This shall be the ultimate quilt post, your one-stop shop to see all quilt manufacturers "en una vez". Are you ready?
Sleeping bags are for Ultraheavy wimps which don't know better. The real UL Follower is sleeping under his quilt at night, warmer, lighter, better. A modern UL quilt is slightly different from the above description, in that they often use down as an isolator and a baffle construction, made of very fine, down-proof, synthetic shell and inner materials. Round it out with innovative extras like head holes, sleeping pad attachments, water resistant or recycled outers & inner linings and you got a tool in your UL box which you'll learn to love.
I made the switch to a quilt last year. The logic for my move was that compressed down (and synthetic) insulation on the bottom of a sleeping bag has no insulation value whatsoever - it is compressed and hence can not store warmth. Might as well then leave it out, right? Right! After all, I carry a good
sleeping pad with me for insulation to the floor so compressed aka useless bottom insulation in a sleeping bag is unnecessary weight carried.
"But what about drafts?" I hear you ask.
No, no, no! There's plenty of
smart ways to keep drafts out, and if you use a bivy, then drafts are not a problem at all. I only can think of benefits in the quilt versus sleeping bag discussion, but then I might be biased =)
Benefits are that there's as much room as you want. Easily feel trapped in a sleeping bag? Not gonna happen in a quilt. Overheating? Easy airing with a quilt, just pull a side away to cool down. Absence of a hood? Your down pullover or jacket has one, right? How about multi-using it?! Problems drying a sleeping bag from the inside after a sweaty night? No problem with a quilt. Getting into a sleeping bag can be a hassle, that won't be a problem with you-know-what. Getting stuff stuck in the sleeping bag zipper? Guess what, a quilt doesn't have a zipper, so no getting stuck. Afraid of a wide opening at the head and critters joining you under your quilt? Most quilts come with a cinched top to trap all heat inside and leave the unwelcome guests outside. Did I mention the weight savings? Yeah, because there's no zippers, no bottom, no hood there's a sweet weight saving to be had.
My GoLite Ultra 20 has seen a lot of action, and is still as awesome as on day one.
I got you all psyched about quilts, I see, and you are ready to go and try them.
STOP! Before you go dish out your hard earned cash, how about taking your sleeping bag, opening the zipper and just using it as a quilt on your next trip? That way you can test if a quilt is something for you, even if you won't get the full set of quilt benefits. After you've done that, browse this list of quilt manufacturers and find the one that suits your needs & wallet.
The Quilt Makers List: I tried to collect all backpacking quilt makers here, but might have missed some. If so, please leave a comment and I will add them!
Nunatak is named first, for the reason that they're pretty long around, make a variety of superduper awesome quilts in a wide variety of materials and are often named as number one if it comes to quilts. All quilts are custom made, so you'll pay a lot. If that doesn't scare you off and you decide the best is just good enough for you, check them out.
Go-to quilt:
Arc Alpinist.
Next are
Jacks R Better quilts. The two Jacks are making quilts since 2004 and have a few innovative first next to their name - head holes to wear a quilt, for example. High quality and a favourite among UL backpackers and hammock folks alike, and with excellent value for money you can't go wrong with a JRB.
Go-to quilt:
The No Sniveller.
Katabatic Gear is a newcomer, though they have likely at the moment the most innovative quilts with the best price/ quality ratio on the market. They looked at quilts, thought what could be improved and came out with two topnotch quilts. They round out their offer with superb accessories for quilt users like down balaclavas and bivys.
Go-to quilt:
Palisade 30°. Additional win: Most user-friendly and best looking website of the quilt makers.
Hammock Gear is a quilt maker for hammock quilts, though no doubt they will be fine for ground dwellers as well. They make top and under quilts, and the top quilts are interesting for ground sleepers (under quilts are wrapped around the underside of your hammock to keep out the cold and you buttocks warm). They're reasonably priced and the have some good options available.
Go-to quilt:
3-Season Burrow.
Warbonner Outdoors is another hammock maker which produces top and under quilts. Their Black Mamba is, well, black, and hence looks might fine and should even be more thermal efficient, and dry quicker in the sun.
Go-to quilt:
Mamba 3-Season.
Arklight Design from France makes quilt/ top bag hybrids, as they aren't open underneath as a real quilt but have a piece of fabric between the wings of the quilt, no insulation in there, though. For those who're afraid of drafts, probably a good piece of kit.
Go-to quilt:
Walden 400.
enLIGHTened equipment should be making your quilt if you're looking for the lightest quilt on the market. Tim makes down quilts (and also synthetic quilts!) and the Epiphany uses cuben fibre as a shell & liner material, making it the lightest quilt on the market. It also will allow you to leave a VBL at home in winter, thus the ultimate down quilt for winter use.
Go-to quilt:
Epiphany.
[
Edit] Titanium Goat also entered the quilt game this year, with the
Cyanocitta bag-quilt. It is zipperless and hoodless like a quilt, but has an attached draft panel that can be closed up to work more like a bag, check the photos on their site to see what I mean. Filled with 900 cuin down and weighing in at 510 g, this is a very light quilt, but comes at a high price. Thanks to jephoto for pointing this one out!
[
Edit] Therm-A-Rest also has a quilt-bag, the
Haven. It has a hood, it has a footbox, it has 700 cuin down and weighs 624 g, but the back seems to be open so it is also a kind of quilt-bag. It looks certainly interesting, and available for as low as 190$ a cheap entry into the world of quilts. Thanks to
Mark for pointing this one out!
Finally,
GoLite. The
Ultra 20 was a favourite among thru-hikers as there weren't many options in the early 2000s, and its price/ quality ratio was great. The new line of quilts from GoLite uses recycled materials for the shell and lining, something I welcome very much, and 800+ down. Being now also more realistically rated to -7°C, its a good three season quilt.
Go-to quilt:
GoLite UltraLite 3-Season.
A few synthetic contenders we have as well.
The Backpacking Light Cocoon quilt is probably the benchmark which other synthetic quilts need to reach, being raved about by almost everyone who has used it. The
UL 240 is the latest and greatest in synthetic quilts, and has been designed by Ryan Jordan himself - Nuff said!
Another well-known synthetic quilt, DIY style, is the
Ray-Way quilt. Sold as a One-Person and Two-Person version with a variety of options, it is the way to go for those of you who like to make their own gear. You can choose between two different types of insulation material, a whole bunch of ludicrous colours (Pink, anyone!?!) and some more.
Go-to quilt: Choose your own (but make it black!)!
Mountain Laurel Designs also offers quilts again, and their synthetic quilt for 2011 is the
Spirit quilt. Andrew Skurka used one on his Alaska Yukon and said it is excellent - the man knows what he talks about, so no need to worry. Great price as well.
The
Kick Ass Quilts sold by Arrowhead will make bushcraft and military folks smile - they have camo patterns! Arrowhead sells under and top quilts, as well as a DIY kit, so should be something the winter hammocking person should look at.
Go-to quilt:
Owyhee Top Quilt 3S.
Quilt tricks: Read the benefits of quilts above, there's some useful hints in there already. Buy a three season down quilt for spring - summer - autumn action, and get a synthetic quilt as an addition for the winter. You want to buy the synthetic quilt a bit bigger in oder to layer it over the down quilt - in this way the perspiration will condense in the synthetic quilt, keeping your down quilt longer alive (crucial on trips longer than two nights). Its also warmer! Get a good pad with your quilt. Consider a down pullover or jacket with a hood to multiuse it with the quilt at night, or if you want to not get a down pullover or jacket get a quilt with a head hole and a down balaclava to wear them at camp. Afraid of getting your down quilt wet? Get a synthetic one. Camping a lot with your partner? Get a Duo quilt, which can be even lighter as you'll benefit from shared body heat (and is lighter as two solo quilts)! Got more tips? Leave them in the comments!
Oh, if you now think I am a racist quilt user, calm down. In that Finnish winter of ours I like to go into my serious winter sleeping bag just as much as others (once in a while!) - stay tuned for a winter gear special sometime soon!
This shall be the ultimate quilt post, your one-stop shop to see all quilt manufacturers "en una vez". Are you ready?
Sleeping bags are for Ultraheavy wimps which don't know better. The real UL Follower is sleeping under his quilt at night, warmer, lighter, better. A modern UL quilt is slightly different from the above description, in that they often use down as an isolator and a baffle construction, made of very fine, down-proof, synthetic shell and inner materials. Round it out with innovative extras like head holes, sleeping pad attachments, water resistant or recycled outers & inner linings and you got a tool in your UL box which you'll learn to love.
I made the switch to a quilt last year. The logic for my move was that compressed down (and synthetic) insulation on the bottom of a sleeping bag has no insulation value whatsoever - it is compressed and hence can not store warmth. Might as well then leave it out, right? Right! After all, I carry a good
sleeping pad with me for insulation to the floor so compressed aka useless bottom insulation in a sleeping bag is unnecessary weight carried.
"But what about drafts?" I hear you ask.
No, no, no! There's plenty of
smart ways to keep drafts out, and if you use a bivy, then drafts are not a problem at all. I only can think of benefits in the quilt versus sleeping bag discussion, but then I might be biased =)
Benefits are that there's as much room as you want. Easily feel trapped in a sleeping bag? Not gonna happen in a quilt. Overheating? Easy airing with a quilt, just pull a side away to cool down. Absence of a hood? Your down pullover or jacket has one, right? How about multi-using it?! Problems drying a sleeping bag from the inside after a sweaty night? No problem with a quilt. Getting into a sleeping bag can be a hassle, that won't be a problem with you-know-what. Getting stuff stuck in the sleeping bag zipper? Guess what, a quilt doesn't have a zipper, so no getting stuck. Afraid of a wide opening at the head and critters joining you under your quilt? Most quilts come with a cinched top to trap all heat inside and leave the unwelcome guests outside. Did I mention the weight savings? Yeah, because there's no zippers, no bottom, no hood there's a sweet weight saving to be had.
My GoLite Ultra 20 has seen a lot of action, and is still as awesome as on day one.
I got you all psyched about quilts, I see, and you are ready to go and try them.
STOP! Before you go dish out your hard earned cash, how about taking your sleeping bag, opening the zipper and just using it as a quilt on your next trip? That way you can test if a quilt is something for you, even if you won't get the full set of quilt benefits. After you've done that, browse this list of quilt manufacturers and find the one that suits your needs & wallet.
The Quilt Makers List: I tried to collect all backpacking quilt makers here, but might have missed some. If so, please leave a comment and I will add them!
Nunatak is named first, for the reason that they're pretty long around, make a variety of superduper awesome quilts in a wide variety of materials and are often named as number one if it comes to quilts. All quilts are custom made, so you'll pay a lot. If that doesn't scare you off and you decide the best is just good enough for you, check them out.
Go-to quilt:
Arc Alpinist.
Next are
Jacks R Better quilts. The two Jacks are making quilts since 2004 and have a few innovative first next to their name - head holes to wear a quilt, for example. High quality and a favourite among UL backpackers and hammock folks alike, and with excellent value for money you can't go wrong with a JRB.
Go-to quilt:
The No Sniveller.
Katabatic Gear is a newcomer, though they have likely at the moment the most innovative quilts with the best price/ quality ratio on the market. They looked at quilts, thought what could be improved and came out with two topnotch quilts. They round out their offer with superb accessories for quilt users like down balaclavas and bivys.
Go-to quilt:
Palisade 30°. Additional win: Most user-friendly and best looking website of the quilt makers.
Hammock Gear is a quilt maker for hammock quilts, though no doubt they will be fine for ground dwellers as well. They make top and under quilts, and the top quilts are interesting for ground sleepers (under quilts are wrapped around the underside of your hammock to keep out the cold and you buttocks warm). They're reasonably priced and the have some good options available.
Go-to quilt:
3-Season Burrow.
Warbonner Outdoors is another hammock maker which produces top and under quilts. Their Black Mamba is, well, black, and hence looks might fine and should even be more thermal efficient, and dry quicker in the sun.
Go-to quilt:
Mamba 3-Season.
Arklight Design from France makes quilt/ top bag hybrids, as they aren't open underneath as a real quilt but have a piece of fabric between the wings of the quilt, no insulation in there, though. For those who're afraid of drafts, probably a good piece of kit.
Go-to quilt:
Walden 400.
enLIGHTened equipment should be making your quilt if you're looking for the lightest quilt on the market. Tim makes down quilts (and also synthetic quilts!) and the Epiphany uses cuben fibre as a shell & liner material, making it the lightest quilt on the market. It also will allow you to leave a VBL at home in winter, thus the ultimate down quilt for winter use.
Go-to quilt:
Epiphany.
[
Edit] Titanium Goat also entered the quilt game this year, with the
Cyanocitta bag-quilt. It is zipperless and hoodless like a quilt, but has an attached draft panel that can be closed up to work more like a bag, check the photos on their site to see what I mean. Filled with 900 cuin down and weighing in at 510 g, this is a very light quilt, but comes at a high price. Thanks to jephoto for pointing this one out!
[
Edit] Therm-A-Rest also has a quilt-bag, the
Haven. It has a hood, it has a footbox, it has 700 cuin down and weighs 624 g, but the back seems to be open so it is also a kind of quilt-bag. It looks certainly interesting, and available for as low as 190$ a cheap entry into the world of quilts. Thanks to
Mark for pointing this one out!
Finally,
GoLite. The
Ultra 20 was a favourite among thru-hikers as there weren't many options in the early 2000s, and its price/ quality ratio was great. The new line of quilts from GoLite uses recycled materials for the shell and lining, something I welcome very much, and 800+ down. Being now also more realistically rated to -7°C, its a good three season quilt.
Go-to quilt:
GoLite UltraLite 3-Season.
A few synthetic contenders we have as well.
The Backpacking Light Cocoon quilt is probably the benchmark which other synthetic quilts need to reach, being raved about by almost everyone who has used it. The
UL 240 is the latest and greatest in synthetic quilts, and has been designed by Ryan Jordan himself - Nuff said!
Another well-known synthetic quilt, DIY style, is the
Ray-Way quilt. Sold as a One-Person and Two-Person version with a variety of options, it is the way to go for those of you who like to make their own gear. You can choose between two different types of insulation material, a whole bunch of ludicrous colours (Pink, anyone!?!) and some more.
Go-to quilt: Choose your own (but make it black!)!
Mountain Laurel Designs also offers quilts again, and their synthetic quilt for 2011 is the
Spirit quilt. Andrew Skurka used one on his Alaska Yukon and said it is excellent - the man knows what he talks about, so no need to worry. Great price as well.
The
Kick Ass Quilts sold by Arrowhead will make bushcraft and military folks smile - they have camo patterns! Arrowhead sells under and top quilts, as well as a DIY kit, so should be something the winter hammocking person should look at.
Go-to quilt:
Owyhee Top Quilt 3S.
Quilt tricks: Read the benefits of quilts above, there's some useful hints in there already. Buy a three season down quilt for spring - summer - autumn action, and get a synthetic quilt as an addition for the winter. You want to buy the synthetic quilt a bit bigger in oder to layer it over the down quilt - in this way the perspiration will condense in the synthetic quilt, keeping your down quilt longer alive (crucial on trips longer than two nights). Its also warmer! Get a good pad with your quilt. Consider a down pullover or jacket with a hood to multiuse it with the quilt at night, or if you want to not get a down pullover or jacket get a quilt with a head hole and a down balaclava to wear them at camp. Afraid of getting your down quilt wet? Get a synthetic one. Camping a lot with your partner? Get a Duo quilt, which can be even lighter as you'll benefit from shared body heat (and is lighter as two solo quilts)! Got more tips? Leave them in the comments!
Oh, if you now think I am a racist quilt user, calm down. In that Finnish winter of ours I like to go into my serious winter sleeping bag just as much as others (once in a while!) - stay tuned for a winter gear special sometime soon!
Quilt 101
Amen brother Hendrik! Say it loud, say it proud!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! I think we can safely assume Hendrik=Quilt lover ;o)
ReplyDeleteHendrik, my sleeping bag is way too heavy, so i was thinking about getting a western mountaineering summerlite for next season, but reading your stuff bout quilts got me wondering. I have the short neoair pad, can i still use a quilt or do i need a longer sleeping pad to make it work? How do i keep my legs warm and comfy?
ReplyDeleteHalleluja, Joe!
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen =)
jag, yes, you can use a quilt just fine - many quilt users have a short NeoAir as a pad, and also in the above photo you can see my short NeoAir being used! Your legs and feet are usually in what's called a "footbox" which is a completely surrounding box, normally about knee-high, and thus keep them toasty!
Hey Hendrik,
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning us, :) I really do appreciate it very much. Just to let everyone know we are soon going to be adding some more color choices to go along with the camo options. As well we will soon be offering upgrades to thicker/warmer Climashield in the very near future.
Thanks again,
Paul
Arrowhead Equipment
I've yet to find a quilt that is lighter than my Yeti Passion One.
ReplyDeleteHahar, let the flames begin (runs away and ducks behind a small cat)
I've starred this in Google Reader for later reference. A £1000 car bill has ended any ideas of 'luxury' purchases for some time to come. I've muddled by the past few winters with a 3 season bag boosted by a Sea to Summit Reactor liner and toasty undergarments. :) Maybe I'll get one in time for summer...
ReplyDeleteThe ratio of insulation to weight and flexibility convinced me. Having used a quilt in the hills my early impressions are superb. I have another trip next week and will have it out for three nights. That will push the quilt experience. I cant fault a word you wrote.
ReplyDeleteSleeping bags were invented for a reason and speaking as someone who started out with cheap, synthetic sleeping bags, I can assure you that not all of the insulation under the sleeper's body gets crushed. Back in the late 60s and early 70s I managed fine without a sleeping mat. I didn't know they had been invented and, when I found out, I couldn't afford one. So, my first few years of backpacking, which included a memorable January camp high in the Carneddau, were accomplished without the benefit of one of those yellow Karrimats. Failing to sleep well on wooden sleeping platforms in bothies finally persuaded me to pay the price. Note: I didn't need to buy a sleeping mat for insulation reasons.
ReplyDeleteConfession. Ground sheets were heavy back then and, before Goretex became affordable, I had to carry more spare clothing than now, but that doesn't change the fact that some of the insulation beneath a person sleeping in a bag remains useful.
Having said all that, I've posted seven times about my wonderful MLD quilt. Because of high humidity, it has out-performed my PHD Piqolo so far this year. At the moment, I'm experimenting with the Spirit Quilt as a top bag on the Piqolo and the result seems to be serious luxury. So there is another advantage of quilts. They can extend the life of the stuff you have already bought.
Cornelius said...
ReplyDelete"I've yet to find a quilt that is lighter than my Yeti Passion One."
Cornelius,
I would love to see a review of this bag. I assume that being hoodless it can be used as a quilt, just without attachments to the mat, is it so?
I've got 3 Jacks R Better quilts and a down hood - I really can't fault them. Simple, well-made and effective. Interestingly I don't own the Sierra Sniveller!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to attempt (with assistance) to make a Ray-Way quilt this winter when the storms are rattling the windows, and rest assured it won't be black. Purple and fuschia seemed like a good combination..
Nice post Hendrik!
ReplyDeleteI have owned a custom made Nunatak for a couple of years and absolutely love it. I had it sized for two people so my wife and I could share it. Yes they are pricey.
Earlier this year I made a Ray Way quilt for my son. It came out really great, and weighs just about the same as my Nunatak 2p quilt.
I recently purchased a Katabatic Palisades quilt, but haven't had much time to use it in the back country yet. the quality is top notch, and I love the Trapezoidal Foot Box, which fits my size 13's very well! I'll post up a review of it on my site after I have had some more time to test it.
Thanks for all the great info!
John
Hendrik - thanks for an excellent post. I am seriously looking at quilts, but have yet to decide. One I did'nt see in your list is therma-a-rest haven. This is a quilt with a hood and is on my list. see the following link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cascadedesigns.com/en/therm-a-rest/sleep-systems/fast-and-light-sleep-systems/haven/product
I have yet to make my decision, but your post will help me in my decision making process.
Thanks
Mark
Super great post, and I completly agree! I lucked up and got a GoLite RS 1+ Season quilt earlier this year for $15 (brand spanking new) and every since I have taken it out, I have been impressed. As far as this quilt is concerned, it is rated at 40 F but it is only good for me to 50 F unless I use a liner and start layering. Also, it is made of recycled synthetics (hence the "RS") so it is not quite as light as a down filled quilt. But the quilt is way more comfortable than a confining sleeping bag. I will definitely be investing some better money in a Nunatak quilt in the future!
ReplyDeleteGreat, passionate post, Hendrik. I love my GoLite Ultralite 3 Season so far - it's a shame it isn't rated a little colder though. I'd like to try a quilt in winter with the down top and hood, but I'm not yet sure it's the best way to go for -20C... And as you said, even brave Jedi masters sneak into winter bags on occasion.
ReplyDeleteQuilts rule! :)
ReplyDeleteI've been using a Nunatak Arc Specialist for a few years, and have recently bought a Katabatic Sawatch for very cold conditions.
I'll never go back to horrible, constricting sleeping bags!
Mike fae Dundee.
Paul, my pleasure! I hope one of the new colours is black!
ReplyDeleteCornelius, The Yeti One is pretty light, yes, but it is still a sleeping bag and has thus the inherit disadvantages mentioned above. 100 g of down, of which a third is likely compressed under me, doesn't seem like a good use to me ;)
Fraser, save some money and threat yourself to something fine for the summer!
Martin, looking forward what you'll say after a longer time out with a quilt. You have a kickass sleeping bag with your WM bag, so a good comparison!
John, all true. I started out with a massive synthetic sleeping bag over twenty years ago, but always had a (cheap) sleeping pad for underneath. And now you've got a MLD quilt and a PHD Piqolo? What a sweet setup!
Phil, time to order one, isn't it? Purple and Fuschia will go well with your red rubber boots ;)
John, as I and other often have said - quality costs, but you only pay once for it! Looking forward to your Palisade Review!
Mark, thank you and thank you for pointing out the TAR Haven, will add it asap. Hope you find that perfect quilt for you and start enjoying quilts!
Thank you Stick13! The GoLite RS 1+ is a great quilt for the summer, and with some additional layers it could be fine well into the autumn. And the price you paid - awesome! Save some money for the Nunatak, I am sure you won't be disappointed!
Mark, kiitos. I will try the down quilt + BPL UL 240 quilt combo this winter, and let you know how it went at serious minus temperatures. And I got two nice winter bags to secretly sneak into ;)
Mike, two fine quilts you got there, I reckon if you layer them they should take you toasty through the Scottish winter!
I don't have much to add to this discussion other than I completely agree with everything you said in your post Hendrik... long live the quilt!
ReplyDeleteMy 2 go to quilts are both Nunatak. My 3+ season quilt is a Nunatak Arc Alpinist w/ Epic shell, and a 2oz. overfill, it lofts like a cloud and is toasty. My fairweather quilt is an Arc Specialist with a 1 oz. overfill and a Catabatic bottom, so it's more of a hybrid quilt/sleeping bag w/ no hood. It's a very light and efficient quilt weighing in @ 17oz. and I've found it plenty warm a touch below 0C in only a light baselayer, with down supplementation is good to -5C.
I have my eyes on the Katabatic hoods, just not sure which one.
I hope Phil completes a RayWay quilt and posts about it because that seems to have some interesting innovations but the innovations look as if they take it well beyond my handicraft skills.
ReplyDeleteYou've started something with this post, Hendrik.
Hope Scotland goes well. Do you like mud?
Looks interesting.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.titaniumgoat.com/Cyanocitta.html
Long live the quilt, Eugene! Nicely said, that could be our war-cry =) The Katabatic hoods are fine, I'd go for the one which will be most comfy for the seasons you're most out - if you're just a couple of times out in winter, get the lighter filled one, otherwise you overheat in the spring/ autumn.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I am sure Phil is already working on his purple/ fuschia RayWay quilt =) I love mud, so Scotland should be a blast!
jephoto, thanks for the link, will add it asap!
I think you just got me on to a project for the x-mas holl's... The rayway seem's like a fun thing to make and use. I can already envision myself in my little banana-sized tent snuggled up in my quilt. No more struggling to get in to a too narrow sleeping bag... Why only find this out now after over 3 decades of hating my sleeping bags and never ever finding exactly the right one... I don't know how many times I have woken up in the middle of the night almost suffocating and strangling myself with the cord that should - in theory - keep the hood in place, thinking I had gone blind only to discover the stupid thing was over my face, again!! Huzzah
ReplyDeletei have been using a goose down sleeping bag that zips open like a quilt for years....
ReplyDeletei can understand why quilts are popular ....
Quite simply put - nice one Hendrik. It's about time more folk raved about quilts.
ReplyDeleteThey make perfect sense.
However, they have drawbacks in my opinion.
Namely what's underneath you. Not all insulation is crushed under you in a sleep bag. Think around your lower limbs and so on. These unused places will loft, trap heat and prevent it moving around more (hence you get heat sapped and potentially cool).
Some quilts are much better in performance than others.
A lot of 'R' ratings on some mattresses are complete tosh. So, one needs to carefully think not only of comfort but heat radiation to the cold ground.
After going back to sleeping 'bags' recently - I can honestly say I feel warmer cocooned up in one of them than a quilt. Well, more so now its autumn etc.
Quilts are fantastic for late spring to late summer use IMO. Winter? Jury's still out for me, I'm afraid.
Still got two quilts and intend buying some more next year.
Now it's winter - I'm sticking with a cosy cocoon ;)
Oh, and sleeping under a quilt feels more like you're at home in bed under a duvet! Much better than feeling restricted in a sleep bag.
I'd like to see more of the 'big' brands switch their thinking to quilts. Make folk aware of their benefits. Seems only mountain marathoners and through hikers seek them for comfort/weight to Joe Bloggs in the street :(
Terry, thanks for your comment! Most quilts have a footbox or an option to make a footbox, so you get some surround insulation where one doesn't compress too much of the loft. In the Torso area in my experience nearly all insulation is flattened and hence useless. That R Ratings on many pads and mattresses are optimistic is true, though it also could just depend on the person sleeping on them. Lets see if the big players pick up on quilts, not certain if it is needed - there are a lot of good quilt makers around, and with GoLite also a big player.
ReplyDeleteJanneke, looking forward to see and read about your project - Glad I could inspire you! Strangling yourself with the cord, now that sounds familiar...
conifir, that sounds smart - what bag are you using?
One advantage of the quilt has not been mentioned explicitily:
ReplyDeleteWhen you turn around in a sleeping bag, you have to turn the bag with you because you would suffocate in the hood otherwise (let's assume it's cold enough to have it closed tightly). When you switch from lying on your right side to the left side, the compressed downs on your right side (now up) fill with the cold surrounding air. Your right side gets cold.
This doesn't happen in a quilt because you always rotate inside it.
Christian.
He hendrik
ReplyDeletegreat list.
Today I found another quilt maker to supplement your list
http://tewaunderquilts.webs.com/apps/webstore/
Quite simply put - nice one Hendrik. It's about time more folk raved about quilts.
ReplyDeleteThey make perfect sense.
However, they have drawbacks in my opinion.
Namely what's underneath you. Not all insulation is crushed under you in a sleep bag. Think around your lower limbs and so on. These unused places will loft, trap heat and prevent it moving around more (hence you get heat sapped and potentially cool).
Some quilts are much better in performance than others.
A lot of 'R' ratings on some mattresses are complete tosh. So, one needs to carefully think not only of comfort but heat radiation to the cold ground.
After going back to sleeping 'bags' recently - I can honestly say I feel warmer cocooned up in one of them than a quilt. Well, more so now its autumn etc.
Quilts are fantastic for late spring to late summer use IMO. Winter? Jury's still out for me, I'm afraid.
Still got two quilts and intend buying some more next year.
Now it's winter - I'm sticking with a cosy cocoon ;)
Oh, and sleeping under a quilt feels more like you're at home in bed under a duvet! Much better than feeling restricted in a sleep bag.
I'd like to see more of the 'big' brands switch their thinking to quilts. Make folk aware of their benefits. Seems only mountain marathoners and through hikers seek them for comfort/weight to Joe Bloggs in the street :(
Paul, my pleasure! I hope one of the new colours is black!
ReplyDeleteCornelius, The Yeti One is pretty light, yes, but it is still a sleeping bag and has thus the inherit disadvantages mentioned above. 100 g of down, of which a third is likely compressed under me, doesn't seem like a good use to me ;)
Fraser, save some money and threat yourself to something fine for the summer!
Martin, looking forward what you'll say after a longer time out with a quilt. You have a kickass sleeping bag with your WM bag, so a good comparison!
John, all true. I started out with a massive synthetic sleeping bag over twenty years ago, but always had a (cheap) sleeping pad for underneath. And now you've got a MLD quilt and a PHD Piqolo? What a sweet setup!
Phil, time to order one, isn't it? Purple and Fuschia will go well with your red rubber boots ;)
John, as I and other often have said - quality costs, but you only pay once for it! Looking forward to your Palisade Review!
Mark, thank you and thank you for pointing out the TAR Haven, will add it asap. Hope you find that perfect quilt for you and start enjoying quilts!
Thank you Stick13! The GoLite RS 1+ is a great quilt for the summer, and with some additional layers it could be fine well into the autumn. And the price you paid - awesome! Save some money for the Nunatak, I am sure you won't be disappointed!
Mark, kiitos. I will try the down quilt + BPL UL 240 quilt combo this winter, and let you know how it went at serious minus temperatures. And I got two nice winter bags to secretly sneak into ;)
Mike, two fine quilts you got there, I reckon if you layer them they should take you toasty through the Scottish winter!
Awesome post! I think we can safely assume Hendrik=Quilt lover ;o)
ReplyDeleteIn the picture showing your Golite Ultra 20... What is your quilt and pad sitting in, a bivy? If so, what bivy are you using here? Thks, Ric
ReplyDeleteHei Ric, they're sitting in a MSR Hubba HP =)
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