Hammock Gear Economy Incubator Under Quilt Review

Overview

The Economy Incubator is Hammock Gear’s full-length down underquilt. It hangs beneath the hammock to insulate the one spot a top quilt can’t, because body weight crushes the insulation underneath you. The 40°F version at 535 g is built for warm-weather and shoulder-season hangs. Its trade-off is a sturdy 20D shell that adds some weight over the brand’s lighter-fabric options.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	535 g (40°F)
Temperature rating	40°F (5°C)
Insulation	850-fill-power down, ethically sourced
Shell	20D nylon with DWR coating
Coverage	Full length, shoulders to heels
Sizes	Short (5’2”–5’7”), Standard (5’7”–6’2”), Long (6’2”–6’7”)
Suspension	Adjustable secondary suspension for asymmetric lays
Extras	Draft collars at both ends; stuff sack and cotton storage sack
Construction	Made to order in the USA

Performance

Warmth and fit. The Incubator is cut as a contoured shape rather than a flat rectangle, and the bottom panel is cut fuller than the top. That lets the top side snug against the hammock without squeezing the loft. Hammock Gear describes its ratings as built for comfort rather than survival, and owners generally find the numbers honest. A 40°F quilt is a three-season tool. It suits summer nights at elevation, humid shoulder-season trips and mild-weather thru-hike stretches. In the 30s it needs a pad or reflective layer to back it up.

The secondary suspension is the feature owners mention most. It lets the quilt be pulled in or out at either end to match an asymmetrical lay. Draft collars at the head and foot cinch down on cold nights and loosen to dump heat when the temperature climbs. One Trailspace reviewer described the quilt as light enough to be a go-to for most of the year. That reviewer vented it by adjusting the suspension when conditions turned warm.

Weight and packability. At 535 g, or about 18.9 oz, the 40°F version sits near the middle of the full-length down field. Hammock Gear’s own weights climb with warmth. Testers at The Good Ride list the 30°F at 21.6 oz and the 20°F at 25 oz. Reviewers who compare it with other cottage-built underquilts say it runs a little light for its fill weight. A roundup from Greenbelly flagged the weight as the main drawback, though it praised the price. The 850-fill down compresses well. The 20°F model fits an 8.5-liter stuff sack, and the 40°F packs smaller. Forum owners say a top quilt and underquilt together each squeeze to roughly the size of a quart Nalgene.

Durability and weather. The 20D shell is the reason the Incubator carries the “Economy” name. It costs a little weight compared with Hammock Gear’s 10D builds, but it holds up better to snagging on rough hammock fabric and ground debris. Both the shell and the down carry a DWR treatment, so a damp tarp edge or a drizzle that gets under the fly won’t soak the insulation quickly. Owners report minimal down leakage. One reports the occasional feather working its way out, which is typical of any down-proof nylon at this weight. Reviewers do note the shell is thin and needs care around sticks and sharp gear.

Setup. Hanging an underquilt properly takes practice. Owners say getting the quilt snug to the hammock without compressing the fill is a real learning curve. The adjustable suspension makes the process forgiving once the technique clicks. Hammock Gear’s ordering system lets buyers match length to body, which helps a lot. As one forum veteran put it, the quilt has to run the full length of the sleeper, not the full length of the hammock.

Choosing a Version

The three versions differ only in length, and length directly affects both weight and price. Hammock Gear’s Standard costs $20 more than the Short, and the Long costs $30 more.

• Short (5’2”–5’7”): The base price and the lightest build. Hammock Gear buyers on the shorter side can pick it to cut ounces.
• Standard (5’7”–6’2”): The default for most adults. A 5’9” owner on Trailspace found a standard quilt covered him head to toe on an asymmetric lay, with some to spare.
• Long (6’2”–6’7”): For tall sleepers. A quilt that stops short at the heels or shoulders defeats the purpose of buying one, so tall hikers should not downsize to save weight.

Because the quilt is cut to fit the sleeper rather than the hammock, buyers should size by height and not by the hammock’s length.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Contoured cut and fuller bottom panel keep loft intact and reduce cold spots
• Adjustable secondary suspension handles asymmetric lays
• Draft collars at both ends, adjustable for venting or sealing
• 850-fill down with DWR on both shell and insulation
• 20D shell is more durable than ultralight alternatives
• Three lengths, so fit is matched to the sleeper
• Made in the USA, with a stuff sack and cotton storage sack included

Cons

• Heavier than the brand’s 10D builds and some competing ultralight quilts
• 40°F rating limits it to mild-weather use without extra insulation
• Setup has a learning curve for first-time underquilt users
• Longer sizes add cost
• Made to order, so lead times apply

Who Should Buy This

This quilt suits hammock campers who want warm-season and shoulder-season insulation at a fair price and don’t want to baby their gear. That means weekend hangers, Appalachian Trail section hikers, and anyone building a first down hammock system. Hikers who spend most of their nights below 40°F should order one of the lower-rated Incubator options instead. Gram counters chasing the lowest possible base weight should look at 10D builds, or at three-quarter-length underquilts. Hikers who don’t want to tune a suspension should stay with a pad.

Verdict

The Economy Incubator is a well-sorted, durable and adjustable underquilt, and it suits the three-season hammock camper well. It gives up a few ounces to the lightest alternatives and takes some setup practice. In return it holds up better and fits more closely than most budget-minded options.