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Reviews > Shelters > Shelter Accessories > Speer Hammocks Segmented Pad Extender > Christine Korhonen > Initial ReportSpeer Segmented Pad Extender (SPE) Initial ReportPersonal Information:Name: Christine Korhonen Age: 31 Gender: female Height: 5'4" (1.6 m) Weight: 150 lb (68 kg) Shoulder girth: 40" (100 cm) E-mail: chris@wormguy.com Location: Western Montana Date: June 20, 2005 Backpacking Background: I'm in Montana where I'm enjoying the summers and becoming re-acquainted with winter. Now that I'm back above the snow line, I'm attempting some winter camping and snowshoeing. I'm a lightweight backpacker mentally, if not always in practice. My summer pack weight is around 19 lb (9 kg) with a tent, and I'm trying to lower that weight by hammock camping. My winter pack weight hovers around 25 lb (11 kg). Product Information: Manufacturer: Speer Hammocks URL: www.SpeerHammocks.com Item: Segmented Pad Extender (SPE) Model: 4 x 4 MSRP: US $45
Accessory: Wing Insert MSRP: US $8 (set of 4)
Segmented Pad Extender Description: The Segmented Pad Extender (SPE) is designed to be used in a hammock. The SPE is a ripstop nylon sheath with a stretchy mesh bottom that goes around a sleeping pad. Each side has nylon "wings" to hold additional insulation next to the sleeper. The SPE comes in two models. The 2 x 2 has two wings on each side while the 4 x 4 has four wings per side. Each wing is a flexible, hollow nylon tube that can accommodate excess clothes or other insulation. The body of the SPE is advertised to hold multiple sleeping pads (up to 3" [8 cm] total height) and to keep the pads stacked under a sleeper for warmth. First Impressions: The SPE 4 x 4 I received is made of gray nylon with a white mesh insert. It arrived folded in a zipper sandwich bag with a sheet of instructions and information on other items sold by Speer. Four SPE wing inserts made of ⅜" (0.95 cm) blue closed-cell foam padding came as well. The wing inserts were cut specifically to fit in the wings of the SPE. The instructions indicate that the SPE 4 x 4 is designed for people with over 60" (150 cm) shoulder girth. I was impressed that the SPE could fold so small. It's nice and light. Unfolded, my Insul-Mat Max Mtn Women's 1½" (3.8 cm) pad and my Therm-a-Rest UltraLite 1" (2.5 cm) pad fit together in the SPE with no problems, and the wing inserts slid right into the wings. Expectations from Website: The website has a lot of information, and there are several pictures of people using the SPE in a hammock. The photos of the person lying on her side show her using the SPE 4 x 4. Since I sleep on my side, I wanted to try the 4 x 4 as well. The instructions that came with the SPE only mention that the 4 x 4 is for people with broad shoulders, it doesn't say anything about side sleepers. I will see if the 4 x 4 is useful in keeping me comfortable when I sleep on my side in my hammock. Test Plan: I will test the Segmented Pad Extender along the trails of Montana and Wyoming in my Hennessey Hammock Extreme Ultralight Backpacker Asym. I will see how well my other sleeping pads fit in the main body of the SPE. I will see how easily the wing segments pack and unpack using my clothes, and will determine which items work best for insulation. I will find out if using the SPE provides more stable insulation for my sides than using a sleeping pad alone. Read more reviews of Speer Hammocks gear Read more gear reviews by Christine Korhonen Reviews > Shelters > Shelter Accessories > Speer Hammocks Segmented Pad Extender > Christine Korhonen > Initial Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||