Moving over to a quit now actually. I decided to switch over after i used my extra wide bag as a quilt this summer. I left it zipped up and draped it over top of me during a very cold night at 12,000 ft just under forester pass. It was definitely warmer that way and i felt more free to roll around. Really though, I have never had a night as cold as that one. When i woke up the ground was covered in frost and my water bottles were frozen....
I use the Aegismax M3, it is long and wide enough for me and I'm a side sleeper. It is light enough and packs down real small. I use the trekology ul 80 pad with trekology V2 pillow. It works well enough for me.
Darwin onthetrail I use quilts in my hammock and when I go to ground, I have a 20* wolf mtn( out of business) and a 50* homemade joe using black diamond throws, just purchased a REI magma30*
I use the Sierra Designs Cloud 800 sleeping bag: 20 degree down. Like a mummy bag without the zipper, it has a quilt 'blanket' cover. Easy in and out. I tried the quilt but even strapping the quilt to my pad I continually awoke with a cold exposed back. Thanks for your first video or I never would have tried the quilt or looked for different options and would be stuck with a mummy bag. I do use the quilt in warmer weather it's fantastic. Thanks again for all your videos! See ya on the trail!
Years ago, I wanted to switch to a quilt but had no money to buy one. So I took my old mummy bag, cut off the zippers and hood, did some sewing and it worked fine for me up to now. This year I want to buy me a brand new real quilt and send my old one in retirement.
I basically did the same thing with the cold weather portion of a military sleep system. I kept only about the last foot of the zipper and I used a windproof lighter to heat the metal snaps to remove them (the heat melted the synthetic fabric quite neatly and much better than cutting). Removing that stuff cut the weight down and made it more comfy to use quilt style.
Quilt now for 8 years, never looked back. Always great content Darwin and I wish more people understood why quilts are better. One thing I think important to point out was mid-video you said you pull your quilt over your head. If camping in the winter, that is a no-no. You will quickly derate your quilt's insulation if using a down quilt due to all the moisture your breath puts into the down, even the dry-tec down on my newest quilt also has this issue in the cold. I do a lot of subzero trips and I used to do this and after 2-3 days, the upper portion of my quilt I could see the clumping starting from the moisture and the quilt is much cooler to sleep in. Better to use a hood or a buff or something over your face than the quilt when it's cold out.
I switched to a quilt last year, I absolutely love it. I made my own and used climashield apex insulation. Was a easy project with minimal sewing skills. Ended up making one for each guy I was in elk camp with.
Another great budget option is Econ quilts from hammock gear. The econ version runs cheaper than their premium and what I've seen from EE. I have two of the econs and the quality is great!
I have one of them also. I agree with you about Hammock gear even though I am a ground sleeper. I do love my HG quilt. And the price was right for what I got too.
@@jhonyermo I'm also a ground sleeper :) (though I've considered trying out a hammock setup). I just love the quality + price of their quilts. I have heard from many that they sell good quality hammocking gear as well, though.
I have an HG econ 40 degree underquilt, a 30 degree HG regular goose down underquilt, and an HG 30 degree econ top quilt, along with some other brands as well, including EE and HGQ. I prefer the goose down for the weight savings and what I perceive as better loft, translating to a little better insulation. That said, I have used my econs extensively for shorter trips and they have performed well. If you can afford the goose down, I heartily recommend it - if not, the econs are a great choice.
JUST starting to test out quilts. I know everyone seems to hate being "cocooned" but the thing I've noticed the most so far is that I think I actually really enjoy that feeling. Thanks for another great video Darwin. Keep Moving Forward!
I switched to a quilt after watching your last video about them. I toss and turn as well. I was hesitant about spending that much on something I wasn't even sure I would like, so I made my own! If you have any sewing skills at all, I guarantee you can make your own. I have a video up showing how I did it, and a link to the video I learned it from. I love my quilt. Thanks Darwin! Ps. I use my quilt paired with the insulated klymit with R4.4. I will be making a pad cover with straps next.
I respectfully have to disagree for myself I only use quilts in the summer +35F/+5C at least or greater. When it's colder than that I'm always waking up with a draft somewhere and I have the exact same set up as yourself, so for 9 months of the year I'm in a generously cut, high quality (expensive) sleeping bag. Love your content!
I used quilts for a few years before ordering a new sleeping bag. Now my arms no longer fall off the side of the mattress, I no longer wake up with a cold back from drafts and I sleep better and warmer overall... My new bag is a 20deg bag from Cumulus which is as light as a 20deg quilt. I'm happy. Bag for the win for me.
I have a pair of the Aegismax UL sleeping bags that you reviewed in a budget gear video. But both are a blanket like rectangle shape unlike the mummy style you reviewed. It allows me the flexibility to use both either as blankets or sleeping bag to fit the situation. I carry one when summer camping and both when I expect colder temps. The rectangle shape also works well on a twin bed in a cabin when I am able to bring sheets.
Definitely a quilt fan. I have broad shoulders, so I went with the wide for my enigma. As a side sleeper, I found my issue to be that the standard sleeping pad size of about 20 inches was too narrow. My arm would lay wierd, or fall of the sleeping pad causing huge pain in my shoulder. I upgraded to a 25 inch wide pad and it gives plenty of room for my arm to lay naturally and more comfortably as well.
My favourite, most trustworthy piece of cooking gear is the MSR Titan Kettle, a really perfect bit of kit for solo use. I love the way it's engineered with the pan "gripping" the lid, so you can pick up by the lid even when full of water.
That earlier video was one of the reasons I decided to switch to a quilt. Maybe a little over 2 years ago. Love my Katabatic Alsek for 3 season. Cosco quilt for summer. Quilt 90 percent of the time. I do go back to a mummy for any COLD winter stuff.
Works for me too JN, and it keeps open the option of using the bag inside a bivvy sac, more easily than a quilt might allow which could be useful if tarping in changeable weather. And if I decide to commit to going full quilt, I can remove the zipper, save a few ounces of redundant weight and have a more compact easier to pack system. Now, if I can work it so I get to keep the hood. . .
Using a Mummy bag as a Quilt will not give you the weight savings a Quilt does...or the pack size...my 10 degree Zpacks.com quilt packs down to a half of a loaf of bread in size...and only weighs 23 oz.... My O degree Quilt from Jack's R Better...is a 28 oz bag and packs down to just under the size of a small loaf of bread... Jack's R Better Sierra Sniffler Quilts can be Warren like a jacket. . . so you don't need to carry a puffy jacket . . . www.jacksrbetter.com/product/high-sierra-sniveller/
I have the Marmot Yolla Bolly 15 long. Semi rectangular down bag. This bag converts to a full quilt and since it is semi rectangular bag then it is not super restrictive.
@@kookkamajunga A quilt was designs for hammock camping...not for ground sleeping...I have a Zpacks 10 degree Quilt with the Zipper and a Jack's R Better Sierra Sniveler O degree Quilt...I also have a O degree Sleeping bag...yes the Quilts are lighter...
@@kookkamajunga Using a Mummy bag as a Quilt will not give you the weight savings a Quilt does...or the pack size...my 10 degree Zpacks quilt packs down to a half of a loaf of bread in size...and only weighs 23 oz.... My O degree Quilt from Jack's R Better...is a 28 oz bag and packs down to just under the size of a small loaf of bread... Jack's R Better Sierra Sniffler Quilts can be Warren like a jacket. . . so you don't need to carry a puffy jacket . . . www.jacksrbetter.com/product/high-sierra-sniveller/ Jack's R Better Sierra Sniffler Quilts are the best for the money, that you can buy, and you can wear this Quilt...on very cold days, so you can save on needing to carry a puffy jacket... JACK'S R BETTER come 25% overstuffed with down, you will have to buy a stuff bag as a separate purchase, they tell me a lot of people don't use a stuff bag any more, and just put their quilt in the bottom of their pack to save on weight...I like a stuff bag and got one when I order my Quilt from Jack's R Better... Jack's R Better, are one of the first Quilt makers, these kind folks, are one of the first commercial backpacking hammock makers on the market...and know something about a Quilt... Quilts where first designed for hammockers, not ground sleepers...but the Jack's R Better...are the best Quilts money can buy...for both sleeping options. www.jacksrbetter.com/product/high-sierra-sniveller/
I roll up into my regular quilt at home like a burrito when necessary. Sleeping bags always make me feel trapped when I attempt to switch sides. This is for me.
Went to a quilt this summer and love it but it's even a better deal than that Amazon deal you posted and guess what? It's from EE. If you check their Apex Enigma synthetics the Long, Wide goes for around $190 and weighs super light. Love it. Bought 2. Shipped off the shelf. If I can find a light weight 3P tent that handles my wife and I and our 2 dogs that doesn't break the bank I will be in hog heaven. BTW, here's another pack on the cheap: Outdoor Products Arrowhead, 47 liter, 2 lbs at Walmart for $23. Lifetime warranty. Have had good result with this pack and have not gone to DCF because when this one wears out I'm probably just buying another one. 5 trips and no problems yet but I don't over stuff my packs like some people. You should put that on your frugal gear list. Thanks, DOT, keep the good stuff coming!!
You did a great video before about quilts and mentioned UGQ, my wife looked them up and got a 30 degree quilt from them. We love it. I take it camping, she even takes it on road trips when she goes home to visit the folks. It's won us over and now I want another one. I sleep on a Thermarest Basecamp or sometimes the Thermarest Luxurymap pad which are a little heavier and bulkier than ultralight pads but they sure comfy. Hike on.
I switched from a mummy bag to a UGQ quilt for the JMT that I completed 2 weeks ago. I too am a side sleeper and sometimes restless. There were a few nights that dropped below freezing and I am still sold on the quilt. It took a few days to get used to the strap system but I couldn't see going back to a mummy bag. Thanks for all the information and inspiration you provide on your channel.
I recently switched over to the Sierra Designs Cloud 20, which is a zipperless mummy bag (so kind of a bag-quilt hybrid). It's lighter than a traditional mummy bag but not quite as light as a quilt, but the benefit for me is that I can roll around at night and use the top flap as a blanket in the same way the quilt works. I've used it for 4 nights at temps in the upper 20s/lower 30s and so far, I'm really impressed.
I have a 20 degree quilt from Jacks R Better and love it. For stopping drafts, I just make sure the cord is drawn at the top and let the rest hang. For some really cold nights, i have added a Sea to Summit liner bag with the quilt over it. Worked well. Also have used a foam pad with an inflatable in the winter, as I have a cheap inflatable pad.
nice one I tried both quilt, Last one was a Very nice Cumulus 450 and it was good But, i move really too much at night, and realize that i'm not much of a hot sleeper. and really, i create drafts all the time, no matter how wide the quilt is.. So i just turn back to good old down sleeping bags ! No drafts at all, and there, i also choose, to yeah, take a bigger one (more down) to just stop having cold ! So now, i'm on a 540g of down sleeping bags that is a bit heavier and geting comfort at around zero to minus 2 celcius d° With a TAR Neo Air 3.5 RV Then, i got really nice nights at upper altitude (most of the time between 1500 and 3000m) I'm glad i tried quilts, but also glad i found my "way of sleeping" ! And even if i defenatly prefer the free style and "at home" comfort of quilts, i was just tired waking up coz of those little cold spots i always created. So now, i fix my sleeping bag on my mattress, so i doesn't move when i do, and i have no drafts at all anymore, and that little string around my shoulders, is making a HUGE difference on colder nights! all that said, quilts are great ! And if quilts are fitting your style of sleeping : that's a really neat invest (i got a little one for summer trips at low altitude) But in the end, with some loop along my sleeping bag to fix it on my matress just as a quilt, and the extra... what.. 2, 300grams, that makes draft not existing and that extra cold option with the shoulder string, i rather prefer carrying a good old sleeping long zipper bag ! One thing is for sure, about sleeping bags nor quilts : Just take something a bit heavier to reach lower d° ! I rather prefer carrying +200, 300g and sleep warm than the opposite ! (but yes, i'm most of a cold sleeping at higher altitude) Experiencing and trying those out is unfortunatly expansive, so i suggest to look for some people nearby your places and try for free (or for a couple of beers !) My 2 cents ;) Cheers from Rainy flat Belgium ! ^^ Happy Hiking everyone !
Thanks Darwin for all the great info! Haven't tried a quilt yet, this is only my second year of backpacking. I have mountain hardware ratio 32 bag it's a "comfortable" mummy and I really like it...I can move and bend my knees. I have the long version. I like it so much I sometimes sleep in it on my bed at home... 😁
I’m also a back & forth side sleeper, so never liked mummy bags. I know a quilt will be best for me and am saving to get a good quality one. Thanks for the update!
Thanks Darwin. I took your advice and got a EE 20degree quilt and loved it on my first backpacking trip around Mt. Rainier on the Wonderland trail last week. I enjoy your videos.
I’m in the middle: I have an EE 20 degree Conundrum hybrid. I love it! I move around a lot in my sleep. I can’t even estimate how many times I woke up with my face trapped in the hood of a mummy bag thinking some creature was swallowing my head. Talk about panic! 🤣 BTW, my sleeping pad changes with the weather; I’m a cold sleeper. Most often I use a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite. I’m a feather pillow lover, so I use an overstuffed GooseFeet Gear down pillow. It actually weighs less than my Sea to Summit Aeros that I dubbed my “slip n’ slide”.
Have been using a quilt for the past 2 years now, and will never go back to a sleeping bag. More versatile, lighter, less bulk, and easier to vent. Plus, a quilt in a hammock is a no brainer.
I’ve never done cold weather camping. I live down in Deep South Texas and in the spring and summer I put my sleeping pad inside a Walmart sleeping bag liner and just sleep on top of it with no sleeping bag or quilt.
I’ve changed to a quilt, but when it’s really cold I still use a very light down liner. I find it gives me the best of both worlds and in warm conditions I just use the down liner. These two things give me three options when I’m out walking.
I've been using quilts for about 5 years now, my warm weather one is a old Thermarest 35 and when the temps drop, I use an EE Enigma 20. I never use the straps, just toss it on the pad (X-Therm) and fall asleep. I recently borrowed my wife's 5-degree mummy bag for an adventure in the snow, and boy did I regret that, should have used the EE. The mummy was horrible, every time I rolled over or tried to sleep on my stomach the bag wound up and tried to strangle me. I too will never go back to bags.
I used my husband’s Katabatic flex quilt for the first time and enjoyed using it. People always say they are expensive but I found although there isn’t any customization it really isn’t more expensive than when I have configured quilts on other websites. It’s super comfy and warm.
Thank you, Darwin for another great video. A few years ago I switched to a Jacks are better Sierra Sniveler and there is no going back! I can use the quilt as a poncho type jacket and Velcro in a detachable hood. You can even add down sleeves which I have really enjoyed on cold nights wether I used them as sleeves or leg warmers. Quilts are now my top choice because It works great with a hammock as well.
Thanks Darwin! I use the nemo tensor long/wide pad and the katabatic gear flex 22 long/wide and I actually look forward to sleeping while backpacking! I Love the ability to roll around without getting tangled.
I have a UGQ 20 degree Bandit. I agree, if you are a side sleeper and turn often during the night, the quilt is the way to go. I used to get so twisted up in my mummy bag, it would wake me up. The pad straps are key for keeping out the draft and you can adjust them so you're very well covered.
Betsy - do you also have the Dynamic Tension feature in your UGQ? Also, the UGQ has about 2 oz less Down Fill than the EE. How is the UGQ temperature for you? Thanks Rick
I converted to an Outdoor Vitals quilt about 18 months ago and after using it in all seasons, I'm definitely a quilt convert for anything above about 25F (give or take). In super cold weather I still use a bag.
went backpacking for the first time and had an awful night sleep! I had a nice sleeping bag but continually rolled off the pad and slid around all night. I had to sleep on the ground haha! Thanks for showing us the proper way for a moving sleeper like me! Hike on!!!
I've been using a quilt since I made my first Ray Jardine quilt from his kits in 2006. Still have those quilts but when backpacking I use Enlightened Equipment and Zpacks quilts now. Love them!!! All the same reasons you use a quilt.
@@OrvilFields I also took a design from Henry Shires - Tarptent - that he built and used on the PCT - prior to starting Tarptent- I bought the fabric in Seattle and had a seamstress sew it for me. Still works as a tarp with netting but can't sit up. Does not resemble Henry's amazing Tarptent's available today.
Still in a mummy bag. Nights get cold in the white mountains lol looking to grab a quilt tho for my AT attempt next spring. I'm starting in February so I'll drag the mummy with me for the first part of it but will switch out to the quilt when weather allows. Thank you for your videos!!
For a year now I've been using a Quilt Enlightened Equipment 20°F Enigma with a SeaToSummit UltraLight Insulated mat (R=3.3) and I just love t! I too, toss and turn around a lot in my sleep and I just love how the quilt gives me that freedom without me having to worry about it....anymore (as I used to in a mummy bag) The key thing is to ensure a proper strapping of the quilt on the mat. You only need to adjust the strap once and then just slip the mat into them, it literally take seconds As for the insulation, I used that sleeping system n Scotland, in Iceland and in french Alps around Mont-Blanc (sept) and, it was perfect!
Ooh I love this. I pretty much do this with my sleeping bag as is because if I feel tangled/trapped in the middle of the night, I'll launch into a panic attack. I'll definitely be looking into these
Great review on a pertinent topic. I prefer a sleeping bag when tent camping under 38 degrees F - I have a 20 degree EE convertible down bag and an EE 20 degree sewn toe- box quilt. For tents I use the full size Neoair Xlite pad, the gold one, which has a decent R-value. In the tent I grow weary of messing with the quilt pad straps when I need to get up in the night and I always seem a little colder in the quilt, in direct comparison with the bag of the same brand and rating. I much prefer a quilt in warmer temps down to about that 38 degree floor. In hammock camping the draft problem is minimized and I enjoy my quilts very much. Wondering if I'm alone on this.
I am currently using a 32 degree mummy sleeping bag with a callable sleeping pad...im currently a weekend warrior and living on the east coast... I sleep very warm, I have had it in the snow down to 20 degrees and I was comfortable granted I slept with my pants on... thanks for the video Darwin, I plan on converting to a quilt I. The near future. Hike on!!!
Bought a used $40 sewing machine on Craigslist, bought Climashield Apex insulation, breathable fabric from Dutchware Gear. 1/2 the cost. Sew easy :) Next on my list is a SilNylon tarp, w no-see-um mesh at edges and ends, and tub floor. Wooohooo!
EE 20* quilt guy here ! My bag days are over. I sleep in my tent like I do in my bed. Move around ,hang a leg out , what ever and used it down to 23 * nights in snow.
Oh no! I just bought a $700 sleeping bag last week! If only this video was out last week I would have saved hundreds!!! . . . Definitely joking! Great video as always Darwin. I've been rocking my EE quilt for a year now and have absolutely loved it! The versatility is insane. I use it almost year round here in Arkansas and trips for any temperature under 65. Summer I've always just used a sleeping bag liner. Getting the wide version is a game changer as well. For just a bit more (cost, weight, volume) it makes a world of difference for warmth and heat retention. I did regular length, wide, 20 revelation I believe (175lb 5ft 10in toss and turner). Never had any issues with it even down to the teens. I also get cold feet but the foot box system does extremely well and has never been an issue like I assumed originally. Thank you for the continued great quality content!
I started by zipping my mummy bag up only about foot and leaving the top unzipped to immitate a quilt. Decided I liked it then bought a quilt and will never go back. Side and stomach sleeper also toss and turn. Quilt works great for me. The pad is just as important as the quilt. I first heard about it from Ray-Way Jardine. Back then weren't to many quilts around, much better now.
Bag guy. Cause that's what I've got. I'd give it a try in summer so I could toss it off easy, but I'm a cold sleeper in the winter. I like the mummy bag wrapped around me.
Switched to a 20°F quilt from EE and I think, I would never go back for 3 season camping. However, in winter, with temperatures of - 30°F and below, combining a 10°F sleeping bag with a 20°F quilt on top as a blanket will make you sleep cozy like a baby! 😁
Just one issue. I totally get people who just like quilts because they can be less restrictive. That said Darwin, you proved a point I have been making for a while regarding quilts. Once you make it wider (ground sleepers usually need wider quilts than hammock folks), and longer in many cases so people can pull it over their head, takes away from the weight advantage when looking at a mummy bag of comparable quality. The same applies for winter if people add down hoods to avoid getting a long quilt. We aren't even talking say EE vs Big Agnes or the like. An REI Mummy bag will be in spitting distance of weight at this point. That's what makes me still rock a sleeping bag. I don't feel constricted and the lack of weight difference made me say swapping wasn't a necessary expense. Admittedly I also hit the Mid-Atlantic trails in January. I think regardless that a mummy bag is better for sub freezing temps as you don't have to add complications (down hoods straps etc.). The more complications the have the greater chance of failure. Failure in sub freezing temps can hurt, maim, even kill.
I started using a down quilt when I started hammocking a couple years ago ... and haven't used a sleeping bag since. Actually, the only cover I use that isn't a quilt is a Snugpak Jungle Blanket (for warmer times of year). I will definitely concur with the need for a wider quilt for sleeping on the ground. A narrower quilt is fine in a hammock, because of the way the underquilt and top quilt work together, but on the ground it's better to have more width in the quilt. I also use a long/wide (6'2", 225 lbs). I am also a side sleeper who tosses and turns. I used to get so wrapped up in my mummy bag I sometimes had trouble getting out in the morning. I will never use a mummy bag again. And yes ... it's also true that it's worth the investment to get a good sleeping pad that works well for the climate you camp in. I use a Sea to Summit Ether Light XT (Large) when tenting. It has an r-value of 3.8, which for me (warm sleeper) is comfortable down to about 0 degrees (F). If I expect to have colder weather than that, I'll take my Thermarest Z-Lite Sol as well and put it under my Ether. It has an r-value of 2.6. When you stack pads, you add the r-values together, so that gives me a total r-value of 6.4, which is comfortable down to temperatures I won't ever have to worry about hitting (-30F to -40F).
Hey Darwin I bought a similar quilt as you (10 deg, long & wide enigma , I’m 6’3”) before my thru hike this year on the PCT and loved it. Also have the same mattress as you. I’m also a warm sleeper and was toasty every night accept for on fuller ridge above idyllwild when it 28 deg up there with 60 mph lol. Anyway great video and great meeting you again at pct trail days. Marmalade
There are two basic standards for the determination of fill power: American and European. The following is worth paying attention to when comparing available products, because it often causes some confusion. American 850 cuin corresponds to European 800 cuin. At Cumulus they use European standards.
Great video Darwin! I have made the switch for this falls backpacking trip. I will be using the Nemo Tensor insulated wide regular for my ground pad. They don’t pitch R value that I know of but it is a step above the uninsulated version and below there alpine version of UL pads. I got it on sale at REI. I also like how you pointed out companies like UGQ have “off the Rack” or Fastrack quilts. I went with a fastrack UGQ 30 degree bandit 55x 72. The price for this was around $200. My Trip is in early October so looking forward to see how this new system works. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for this! Looking to do the PCT next year and am so uncomfortable in a traditional backpacking sleeping bag. You answered every question I had about a hiking quilt. Enlightened Equipment bag is on it's way!
I had an rei magma mummy bag and for warm weather ordered an EE revelation 30 stock. It was such a game changer I sold the rei bag and just ordered a 10 degree enigma. I am a quilter for life now after a season in the revelation. I was worried it was too light to be warm but it is toasty. Pad selection is critical and you can always bump it up with a down puffy and down socks if it gets a little frosty.
I tried a quilt for two years and went back to a mummy bag. Im a cold sleeper and need to be completely closed in. Any tiny draft at night, while using the quilt, would wake me up. I now use my quilt over a 0 degree bag while winter camping and am happy with using it in that application.
Great video Darwin, I have made the change to a quilt over a year ago- based on your earlier review of your change over.... I'm not sure I'll look back or change back to a full bag either. I have chose to go with teh Paria Outoors 15deg quilt and it is wonderful, for me. If I change anything at all it will be to get myself a more expensive quilt with my own custom additions. Until then, I'll use my current quilt until it just cant go on another trip. Thank you again.
Much gratitude for your thoughtful and practical guidance on sleep systems, Mr. Darwin. You address common misperceptions with actual experience and solid visual explanations. One question about the sleeping pad: do you find yourself covering the upper section (where your head and shoulders rest) with a t-shirt, towel or other fabric to protect the pad? From a maintenance standpoint, it seems safer and easier to wash a shirt or towel than the pad.
one thing worth mentioning that you didn't mention is that the R value of pads are additive if you use more than one. In winter i use a Zlite Sol accordian pad underneath my NeoAir Xlite blow up pad and get a total R value of 5.7 or so. Cozy and more economical than buying a separate dedicated winter blow-up pad.
I'm a side sleeper, and I toss and turn quite often sometimes on my stomach. The quilt is so much better than a sleeping bag. Some nights, I end up stuffing my inflatable pillow between my legs, and I sleep like a baby. Quilts forever!!!
I usually unzip my TNF mummy bag so I can use it like a quilt. But I do also have a Big Agnes Horse Thief that works like a quilt as it has no zipper and the opening is on the bottom. Though I LOVE that it has a sleeve on the bottom to slide your pad into. Keeps the warmth in and I never come off of the pad.
I'm a hammocker and use a beautiful custom outdoorink 10 degree 850 fill down UGQ underquilt...and a raggedy old synthetic 20 degree mummy bag I got on sale at big 5 a couple years ago for $20 that is so torn to bits it looks and acts more like a quilt...that weighs 4 lbs. But it works okay at the moment. I'm saving up for a UGQ top quilt right now so I will be able to survive the winter snow.
Thanks for the info! I've been using the Zpacks classic sleeping bag for a few years now and really love it. I do feel like there's a quilt in my future once the budget allows. Thanks for including some "budget" options to take a look at!
Nice video Darwin. I use a wilderness Logics Summer Series quilt mostly. I've had it for about 5 years but it's served me well. It packs down to about a baseball size and it's very warm for what it is. In Australia it's easier to get away with a thinner quilt and I supplement with a down jacket and a S2S thermal bag liner in cooler weather to stretch out its functionality. Everyone seems to run the TR Neo Air Xlite but I love by S2S Ultralight Insulated and Comfortlight Insulated pads. only slightly heavier but don't sound like a bag of chips. The baffle design also means you can roll all the way to the edge of the pad without them deforming and the air valve is far superior IMO. You're right about getting tangled in a mummy bag, happens to me every time. Quilt>Sleeping bag.
Years ago I bought a mummy bag from an army surplus store. I do not remember a decent sleep in it. When in boy scouts, I borrowed a kapok sleeping bag from my dad the Forest Ranger. Again, night time sleeping was not enjoyable. For two years we planned float trips for our fly fishing addiction. We put into a river in two man inflatables and slept at a dude ranch by the river. On the last day, Bob and I were on a sand bar just one turn above the ranch and having a "bump" from his flask. We discussed how nice it would be to just stay on this sand bar. We could bathe in the river, cook dinner over a driftwood fire. Sevylor had come up with some blow up boats that were tough and light. He lived in Coeur D Lane and I lived in Issaquah but we were in contact often with our work. He was a customer of my company who encouraged friendly trips with business associates like fishing, golf, skiing, hunting and camping. Good friends created trust and good business. The next year 1974, we met in Kalispell, left our families at Birch Glen at Swan Lake and Bob, Jim and I hiked into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. 30 miles from Holland Lake, over Pendent Pass to Big Salmon Lake then 2 miles down to the South Fork of the Flathead River. At the river on the second day we blew up our boats and floated 30 miles out on the fourth day. My bed was a K79 Tahiti kayak that weighed 13 pounds. I had my mom's old down quilt and a light nylon tarp to keep the river dew off. I am 6'4" and weigh 220 pounds I make my own sleeping bags that are 44 inches wide and 7' long. I take a comforter (goodwill) fold it over and sew the bottom. I often take my boat even though I might not float. I have never slept well on the ground. If you see us on the trail or on the river we have a 45 pound pack that is good for a week, our boats and fly rods and a 3/4 size paddle for a walking stick. Every night, dinner is poached trout with bacon and onion. In the pot we have noodles, rice or beans. For greens we have water cress or clover from the river. So, we floated the Flathead, the Swan, the Clark Fork and the Blackfoot. all great rivers and lots of fun. Iguana
I got the REI quilt on sale and am a convert, no more sleeping bags for me! Best nights sleep I’ve ever had on the trail and I’m a tossing turning side sleeper!
Hey Darwin, I tend to agree with the quilt. I have a Hammock Gear Burrow and love it. Not tried it in a tent yet but I did have the straps for that. In a tent I use a Big Agnes Lone Ranger 15 and an Exped pad 9lw which does me fine
I've been using a quilt since the zipper broke on my bag while hiking the JMT in 2015. That's when I found out how nice it was to be able to turn without feeling like I was in a straight jacket. I bought an actual EE 20 degree quilt that winter and will never go back. I only hike from May through October, so rarely need to deal with temps below 20 plus I sleep warm. So, I just use a torso length ccf pad and my backpack itself under a Klymit inflatable pad. I believe that gives a total R value of about 3.6.
I'm going to switch to a quilt. I just ordered an EE Revelation. Sometimes my legs get hot and I'm looking forward to being able to unzip the footbox and kick the covers aside. Thanks very much Darwin!
I have an outdoor vitals 15° quilt and a klymit static v UL sleeping pad, and it has a 4.2 r value. It's nice and wide, and with the 15° quilt I can definitely make it deeper into fall. I'm a warm sleeper, and also picked up a thermarest u relight so I can still use the quilt in the summer without over heating. I move a lot in my sleep, I dont come off the pad, and my quilt always pretty much stays where it needs to be.
I have an insulated air pad (4.4) but low on funds so I use my mummy bag as a quilt right now. Love the room it gives me too move around while sleeping. Looking at maybe next year to get a quilt so I shed some weight and space in my pack.
What Sleep System are you currently using on the Trail?
Do you Rock a Quilt or a Sleeping Bag?
👇Let Us Know Down Below!👇
I use the Cumulus Quilt 250 and 450 (both custom orders for more width)
lighterpack.com/r/2k904f
Moving over to a quit now actually. I decided to switch over after i used my extra wide bag as a quilt this summer. I left it zipped up and draped it over top of me during a very cold night at 12,000 ft just under forester pass. It was definitely warmer that way and i felt more free to roll around. Really though, I have never had a night as cold as that one. When i woke up the ground was covered in frost and my water bottles were frozen....
I use the Aegismax M3, it is long and wide enough for me and I'm a side sleeper. It is light enough and packs down real small. I use the trekology ul 80 pad with trekology V2 pillow. It works well enough for me.
Darwin onthetrail I use quilts in my hammock and when I go to ground, I have a 20* wolf mtn( out of business) and a 50* homemade joe using black diamond throws, just purchased a REI magma30*
I use the Sierra Designs Cloud 800 sleeping bag: 20 degree down. Like a mummy bag without the zipper, it has a quilt 'blanket' cover. Easy in and out. I tried the quilt but even strapping the quilt to my pad I continually awoke with a cold exposed back. Thanks for your first video or I never would have tried the quilt or looked for different options and would be stuck with a mummy bag. I do use the quilt in warmer weather it's fantastic. Thanks again for all your videos! See ya on the trail!
i wanna switch to a quilt but 1:47 has me thinking twice. look how content that man is. i wanna be that content
Years ago, I wanted to switch to a quilt but had no money to buy one. So I took my old mummy bag, cut off the zippers and hood, did some sewing and it worked fine for me up to now. This year I want to buy me a brand new real quilt and send my old one in retirement.
NICE! Super Crafty!
I basically did the same thing with the cold weather portion of a military sleep system. I kept only about the last foot of the zipper and I used a windproof lighter to heat the metal snaps to remove them (the heat melted the synthetic fabric quite neatly and much better than cutting). Removing that stuff cut the weight down and made it more comfy to use quilt style.
I cut hoods off every bag. If it’s cold I just wear a hat, but I don’t understand how people sleep fully cinched in a mummy bag 😮
Quilt now for 8 years, never looked back. Always great content Darwin and I wish more people understood why quilts are better. One thing I think important to point out was mid-video you said you pull your quilt over your head. If camping in the winter, that is a no-no. You will quickly derate your quilt's insulation if using a down quilt due to all the moisture your breath puts into the down, even the dry-tec down on my newest quilt also has this issue in the cold. I do a lot of subzero trips and I used to do this and after 2-3 days, the upper portion of my quilt I could see the clumping starting from the moisture and the quilt is much cooler to sleep in. Better to use a hood or a buff or something over your face than the quilt when it's cold out.
I switched to a quilt last year, I absolutely love it. I made my own and used climashield apex insulation. Was a easy project with minimal sewing skills. Ended up making one for each guy I was in elk camp with.
do you make customs? :)
@@emaleeharding362 you 😅
Another great budget option is Econ quilts from hammock gear. The econ version runs cheaper than their premium and what I've seen from EE. I have two of the econs and the quality is great!
I have one of them also. I agree with you about Hammock gear even though I am a ground sleeper. I do love my HG quilt. And the price was right for what I got too.
@@jhonyermo I'm also a ground sleeper :) (though I've considered trying out a hammock setup). I just love the quality + price of their quilts. I have heard from many that they sell good quality hammocking gear as well, though.
I have an HG econ 40 degree underquilt, a 30 degree HG regular goose down underquilt, and an HG 30 degree econ top quilt, along with some other brands as well, including EE and HGQ.
I prefer the goose down for the weight savings and what I perceive as better loft, translating to a little better insulation. That said, I have used my econs extensively for shorter trips and they have performed well. If you can afford the goose down, I heartily recommend it - if not, the econs are a great choice.
🤔 Might have to check them out!
@@DarwinOnthetrail only used one quilt, but it's a Hammock Gear and I love it. And temp rating/weight ended up being a better bargain than EQ
Darwin one of my favorite features of a quilt is if it get to hot a can kick my feet out
JUST starting to test out quilts. I know everyone seems to hate being "cocooned" but the thing I've noticed the most so far is that I think I actually really enjoy that feeling.
Thanks for another great video Darwin.
Keep Moving Forward!
I’m a cold sleeper so I find I start cocooned and will layer up (sweater, jacket, second layer of thermals) as the night goes on if I have to.
I switched to a quilt after watching your last video about them. I toss and turn as well. I was hesitant about spending that much on something I wasn't even sure I would like, so I made my own! If you have any sewing skills at all, I guarantee you can make your own. I have a video up showing how I did it, and a link to the video I learned it from. I love my quilt. Thanks Darwin! Ps. I use my quilt paired with the insulated klymit with R4.4. I will be making a pad cover with straps next.
I switched to a quilt last week. It was amazing! I will never use a mummy bag again. The freedom of movement was great.
WELCOME!😂
Yup. I too am a side sleeping toss n' turner, and I LOVE my quilt. Best upgrade to my kit I ever made.
I respectfully have to disagree for myself I only use quilts in the summer +35F/+5C at least or greater. When it's colder than that I'm always waking up with a draft somewhere and I have the exact same set up as yourself, so for 9 months of the year I'm in a generously cut, high quality (expensive) sleeping bag. Love your content!
I used quilts for a few years before ordering a new sleeping bag. Now my arms no longer fall off the side of the mattress, I no longer wake up with a cold back from drafts and I sleep better and warmer overall... My new bag is a 20deg bag from Cumulus which is as light as a 20deg quilt.
I'm happy. Bag for the win for me.
🤔 Interesting... Gotta Use What Works For You!
Hike On,
Darwin
I have a pair of the Aegismax UL sleeping bags that you reviewed in a budget gear video. But both are a blanket like rectangle shape unlike the mummy style you reviewed. It allows me the flexibility to use both either as blankets or sleeping bag to fit the situation. I carry one when summer camping and both when I expect colder temps. The rectangle shape also works well on a twin bed in a cabin when I am able to bring sheets.
Definitely a quilt fan. I have broad shoulders, so I went with the wide for my enigma. As a side sleeper, I found my issue to be that the standard sleeping pad size of about 20 inches was too narrow. My arm would lay wierd, or fall of the sleeping pad causing huge pain in my shoulder. I upgraded to a 25 inch wide pad and it gives plenty of room for my arm to lay naturally and more comfortably as well.
Love my quilt so much I turned a Costco down throw into a quilt that fits my recliner. Best all world's when catching a football game.
I paired that puppy up with my Sierra Designs 20° quilt and was wicked comfy up in elevation in the Eastern Sierra last weekend!
Chip Kormas 👌
My mind was blown when I learned (from you) about quilts. For years using sleeping bags camping I always thought there had to be something better!
My favourite, most trustworthy piece of cooking gear is the MSR Titan Kettle, a really perfect bit of kit for solo use. I love the way it's engineered with the pan "gripping" the lid, so you can pick up by the lid even when full of water.
That earlier video was one of the reasons I decided to switch to a quilt. Maybe a little over 2 years ago. Love my Katabatic Alsek for 3 season. Cosco quilt for summer. Quilt 90 percent of the time. I do go back to a mummy for any COLD winter stuff.
I have a mummy bag that I use as a quilt. The zipper is down and to the edge of the pad. This works for me.
Works for me too JN, and it keeps open the option of using the bag inside a bivvy sac, more easily than a quilt might allow which could be useful if tarping in changeable weather. And if I decide to commit to going full quilt, I can remove the zipper, save a few ounces of redundant weight and have a more compact easier to pack system. Now, if I can work it so I get to keep the hood. . .
Using a Mummy bag as a Quilt will not give you the weight savings a Quilt does...or the pack size...my 10 degree Zpacks.com quilt packs down to a half of a loaf of bread in size...and only weighs 23 oz....
My O degree Quilt from Jack's R Better...is a 28 oz bag and packs down to just under the size of a small loaf of bread... Jack's R Better Sierra Sniffler Quilts can be Warren like a jacket. . . so you don't need to carry a puffy jacket . . .
www.jacksrbetter.com/product/high-sierra-sniveller/
I have the Marmot Yolla Bolly 15 long. Semi rectangular down bag. This bag converts to a full quilt and since it is semi rectangular bag then it is not super restrictive.
@@kookkamajunga A quilt was designs for hammock camping...not for ground sleeping...I have a Zpacks 10 degree Quilt with the Zipper and a Jack's R Better Sierra Sniveler O degree Quilt...I also have a O degree Sleeping bag...yes the Quilts are lighter...
@@kookkamajunga Using a Mummy bag as a Quilt will not give you the weight savings a Quilt does...or the pack size...my 10 degree Zpacks quilt packs down to a half of a loaf of bread in size...and only weighs 23 oz....
My O degree Quilt from Jack's R Better...is a 28 oz bag and packs down to just under the size of a small loaf of bread... Jack's R Better Sierra Sniffler Quilts can be Warren like a jacket. . . so you don't need to carry a puffy jacket . . .
www.jacksrbetter.com/product/high-sierra-sniveller/
Jack's R Better Sierra Sniffler Quilts are the best for the money, that you can buy, and you can wear this Quilt...on very cold days, so you can save on needing to carry a puffy jacket...
JACK'S R BETTER come 25% overstuffed with down, you will have to buy a stuff bag as a separate purchase, they tell me a lot of people don't use a stuff bag any more, and just put their quilt in the bottom of their pack to save on weight...I like a stuff bag and got one when I order my Quilt from Jack's R Better...
Jack's R Better, are one of the first Quilt makers, these kind folks, are one of the first commercial backpacking hammock makers on the market...and know something about a Quilt... Quilts where first designed for hammockers, not ground sleepers...but the Jack's R Better...are the best Quilts money can buy...for both sleeping options.
www.jacksrbetter.com/product/high-sierra-sniveller/
I have yet to use a quilt, but I’m excited to give it a try! I have been using a spoon shaped mummy bag
I roll up into my regular quilt at home like a burrito when necessary. Sleeping bags always make me feel trapped when I attempt to switch sides. This is for me.
I’m a quilt user,,, saw ur vid a while back when I barely got into backpacking and I move a lot too ,,, best sleep I ever have on trail ,,,
Went to a quilt this summer and love it but it's even a better deal than that Amazon deal you posted and guess what? It's from EE. If you check their Apex Enigma synthetics the Long, Wide goes for around $190 and weighs super light. Love it. Bought 2. Shipped off the shelf. If I can find a light weight 3P tent that handles my wife and I and our 2 dogs that doesn't break the bank I will be in hog heaven. BTW, here's another pack on the cheap: Outdoor Products Arrowhead, 47 liter, 2 lbs at Walmart for $23. Lifetime warranty. Have had good result with this pack and have not gone to DCF because when this one wears out I'm probably just buying another one. 5 trips and no problems yet but I don't over stuff my packs like some people. You should put that on your frugal gear list. Thanks, DOT, keep the good stuff coming!!
You did a great video before about quilts and mentioned UGQ, my wife looked them up and got a 30 degree quilt from them. We love it. I take it camping, she even takes it on road trips when she goes home to visit the folks. It's won us over and now I want another one. I sleep on a Thermarest Basecamp or sometimes the Thermarest Luxurymap pad which are a little heavier and bulkier than ultralight pads but they sure comfy. Hike on.
Their Quality is Phenomenal!
Love the creepy smile on the pan up the quilt! LOL
I switched from a mummy bag to a UGQ quilt for the JMT that I completed 2 weeks ago. I too am a side sleeper and sometimes restless. There were a few nights that dropped below freezing and I am still sold on the quilt. It took a few days to get used to the strap system but I couldn't see going back to a mummy bag. Thanks for all the information and inspiration you provide on your channel.
My hubby and I got the EE quilts after watching your last video, love them! We wouldn’t use anything else. Thanks Darwin!
I recently switched over to the Sierra Designs Cloud 20, which is a zipperless mummy bag (so kind of a bag-quilt hybrid). It's lighter than a traditional mummy bag but not quite as light as a quilt, but the benefit for me is that I can roll around at night and use the top flap as a blanket in the same way the quilt works. I've used it for 4 nights at temps in the upper 20s/lower 30s and so far, I'm really impressed.
I have a 20 degree quilt from Jacks R Better and love it. For stopping drafts, I just make sure the cord is drawn at the top and let the rest hang. For some really cold nights, i have added a Sea to Summit liner bag with the quilt over it. Worked well. Also have used a foam pad with an inflatable in the winter, as I have a cheap inflatable pad.
Well, that answered all of my questions. I knew nothing, and now I am enlightened. Thank you for this video!
nice one
I tried both quilt,
Last one was a Very nice Cumulus 450 and it was good
But, i move really too much at night, and realize that i'm not much of a hot sleeper. and really, i create drafts all the time, no matter how wide the quilt is..
So i just turn back to good old down sleeping bags !
No drafts at all, and there, i also choose, to yeah, take a bigger one (more down) to just stop having cold !
So now, i'm on a 540g of down sleeping bags that is a bit heavier and geting comfort at around zero to minus 2 celcius d°
With a TAR Neo Air 3.5 RV
Then, i got really nice nights at upper altitude (most of the time between 1500 and 3000m)
I'm glad i tried quilts, but also glad i found my "way of sleeping" !
And even if i defenatly prefer the free style and "at home" comfort of quilts, i was just tired waking up coz of those little cold spots i always created.
So now, i fix my sleeping bag on my mattress, so i doesn't move when i do, and i have no drafts at all anymore, and that little string around my shoulders, is making a HUGE difference on colder nights!
all that said, quilts are great !
And if quilts are fitting your style of sleeping : that's a really neat invest (i got a little one for summer trips at low altitude)
But in the end, with some loop along my sleeping bag to fix it on my matress just as a quilt, and the extra... what.. 2, 300grams, that makes draft not existing and that extra cold option with the shoulder string, i rather prefer carrying a good old sleeping long zipper bag !
One thing is for sure, about sleeping bags nor quilts : Just take something a bit heavier to reach lower d° !
I rather prefer carrying +200, 300g and sleep warm than the opposite ! (but yes, i'm most of a cold sleeping at higher altitude)
Experiencing and trying those out is unfortunatly expansive, so i suggest to look for some people nearby your places and try for free (or for a couple of beers !)
My 2 cents ;)
Cheers from Rainy flat Belgium ! ^^
Happy Hiking everyone !
Aorakis 🤘
On a future update please inform us on what you wear to sleep in, how do you keep your head & ears warm, use of a liner, etc...
Thanks Darwin for all the great info!
Haven't tried a quilt yet, this is only my second year of backpacking.
I have mountain hardware ratio 32 bag it's a "comfortable" mummy and I really like it...I can move and bend my knees. I have the long version.
I like it so much I sometimes sleep in it on my bed at home... 😁
I’m also a back & forth side sleeper, so never liked mummy bags. I know a quilt will be best for me and am saving to get a good quality one. Thanks for the update!
Thanks Darwin. I took your advice and got a EE 20degree quilt and loved it on my first backpacking trip around Mt. Rainier on the Wonderland trail last week. I enjoy your videos.
Nice! I would love to do the Wonderland!
I’m in the middle: I have an EE 20 degree Conundrum hybrid. I love it! I move around a lot in my sleep. I can’t even estimate how many times I woke up with my face trapped in the hood of a mummy bag thinking some creature was swallowing my head. Talk about panic! 🤣 BTW, my sleeping pad changes with the weather; I’m a cold sleeper. Most often I use a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite. I’m a feather pillow lover, so I use an overstuffed GooseFeet Gear down pillow. It actually weighs less than my Sea to Summit Aeros that I dubbed my “slip n’ slide”.
Thanks Darwin. Big help picking out my first quilt.
Have been using a quilt for the past 2 years now, and will never go back to a sleeping bag. More versatile, lighter, less bulk, and easier to vent. Plus, a quilt in a hammock is a no brainer.
FO SHO!
I’ve never done cold weather camping. I live down in Deep South Texas and in the spring and summer I put my sleeping pad inside a Walmart sleeping bag liner and just sleep on top of it with no sleeping bag or quilt.
I’ve changed to a quilt, but when it’s really cold I still use a very light down liner. I find it gives me the best of both worlds and in warm conditions I just use the down liner. These two things give me three options when I’m out walking.
Just made the jump to a Hammock Gear quilt and absolutely love it. Havent even looked at a sleeping bag since then.
I am using a light weight cot with zlite sleep pad and a quilt.....love it
I've been using quilts for about 5 years now, my warm weather one is a old Thermarest 35 and when the temps drop, I use an EE Enigma 20. I never use the straps, just toss it on the pad (X-Therm) and fall asleep. I recently borrowed my wife's 5-degree mummy bag for an adventure in the snow, and boy did I regret that, should have used the EE. The mummy was horrible, every time I rolled over or tried to sleep on my stomach the bag wound up and tried to strangle me. I too will never go back to bags.
I used my husband’s Katabatic flex quilt for the first time and enjoyed using it. People always say they are expensive but I found although there isn’t any customization it really isn’t more expensive than when I have configured quilts on other websites. It’s super comfy and warm.
With a 25 inch nemo tensor insulated pad. Super comfy
Thank you, Darwin for another great video. A few years ago I switched to a Jacks are better Sierra Sniveler and there is no going back! I can use the quilt as a poncho type jacket and Velcro in a detachable hood. You can even add down sleeves which I have really enjoyed on cold nights wether I used them as sleeves or leg warmers. Quilts are now my top choice because It works great with a hammock as well.
Thanks Darwin! I use the nemo tensor long/wide pad and the katabatic gear flex 22 long/wide and I actually look forward to sleeping while backpacking! I Love the ability to roll around without getting tangled.
I have a UGQ 20 degree Bandit. I agree, if you are a side sleeper and turn often during the night, the quilt is the way to go. I used to get so twisted up in my mummy bag, it would wake me up. The pad straps are key for keeping out the draft and you can adjust them so you're very well covered.
Betsy - do you also have the Dynamic Tension feature in your UGQ? Also, the UGQ has about 2 oz less Down Fill than the EE. How is the UGQ temperature for you? Thanks Rick
Love my Cedar Ridge Quilts!
Need to check theirs out! I've heard great things!
I converted to an Outdoor Vitals quilt about 18 months ago and after using it in all seasons, I'm definitely a quilt convert for anything above about 25F (give or take). In super cold weather I still use a bag.
went backpacking for the first time and had an awful night sleep! I had a nice sleeping bag but continually rolled off the pad and slid around all night. I had to sleep on the ground haha! Thanks for showing us the proper way for a moving sleeper like me! Hike on!!!
I've been using a quilt since I made my first Ray Jardine quilt from his kits in 2006. Still have those quilts but when backpacking I use Enlightened Equipment and Zpacks quilts now. Love them!!! All the same reasons you use a quilt.
Orvil - I bought a Ray Jardine style pack (13oz) from Ebay about 2006. Still have it but am using a different pack today.
@@rickguthrie7662 I still have my Ray Jardine pack I made from his kit from many years ago. I haven’t used it in a while. I think mine is 14 or 15 oz.
@@OrvilFields I also took a design from Henry Shires - Tarptent - that he built and used on the PCT - prior to starting Tarptent- I bought the fabric in Seattle and had a seamstress sew it for me. Still works as a tarp with netting but can't sit up. Does not resemble Henry's amazing Tarptent's available today.
Still in a mummy bag. Nights get cold in the white mountains lol looking to grab a quilt tho for my AT attempt next spring. I'm starting in February so I'll drag the mummy with me for the first part of it but will switch out to the quilt when weather allows. Thank you for your videos!!
For a year now I've been using a Quilt Enlightened Equipment 20°F Enigma with a SeaToSummit UltraLight Insulated mat (R=3.3) and I just love t!
I too, toss and turn around a lot in my sleep and I just love how the quilt gives me that freedom without me having to worry about it....anymore (as I used to in a mummy bag)
The key thing is to ensure a proper strapping of the quilt on the mat. You only need to adjust the strap once and then just slip the mat into them, it literally take seconds
As for the insulation, I used that sleeping system n Scotland, in Iceland and in french Alps around Mont-Blanc (sept) and, it was perfect!
Fred Level 👌
Ooh I love this. I pretty much do this with my sleeping bag as is because if I feel tangled/trapped in the middle of the night, I'll launch into a panic attack. I'll definitely be looking into these
Great review on a pertinent topic. I prefer a sleeping bag when tent camping under 38 degrees F - I have a 20 degree EE convertible down bag and an EE 20 degree sewn toe- box quilt. For tents I use the full size Neoair Xlite pad, the gold one, which has a decent R-value. In the tent I grow weary of messing with the quilt pad straps when I need to get up in the night and I always seem a little colder in the quilt, in direct comparison with the bag of the same brand and rating. I much prefer a quilt in warmer temps down to about that 38 degree floor. In hammock camping the draft problem is minimized and I enjoy my quilts very much.
Wondering if I'm alone on this.
I am currently using a 32 degree mummy sleeping bag with a callable sleeping pad...im currently a weekend warrior and living on the east coast... I sleep very warm, I have had it in the snow down to 20 degrees and I was comfortable granted I slept with my pants on... thanks for the video Darwin, I plan on converting to a quilt I. The near future. Hike on!!!
Bought a used $40 sewing machine on Craigslist, bought Climashield Apex insulation, breathable fabric from Dutchware Gear. 1/2 the cost. Sew easy :) Next on my list is a SilNylon tarp, w no-see-um mesh at edges and ends, and tub floor. Wooohooo!
Dude nailed it,, I agree with. Almost everything D says on this one,, I learned The pad lesson and I wish my quilt was wider
EE 20* quilt guy here ! My bag days are over. I sleep in my tent like I do in my bed. Move around ,hang a leg out , what ever and used it down to 23 * nights in snow.
Oh no! I just bought a $700 sleeping bag last week! If only this video was out last week I would have saved hundreds!!!
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Definitely joking! Great video as always Darwin. I've been rocking my EE quilt for a year now and have absolutely loved it! The versatility is insane. I use it almost year round here in Arkansas and trips for any temperature under 65. Summer I've always just used a sleeping bag liner.
Getting the wide version is a game changer as well. For just a bit more (cost, weight, volume) it makes a world of difference for warmth and heat retention. I did regular length, wide, 20 revelation I believe (175lb 5ft 10in toss and turner). Never had any issues with it even down to the teens. I also get cold feet but the foot box system does extremely well and has never been an issue like I assumed originally.
Thank you for the continued great quality content!
I started by zipping my mummy bag up only about foot and leaving the top unzipped to immitate a quilt. Decided I liked it then bought a quilt and will never go back. Side and stomach sleeper also toss and turn. Quilt works great for me. The pad is just as important as the quilt. I first heard about it from Ray-Way Jardine. Back then weren't to many quilts around, much better now.
Bag guy. Cause that's what I've got. I'd give it a try in summer so I could toss it off easy, but I'm a cold sleeper in the winter. I like the mummy bag wrapped around me.
Switched to a 20°F quilt from EE and I think, I would never go back for 3 season camping. However, in winter, with temperatures of - 30°F and below, combining a 10°F sleeping bag with a 20°F quilt on top as a blanket will make you sleep cozy like a baby! 😁
Just one issue. I totally get people who just like quilts because they can be less restrictive.
That said Darwin, you proved a point I have been making for a while regarding quilts. Once you make it wider (ground sleepers usually need wider quilts than hammock folks), and longer in many cases so people can pull it over their head, takes away from the weight advantage when looking at a mummy bag of comparable quality. The same applies for winter if people add down hoods to avoid getting a long quilt.
We aren't even talking say EE vs Big Agnes or the like. An REI Mummy bag will be in spitting distance of weight at this point.
That's what makes me still rock a sleeping bag. I don't feel constricted and the lack of weight difference made me say swapping wasn't a necessary expense. Admittedly I also hit the Mid-Atlantic trails in January. I think regardless that a mummy bag is better for sub freezing temps as you don't have to add complications (down hoods straps etc.). The more complications the have the greater chance of failure. Failure in sub freezing temps can hurt, maim, even kill.
Thanks Darwin! I am considering trying a quilt and your video inspired me to take a leap of faith. 😃Gretings from Sweden!
I started using a down quilt when I started hammocking a couple years ago ... and haven't used a sleeping bag since. Actually, the only cover I use that isn't a quilt is a Snugpak Jungle Blanket (for warmer times of year). I will definitely concur with the need for a wider quilt for sleeping on the ground. A narrower quilt is fine in a hammock, because of the way the underquilt and top quilt work together, but on the ground it's better to have more width in the quilt. I also use a long/wide (6'2", 225 lbs). I am also a side sleeper who tosses and turns. I used to get so wrapped up in my mummy bag I sometimes had trouble getting out in the morning. I will never use a mummy bag again. And yes ... it's also true that it's worth the investment to get a good sleeping pad that works well for the climate you camp in. I use a Sea to Summit Ether Light XT (Large) when tenting. It has an r-value of 3.8, which for me (warm sleeper) is comfortable down to about 0 degrees (F). If I expect to have colder weather than that, I'll take my Thermarest Z-Lite Sol as well and put it under my Ether. It has an r-value of 2.6. When you stack pads, you add the r-values together, so that gives me a total r-value of 6.4, which is comfortable down to temperatures I won't ever have to worry about hitting (-30F to -40F).
Hey Darwin I bought a similar quilt as you (10 deg, long & wide enigma , I’m 6’3”) before my thru hike this year on the PCT and loved it. Also have the same mattress as you. I’m also a warm sleeper and was toasty every night accept for on fuller ridge above idyllwild when it 28 deg up there with 60 mph lol. Anyway great video and great meeting you again at pct trail days. Marmalade
There are two basic standards for the determination of fill power: American and European. The following is worth paying attention to when comparing available products, because it often causes some confusion. American 850 cuin corresponds to European 800 cuin. At Cumulus they use European standards.
Great Info!
Great video Darwin! I have made the switch for this falls backpacking trip. I will be using the Nemo Tensor insulated wide regular for my ground pad. They don’t pitch R value that I know of but it is a step above the uninsulated version and below there alpine version of UL pads. I got it on sale at REI.
I also like how you pointed out companies like UGQ have “off the Rack” or Fastrack quilts. I went with a fastrack UGQ 30 degree bandit 55x 72. The price for this was around $200. My Trip is in early October so looking forward to see how this new system works. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for this! Looking to do the PCT next year and am so uncomfortable in a traditional backpacking sleeping bag. You answered every question I had about a hiking quilt. Enlightened Equipment bag is on it's way!
I had an rei magma mummy bag and for warm weather ordered an EE revelation 30 stock. It was such a game changer I sold the rei bag and just ordered a 10 degree enigma. I am a quilter for life now after a season in the revelation. I was worried it was too light to be warm but it is toasty. Pad selection is critical and you can always bump it up with a down puffy and down socks if it gets a little frosty.
1:46 Looks like you found that guy like that in the woods and said "ooh perfect for my quilts video" :)
I don't know about quilts, but I do know what's right for everyone!
The cold, crisp, refreshing taste of delicious Bud Light!
Friends don't let friends drink skunk water.......
@@sanction7627 - Sniffle...I don't have friends.
@@GustoStCool No wonder if you foist that swill on people.
@@sanction7627 - It's the champagne of beers, you jerks!
I tried a quilt for two years and went back to a mummy bag. Im a cold sleeper and need to be completely closed in. Any tiny draft at night, while using the quilt, would wake me up. I now use my quilt over a 0 degree bag while winter camping and am happy with using it in that application.
Great video Darwin, I have made the change to a quilt over a year ago- based on your earlier review of your change over.... I'm not sure I'll look back or change back to a full bag either. I have chose to go with teh Paria Outoors 15deg quilt and it is wonderful, for me. If I change anything at all it will be to get myself a more expensive quilt with my own custom additions. Until then, I'll use my current quilt until it just cant go on another trip. Thank you again.
NICE! Keep on Quilting!
Much gratitude for your thoughtful and practical guidance on sleep systems, Mr. Darwin. You address common misperceptions with actual experience and solid visual explanations. One question about the sleeping pad: do you find yourself covering the upper section (where your head and shoulders rest) with a t-shirt, towel or other fabric to protect the pad? From a maintenance standpoint, it seems safer and easier to wash a shirt or towel than the pad.
I got a quilt from Hang Tight off of Esty and loved it over the summer!
Quilt for a few years now .. love it! But I am a hammock guy and I always get a great night sleep 😴
one thing worth mentioning that you didn't mention is that the R value of pads are additive if you use more than one. In winter i use a Zlite Sol accordian pad underneath my NeoAir Xlite blow up pad and get a total R value of 5.7 or so. Cozy and more economical than buying a separate dedicated winter blow-up pad.
True... However, I've never used more than 1 pad at a time.
Hike On,
Darwin
@@DarwinOnthetrail Is there a valid reason for why not to use more than one pad at a time?
I'm a side sleeper, and I toss and turn quite often sometimes on my stomach. The quilt is so much better than a sleeping bag. Some nights, I end up stuffing my inflatable pillow between my legs, and I sleep like a baby. Quilts forever!!!
I usually unzip my TNF mummy bag so I can use it like a quilt. But I do also have a Big Agnes Horse Thief that works like a quilt as it has no zipper and the opening is on the bottom. Though I LOVE that it has a sleeve on the bottom to slide your pad into. Keeps the warmth in and I never come off of the pad.
Just ordered my UGQ Bandit 10 degree. Can't wait.
outdoor vitals baby!!! not a bunch of items , however the price will not be beat! Great quality too.
Ugq 30 degree quilt. Have for 3 years and love it..
I'm a hammocker and use a beautiful custom outdoorink 10 degree 850 fill down UGQ underquilt...and a raggedy old synthetic 20 degree mummy bag I got on sale at big 5 a couple years ago for $20 that is so torn to bits it looks and acts more like a quilt...that weighs 4 lbs. But it works okay at the moment. I'm saving up for a UGQ top quilt right now so I will be able to survive the winter snow.
Great video, really appreciate the info, thanks Darwin!
Thanks for the info! I've been using the Zpacks classic sleeping bag for a few years now and really love it. I do feel like there's a quilt in my future once the budget allows. Thanks for including some "budget" options to take a look at!
NO PROB!
Nice video Darwin. I use a wilderness Logics Summer Series quilt mostly. I've had it for about 5 years but it's served me well. It packs down to about a baseball size and it's very warm for what it is. In Australia it's easier to get away with a thinner quilt and I supplement with a down jacket and a S2S thermal bag liner in cooler weather to stretch out its functionality. Everyone seems to run the TR Neo Air Xlite but I love by S2S Ultralight Insulated and Comfortlight Insulated pads. only slightly heavier but don't sound like a bag of chips. The baffle design also means you can roll all the way to the edge of the pad without them deforming and the air valve is far superior IMO.
You're right about getting tangled in a mummy bag, happens to me every time. Quilt>Sleeping bag.
Years ago I bought a mummy bag from an army surplus store. I do not remember a decent sleep in it. When in boy scouts, I borrowed a kapok sleeping bag from my dad the Forest Ranger. Again, night time sleeping was not enjoyable. For two years we planned float trips for our fly fishing addiction. We put into a river in two man inflatables and slept at a dude ranch by the river. On the last day, Bob and I were on a sand bar just one turn above the ranch and having a "bump" from his flask. We discussed how nice it would be to just stay on this sand bar. We could bathe in the river, cook dinner over a driftwood fire. Sevylor had come up with some blow up boats that were tough and light. He lived in Coeur D Lane and I lived in Issaquah but we were in contact often with our work. He was a customer of my company who encouraged friendly trips with business associates like fishing, golf, skiing, hunting and camping. Good friends created trust and good business. The next year 1974, we met in Kalispell, left our families at Birch Glen at Swan Lake and Bob, Jim and I hiked into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. 30 miles from Holland Lake, over Pendent Pass to Big Salmon Lake then 2 miles down to the South Fork of the Flathead River. At the river on the second day we blew up our boats and floated 30 miles out on the fourth day. My bed was a K79 Tahiti kayak that weighed 13 pounds. I had my mom's old down quilt and a light nylon tarp to keep the river dew off.
I am 6'4" and weigh 220 pounds I make my own sleeping bags that are 44 inches wide and 7' long. I take a comforter (goodwill) fold it over and sew the bottom. I often take my boat even though I might not float. I have never slept well on the ground.
If you see us on the trail or on the river we have a 45 pound pack that is good for a week, our boats and fly rods and a 3/4 size paddle for a walking stick. Every night, dinner is poached trout with bacon and onion. In the pot we have noodles, rice or beans. For greens we have water cress or clover from the river. So, we floated the Flathead, the Swan, the Clark Fork and the Blackfoot. all great rivers and lots of fun.
Iguana
I got the REI quilt on sale and am a convert, no more sleeping bags for me! Best nights sleep I’ve ever had on the trail and I’m a tossing turning side sleeper!
Really appreciate your presentation skills and information you provide.
20 degree quilt (Enigma/Massdrop) and Klymit pad 4.4R value. Summer I use a 40degree Costco diy quilt with same mattress. Love this system.
You have to explain sleeping on the floor of a public bathroom! ?? :)
Seriously. I dont think how bad the weather, I'm not laying next to a public toilet. Ground is dirtier than the toilet.
I think it's in one of his AZT videos.
cold, wet nights get to you
Hey Darwin, I tend to agree with the quilt. I have a Hammock Gear Burrow and love it. Not tried it in a tent yet but I did have the straps for that. In a tent I use a Big Agnes Lone Ranger 15 and an Exped pad 9lw which does me fine
Just finished making my new synthetic quilt! Hoping to test it out before it gets too cold!
SWEET! DIY Gear Rules!
I've been using a quilt since the zipper broke on my bag while hiking the JMT in 2015. That's when I found out how nice it was to be able to turn without feeling like I was in a straight jacket. I bought an actual EE 20 degree quilt that winter and will never go back. I only hike from May through October, so rarely need to deal with temps below 20 plus I sleep warm. So, I just use a torso length ccf pad and my backpack itself under a Klymit inflatable pad. I believe that gives a total R value of about 3.6.
I'm going to switch to a quilt. I just ordered an EE Revelation. Sometimes my legs get hot and I'm looking forward to being able to unzip the footbox and kick the covers aside. Thanks very much Darwin!
I have an outdoor vitals 15° quilt and a klymit static v UL sleeping pad, and it has a 4.2 r value. It's nice and wide, and with the 15° quilt I can definitely make it deeper into fall. I'm a warm sleeper, and also picked up a thermarest u relight so I can still use the quilt in the summer without over heating. I move a lot in my sleep, I dont come off the pad, and my quilt always pretty much stays where it needs to be.
I have an insulated air pad (4.4) but low on funds so I use my mummy bag as a quilt right now. Love the room it gives me too move around while sleeping. Looking at maybe next year to get a quilt so I shed some weight and space in my pack.