The Speer PeaPod and TopBlanket
Offer
BAFFLED 900-Fill down PeaPods and TopBlankets
Ed Speer October 2007
Speer PeaPod III
Speer TopBlanket III
The
Speer Peapod III, our current version with 900-fill down and baffle construction,
is our warmest Peapod ever! It’s actually
40% thicker than the PeaPod II without any increase in weight.
Likewise, our TopBlanket III, with 900 down and baffles, also offers
a major increase in warmth over previous versions.
Together, they offer the ultimate in uncomplicated lightweight hammock
warmth! Now hammock comfort at any temperature is possible.
PeaPods
are insulated ‘sleeping bags’ that completely surround an occupied top-entry
camping hammock while TopBlankets are insulated quilts designed for use on
top of a hammock sleeper. These are
exclusive Speer Hammocks’ designs. Together
they replace the camper’s usual sleeping bag and provide lightweight, low-bulk
warmth that is flexible and efficient over a wide range of temperatures and
field conditions.
The
unique Speer PeaPod/TopBlanket stay-warm system is based on many years of
field testing in all kinds of weather conditions. It is designed with the hammock camper in mind
and has many user-friendly features not found in other outdoor gear.
PeaPod Design
The
Speer PeaPod III is designed with extra girth and length to accommodate the fit
around an occupied hammock. It is
symmetrical and tapered at both ends to reduce cold spots and to save
unnecessary weight and bulk. It’s made
with lightweight, breathable ripstop nylon shells with Durable Water Resistant
(DWR) finish. The insulation is 900
fill-power goose down, meaning that one ounce will expand to fill a volume of
900 cubic inches—this is the lightest and highest quality down available. No-see-um bug-netting baffles keep the down
in place and give maximum loft. Down
tubes run the entire length of the PeaPod, allowing the down to be manually
shifted during use for maximum warmth when and where needed.
The
PeaPod III has drawstring end closures and a full-length hook-&-loop
central closure so it can be placed on, or removed from, a hammock that is
already strung between trees without having to take the hammock down.
The
PeaPod III is designed to work with any top-entry hammock, including, but
not limited to the Speer Hammock (with ridgeline and bug net removed). Unfortunately it does not fit around camping
hammocks that have spreader bars, or permanent ridgelines and bug nets.
In
addition to its primary use, the PeaPod III is designed with multiple uses in mind,
including use as a:
1) Robe
2) Sleeping bag
3) Over bag for a sleeping bag to
extend its range
4) Large blanket
The
Speer PeaPod III fits all Speer Hammocks (8.0, 8.5 & III).
The
PeaPod III comes with two insulation choices:
A) regular fill, or B) 2 ounce overfill.
See Table 1 for more details.
|
PRODUCT |
Size (ft) |
Weight Down Fill (oz) |
Total Weight (oz) |
Loft (in) |
Temperature Rating (OF) |
|
PeaPod III 900 Fill Down |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Normal Fill |
9.5 x 6 |
17 |
35 |
4.2 |
30 |
|
2 oz Overfill |
9.5 x 6 |
19 |
38 |
5.0 |
20 |
|
TopBlanket
III 900 Fill Down |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Normal Fill |
3.5 x 6 |
9 |
17 |
2.0 |
30 |
|
1 oz Overfill |
3.5 x 6 |
10 |
18 |
2.5 |
25 |
Table 1 Speer PeaPod III & TopBlanket III
Specifications
TopBlanket Design
The
Speer TopBlanket III is designed similar to the PeaPod III. It is made with lightweight, breathable ripstop
nylon shells with Durable Water Resistant (DWR) finish. The insulation is the same 900 fill-power goose
down used in our PeaPods. No-see-um
bug-netting baffles keep the down in place and give maximum loft.
The
TopBlanket III has an 18-inch-deep foot pocket at one end. The foot pocket is created with hook-&-loop
fasteners, allowing the blanket to be opened flat for other uses.
When employed, the foot pocket, in combination with the sides of the
hammock, keeps the TopBlanket in place over the sleeper’s body.
In
addition it its primary use, the TopBlanket III is also designed with multiple
uses in mind, including use as a:
1) PeaPod liner
2) Sleeping bag liner
3) Jacket liner
4) Lap blanket
The
Speer TopBlanket III comes with a one-ounce overfill option---See Table 1
for details.
PeaPod Setup
The
PeaPod III should be positioned around a hammock that is already strung between
two trees and has the proper amount of hammock sag that is suitable for that
hammock sleeper. The PeaPod should be
tied so it has slightly more sag than that of the occupied hammock—trial and
error is the best teacher. Too much air
space between the hammock and the PeaPod will result in a layer of cold air,
while too little sag of the PeaPod will result in stretching it resulting in
loss of loft and the resultant loss of heat, especially under one’s bottom
where the maximum stretch occurs. The
object is to get the PeaPod as snug against the occupied hammock as possible
without stretching the PeaPod itself.
When
setting the correct sag of the Peapod, one should allow for the anticipated
hammock stretch that will occur during occupancy. Especially when they are new, most fabric
hammocks stretch as much as 6 inches during the course of a single night. The need to readjust the PeaPod during the
night can be eliminated by correctly anticipating this stretch when first
setting it up.
Attach
PeaPod to hammock (Figure 1):
1. Cinch the drawstring toggles tight on
one end of the PeaPod
2. Position that end of the PeaPod
around the hammock and close the hook-&-loop fasteners just below the hammock
end knot
3. Adjust the distance between the end
of the PeaPod and the hammock end knot to set the proper sag of the PeaPod (see
additional comments below)
4. Gather the ends of the drawstrings
and wrap 3-4 times above the hammock end knot, securing with a simple slip knot
to prevent the closed PeaPod end from sliding toward the center of the hammock
during use
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the other end of
hammock
When
placing more insulation inside the PeaPod (see discussions below), additional
PeaPod sag is necessary to prevent loss of loft due to stretching—just loosen
the PeaPod drawstrings and allow the PeaPod ends to move further down the ends
of the hammock—even 3” to 5” inside the hammock end knots may be necessary for
some setups (Figure 1). Remember that
each hammock setup is different—thus re-adjusting the PeaPod tie offs may be
necessary each time your set up your hammock.
I” 2” 4”
Of
course, should the weather be too warm and you’re looking for a cooler setup, a
similar tie-out procedures may be called for---increase the sag of the PeaPod by
lengthening the drawstring ties until you have a layer of air between your
PeaPod and your hammock.
Closing the PeaPod
Close
the PeaPod over the hammock with the hook-&-loop fasteners, leaving a
suitable breather hole near your head (Figures 2-7). Yes, you can even close the PeaPod entirely
(it has breathable shells), but be aware that your exhaled breath may add
considerable moisture to the inside of the PeaPod. On some really cold windy nights, the
tradeoff may be worth it!
Figure 2 PeaPod III open for
ventilation Figure 3 PeaPod III open with windward side up
Figure 4 PeaPod III 2/3 closed Figure 5 PeaPod III with large breather hole
Figure 6 PeaPod III with small
breather hole Figure 7 PeaPod III for maximum warmth
The
lightweight hook-&-loop fasteners are reliable, fast and easy to use; they provide
easy opening and closing of the PeaPod for entry, exit or venting. However, the biggest advantage of
hook-&-loop fasteners is they avoid the ‘stuck-in-the-fabric’ problems
common with zippers. Eventually every
zipper fails, and in the confines of a hammock this can be dangerous and may
result in injury. Besides, being trapped
in a hammock on a dark night because your gear failed or because you can’t find
the zipper slider is no fun.
Hook-&-loop solves these problems forever.
Closing
the PeaPod is best done from inside the hammock itself:
1.
Reach
above your head with both hands, grab the PeaPod edges, pull them straight
toward you and touch them together (Figure 8).
The hook-&-loop strips will stick together enough for you to next
run your hands along them to tighten the closure.
2.
Reach
down to your knees, grab the PeaPod edges, pull them up towards your waist,
touch them together and run your hands along them to tighten the closure
(Figure 9). CAUTION: Do not sit up and
lean forward in an attempt to close the hook-&-loop fasteners near the foot
end of your hammock—this could raise your center of gravity enough for the
hammock to tip over! If needed, use your
knees or feet while lying down to press up against the hook-&-loop on the
center closure where your hands can’t reach.
3.
Repeat
the process for your torso, closing the PeaPod as much or as little as needed
for warmth
Note: You may find it easier to start
closing the ends of the PeaPod prior to lying in your hammock, but it can
easily be closed entirely from a lying-down position with minimal practice.
Figure 8 Closing head end of
PeaPod III Figure
9 Closing foot end of PeaPod III
Repositioning Down in
the PeaPod
Each
PeaPod III is designed so the down can be repositioned as needed. For instance, if you find your shoulders or
bottom getting cold during the night, you can reposition some of the down from
the ends of the PeaPod where less insulation is needed anyway, to the center of
the PeaPod where it is needed more.
Simply grasp the ends of the PeaPod with your hands and slide them
toward the center of the PeaPod. This
shifts down from the ends to the center of the PeaPod and might give you just
the extra warmth you need to remain toasty until morning. In this manner, the down can be shifted while
one is inside or outside the hammock (Figure 10). Of course, the opposite down shift might be
called for if you’re too warm.
Figure 10 Repositioning down in PeaPod III
(This can
also be done in similar manner while inside the hammock)
Venting the PeaPod
In
many situations, you may find the closed PeaPod is too warm and you need to
vent it. No problem, just open the
PeaPod’s central closure as much as needed (Figures 2-7). You can even open it at your head and at your
feet, leaving it closed in between! You
can completely open the PeaPod and let the sides droop down both sides of the
hammock, thus allowing warm air to escape from beneath the hammock and cooler
air to enter (Figure 2). You can open
the PeaPod, droop the lee side down while keeping the windward side tucked
inside the hammock to block cold wind (Figure 3). For those hot summer nights, you might want
to untie one end of the PeaPod and let it fall to the ground for maximum
cooling, until later in the night when it’s colder and you can easily retie the
PeaPod and close it around you as much as needed. The adjustable combinations are endless and
allow you to ‘match the conditions’ no matter what they are or how much they
change while you’re in the hammock.
PeaPod & TopBlanket
for
While
a PeaPod is comfortable by itself over a wide range of temperatures, there
comes a time when more insulation is needed (Table 2). The Speer TopBlanket is the perfect solution.
A
PeaPod’s lower temperature rating is based on the thickness of the bottom
insulation since that is the most critical area of heat loss. However as outside temperatures drop, PeaPods
can become colder on top sooner than they do on the bottom because there is
an unoccupied air space above the sleeper’s body.
Since PeaPods go completely around an occupied hammock and the sleeper
is down inside the hammock, a potentially cold empty air space is left above
the sleeper’s body. TopBlankets are
designed to fill this space; of course any lightweight blanket, quilt or sleeping
bag might work as well. Therefore a
TopBlanket, or a suitable substitute, may be necessary to reach the PeaPod’s
lower temperature rating. When used
as a quilt over the sleeper, the Top Blanket or substitute also blocks the
PeaPod’s central closure and prevents the escape of heat through that less-insulated
strip.
|
Temperature OF |
Speer
PeaPod III |
Speer
TopBlanket III |
|||
|
reg fill |
|
2
oz overfill |
reg fill |
1
oz overfill |
|
|
+65 |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
65-50 |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
50-30 |
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
30-25 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
25-20 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
less than 20 |
See additional information below |
||||
Table 2 Using Speer PeaPods and Top Blankets
together for Superior Warmth
As
discussed below, TopBlankets, summer sleeping bags or winter sleeping bags
are just some of the items that can be used with PeaPods for hammock camping
in extremely low temperatures. Other
items include sleeping pads, extra clothes, jackets, raingear, pack covers,
and ground cloths--even leaves can be used for insulation. Read on!
The Plus 30F PeaPod III
Solution
Bottom
insulation is typically needed in a hammock anytime the temperature is below
about 65F. Therefore, I carry my PeaPod
most of the time. No matter which PeaPod
model you use, it can easily be vented as described above for temperatures
up to about 65F. The full-length hook-&-loop
closure can be opened as much as needed and the PeaPod sides can be drooped
to allow cool air to circulate around and under the hammock.
However, the PeaPod can also be closed as much as needed once the temperature
begins to cool during the night—this is the ultimate in flexibility!
The 30F PeaPod III Solution
Regular Fill
The
regular-fill 900 PeaPod III with a loft of 4.2 inches is designed for hammock
warmth to about 30F. As noted earlier,
some folks might also need a light quilt like the Speer Top Blanket to fill
the space above their body. At only
32 ounces for the 8.0 model or 35 ounces for the 8.5 model, the regular PeaPod
III is not only an elegant solution, but is extremely lightweight as well. Read the discussions below to learn how to also
use this PeaPod at much colder temperatures.
The 20F PeaPod III Solution
2 oz Overfill
With
2 ounces overfill, our warmest PeaPods have 5” loft and are rated to 20F. The addition of a one-ounce-overfill Speer TopBlanket,
or a summer-weight sleeping bag, makes this a cozy winter bed (Table 2).
At only 34 ounces for the 8.0 model or 38 ounces for the 8.5 model,
these PeaPods are the ultimate in hammock warmth.
However, read the discussions below to learn how to also use this PeaPod
at much colder temperatures.
The Less Than 20F PeaPod III Solution
No
matter which PeaPod III model you use, lower temperature ratings are easy to
achieve! Once a PeaPod is positioned
around a hammock, it can now easily serve as part of a component system
combining with numerous other types of insulation. Additional bottom and top insulation are
necessary for extreme cold–weather hammocking and the discussions below should
give you plenty of ideas; just remember to successfully test your gear before
trusting it to the backcountry.
Pack
Items Adding simple items like extra clothes, jackets
or rain suits between the PeaPod and the hammock provides surprisingly greater
warmth. Now items carried in the backpack,
but otherwise not used at night, can be incorporated into your stay-warm system.
Things like pack covers, sweaters, unused clothing, empty stuff sacks,
ground cloths, and many others can be added to the PeaPod for more warmth---and
the warmth they add is significant. So,
if you have to carry these items in your backpack anyway, why not use them
in your stay-warm system? These simple
readily available items can add as much as 5-10F to the comfort of any PeaPod! Thus a regular–fill 30F rated PeaPod becomes
20-25F rated; and the two-ounce overfilled 20F PeaPod becomes 10-15F rated!
Blanket
Liners Lightweight blankets or quilts placed between
the hammock and the PeaPod also add significant warmth. The Speer TopBlankets are ideal for PeaPod liners.
They can be laid flat for single thickness under your full body, or
folded for double thickness under your torso and hips, giving 2 to 5 inches
of extra 900-fill loft, effectively lowering the temperature rating of any
PeaPod III by as much as 35F, depending on which model is used.
Thus the use of a Speer TopBlanket as a liner can significantly improve
the bottom warmth of any PeaPod.
Leaves
or Grass Lower temperatures can also be achieved with
dead leaves or grass! Any PeaPod III
can have as much as 15-30F lower temperature rating
just by adding dead leaves or grass! Without
carrying any additional weight in your backpack, you can use the natural insulation
found lying on the ground. Yes, even
wet leaves work well, but you may want to put them in several individual plastic
trash bags to keep your gear dry. Packing leaves inside a PeaPod takes up much
of the interior room and can result in a very tight fitting PeaPod that limits
your available sleeping positions; however the possibility of sleeping toasty
warm on a frigid winter night without carrying any extra weight is not to
be dismissed! Once you’ve tried it,
you’ll be hooked forever
.
Vapor
Barriers Placing a vapor barrier sheet between any PeaPod
and the hammock can add 5-10F of warmth. For safety’s sake, carrying a ground sheet is
recommended for those times when you must sleep on the ground instead of in
your hammock. For instance, trees may
not be available where you want to camp, or it may be too cold for your hammock
gear. Since you are already carrying
a ground sheet, it makes sense to incorporate it into your stay-warm system. Thin plastic or Mylar sheets stop most convective
heat loss in a hammock, but may result in the buildup of excessive body moisture
that wets your clothes, sleeping bag and hammock. The sheet should be positioned as a liner inside the PeaPod and below the hammock—never enclose
the sheet completely around your body. This
is definitely a technique to perfect at home before trying in the backcountry.
But when used properly, a vapor barrier sheet can be a low-weight,
low-bulk way to add warmth, especially when a strong cold wind is blowing.
Sleeping
Pads Of course, many folks use sleeping pads
inside hammocks for warmth and these can also be used in combination with
PeaPods to reach lower temperature ratings.
It’s advisable to carry a sleeping pad anyway when hammock camping in
unknown terrain in case you end up sleeping on the ground or in a trail
shelter; so if you’re carrying a pad anyway, again it only makes sense to
incorporate it into your PeaPod stay-warm system.
Any
sleeping pad used inside the hammock or between the hammock and the PeaPod will
add significant warmth. Closed-cell-foam
pads and foam-filled inflatable pads are the most commonly used. Estimated temperature ratings of the Speer PeaPod
III and some of the more common sleeping pads can be found in Table 3. Please note that these are guideline ratings
based on my experience and your experience may vary greatly. In fact, I sleep cold and many people report
they are comfortable at much lower temperatures than those listed in the table.
|
Sleeping Pad |
Thickness (in) |
R
Value |
Bottom Temperature Rating OF |
|||
|
PeaPod III reg |
PeaPod III 1 oz |
PeaPod III 2 oz |
||||
|
*ProLite
3 |
1.000 |
2.3 |
23 |
18 |
13 |
|
|
*ProLite
4 |
1.500 |
3.2 |
18 |
13 |
8 |
|
|
*Trail |
1.250 |
4.2 |
13 |
8 |
3 |
|
|
*Expedition |
1.750 |
4.4 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
|
|
*Base Camp |
1.750 |
5.8 |
-4 |
-9 |
-14 |
|
|
*Luxury Camp |
2.000 |
6.1 |
-5 |
-10 |
-15 |
|
|
*UltraLite |
1.000 |
2.6 |
20 |
15 |
10 |
|
|
*GuideLite |
1.500 |
3.8 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
|
|
*LE |
2.000 |
4.1 |
13 |
8 |
3 |
|
|
*Explorer |
1.500 |
4.7 |
9 |
4 |
-1 |
|
|
*Standard |
1.750 |
5.8 |
-4 |
-9 |
-14 |
|
|
Exped Downmat 7 |
2.800 |
?? |
5 |
0 |
-5 |
|
|
CCF 1/8" |
0.125 |
0.5 |
26 |
21 |
16 |
|
|
CCF 1/4" |
0.250 |
1.1 |
24 |
19 |
14 |
|
|
CCF 3/8" |
0.375 |
1.6 |
22 |
17 |
12 |
|
|
CCF 1/2" |
0.500 |
2.2 |
20 |
15 |
10 |
|
|
CCF 5/8" |
0.625 |
2.7 |
18 |
13 |
8 |
|
|
CCF 3/4" |
0.750 |
3.3 |
16 |
11 |
6 |
|
|
CCF 7/8" |
0.875 |
3.8 |
14 |
9 |
4 |
|
|
CCF 1" |
1.000 |
4.3 |
12 |
7 |
2 |
|
|
*Therm-A-Rest brand
CCF = Closed Cell Foam |
||||||
Most
commercially-available sleeping pads are only 20” wide, which proves to be too
narrow for most people since a hammock curves up around their shoulders. The narrow pads then leave their shoulder
sides unprotected. Wider pads are
suitable, but generally aren’t available.
The lightweight Speer Segmented Pad Extender (SPE) solves this
problem. It’s designed to hold one or
more stacked 20”-wide pads in the main compartment, while insulated wings
conveniently fold up around your shoulders and add an additional 10” or 20”
width to the main sleeping pad. The
wings can be filled with extra clothes, closed cell foam pads cut to size,
and/or leaves.
SPEs
can be used with or without PeaPods. In
fact, stacking 2 or more sleeping pads in an SPE can allow one to stay warm in
a hammock without a PeaPod, even at extremely cold temperatures—of course, a
suitable cold-weather sleeping bag will also be needed. However, SPEs with one or more sleeping pads
can greatly extend the comfort range of any PeaPod.
Remember
to re-adjust your PeaPod with more sag to prevent any unwanted stretching and
the resultant loss of down loft that may be caused by adding additional insulation
items inside the hammock or inside the PeaPod.
Top Insulation
As
mentioned previously, most people will need some additional insulation over the
top of them when using PeaPods in extreme cold weather. The following guidelines should be useful:
For 50F PeaPod only
For 30F Speer TopBlanket
or thin fleece blanket
For 20F Speer TopBlanket
or 50F sleeping bag
For 10F 2 Speer TopBlankets
or 30F sleeping bag
For 0F 20F sleeping
bag or Speer TopBlanket & 30F sleeping bag
Of
course, wearing layers of clothes adds additional warmth to any sleeping bag,
including PeaPods. Fleece clothing and
wicking long johns are excellent choices.
And keeping one’s head and feet warm with similar layers is also
advisable.
Cold Wind
High
wind combined with cold temperatures can be a killer and the exposed hammock
sleeper may find them self in more danger than the ground sleeper. While hiding from the wind is one of the
greatest advantages of hammock camping, it’s not always possible and one may
find the conditions too much for the gear at hand. At these times, it’s prudent to sleep on the
ground until the conditions improve and one can then return to the comfort of
the hammock.
How Cold
is Warm?
Just
how warm is your PeaPod? That’s a tough
question to answer and only your testing in actual field conditions will tell
for sure. But I’m certain you’ll find
it’s very warm, as well as highly flexible.
While temperature ratings are given in the discussions above, you should
understand these are only guidelines.
Some people naturally sleep cold while others are hot in the same
conditions; I’ve seen reported comfort ratings for the same sleeping bag vary
by as much as 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit between users! In addition, each person’s comfort level
changes over time--I’ve found myself comfortable with one piece of gear one
night and freezing at the same temperature another night. Many factors influence how warm or cold a
person sleeps. Things like health, age,
diet and time since last meal; as well as air temperature, wind, humidity and
insulation all play major roles in outdoor sleeping comfort. To be safe in the presence of so many
highly-variable factors, be sure and test your gear in a secure place before
trusting it to the backcountry.
However,
no other piece of hammock gear even comes close to the warmth and flexibility
of the Speer PeaPod and TopBlanket. Together
they make the best system available for year-round hammock comfort.
Learn
more at:
http://SpeerHammocks.com/Products/PeaPod.htm, http://SpeerHammocks.com/Products/TopBlanket.htm
or call (828) 724-4444, 9-5 Eastern Time, workdays.
NOTE: Staying warm in a
hammock is serious business, especially in extreme conditions—your comfort and
even your safety are at stake. Everyone
is encouraged to successfully test their gear first in a safe environment
before heading to the backcountry. Safe
environments include those with easy ‘bail-out’ options, such as your own back
yard or car-accessible campgrounds. Know
your equipment before it gets cold!
Thanks for your time and
happy hammocking!
Ed "Not To Worry"
Speer
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