m complaining all the time — I’m actually fascinated with finding creative solutions to frustrating problems like this, rather than throwing money at them. I like to think I’m preventing Alzheimer’s with this adventure because of all the brain exercise I’m getting. :p
p.s. Yes, I’ve practiced in daylight, but there’s only so much improvement possible, lol.
The article referenced is a good primer on the possibilities for lower insulation. A cheap(er) thing you can try is get one of the blue mats from Wally World in the camping section. They used to be around $8. Put it below you in the hammock. Does you underquilt have enough loft? That is what traps body heat. Is the cold coming from below? A large sleeping bag slipped around both you and the hammock, with it encircling both (open the zipper at the foot and let the foot of the hammock come out there) might help, depending on the loft of the sleeping bag. If all else fails, go to hammockforums.net and post your questions there. Really. Folks there love to help people learn to sleep comfortably in hammocks full time. I don’t hang (cough) out there much anymore, but when I was first learning to camp in my hammock I was there a lot.
The underquilt may have *too much* loft. I made it from some wool batting I had lying around, and it’s quite threadbare in spots. Also, I think the underquilt hangs too loosely, but when I made it, I was just guessing about how long the cords should be, etc., and it ripped at the foot end when I got into the hammock. So I’m nervous about sewing it back up, only to have it rip more. I like the idea of a sleeping bag that encloses the entire hammock with me in it — didn’t know they made them big enough for that. Maybe I can jerry rig one out of the underquilt and my comforter, since $ is a big issue at the moment. Thank you! And thanks for the hammockforums link!
Sounds fascinating, and like a pain to figure this all out. I like your attitude about all the learning and problem-solving. I imagine this would be way too cold, and maybe way too bulky (plus a pain to put away each time), but could you sleep on some folding mat/blanket layers, folding foam like a shikibuton (search Google Images to see what they can look like), or a rollable piece of thick foam? I find sleeping on the floor on mats/blankets/foam can do wonders for the back. The trick is having enough layers/padding so it’s not TOO hard or thin, and not too cold.
Laila, I tried sleeping on a foam mat on the floor when I was much younger and spryer… linsert image of Spock screaming “PAIN!”]… my joints and sciatic nerve protested loudly. I don’t think I could even walk after a night like that now. The hammock is perfect for me, except for the cold factor. I’m going to try shadowmoss’s suggesting of a sleeping bag AROUND the hammock. That sounds brilliant. 🙂
p.s. Last night, I didn’t even try. I just curled up on my little back-seat couch. It wasn’t great but not awful either, so there’s always that option in a pinch.
Ay! We want to avoid Spock impressions at all times. 🙂 Fun picturing you in your own super-warm, fluffy chrysalis.
I just ordered a sleeping bag zipper — should be here in a couple of days. Good thing I kept my sewing machine!
Btw, I cancelled my zipper order after seeing this YouTube video about using an exercise mat and some Reflectix to stay warm. Since I have both, no point spending more money and effort. I slept on my yoga mat last night, and it did the trick. Temps were mild, though, so we’ll see!
Between the blissful comfort and the space it opens up for you, I can understand why you’d want to find a way to solve the hammock’s remaining shortcomings. I can also see why you’d be freezing, since in a way you have twice the heat loss of being parked on a mattress, foam, etc. May not be much help to you, but in my more conventional situation, I’ve found that simply adding flannel PJs, stocking cap and socks to one wool blanket lowers my “comfortable sleeping air temperature” by 10-15 degrees. My lungs don’t like a prolonged soak below a cabin temp of 45 however, so I have the option of idling a small heater if needed – which would be more of a fire/fume hazard for you in a van. I kind of assume you’re clothed up already, but if you aren’t, is that an option?
Doug, I do bundle up as needed, and wrap myself up in my wool comforter. Last night was mild so not a true test, but I tried using my yoga mat as a pad inside the hammock. It worked, though it made getting in and out even more cumbersome — a small price I’m willing to pay. In colder temps, I can pair it with some leftover Reflectix I still have from doing the windows. So I *think* the problem is as solved as it’s going to get, given my constraints. I am not willing to use a propane heater, so bundling is the way to go.
p.s. I wear a couple of sweaters as needed and leggings. Tried a knit cap one cold night and was surprised at the difference. I also wear gloves and double up on socks. When I have a little extra $ I will buy some wool socks. Silk long johns would be heavenly.