Short Background: Graduate student studying wildlife conservation, plan to do a thru once I graduate (sadly won't be for another year or two, which I know is a long wait, but I have no choice and I love my work) but have little hiking experience.
Simply reading through these forums has been immensely helpful to me so far, but it's time I make my first post and it involves a question that I can't seem to find a simple answer to. I currently plan to purchase a 1.1 double layer WBBB with mambajamba tarp. My roommate lent me his and I found it rather comfortable after spending the night at my field site last night (before it got stolen, I **** you not). Anyway, I only used a self-inflating therma-rest with a cut up closed cell for my shoulders. However, in colder weather I could see this set up being less than ideal. While I've seen plenty of posts about the benefits of an UQ and/or a pad, I have had trouble figuring out how reasonable it would be to hike with both during the coldest times. That is, can one carry both a pad and an UQ reasonably without having too heavy a load? Is there another option for staying warm during these very cold nights without an UQ?
Here's the catch: I want a pad because I want to be able to go to ground (really using the hammock as a backup if I can't make it to a shelter or just don't want to). I would simply send the underquilt home when I didn't need it anymore, so my question again, is it worth it or is there another option? I was hoping someone who has actually thru'd while hanging could give me some advice but any responses are welcome.
For those that might be wondering why I don't just tent it and forget this mess, it's because:
1. I personally find setting up and breaking down tents to be an annoying hassle, hammocks seem easier to me.
2. I like how dry/comfortable hammocks are by comparison.
3. I hiked part of the AT last year and ended up hiking up a mountain I didn't want to just to find a spot open enough to set up my tent. I did notice, however, the ridiculous number of trees mocking me for not having a hammock.