Thank you. I keep seeing and reading the whole "squished insulation =sleeping bag BAD vs open back =quilt GOOD" and it makes no sense to me. Your explanation seems to go along with my thoughts. Now. I'll be using an air mattress with battery powered pump for Motorcycle camping. I'm trying to decide on bag vs quilt.
You should check out the Zenbivy quilt system. It uses a ul sheet that has a hood with small cord loops and small hooks all around it to seal it up. Also the fitted sheet has the pad straps on it not the quilt. Its the best of both world. Had mine to 3° F in February toasty warm.
I use a quilt... And a not so UL sleeping pad (big Agnes q-core deluxe) and the pad is very comfy to sleep directly on ... Not all of them are though I've also used a quilt down to about 10° and was toasty all night long (enlightened equipment is the best) So, some of this is good information, and some of it is really personal preference
Basically the idea is that a sleeping bag doesn't provide much insulation under your body because you are compressing the insulation. It is primarily the pad that keeps you warm from underneath. A quilt is pretty much a bag without the back. It only goes around your feet. Instead of wrapping completely around your torso, there are straps that attach the quilt to a sleeping pad of your choice. Essentially, this is like having a sleeping bag. What you need to ask yourself is what is important to you. A bag offers unrivaled comfort with minimal adjustments, but also a weight penalty. A quilt offers a huge reduction in weight and volume, with the same warmth as a bag but you may have to adjust it during the night if you toss and turn alot.
I don't get why a quilt is better than a sleeping bag. With nothing but your base layer between you and the sleeping pad, the heat loss will be greater for a quilt. Even partially compressed some insulation (bag) is better than nothing. And why are quilts sooo expensive cpompared to sleeping bags with similar FP down? One of my camping buddies uses a quilt and had to buy an expensive, heavy, noisey sleeping pad with a high R-value to stay warm. He also sometimes carries a packable down throw to put over his $275 quilt. I now make my own hybrid bag/quilt with 700 FP down on the top and sides and Climashield + emergency blanket layers on the bottom. 1.5 pounds and good to 43F with a cheap R2.5 pad. Total cost for the quilt/bag is about $60.
Was shopping the webs last night wondering about the consensus in quilts vs bags, I thought I’d check your channel but then I fell asleep, turns out you made a fresh video for me, thanks sir! I’m ready to drop some big coin on some baggage, mild weather bags are easy, I want the best 0 degree, will be sticking with bags now, thankyou again my brosephlol Did you know Apple auto corrects broseph to my bride oh!
I already bough the Corus Thermarest quilt and it was missing loft badly. I couldn’t use it even for summer so I returned it ASAP and ordered one from UGQ. Once I got it, I noticed right away the quality difference between both. It is so huge there is no point to pick the Thermarest just to save few bucks.
UGQ outdoor makes a hybrid called the outlaw. Might be worth checking out if not sure. Otherwise hammock gear economy burrow is a cheap way to try a very high quality quilt. Think it's only $130 for a 40* down quilt.
Hi Dan, thank you for all the videos you do for the community! My boyfriend and I started backpacking last year and are avid campers. We’ve learned a lot of tips and information from your channel! I was searching for a photography gear video from you, but wasn’t able to locate one! Did I overlook it? Katie
Quilts are the best thing ever - full disclosure, I grew up in the Midwest where its cold and I grew up sleeping on the ground. I now live in NC & it doesn't even get cold here, unless I venture up into the Mts. My bag is a 20 degree, XTra wide - I typically sleep w/it unzipped so I can move about freely. I also have 10 degree UGQ & 40 degree Kammok quilts. My daughter uses the 10 degree (she is a cold sleeper and a hammock camper) I use the 40, probably on the same trip, as I'm a hot sleeper. I agree, I will tend to pull the bag out on really cold trips....maybe.
Dan, I am looking for a quilt, that is effective down to 0 degrees, and able to compresses to the smallest size possible. I have the Outdoor Vitals underquilt, and it keeps me warm, but takes up a ton of room. Any suggestions on a top quilt that won't do that?
Great info!!! Could you compare them with SOL Reflective Escape Bivvy? Some people use it to replace sleeping bag or quilts to cut down weight. Thank you.👍
100% prefer sleeping bags anywhere in wilderness or anyplace there could be a quick weather change but in the dead heat of summer a quilt is nice on an overnight
I just keep my matress inside my lightweight rectangular sleeping bag and roll it as one. Quilt is the same exept it has more downsides like drafts etc. I can open up my sleeping bag completely and use it as a blanket if I want to, so not really seeing the point of a quilt, it is a fad.
Who needs "Pad Straps" when you can just buy a wider & longer version of any quilt?.......Most Cottage vendors offer them in their lineups........And, It will still be less weight, and take up less room than most traditional Sleeping Bags on the market.
Not true. I have a wide/long that is plenty big enough. Straps should be adjustable so you can cinch down or leave loose. I can cut the drafts completely if I'm sure to adjust the straps so they tuck the edges of the quilt between my body and the pad. If I don't, then I get drafts when I roll over.
@@Kathy-mo5mp I akso have a wide and long version, and I can toss & turn to my hearts delight (without pad straps) without cold drafts. (I guess "Results may Vary".) However, it still doesn't excuse many people from buying a quilt that is too small for their body size and sleeping habits in order to save weight, and still complaining online about "Constant Drafts" everytime they roll over.
I was trying to decide on a new bag last year and couldn't decide what to do. I went with the Kelty Galactic 30 sleeping bag (tall/wide). It's a down filled, rectangle sleeping bag with a drawstring top. Lightweight and roomy. I can use it like a "normal" sleeping bag, I can use the drawstring at the top and make it into a "mummy bag", or I can only zip up around my feet and use it like a "quilt". So far, it's been awesome and I love the versatility.
So basically I've been using a "quilt" for the last 30 yrs when camping. It's called unzipping my sleeping bag and sleeping under it. I still don't buy the gimmick that a quilt is completely different from an unzipped sleeping bag. I can even leave the last bit of my sleeping bag zipped to create a foot box.
It's mainly the weight to cost ratio for me. If I wanted a -6C limit sleeping bag that weighted 800g, I feel like that would be about £400, whereas the corus long has both of those and was £200. If weight and packability or cost isn't an issue then yes, a quilt seems like overkill, especially because you generally can't buy them from cheaper or more generic stores like millets
Well for me I dont have the annoying hood in the way or the zipper and I can hook it under the pad without it in the way and the biggest thing is you can get a quilt without a taper. And thats just my opinion
Interesting pad straps. Mine are totally different and the quilt never goes under the pad I never get drafts. I do quilt most of the time since I sleep on my side and got tired of feeling suffocated, but in the winter for freezing temps a sleeping bag is pretty cozy!
I think quilts with their pad straps and other contraptions can be quite effective if the temperatures are mild. But when it gets 0F and lower you'd be crazy to not be in a good bag. That's where draft tubes and other fine details make the difference between freezing and staying warm.
I switched to a quilt to save weight and find it to be very comfortable in both warm and cold weather. I am a tosser which does give me some challenges but I work around it. Take Care Dan
It would be so cool if someone came out with a sleeping pad/sleeping bag combo with the quilt attached to the pad and maybe a half zipper on one side to get in and out, so you could eliminate drafts completely, while also not having the extra weight of the back of the sleeping bag.
If you’re getting drafts in a quilt when rolling around and using your straps properly, you need a wider quilt. This is one of the most common misconceptions. Get the wider quilt. I’m a wide & tall side sleeper who thrashes about. I have a wide and tall 10 degree quilt that’s amazing down into the teens with no layers on my body. I notice any draft instantly. Get a properly sized quilt, use the straps as designed, no drafts.
I love my Thermarest Corus 20 quilt, I use it with a Thermarest Neoair Xtherm sleeping pad. I’m a cold sleeper and I roll around a lot. Now I’m always warm and I’m not tangled up in a sleeping bag, hunting for the zip when nature calls.
Got to have a hood Without a hood there is too much heat loss around the head and shoulders And I am a side sleeper So I want the wrap around as I turn to either side
Some of the quilts look really nice and they are definitely equally (maybe not quite) equally expensive. I have a western mountaineering 20 degree bag. Sometimes wonder if I should have done the 0 degree? but was convinced by someone to go with the 20 degree to cover me for 90% of the time. Last weekend I camped and used the bag (too warm except morning temperatures) but I unzipped the bag and then it was basically a sleeping bag acting as a quilt/blanket. Worked very good that way. Also bought a rumpl blanket recently that packs nicely (haven't used yet) that I hope can be used for warm weather or possibly as extra insulation for the cold nights which will be way below 0.
I am a side sleeper that flips and flops all night. I love my UGQ XL Bandit Quilt. Absolutely my favorite piece of equipment. My sleep system: Gossamer Gear 14” foam pad, Nemo Tensor sleep pad - regular wide, Sleep liner (I put my sleep pad inside the sleep liner) and my UGQ XL Bandit Quilt. Lovely night of sleeping results.
You can, but a quilt will be much lighter because all that section you are unzipping is completely gone on a quilt. Pack size is much smaller on a quilt. So there is a pretty big difference between the two
@@safromnc8616 still, a sleeping bag has much more material than a quilt. That is why a lot of people use them. To save weight/pack size and stay warm at the same time. Sleeping bags are nice but there is a difference. Not saying a quilt is better either
Great balanced video! I appreciate that you use both for different situations. I use the Aegis Max sleeping bag as a quilt by unzipping it most of the year and switch to a zero degree sleeping bag for winter trips. As always, thanks for showing us different options.
looking at cumulus quilts/bags I can have 2°C comfort sleeping bag for 309eur or equally rated quilt for 315eur, which is 105g lighter... I like to sleep under this quilt, which is called "proper sleeping bag with full length zipper." When it's too hot, I can unzip it to reduce the warmth. And when I'm surprised by weather, too tired/injured whatever, I can have full warmth covering head as well(which will make the major difference). If I'm surprised by weather/anything in quilt, I can only cry and plan on next time buying sleeping bag instead of quilt :) I don't know, trade this versatility for 100g of weight savings??? Total nonsense.
Quilts 100% for me. I can sleep without much motion and am fine in any position. Sometimes I simply connect the clips to each other and don’t even use the straps that go around the pad. I have a hammock gear ground quilt. 20F. Std length. Wide. Closed foot box. 850 fill. Roomy.
Enough already- the argument has been settled -QUILTs! Bags only offer more weight per ounce of carry weight & the discussion is as moot as internal frame backpacks vs. frameless packs. And why "inflatable pads" ??? Wake-up & smell the future people - It's time lowlanders toughen up & equip themselves with 'reflectix sleeping pads' i.e. car window shades _ add a "no slip" Yoga mat if you must!
The Lords Day is coming Joel 2 prepare yourselves by calling upon Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and repent of them He will be here soon this is the LAST TRUMPET!!!!!☝☝☝
I sleep with a blanket half off me with windows open during a blizzard. My wife hates me and my family joke and say I was born in the depths of hell because I run so hot. Couldn’t ever imagine using a sleeping bag because I’d be half out of it. Can’t lie though, I’ve got a wide Tensor and a Rumpl featherlite blanket I sleep on. I’m not crazy ultra light trying to trek expeditions. Just enjoy nature and sleep in comfort. That or I’ve got the whole Warbonnet setup superfly/wooki/and of course the quilt I use haha
Do quilts actually have less material? They all look wide enough at the top that you could completely wrap them around a person... I swear if I unzipped a sleeping bag down to the feet so it looked like a quilt and held the two side by side they'd look exactly the same...?
I don't see a big point behind the quilts. They are just zipperless sleeping bags. I'm a hot sleeper so 9/10 times I don't even zip my bag and just use it as a blanket, or in this case a top quilt. So for me sleeping bag is better because it does that and has the ability to fully zip up.
I don't like the idea of sleeping directly on the pad. Why won't someone make a slightly roomier sleeping bag with way less insulation on the bottom? Best of both worlds.
Hello, thank you for this usefull and well made video ! I see that you are using a red tarpaulin under your sleeping pad, to protect it I suppose. Do you have the reference of this product please ?
Great info for people to think about. I have been thinking about a quilt but will probably stick with bags for a lot of reasons. People ask all the time about the hood of a mummy bag not being in the right place when they move around but that’s easy, don’t try to turn in the bag, just move with the bag. Another thing I have noticed, all the comments about weight savings, it’s just not that great. Sure if you compare a custom quilt to a large manufacture sleeping bag there are savings but, if you actually compare both from the same manufacturer it’s minimal. Plus that custom quilt weight doesn’t include strap weight so some of “savings” aren’t that great. Here’s a quick example of that big weight savings everyone talks about! REI magma 30 quilt 19oz and REI magma 30 sleeping bag 19.8! You do save $30 though! Take care and thanks again for the great info in your video!
Thank you for a balanced view. For me, asking if a quilt is better, I would ask back, better for whom? Better at what? Better in what conditions? I absolutely sleep in a quilt i every condition I can get away with it, I feel so much more comfortable and free to move.. but of course, that is a preference, not an inherent quality.
I always thought the best solution is - a sleeping bag without a hood. Huh?! The problem with quilts, as you mentioned is they will leak air on the sides regardless of straps. You can get nice roomy sleeping bags that are as comfortable as a quilt. Yes you will have to carry a few extra ounces but what is more valuable - trimming ounces or getting a good night's sleep? But there is one remaining annoying thing about a sleeping bag. As you roll around in the night, with a proper sleeping bag you can move unencumbered except for your head which is wrapped into a fixed point(s) hood. One minute that hood opening is comfortably positioned over your mouth and hole and the next it's serving as an ear hole while you breath in down and nylon. Get a good hoodless sleeping bag (no, not a rectangular one, rather a tapered one, they are out there) and add a good down hood when you need it. Bingo. Problems solved.
You should review the Zenbivy when reviewing the quilt. It is a game changer. It combines the elements of both a bag and quilt and it also snuggles around your head
Dan, take a look at best of both worlds the Sierra Designs Cloud 800/20 Degree Sleeping Bag, i call it half sleeping bag and half quilt, and two great things about it are the sleeve that attaches it to the pad, far superior to any straps and the foot box with a design that allows you to put your feet outside the bag with a slight bend of the knees. See what you think and yes would like to see a review on the tent....
Well said Dan, Quilt warm weather - Sleeping bag cold weather! Boom Done! I have the best of both worlds, Western Mountaineering Terralite (overstuffed to 20 degrees) functions as a wider mummy bag but completely unzips to act as a quilt or blanket! Boom Done! One bag all seasons..
I wish I could love my sleeping bag because it keeps me so warm but I always feel so claustrophobic in it even though it's not a small bag for my size. Also since I flip around ALOT the hood some times shimmies it's way to my face and wakes me up in a panic (clearly I have claustrophobia issues lol). I'm picking up a quilt for my next trip and I hope it works out better.
Claustrophobia sucks! I learned how bad mine is on my first backpacking trip ever last year. Brought a tent that was too small and went to sleep alright the first night but woke up in the night in a panic. Ruined the rest of the trip for me. Had to switch tents with someone for the rest of it.
@@MrZombeeBait I did not have issues with the down shifting. I did tuck my pad into my comforter foot and used the two included straps; I had no issues with drafts either.
Finally, learned the difference between a bag and a quilt, to be clear, I've never seen a quilt in my life, they're just not a thing where I'm from, but I've found them mentioned a lot. Now to learn the difference between a pad, a mat, a mattress and a cot, oh and air/non-air versions of each
Great video, I was a bit disappointed to recently learn that Enlightened Equipment uses duck down in my stock 850 fill Revelation. They only use premium goose down in their 950 fill quilts
My overstuffed 30 degree UGQ Bandit XL is my goto for 3 season backpacking. I've unexpectedly used down to 20 degrees when I layered up with my clothing and slept great.
I have always used a sleeping bag and mummy bag . But i move around alot and sometimes felt restricted tii a couple years now i just put my mummy bag on top of me like a top quilt and been perfect for me .
Me personally, I sleep in a giant tortilla. It's cheap, super light, and if I get hungry in the night, I can eat it.
Bit how do you keep rodents from snacking on your tortilla
And the Bears get a free human burrito!
@@MrZombeeBait oh my gosh 😁😂
😂😂😂
@@MrZombeeBait this comment made my day 😂
Great info, spot on.... Here above the Arctic circle i prefer a sleeping bag . 1 july and +8c as i write
Thank you. I keep seeing and reading the whole "squished insulation =sleeping bag BAD vs open back =quilt GOOD" and it makes no sense to me. Your explanation seems to go along with my thoughts.
Now. I'll be using an air mattress with battery powered pump for Motorcycle camping. I'm trying to decide on bag vs quilt.
You should check out the Zenbivy quilt system. It uses a ul sheet that has a hood with small cord loops and small hooks all around it to seal it up. Also the fitted sheet has the pad straps on it not the quilt. Its the best of both world. Had mine to 3° F in February toasty warm.
I had to check it out and like the concept for camping but way too heavy for me to take backpacking.
I wonder if there is any video or gear review that you are not being sponsored and so I will be totally satisfied you are honest about that review
So, using a quilt, you are directly on the pad? That does not seem appealing to me at all.
Check out zenbivy
I use a quilt... And a not so UL sleeping pad (big Agnes q-core deluxe) and the pad is very comfy to sleep directly on
... Not all of them are though
I've also used a quilt down to about 10° and was toasty all night long (enlightened equipment is the best)
So, some of this is good information, and some of it is really personal preference
I slip my pad into a mummy liner and it's cozy under my quilt.
Basically the idea is that a sleeping bag doesn't provide much insulation under your body because you are compressing the insulation. It is primarily the pad that keeps you warm from underneath. A quilt is pretty much a bag without the back. It only goes around your feet. Instead of wrapping completely around your torso, there are straps that attach the quilt to a sleeping pad of your choice. Essentially, this is like having a sleeping bag.
What you need to ask yourself is what is important to you. A bag offers unrivaled comfort with minimal adjustments, but also a weight penalty. A quilt offers a huge reduction in weight and volume, with the same warmth as a bag but you may have to adjust it during the night if you toss and turn alot.
I don't get why a quilt is better than a sleeping bag. With nothing but your base layer between you and the sleeping pad, the heat loss will be greater for a quilt. Even partially compressed some insulation (bag) is better than nothing. And why are quilts sooo expensive cpompared to sleeping bags with similar FP down? One of my camping buddies uses a quilt and had to buy an expensive, heavy, noisey sleeping pad with a high R-value to stay warm. He also sometimes carries a packable down throw to put over his $275 quilt. I now make my own hybrid bag/quilt with 700 FP down on the top and sides and Climashield + emergency blanket layers on the bottom. 1.5 pounds and good to 43F with a cheap R2.5 pad. Total cost for the quilt/bag is about $60.
Was shopping the webs last night wondering about the consensus in quilts vs bags, I thought I’d check your channel but then I fell asleep, turns out you made a fresh video for me, thanks sir!
I’m ready to drop some big coin on some baggage,
mild weather bags are easy, I want the best 0 degree, will be sticking with bags now, thankyou again my brosephlol
Did you know Apple auto corrects broseph to my bride oh!
Please do a video on the tent
I already bough the Corus Thermarest quilt and it was missing loft badly. I couldn’t use it even for summer so I returned it ASAP and ordered one from UGQ. Once I got it, I noticed right away the quality difference between both. It is so huge there is no point to pick the Thermarest just to save few bucks.
Thanks for all the info Dan. I just been debating about trying a quilt.
Never used one before. Always used a sleeping bag.
UGQ outdoor makes a hybrid called the outlaw. Might be worth checking out if not sure. Otherwise hammock gear economy burrow is a cheap way to try a very high quality quilt. Think it's only $130 for a 40* down quilt.
@@gt5228z Thanks for the info 👍
Hi Dan, thank you for all the videos you do for the community! My boyfriend and I started backpacking last year and are avid campers. We’ve learned a lot of tips and information from your channel! I was searching for a photography gear video from you, but wasn’t able to locate one! Did I overlook it?
Katie
What do you think of Zpacks sleeping bag? Seems like a hybrid quilt/bag. Seems like it has the advantages of both, light weight and full coverage.
Quilts are the best thing ever - full disclosure, I grew up in the Midwest where its cold and I grew up sleeping on the ground. I now live in NC & it doesn't even get cold here, unless I venture up into the Mts. My bag is a 20 degree, XTra wide - I typically sleep w/it unzipped so I can move about freely. I also have 10 degree UGQ & 40 degree Kammok quilts. My daughter uses the 10 degree (she is a cold sleeper and a hammock camper) I use the 40, probably on the same trip, as I'm a hot sleeper. I agree, I will tend to pull the bag out on really cold trips....maybe.
Quilts get my vote. Yes, please do a review.
I've used my sleeping bags as quilts for 40 years...
Latest buys were quilts, UGQ.
I find top quilts much easier to use in my hammock.
What do you do if you get to a spot that doesn't have a good place to hang a hammock?
Dan,
I am looking for a quilt, that is effective down to 0 degrees, and able to compresses to the smallest size possible.
I have the Outdoor Vitals underquilt, and it keeps me warm, but takes up a ton of room.
Any suggestions on a top quilt that won't do that?
Look for a quilt with a higher down fill power. The higher the power the more compressible.
Where are you going in South Dakota? I live in the black hills!!
Great info!!! Could you compare them with SOL Reflective Escape Bivvy? Some people use it to replace sleeping bag or quilts to cut down weight. Thank you.👍
Yes review the tent please!
100% prefer sleeping bags anywhere in wilderness or anyplace there could be a quick weather change but in the dead heat of summer a quilt is nice on an overnight
Which would you recommend if your hammock camping?
I just keep my matress inside my lightweight rectangular sleeping bag and roll it as one. Quilt is the same exept it has more downsides like drafts etc. I can open up my sleeping bag completely and use it as a blanket if I want to, so not really seeing the point of a quilt, it is a fad.
Love a review of the Mountain Hardwear tent.
Unzipped sleeping bag with boxed end for feet (no zipper closure around the feet) and you've got the best of both worlds
Im 6'7 i need a sleeping bag or quilt to move around in. Wide enough to not get claustophobic. What should i get? (Live in Sweden)
Who needs "Pad Straps" when you can just buy a wider & longer version of any quilt?.......Most Cottage vendors offer them in their lineups........And, It will still be less weight, and take up less room than most traditional Sleeping Bags on the market.
🙄That’s the same size as a sleeping bag. There are high-quality sleeping bags that are lighter than a long wide quilt.
👍
He just said he hikes a lot in his backyard
I have this bag that has a foot hole and is like half quilt its a Nemo
Oh because you can't manage all climates
No, I don't want a full review or first impression of your mountain hardware strato .
If you need Pad Straps to keep out the drafts, then your Quilt isn't wide enough for you. .....Just Saying!
Not true. I have a wide/long that is plenty big enough. Straps should be adjustable so you can cinch down or leave loose. I can cut the drafts completely if I'm sure to adjust the straps so they tuck the edges of the quilt between my body and the pad. If I don't, then I get drafts when I roll over.
@@Kathy-mo5mp I akso have a wide and long version, and I can toss & turn to my hearts delight (without pad straps) without cold drafts.
(I guess "Results may Vary".)
However, it still doesn't excuse many people from buying a quilt that is too small for their body size and sleeping habits in order to save weight, and still complaining online about "Constant Drafts" everytime they roll over.
bit of a pointless vid tbf
I hate Sleeping Bags - mostly they are too smal for my shoulders, that i dont can zip it to close the sleeping bag....
I was trying to decide on a new bag last year and couldn't decide what to do. I went with the Kelty Galactic 30 sleeping bag (tall/wide). It's a down filled, rectangle sleeping bag with a drawstring top. Lightweight and roomy. I can use it like a "normal" sleeping bag, I can use the drawstring at the top and make it into a "mummy bag", or I can only zip up around my feet and use it like a "quilt". So far, it's been awesome and I love the versatility.
I just wish they made a 20 degree version!
@@blueneet84 Same
So basically I've been using a "quilt" for the last 30 yrs when camping. It's called unzipping my sleeping bag and sleeping under it. I still don't buy the gimmick that a quilt is completely different from an unzipped sleeping bag. I can even leave the last bit of my sleeping bag zipped to create a foot box.
Exactly sir!
It's mainly the weight to cost ratio for me. If I wanted a -6C limit sleeping bag that weighted 800g, I feel like that would be about £400, whereas the corus long has both of those and was £200. If weight and packability or cost isn't an issue then yes, a quilt seems like overkill, especially because you generally can't buy them from cheaper or more generic stores like millets
Well for me I dont have the annoying hood in the way or the zipper and I can hook it under the pad without it in the way and the biggest thing is you can get a quilt without a taper.
And thats just my opinion
Totally agree. I think it’s funny that quilt makers now sell insulated hoods and down booties to sleep in.
Jeez, I'm glad I'm not the only one who had that "novel" thought!😂
This is why I like using a square bag, that way theres no draft, no restrictive movement, and I'm still warm.
Interesting pad straps. Mine are totally different and the quilt never goes under the pad I never get drafts. I do quilt most of the time since I sleep on my side and got tired of feeling suffocated, but in the winter for freezing temps a sleeping bag is pretty cozy!
I think quilts with their pad straps and other contraptions can be quite effective if the temperatures are mild. But when it gets 0F and lower you'd be crazy to not be in a good bag. That's where draft tubes and other fine details make the difference between freezing and staying warm.
I switched to a quilt to save weight and find it to be very comfortable in both warm and cold weather. I am a tosser which does give me some challenges but I work around it. Take Care Dan
There are plenty of tossers in the UK.
It would be so cool if someone came out with a sleeping pad/sleeping bag combo with the quilt attached to the pad and maybe a half zipper on one side to get in and out, so you could eliminate drafts completely, while also not having the extra weight of the back of the sleeping bag.
Zen bivy?
If you’re getting drafts in a quilt when rolling around and using your straps properly, you need a wider quilt. This is one of the most common misconceptions. Get the wider quilt. I’m a wide & tall side sleeper who thrashes about. I have a wide and tall 10 degree quilt that’s amazing down into the teens with no layers on my body. I notice any draft instantly. Get a properly sized quilt, use the straps as designed, no drafts.
Wide quilts Recommendations ? Thanks
@ I’ve been happy with my enlightened equipment revelation quilts. Lots like ugq too. Both offer customization for wide or even extra wide quilts.
@ big agnes diamond park zero degree.Very wide sleeping bag with removable bottom so it can be used as a quilt.
How tall are you
I love my Thermarest Corus 20 quilt, I use it with a Thermarest Neoair Xtherm sleeping pad.
I’m a cold sleeper and I roll around a lot.
Now I’m always warm and I’m not tangled up in a sleeping bag, hunting for the zip when nature calls.
Sleeping directly on my pad is very annoying!
Got to have a hood
Without a hood there is too much heat loss around the head and shoulders
And I am a side sleeper
So I want the wrap around as I turn to either side
A hood is way more comfortable than a beanie or a jacket with hood.
Some of the quilts look really nice and they are definitely equally (maybe not quite) equally expensive. I have a western mountaineering 20 degree bag. Sometimes wonder if I should have done the 0 degree? but was convinced by someone to go with the 20 degree to cover me for 90% of the time. Last weekend I camped and used the bag (too warm except morning temperatures) but I unzipped the bag and then it was basically a sleeping bag acting as a quilt/blanket. Worked very good that way. Also bought a rumpl blanket recently that packs nicely (haven't used yet) that I hope can be used for warm weather or possibly as extra insulation for the cold nights which will be way below 0.
I am a side sleeper that flips and flops all night. I love my UGQ XL Bandit Quilt. Absolutely my favorite piece of equipment. My sleep system: Gossamer Gear 14” foam pad, Nemo Tensor sleep pad - regular wide, Sleep liner (I put my sleep pad inside the sleep liner) and my UGQ XL Bandit Quilt. Lovely night of sleeping results.
Am I missing something here? If I buy a bag and want a quilt can’t I just unzip the bag and use it like a quilt?
Sort of. I mean, if it has a hood, the hood is going to be in a bit of a weird place, and the lack of pad straps could make it a bit annoying.
You can, but a quilt will be much lighter because all that section you are unzipping is completely gone on a quilt. Pack size is much smaller on a quilt. So there is a pretty big difference between the two
Depends on the zipper, many only go half way down one side.
@@safromnc8616 still, a sleeping bag has much more material than a quilt. That is why a lot of people use them. To save weight/pack size and stay warm at the same time. Sleeping bags are nice but there is a difference. Not saying a quilt is better either
@@Leadmeoutdoors You should read my original post to the initial thread...
Great balanced video! I appreciate that you use both for different situations. I use the Aegis Max sleeping bag as a quilt by unzipping it most of the year and switch to a zero degree sleeping bag for winter trips. As always, thanks for showing us different options.
looking at cumulus quilts/bags I can have 2°C comfort sleeping bag for 309eur or equally rated quilt for 315eur, which is 105g lighter... I like to sleep under this quilt, which is called "proper sleeping bag with full length zipper." When it's too hot, I can unzip it to reduce the warmth. And when I'm surprised by weather, too tired/injured whatever, I can have full warmth covering head as well(which will make the major difference). If I'm surprised by weather/anything in quilt, I can only cry and plan on next time buying sleeping bag instead of quilt :) I don't know, trade this versatility for 100g of weight savings??? Total nonsense.
Sleeping bag all day.
Quilts 100% for me. I can sleep without much motion and am fine in any position. Sometimes I simply connect the clips to each other and don’t even use the straps that go around the pad. I have a hammock gear ground quilt. 20F. Std length. Wide. Closed foot box. 850 fill. Roomy.
Enough already- the argument has been settled -QUILTs! Bags only offer more weight per ounce of carry weight & the discussion is as moot as internal frame backpacks vs. frameless packs. And why "inflatable pads" ??? Wake-up & smell the future people - It's time lowlanders toughen up & equip themselves with 'reflectix sleeping pads' i.e. car window shades _ add a "no slip" Yoga mat if you must!
what size sleeping bag did you get and how tall are you? Im 183cm and torm between the Regular and Long sizes
Funny my wife and i where just trying to decide this for couple overnights we're planning.
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I sleep with a blanket half off me with windows open during a blizzard. My wife hates me and my family joke and say I was born in the depths of hell because I run so hot. Couldn’t ever imagine using a sleeping bag because I’d be half out of it. Can’t lie though, I’ve got a wide Tensor and a Rumpl featherlite blanket I sleep on. I’m not crazy ultra light trying to trek expeditions. Just enjoy nature and sleep in comfort. That or I’ve got the whole Warbonnet setup superfly/wooki/and of course the quilt I use haha
Or ditch the quilt, buy the Aegismax ultralight down bag. Unzip like a quilt or keep it ddine up like a slpg bag. Warm weather of course
Do quilts actually have less material? They all look wide enough at the top that you could completely wrap them around a person... I swear if I unzipped a sleeping bag down to the feet so it looked like a quilt and held the two side by side they'd look exactly the same...?
I don't see a big point behind the quilts. They are just zipperless sleeping bags. I'm a hot sleeper so 9/10 times I don't even zip my bag and just use it as a blanket, or in this case a top quilt. So for me sleeping bag is better because it does that and has the ability to fully zip up.
I don't like the idea of sleeping directly on the pad. Why won't someone make a slightly roomier sleeping bag with way less insulation on the bottom? Best of both worlds.
Hello, thank you for this usefull and well made video ! I see that you are using a red tarpaulin under your sleeping pad, to protect it I suppose. Do you have the reference of this product please ?
Great info for people to think about. I have been thinking about a quilt but will probably stick with bags for a lot of reasons. People ask all the time about the hood of a mummy bag not being in the right place when they move around but that’s easy, don’t try to turn in the bag, just move with the bag. Another thing I have noticed, all the comments about weight savings, it’s just not that great. Sure if you compare a custom quilt to a large manufacture sleeping bag there are savings but, if you actually compare both from the same manufacturer it’s minimal. Plus that custom quilt weight doesn’t include strap weight so some of “savings” aren’t that great. Here’s a quick example of that big weight savings everyone talks about! REI magma 30 quilt 19oz and REI magma 30 sleeping bag 19.8! You do save $30 though! Take care and thanks again for the great info in your video!
At home, in my own bed, I wrap the blankets around my head and mummy myself into them. Kinda wish my home sleep system had a built in hood
Every time I've slept in a sleeping bag, I end up with it entirely unzipped and in a quilt configuration. So I just get quilts :)
you could have saved some money and just go to sleep with your sleeping bag unzipped lol
Thank you for a balanced view.
For me, asking if a quilt is better, I would ask back, better for whom? Better at what? Better in what conditions?
I absolutely sleep in a quilt i every condition I can get away with it, I feel so much more comfortable and free to move.. but of course, that is a preference, not an inherent quality.
Cant u just fully unzip ur sleeping bad and now u got a quilt? Thats what i always do when its warm enough
I always thought the best solution is - a sleeping bag without a hood. Huh?! The problem with quilts, as you mentioned is they will leak air on the sides regardless of straps. You can get nice roomy sleeping bags that are as comfortable as a quilt. Yes you will have to carry a few extra ounces but what is more valuable - trimming ounces or getting a good night's sleep? But there is one remaining annoying thing about a sleeping bag. As you roll around in the night, with a proper sleeping bag you can move unencumbered except for your head which is wrapped into a fixed point(s) hood. One minute that hood opening is comfortably positioned over your mouth and hole and the next it's serving as an ear hole while you breath in down and nylon. Get a good hoodless sleeping bag (no, not a rectangular one, rather a tapered one, they are out there) and add a good down hood when you need it. Bingo. Problems solved.
“A quilt is the least amount of a sleeping bag they can make that will still be useful” 😂😂😂
Immo buy a giant quilt and make my own custom sleeping quilt/bag combo.
What does an olypian or an athlete. Know about camping in a tent in a michigan winter ? An why would i want that advice ?
Thermodown 0 sleeping Bag - Regular (up to 6 feet)
Thermodown 0 Sleeping Bag - Regular (up to 6 feet)
That looks like the worst quilt ever made! Yeah I bet you hated that one!
You should review the Zenbivy when reviewing the quilt. It is a game changer. It combines the elements of both a bag and quilt and it also snuggles around your head
You can put your pad inside your Big Agnes in a pocket they have provided.
Which one 20F or 32F for nights that might get into the mid or upper 40s in the summer?
you mentioned too many of "SLEEPING" thingsssss
I am just gonna dust off my old Coleman bag for my thru hike.
Dan, take a look at best of both worlds the Sierra Designs Cloud 800/20 Degree Sleeping Bag, i call it half sleeping bag and half quilt, and two great things about it are the sleeve that attaches it to the pad, far superior to any straps and the foot box with a design that allows you to put your feet outside the bag with a slight bend of the knees. See what you think and yes would like to see a review on the tent....
I've sleept in that rectangle sleeping bag at 3°C, barely closed an eye all night
Well said Dan, Quilt warm weather - Sleeping bag cold weather! Boom Done! I have the best of both worlds, Western Mountaineering Terralite (overstuffed to 20 degrees) functions as a wider mummy bag but completely unzips to act as a quilt or blanket! Boom Done! One bag all seasons..
Quilts are a fad for hipsters. Good for really fat people though
Couldn’t you just take a sleeping bag, open it up and flip it over into a make shift quilt?
That's exactly what I have done the last 15 years lol
I wish I could love my sleeping bag because it keeps me so warm but I always feel so claustrophobic in it even though it's not a small bag for my size. Also since I flip around ALOT the hood some times shimmies it's way to my face and wakes me up in a panic (clearly I have claustrophobia issues lol). I'm picking up a quilt for my next trip and I hope it works out better.
Claustrophobia sucks! I learned how bad mine is on my first backpacking trip ever last year. Brought a tent that was too small and went to sleep alright the first night but woke up in the night in a panic. Ruined the rest of the trip for me. Had to switch tents with someone for the rest of it.
Please compare the strato 2 against the tiger wall uL2
Check out the marmot yolla bolly. You’ll thank me later.
Sleeping bag for me.🤷♂️😳
I have the Therm A Rest quilt with a Big Agnes insulated pad (wide/long) and I sleep warm throughout the night
That’s only because most likely you don’t do many 20 to 30 degrees nights type of hiking.
I'm thinking of getting one, does the down shift much with the horizontal baffles?
@@MrZombeeBait I did not have issues with the down shifting. I did tuck my pad into my comforter foot and used the two included straps; I had no issues with drafts either.
@@TheRedsox857 good to know! Do you have the 20 or 30?
@@MrZombeeBait the Therm A Rest Corus 20. I ordered it from REI.
You need to try a Zenbivy. It’s the best of both.
How about using a silk liner along with a quilt?
Finally, learned the difference between a bag and a quilt, to be clear, I've never seen a quilt in my life, they're just not a thing where I'm from, but I've found them mentioned a lot.
Now to learn the difference between a pad, a mat, a mattress and a cot, oh and air/non-air versions of each
It took this video to figure that out 😆 🤣 😂
Great video, I was a bit disappointed to recently learn that Enlightened Equipment uses duck down in my stock 850 fill Revelation. They only use premium goose down in their 950 fill quilts
Pretty cold in the Canadian Rockies for much else than a down sleeping bag!
My overstuffed 30 degree UGQ Bandit XL is my goto for 3 season backpacking. I've unexpectedly used down to 20 degrees when I layered up with my clothing and slept great.
I have always used a sleeping bag and mummy bag . But i move around alot and sometimes felt restricted tii a couple years now i just put my mummy bag on top of me like a top quilt and been perfect for me .
You need to do a video on footwear. Boots vs trail runners. How you deal with getting wet
Maybe this will help? ua-cam.com/video/EtBbXhl59_w/v-deo.html
Thanks for the info, appreciate it!