After an unseasonably cold and rainy Spring camping trip, I realized I would need an underquilt protector or a windsock. I decided to go with the Dutchware winter sock. It arrived on a cold day in April, when the temperatures were in the mid 30s and the wind was blowing 13-17 mph. Perfect for testing. I tested this with my Warbonnet (WB) blackbird XLC hammock and the wooki under quilt. First, I am old enough to remember canvas tents and heavy plastic camping gear. These modern fabrics still amaze me. This argon fabric is magical. It is lightweight and blocks wind in a way that seems impossible. As I have gotten older, I found myself being colder in most situations. My wife and I both tested this out (she tends to be colder than I am even.) Testing independently, we both agreed that this winter sock blocked the wind and kept us warmer in the hammock. How does the stack up against the competition? A WB top cover and UQ protector is far more expensive and weighs more. Nope! A RSBTR DIY kit is only about $20 less and I have to supply the labor. No thanks – too many projects on my bench already. A Chinese knockoff from Amazon is less money, but is less flexible and lower quality (I’ve had to replace zippers on several knock offs that I’ve purchased). If a camping item I’m buying cannot be multi use, then at least I want it to be flexible. And — to a degree— quality is worth paying for. So let’s talk flexibility. 1. After you set it up, you can ‘spin’ this item so that you can look through the netting for warmer temps, or you can ‘spin’ it so that your face and head area are covered by material in colder weather (with the mesh on the bottom side of your hammock). 2. The wide opening at one end allows for easy deployment and also for a partial set up. So you can cover just your feet or just your legs and torso if you wish, leaving your face and head open to view the stars. By opening up the zipper, you can cover part of your hammock while leaving the side open to the sights. 3. The full zipper also allows for installation when your hammock is already up. 4. There’s lots of fabric on this sock, so it should fit any hammock on the market. 5. You can use it as a giant stuff sack – this thing easily holds a hammock, top quilt and under quilt. Pull the sock over your hang, undo the suspension, and cram it all into your pack. One drawback that my adult daughter pointed out was that she couldn’t stake out the side of her WB Blackbird hammock with this sock in place. I don’t care if my hammock side is staked out. She does. So – word to the wise. (This is not a criticism of this product. Everything in camping is a trade-off. Just be aware of the trade-off you are willing to make. For me, being a little warmer is better than having my hammock side staked out. My daughter disagrees. Hang your own hang.) Finally, small details matter. One of the things I appreciate about small cottage industries like Dutchware is that they continue to pay attention to small details. The zipper seems to be a good balance between lightweight and sturdy. The zipper pulls are comfortable. And the inside zipper pulls appear to be reflective, making them easier to find a night. I very much appreciate these small details that large companies often eliminate in order to save a few pennies. Bottom line: this well made product will be accompanying me in my Spring, Winter, and Autumn trips to keep me a bit warmer. Well worth the money!
