Field Report - Speer Hammocks 2x2
Segmented Pad Extender

Product information: Manufacturer:  Speer Hammocks URL: http://www.speerhammocks.com Listed weight: 3.6 oz (102 g) Actual Weight: 3.6 oz (102 g) Listed Dimensions of main panel: 20 x 46 in (508 x 1170 mm) Actual Dimensions of main panel: 20.25 x 46.25 in (514 x 1176 mm) Listed Dimensions of side panels: 5 x 20 in (127 x 508 mm) Actual Dimensions of side panels: 5 x 20 in (127 x 508 mm) Listed Weight of Closed Cell Foam Wing Inserts: 3.2 oz (91 g) Actual Weight of Closed Cell Foam Wing Inserts: 3.3 oz (94 g) Listed Dimensions of Closed Cell Foam Wing Inserts: 5 x 20 in (127 x 508 mm) Actual Dimensions of Closed Cell Foam Wing Inserts: 5 x 20 in (127 x 508 mm) MSRP of SPE: $35.00 US MSRP of Closed Cell Foam Wing Inserts: $8.00 US Report Date: 02 September 2005

Product Description | Field Conditions | Field Information
Test Notes | Impressions After Field Testing | Reviewer Info

Product Description: [back to top] 

The Speer Hammocks Segmented Pad Extender (SPE) is essentially a large tube of nylon fabric which is sized to accept a standard 20 in (51 cm) sleeping pad, along with 4 smaller tubes of cloth that are designed to hold smaller insulation items, such as clothing, leaves or foam pads. The concept is that you can configure the SPE with the desired amount of insulation and have a large amount of a hammock bed covered, while not having to carry oversized pads or expensive specialized equipment such as underquilts and the like. Instead the user can use standard pads along with other gear that they may already be carrying to configure the amount of coverage they need.

Field Conditions: [back to top]

The field test phase included two mid-length trips. The first was a six night outing in the north Georgia mountains. Weather during the first trip included temperatures ranging from 70 F (39 C) to 85 F (47 C) and a couple of very strong rainstorms.

The second trip was a four night river canoe trip along the Edisto River in South Carolina. This trip was easily the warmer of the two trips, having a range from 80 F (45 C) to 98 F (54 C) and high humidity with mostly clear skies save for one night of very heavy rainfall.

Field Information: [back to top]

The Speer SPE fulfilled its purpose admirably, which is to allow for additional width in a sleeping pad in a hammock. My main concern at this point is that when using the supplied foam wing inserts, they did not stay put throughout the night. Instead, they slid out of the sleeves, creating cold spots. I did not run into this problem using other materials, such as clothing or towels. I think this was due to the objects having a larger volume with a bit more friction on the fabric of the Pad Extender.  

I did notice, when sleeping on warmer nights, that I did not like the feel of the fabric against my skin. When I would sweat in the night, the moisture would pool into the fabric, leaving a clammy feeling. I addressed this by laying a small fleece blanket over the SPE before lying down for the night.

One of my thoughts while planning my initial outings with the SPE was how and where to pack it. This was not a problem due to size or weight but one of convenience. The SPE is compact enough to roll up with any closed cell pad or self inflating pad without a problem, or it could be stored in a small bag along with the wing inserts. After much consideration, I decided to simply lay it in the bed of my hammock and pack the hammock with the SPE in place. My thought was that I would always know where it was and it would be with the hammock even if I decided not to use the wings or I changed out main pads. This turned out to be a good option since I forgot about the SPE entirely during a later trip, only to find it in the bottom of my hammock when setting up camp. I rolled up some towels and inserted them into the wing sleeves and was good to go. In the future I will more than likely continue to keep the Segmented Pad Extender packed in my hammock.

Test Notes: [back to top]

The outings I went on during this phase of testing gave me a pretty good idea of the performance of the Segmented Pad Extender. Below are some questions that I'd outlined in my Initial Report that I feel that I can answer at this point:

1. Convenience: One thing I like about Hammocking is that it is a lot simpler to set up than a tent/ground sheet, pad, sleeping bag setup. How much work is involved in configuring the SPE? Does it take more time than getting a tent set up? Do the individual pads stay put, or am I going from 1 pad moving to 5 or 6? I did not notice a significant problem with the configuration of the SPE. If I was using a self inflating pad, I would unroll the pad, inserting it into the SPE before it had inflated and adding wing material. The SPE itself did stay put during use, but the wing inserts slipped out every night that they were used. When I used other materials to fill the wings, this slippage did not occur.
   
2. Comfort: Is the SPE effective at keeping the pads positioned properly, therefore keeping me ON THE PADS? I know that pad selection is my own educated choice, so the SPE cannot actually be responsible for warmth, but if it keeps my chosen material in place, we are golden. The main pad as well as the SPE sleeve did stay put, as opposed to shifting out from under me. This was not necessarily the case with the wing inserts.
   
3. Adaptability: How many different lofting materials can I cram into the compartments? I see blue foam, and clothing. What about inflatable shipping material? Do leaves and other natural products stay put or fall out of the chambers? Clothing and towels performed very well in the SPE. I have not tested other materials at this time.
   
4. Durability: I will probably need to wash the SPE. Will it hold up to laundering? Is the material fairly durable, able to withstand use with natural fiber, pine needles and the like? I have washed the SPE once after the last trip. I have not noticed any wear in the fabric or stitching, nor any discoloration from perspiration. I will test its response with natural fibers in my long term testing.
   
5. Overall Design: Is the level of workmanship high? How small does it pack? Can I leave it in my hammock and just pack the hammock without adding undue bulk? As stated earlier, the SPE has taken up residence in my hammock when not in use. It is definitely small enough to not add undue weight or bulk to my hammock. If I were to pack it separately, it would fold down to about the size of a wallet and would fit in a zippered sandwich bag.

Impressions after Field Testing: [back to top]

The Segmented Pad Extender is an interesting approach to dealing with the common concern of staying warm in a hammock system. It performed fairly well in most cases. After two months of field testing, I would like to point out the following areas of excitement and concern:

Excitement: The SPE is very lightweight  When using clothing and other materials, the side sleeves work very well to increase insulation base.

Concerns: The fabric does not feel good against my skin. I have a hard time keeping the inserts supplied with the SPE in the sleeves

Thanks to Backpackgeartest.org and Ed Speer for the opportunity to share my experiences!

Reviewer Info: [back to top]

Name: Arron Robinson
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 9.5" (1.77 m)
Weight: 230 lb (104.3 kg)
Email address: mouserar-at-gmail-dot-com
City, State, Country: Dallas, Georgia, USA

Backpacking Background:  Camping and hiking since 11, I've been in a constant search for the perfect balance between usability, durability and weight. These days my camping is generally a mix of Boy Scout style crew camping, kayak or canoe camping or light to mid weight hiking. I generally carry 20-25 lb (9-11.3 kg) and sleep in a hammock system.