>>1389523In both a tent and a hammock you will need bottom and top insulation.
In a tent, you use a sleeping pad for bottom and a sleeping bag or quilt for the top.
In a hammock, both of those are viable options as well, but not nearly as comfortable as a top and under quilt combination. Sleeping on a mattress in a hammock isn't very pleasant and can cause the sides of the hammock to press against your skin, where you'll lose heat to convection. An under quilt is basically like an opened sleeping bag that wraps around the hammock and insulates you. A top quilt is basically an open sleeping bag that is easier to get in and out of inside the hammock. Now top quilts are superior to sleeping bags in my opinion because your insulation comes from the loft of the down, and the down underneath your back in a bag is compressed, so it's just dead weight. People like to say quilts can be drafty, but as long as you get a wider length (usually 55") you can tuck it under your sides and then there's no problem. You will also need a hood or something to keep your head warm.
If money is an issue, just buy the hammock and start with what you have. I would recommend getting a good under quilt next because it dramatically increases the comfort of sleeping in a hammock. After that, I would buy a good quilt and once you fall in love you can sell your bag.
My current inventory:
40*, 20*, 0* top quilts, bottom quilts, and sleeping bags. I haven't used my bags in about two years, but keep them in case I have friends that want to come with me. I've taken the 0* quilt down to 10 degrees with no issues.
