FAQ

What’s the ship time?

In-stock items will ship the same or the next business day. We ship via USPS Priority Mail which typically delivers 2-3 days after shipment anywhere in the United States. Overseas shipments normally take 7-10 days. We also offer Priority Express which is 1-2 days depending on where you are located.

Custom options may add a day or two to shipping.

Made-to-order items will ship on or before the date specified on the product page after options are selected.

What is the Total Quality Guarantee?

All Jacks ‘R’ Better LLC products carry a one-year warranty on material and/or craftsmanship defects. You may return it for repair or replacement, at our discretion at any time. We do ask that you call or email us with the reason for the return and call our attention to the issue that needs to be remedied.

Repairs after warranty or resulting from abuse or neglect (e.g. ripped fabric or rot caused by improper storage) will be done at reasonable rates. The nature of any necessary repair and a written estimate (e-mail) of cost, if applicable, for the repair will be provided before any repair is accomplished.

If you are not satisfied with your Jacks ‘R’ Better LLC product for any reason simply return it within 15 days of receipt, in original and unused condition, for a one for one exchange or a full refund of the purchase price.  Quilts that have had modifications from standard design may be returned for credit, subject to a 15% restocking fee.  Shipping and transaction processing fees (3% )are not refundable.

Why Quilts?

As an alternative to a sleeping bag, a quilt offers equivalent insulation for less weight and volume. Some would even argue quilts are more comfortable than a confining, traditional sleeping/mummy bag. The principle behind the quilt is that the portion of the sleeping bag that is beneath the sleeper’s body is compressed and is providing limited to no insulation value. In fact, what insulates the sleeper’s body from the ground is their pad. Quilts eliminate about 1/3 of the shell material, 1/3 of the insulation material, the zipper, and in some cases the hood of a sleeping bag. The result is a significant reduction in weight and packed volume.

Why Hammocks?

Hammock camping has less impact on the environment, offers increased comfort, and provides tremendous flexibility in site selection. A hammock gets the camper off the hard, cold ground and hammock campers report experiencing a night of much more restful sleep. One can hang a hammock virtually anywhere, vastly increasing site options beyond the often overused, popular, established, level campsites. All one needs is two properly space anchor points, be they trees, poles, rocks, whatever. Not a problem in most places. And while there are places such as the Western United States desert and in the mountains above the tree line where the lack of trees can be a problem, many of today’s camping hammocks can also be pitched as ground shelters. The hammock also provides a comfortable camp chair during the evenings and mornings. Changing shoes and getting dressed or undressed are considerably easier. And you can cook in front of your hammock and sit comfortably while eating. For those annoyed by insects, most camping hammocks on the market today include an integral bug net.

Why Quilts & Hammocks?

The most significant issue when using a hammock is bottom insulation. If the temperature drops below about 70º F it is cold enough to disturb your sleep. Using sleeping bags for insulation in hammocks poses two primary problems. First, they can be difficult to wriggle into and out of; and second, they get compressed between the sleeper’s body and the hammock limiting the bottom insulation value just like a sleeping bag on the ground. A top quilt in the hammock is simple to use and provides excellent insulation. It takes less of the limited internal space than a traditional sleeping bag and is easily tossed over the feet and body eliminating the awkward issue of squirming into a traditional sleeping bag in a confined and suspended space. Adequate bottom insulation can be achieved using any number of pads. However, pads are difficult to keep properly positioned beneath the sleeper. They can be uncomfortable, and in some cases cause perspiration leading to chills from the accumulated moisture of a pad wrapped body. Alternatively, a quilt suspended below the hammock can fully loft and is the optimum solution for bottom insulation in terms of warmth, comfort, breathability, ease of use, and packability.

Why Down?

The major drawback attributed to down has always been its susceptibility to moisture and its lack of insulating capability when wet. Recently, all of the major down suppliers have developed a hydrophobic down treatment that keeps the down drier, while having no adverse effects on loft, fill power, or warmth retention. Third party testing has consistently shown that hydrophobic down stays dry longer than untreated down and dries faster than untreated down. While the moisture can still be a problem if appropriate precautions are not taken, it is not exclusive to down. If your quilt is wet it doesn’t matter whether it has synthetic insulation or down, a wet quilt is going to insulate less, and you will have a miserable night! The moisture issue relative to down is often overstated. After all, how many times have you soaked your quilt in the woods. So, whether using synthetic or down, the best approach is to take the appropriate precautions to keep your quilt dry. An adequate tarp, a waterproof storage bag, and a healthy helping of common sense will prevent wet quilt issues.

Do you use down that meets the Responsible Down Standard?

Yes. All of our down is supplied by a company that is RDS Certified.

Will a JRB quilt fit my hammock?

All Underquilt and Multi-Use Quilt models work on all hammocks.

Why side-to-side baffles instead of lengthwise  baffles like all the other under quilt manufacturers?

With the baffles running side to side you can shift the down to the center of the quilt if needed.  And down naturally settles due to gravity.  But in settling it only makes the quilt better.  When laying in a hammock with an under quilt attached the outer 6 or 8 inches of each side are normally above your body doing little to keep you warm.  If the quilt has lengthwise baffles the down stays in the outer baffles and is of little value.

How should I store my JRB quilt?

Quilts should be stored in a cool and dry location. They should not be stored in a compressed manner. Quilts are ideally stored flat (e.g. under a bed) or hung in uncompressed in a closet. If space is a problem, the plastic storage bag that the quilt is packaged in is breathable and is adequate for storing your quilt.

How do I attach my quilt to my pad?

We don’t advocate attaching the quilt to the pad. Our recommendation is to sleep on the pad and simply pull the quilt over you. That said, many people ask about attaching their quilt to their pad. There’s no right or wrong way. The best way we have found is to lay the quilt out beside the pad, inside facing up. Run two pieces of cord around the pad and through the loops on the side of the quilt closest to the pad and tie the two ends of the cord together. When you lay down on the pad you can pull the quilt over and slide your feet into the foot box.