Last weekend, I tried out my hammock in an outdoors setting for the first time.  I picked up one of the cheaper ones (   (You need to Login or Register) to try.  (I'm too cheap to invest in a more expensive model until convinced I could actually sleep the night in a hammock.)

Well, I did quite well and even stayed dry through a 2 inch rain (although I replaced the tarp that came with the hammock with a larger rectangular model).  However, I did notice that I had cool spots against my sleeping bag if I managed to move off of the cheap foam pad I'd brought along to add insulation and provide a bit more rigidity along the bottom of the hammock. 

So, while the hammock and tarp performed just fine, I wasn't too happy with the pad. Here is my question:  Has anyone ever tried one of those foldable windshield sun shades as a sleeping pad for a hammock.  Specifically, I'm thinking of an insulated one such as the   (You need to Login or Register, which looks a lot like bubble wrap sandwiched between two aluminum sheets.  I'd cut it down to the more the shape of my body (maybe with "wings" from about shoulder to waist).

What do you think?  Any better ultra-light weight options you can think of?

dd

How about a z-rest? I have a hunch that might work fairly well for that purpose. Flexible and just about indestructible. Little pricey.

mastertangler wrote on Oct 14^th, 2011 at 2:20am:

How about a z-rest? I have a hunch that might work fairly well for that purpose. Flexible and just about indestructible.

Yes, the z-rest is more flexible that the roll-up foam pad I used. However, I think the sun shade would be even more flexible ... with a bit of wrapping around a lying person.  In any case, the shade weighs next to nothing ... a few ounces. 

I picked up one of the shades at Walmart this evening for under $10 to trim down and try.  I think the trimmed off parts (that section where the center is cut out to go around a mirror) could be re-positioned (maybe with Velcro strips) adjacent to each shoulder to add "wings".  The continuous center part will measure out at about 21 X 67 inches.  Not quite long enough, but a bit of something under either head or foot should accommodate a taller person.  I'll see how this works out.  Probably not enough insulation for cooler weather, but it might be adequate for summer trips.

dd